[Development Preview] Put a Third Player in Control: The Signal Caller
AT THE READY · published
Put the Rhythm of the Duel in a Third Player’s Hands
Until now, every decoy word and Fire cue has been controlled by the game. We are now designing a new role for online matches—one that lets a real player decide when to call the shots.
What Does the Signal Caller Do?
The Signal Caller carries no weapon and does not participate in scoring or victory conditions.
Once the ready announcement has completely finished, the Signal Caller can:
Select and trigger the game’s built-in decoy words.
Choose the moment to issue the real Fire cue.
Switch between each gunslinger’s individual viewpoint.
Use a cinematic overview that keeps every gunslinger in sight.
Change viewpoints with keyboard shortcuts or mouse controls.
Every gunslinger will still hear the same synchronized cue at the same time. Staying calm, recognizing the decoys, and landing the first effective shot will remain a test of judgment, reaction, and aim.
A New Room-Creation Flow
The separate “Create 2P Room” and “Create 3P Room” options will be combined into a single “Create Room” entry, where the host chooses the match type and cue system.
Duel: 2 gunslingers with 1 optional Signal Caller, for up to 3 people.
Three-player Last Alive: 3 gunslingers with 1 optional Signal Caller, for up to 4 people.
The lobby will clearly separate gunslinger and Signal Caller slots while displaying every participant’s role and ready status.
The Traditional Rules Are Staying
The Signal Caller will be optional. When the role is not enabled, the game will continue to control all decoy words and Fire cues exactly as it does today. The existing Duel and Last Alive experiences are not going away.
Player-controlled cues will also use limits on frequency, decoy count, waiting time, and network synchronization. This prevents cues from being spammed and ensures that a standoff cannot be delayed forever.
Still in Development
The Signal Caller is currently in the design stage. Camera layouts, controls, and cue timing will be finalized after multiplayer testing and may continue to change based on feedback.
Would you rather pull the trigger as a gunslinger—or control the rhythm of the entire showdown as the Signal Caller?
Let us know in the comments.