Below you will find a list of common terms we use in standard rescue operations. It's important to note that you are not limited by these common terms when talking in #FuelRats, and you're free to communicate in a way that is most comfortable to you.
Are you sure your callouts make sense? Ambiguity in communication is the #2 client killer (it's true*)! Avoid using language that could be interpreted different ways or considered a typo. (EG: use "Wr+" or "in wing" instead of just "wing") |
Abbreviations often used during rescue operations:
- BC (Beacon) The beacon fitted to all ships which can be enabled to enable your wing mates to drop on it.
- BC+: The rats now sees the clients beacon and is on their way to dropping into the clients instance for refueling.
- BC-: The rat doesn’t see the client beacon
- CR (Case Red / Code Red) An alert where the client has lost power to life support and the clock is counting down on their oxygen depletion timer
- DC (Disconnected) Abbreviation used in #FuelRats. Got kicked out of the game, either to Main Menu or out of the whole game
- EZ (Exclusion Zone) The area around a stellar body where your ship is automatically dropped to normal space to avoid crashing into the stellar body. A client in EZ prevents instancing with them through navlock and requires them to SC Hop away or a Tactical Face Plant (usually just on CR's).
- FR (Friend Request) The first step of a rescue, the client adds the rat ingame.
- FR+ or "FR received" reported when request from client is received and accepted.
- FR- Can be used to let dispatch know the request didn't get through, or client neglected to send it (after appropriate time has passed)
- FUEL / Refueling Report that tells dispatch that at least the first limpet fired has completed it's fuel transfer (giving you the onscreen confirmation of such) Reported either as "Fuel+" or "Refueling".
- INST (Instancing) The efforts to establish a Peer-to-Peer connection with a client. If attempts fail, “no instancing,” is specified and workarounds begin to be used in order to resolve the connection issue.
- INST+ Optionally reported on dropping on clients beacon and in instance with client
- INST- Reported if dropped on beacon, but not seeing clients ship
- J (Jumps) Called by Rats responding to a rescue call in order to determine who is closest to support (e.g. 2j, restock + 1j, etc.)
- MM (Main Menu) Often used like "client in mm" during CR rescues.
- OMW On My Way
- PW (Paperwork) When a rat has completed a rescue, they file/edit the case, called "paperwork" provided by the bot.
- Party Xbox voice communications which is separate with the game itself. Often reported as Party+
- PREP Can be reported to alert dispatch that clients shields are still up after getting in wing.
- PREP- client didn't comply with module-shutdown.
- PREP+ client has now complied with instructions after PREP- was reported.
- POS (Position) used on CR cases as "POS+" when reaches a given in-system position, for example 1000ls from a named station, to let dispatch know you are holding there ready for client to log in.
- RTB (Return to Base), associated either with a Rat standing down from a rescue case or needing to re-arm with limpets before returning to standby status.
- RGR (Roger) A rat will use this to show they acknowledge the information/request/command. Sometimes you may see COPY or ACK - same thing.
- SC HOP (Supercruise Hop) A technique used to resolve instancing the client powers up their thrusters and frameshift drive, enters supercruise for 5-10 seconds away from any stellar bodies while the rat(s) wait in SC to confirm positive instancing - or simply to get client away from EZ of a planet/star.
- STBY (Standby) "please wait". Commonly used by both rats and dispatch.
- STDN (Stand down) A rat will use this to communicate they are no longer participating in a rescue. Dispatchers will also sometimes use this to tell other rats to stand down from a case.
- SYS (System) When a rat has arrived in the client’s system, a call of 'SYS+' may be made. Only used when client is not actually in-game and has beacon active, such as Code Red or long range rescues where the client is logged out to main menu. Otherwise, a 'bc+' automatically implies that the rat is in system.
- SYSCONF Can optionally be reported once a clients reported system has been verified correct on the Galmap (clients green friend icon shown being there)
- TFP (Tactical Face Plant) The technique of manually flying into the Exclusion Zone to achieve instancing with a client. Requires practice!
- WR / WG (Wing Request) The second step of a rescue, the client invites the Rat
- A response to a wing request may be “WR Received” or even more simply “WR+”, or if sufficient time has passed and the request hasn’t been received “WR-“
Other or more general abbreviations & terminology:
- Bubble, The Civilized space (refer to the Powerplay view of the galaxy map for a rough illustration)
- Client The person we are serving fuel
- Dispatch The rat who is coordinating activity on #FuelRats. Also known as Spatch or The Hat.
- Hat, The Symbolic identifier for the Dispatch, usually denoted by their incorporating “Dispatch” into their username temporarily in order to, “don the Hat.” Quite frequently tossed into the air after a hectic session of dispatching.
- Hatsignal is a term used to notify other Rats that a dispatch is needed. It should only be used after a client is !prep'd (which every drilled rat should and can do).
- Epic Rescue Any rescue nominated by another rat for it's sheer epic awesomeness will reward the rat with Laurels for their roundel (https://www.fuelrats.com/rats-honors/) ! Any rescue requiring more than 10,000Ly travel to the client is automatically considered epic but still requires a nomination.
- FL (First Limpet) Sometimes a term used by Dispatch to ask Rats to identify who to award the rescue to. Usually means first Rat to land a limpet on the client and receive a refuelling message on screen.
- LRR (Long Range Rescue/Refuel) Any rescue where the client is more than 1000ly from human space
- Mischief, The Did you know that the collective noun for Rat is “Mischief”?
- ND - "Needs Drill", A tag seen on newer rats, who think they are ready for a drill.
- PSRat or PSCase - A PS4 Rat or PS4 case, because the alternative wasn't very nice.
- Ratsignal Alert! A client needs fuel, man your ship and call your jumps! Never say this in the rescue channel unless you are stranded without fuel.
- Roundel How to display all of your ratting accomplishments! https://www.fuelrats.com/rats-honors/
- XRat or XCase - An Xbox Rat or Xbox case, because we love our terminology.
- Drillsignal is used by drillclients as a replacement for "ratsignal" during a drill. (Not used to find seers)
*There is no statistical evidence to definitively prove that miscommunication is a leading cause of failed rescues.