Duplication Bug: Science Gripper Glitch

Hey folks, let's dive into a crazy bug report that's been making the rounds – a serious glitch where items are duplicating through the science gripper! This is a big deal, and if you're into VOREStation, you'll want to pay close attention. It looks like we've got a situation where using certain modules, especially when you're a cyborg with the science module, isn't consuming those items like it should. Instead, they're sticking around in the gripper, almost like they're cloning themselves. I'm going to break down what's happening, what's supposed to happen, and how it all goes down, so you can understand this issue better. We'll also check out how to reproduce the bug if you're curious (but be careful, you don't want to break the game!), plus some important technical details. It's a bit like a tech detective story, and we're all playing the role of the investigator.

So, what's the deal? The main problem is that when you, as a cyborg using the science module, use modules and a battery from your science gripper, they're supposed to get used up. They should disappear, and the upgrades you are trying to do are supposed to be complete, right? But what's happening is that these items are duplicating themselves. You use them, and they are still there in your science gripper, good as new! This can lead to all sorts of shenanigans. We're talking about having extra modules and batteries. Imagine having multiple of the best upgrades. Talk about a game-breaking exploit! That's why understanding this bug is so important. Plus, it's not just the modules themselves; even a battery can get cloned, which can lead to even more game-breaking issues.

Now, let's look at what the user expected to happen. The expectation is straightforward: use an item, and it's gone. That's the core of how the game's systems are supposed to work. You use a module to upgrade something, and it's consumed. This creates a balance, where you have to find and gather these items, make strategic choices about when to use them, and manage your resources. If items duplicate, that whole balance is thrown out the window. Suddenly, you have unlimited resources, which isn't the kind of game experience the developers intended, I'm sure. This bug fundamentally changes the rules of the game. It makes it easier to get powerful upgrades without the costs that are meant to be in place. It's like having a cheat code that lets you skip the hard work and get to the good stuff without paying the price. This expectation is really at the heart of the bug's impact, and how it breaks the game’s core mechanics.

So, what really happened? The modules and battery went into a cloning machine, apparently. The user was able to use the modules, perform the upgrades, and still have the modules and battery available in the gripper. They could even drop the duplicated items out of their inventory. The implications are enormous. Imagine if you could duplicate high-end modules. Suddenly, you're not just a cyborg, you're a cyborg god. This seriously affects the game’s balance and fairness for everyone playing. The ability to drop the duplicated items out of the inventory is also a big deal. It means you can potentially share these items with others, further amplifying the impact of the bug. This isn't just a minor glitch; it's a fundamental error that undermines the entire gameplay experience. It makes the game unbalanced, and it can also ruin the fun for other players who are trying to play fairly. It's like finding a shortcut that lets you win the race without actually running. In the end, the impact of the bug is that it provides an unintended advantage. And that advantage can spoil the game for everyone else.

How to Replicate the Gripper Glitch

Alright, let's get into the step-by-step instructions on how to make this bug happen. Important note: I strongly recommend you do not try to exploit this in a live game. This is just for understanding the bug. If you use it to cheat, you are just ruining the game for other players. This could also get you in trouble with the server admins. So, here's how you might trigger this item duplication if you're into seeing how it works:

1. Get Your Hands on Some Modules and a Battery: First off, you need to grab the modules and a battery that you want to duplicate. This means finding them in the game world, or, perhaps, acquiring them by other means. Whatever the method, you need to have these items in your possession. These are the building blocks of this whole glitch. The modules are what you’re trying to use to upgrade the cyborg. The battery is necessary to power all of this stuff. So get what you need before you start this process.
2. Open Your Access Panel: As a cyborg, you will need to open your access panel. You will need to make sure the panel is unlocked. To do this, you might need to use a tool to get it open. This is where you insert the modules you want to use. This panel is the control center for your upgrades and modifications. It is where you'll be using the science module to enhance your abilities.
3. Insert Modules: This is where you slot in all the modules that you want to use to improve the cyborg. Insert the modules, which should consume them. The system is designed to use the items, complete the upgrade, and remove the modules from your inventory. But, as we know, that’s not what's happening in this case. Insert all of your modules at once. This will speed up the glitch and make it easier to replicate the duplication bug.
4. Remove and Replace the Battery (Quickly!): Now comes the trickier part, the battery replacement. You need to remove and replace your battery, and do it fast. The timing of this step is critical. You're trying to create a situation where the game doesn't properly track the consumption of the modules. Doing it quickly confuses the game and lets the bug happen. This is where the magic (or the glitch) happens. The developers certainly did not anticipate this, and it leads to the item duplication.
5. Enjoy the Duplication (and Maybe a Headache): After completing these steps, you should find that the modules and battery are still in your gripper and you are still able to interact with them. You should have been able to complete your upgrades with the items. The system will think you used the items to improve yourself, but you still have them available. Congrats, you've replicated the bug! Remember, this is just for understanding how it works, and you don’t want to go around using it to break the game. This bug is not intended behavior and causes serious issues, so don’t be that person.

Tech Details: Digging into the Bug's Core

Okay, let's geek out a little bit and look at some of the technical details. This isn't just a simple glitch. It's a problem that goes right to the heart of how the game handles item consumption and interaction with the science module. Understanding these specifics helps us see why this bug is so disruptive.

First off, the Round ID and Server Revision Info. These numbers are like the version numbers of the game. They help the developers pinpoint exactly where this bug is happening. Round ID 1077, for example, tells you which specific game round this bug was first found in. The BYOND Version (516.1667) indicates the game's engine version. Knowing the engine version is helpful if the bug is related to the engine itself. The Server Revision (compiled on 2025-11-07T12:10:58+00:00) provides the exact build date and time of the server code. This information is vital for developers who are trying to fix the bug because it lets them know when the bug was introduced. The Master commit (3060272d0be0c1a6f33e051fd59b57a13f04866c) is the specific version of the code that's running on the server. If a developer needs to fix this bug, this commit will help them identify and fix the issue. The links to the Pull Requests (#17936: 'Toggle on Tether' by ItsSelis at commit c8bfb52ece) that were integrated into the game are also useful, as these might give some insight into recent code changes that could have introduced the bug.

Next, the Local commit (8a84b83af44f681dd1bdb34b4cfa212aa9445aa4) gives you the most recent changes made locally on the server. The TGS version (6.18.0) and DMAPI version (7.3.3) are probably referring to other tools. They can sometimes reveal dependencies between systems. Knowing the precise versions can help in the investigation and eventual fix for the duplication bug. All of these details are necessary for the developers to understand exactly what went wrong and to work on fixing it. They're like the clues that lead the developers to the bug's origin. By piecing together all this information, they can create a plan to resolve this issue and prevent it from happening again.

Finally, here's an image that shows the items being duplicated. In the picture, you can see all of the modules and battery. You can see how, after they are used, they can still be found in the gripper. This visual evidence further proves the bug's existence. It's a key piece of evidence that makes the bug so undeniable. It's also why fixing this duplication bug is so important. This bug can easily turn the game into a free-for-all. It could quickly destroy the fun of playing, and make the whole experience unfair and imbalanced for all the players who aren't in on the glitch. So, if you're playing VOREStation, keep an eye on this issue. And remember, don't try to exploit the bug to gain an advantage. Help the developers fix it. That's the best way to make the game better for everyone.