Autocue

The Autocue is a Treatment machine, used only in Correcting Pool by a Doctor to cure patients with Screwball. It is first made available for research in Topless Mountain, which requires the Pebberley Island DLC.

Appearance
The base for the machine is wooden, with a surface of tiny irregular pentagonal tiles in various shades of blue. On each side is a pale purple stand, with a black stand rising out of each, and at one end of the base is a purple block. On these is placed a green surface styled after a pool table, with the top end featuring a large white pocket, flanked by green cushions and wooden outer panels. At the bottom end is a cutout where the patient will stand, with two handles for them to hold.

To the right of the patient's end of the table is a purple block with various equipment mounted upon it. The top end features a triangular prominence, with a tall triangular silver block topped with a pool table triangle, which is mounted on a slim metal arm allowing it to move horizontally over to the patient's location. A thick darker pole extends from the bottom end of the purple block, and curves across the patient's location. On this is mounted a metal bracket holding a pool cue, poised to swing down and strike the patent, and next to this a smaller bracket featuring the chalk to prepare it.

The Autocue II adds a pair of pool cues on metal brackets, fixed either side of the pocket.

The Autocue III further adds a small rack to the outer aspect of the purple block, holding four spare blocks of chalk.

Function
While the doctor mans the Console, the patient will take their place at the foot of the Autocue, holding onto the two red handle on its surface and leaning forward. The green button will cause the block of chalk to be moved to the end of the cue, rotating on its surface a few times, before retracting. Pulling the throttle down will set the cue to swing downwards, aimed with the joystick, cleanly knocking the cue ball from the patient's neck, and into the pocket.

After calming the startled patient, the doctor will press the red button, causing the triangle section to rotate around, again maneuvered with the joystick, right over the patient's neck. A further press of the red button will cause it to press downwards, depositing a head onto the patient. As the triangle swings back, the two will celebrate the completion of the treatment.

Maintenance
The Autocue loses 5-10% of its maintenance gauge with each use. Once the gauge falls below 50%, a Janitor will automatically be called to repair it. A janitor can be summoned manually by the player by pressing the appropriate button.

Should the maintenance gauge fall below 15%, the machine will catch fire. A janitor will need to use an Extinguisher to put this out before the gauge reaches zero; if it is allowed to do so, the machine will explode, leaving wreckage which must be sold and replaced with a new machine before the room can resume functioning.

Upgrades
Upgrades are performed by a Janitor with the Mechanics Qualification. The machine will not be accessible while this work is being done, although it can be interrupted and resumed without losing progress.

Staff
The following Staff is required before Correcting Pool, and by extension the Autocue, will function correctly:

Additionally, the following staff is required to both maintain and upgrade the machine: Janitor (with Mechanics Qualification for upgrades)