Not every research has success, and I used not to post those. Combined with the limited time, having to learn for exams, I didn't write any. Thus, I'll start posting failed research as well. Since you can learn from fails too.
Hypothesis
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| Screenshot of Mira HQ on Among Us Mobile With the "Y"-Tunnel circled and the door log marked ~ By GreenyNeko |
Mira HQ is a map in Among Us, that is famous for its Y-shaped-tunnel. Each exit of the tunnel has a sensor, triggering a log when a player passes it, but not when venting. As such, you can't read the imposter from the door logs should be possible. To prove this, we'll look at the Crewmates' sensor combinations and compare them to the possible Imposter combinations. Another question is if the imposter can counter this. But first, we'll organize the information in a useful way. Therefore removing unnecessary details and keeping the relevant (sensors, Crewmate/vent pathing, cardinal areas).
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| Ill. 1: Crewmate/Vent Pathing in Mira HQ ~by GreenyNeko |
Simplification
We take the MIRA HQ map and draw in the paths between rooms, between vents, and the sensors. (see Ill. 1) However, we still have more information than needed. We only care about the sensors, so we reduce the paths to the north, south-west, and south-east. The result shows how players will trigger the sensors. (see. Ill. 2) From here on out, I will label south-west as west and south-east as east.
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| Ill. 2: Log Relevant Crewmate/Vent Pathingof Mira HQ ~by GreenyNeko |
Crewmember Logs
Given the nodes on the crewmate path (shown in green), they can be west, east, north, or in the tunnel. Additionally, triggering sensors puts it on cooldown for the player. Thus doubling back causes only a single log, not two.
So, we get these combinations:
- WN - The player went from west to north or is in the tunnel.
- WE - The player went from west to east or is in the tunnel.
- NW - The player went from north to west or is in the tunnel.
- NE - The player went from north to east or is in the tunnel.
- EW - The player went from east to west or is in the tunnel.
- EN - The player went from east to north or is in the tunnel.
- N - The player is in the north, or the tunnel. (NN, NNN... N+)
- S - The player is in the south, or the tunnel. (SS, SSS... S+)
- W - The player is in the tunnel or the west. (WW, WWW... W+)
We read NWE as:
- The player went from north to west, doubled back, and went east.
Doubling back makes the logs ambiguous. Thus, we can't tell the player's exact position or path.
We read NWWE as:
- The player went from north to west and then from west to east.
- The player went from north to west, doubled back multiple times, and went to the east.
Imposter Logs
The imposter can use the pink and green paths. Ergo, all combinations we found so far count here too, as well as the ambiguity. But if you think a person vented, you can check the logs. Seeing an imposter in the west, but there is no recent combination of SW/NW, and they appear in the log, they vented. Unsuccessful research? We just solved it! Well, you can't tell the difference if the imposter vented and then double backed on the sensor at the target location. Especially since doubling back is not uncommon on sensors.
Conclusion
Since both imposters and crewmates produce the same log combinations, and imposters can hide venting through doubling back. Reading who vented isn't reliably with a good imposter.
I have planned two more blog posts on Among Us, and if you're interested, I got some research going on. It takes 30-40 minutes to complete.
