Alien Invasyndrome Stealth Actions — Softlock and Detection
Scout, commit, retreat, hide — the larva verb loop on Atlas
What stealth actions are
In Alien Invasyndrome, stealth is not a single crouch toggle. It is a verb loop you repeat on Atlas: scout, commit, retreat, softlock, bank nest, spend skills. This page names those actions so Kitchen Route and Security Routes can stay room-focused. Adult content is 18+; we stay mechanical.
Game: Steam 4603980, Mozu Field / 百舌鳥, Shady Corner Games. Full release TBA. Sibling inputs: Keyboard, Locale Emulator, Controls Hub. Theory twin: Stealth and Detection.
The larva verb loop
- Scout — watch patrol idle turns and doorway cones from shadow or edge tiles.
- Commit — interact / capture / objective press only when the cone is away.
- Retreat — leave the hot tile before the next sweep.
- Softlock — hide under a desk or equivalent furniture when risk spikes.
- Wait — if spotted, plan on about one minute before re-entering the route.
- Bank — convert success into nest progress — How to Nest.
- Spend — INT/STR and support nodes with a plan — Early Build.
Skip wait or bank and the Demo becomes a detection treadmill.
Scout
Scouting is stillness with intent. Stand where a patrol cannot see you yet, and learn the turn rhythm. Bad scout habits:
- Peeking from the center of Cafeteria-style open floors.
- Opening nest or skill menus while “scouting.”
- Assuming Laboratory is empty because Kitchen was quiet.
Good scout habits:
- Pre-select the desk you will use if the scout fails.
- Count one full patrol cycle before the first commit.
- Abort scouts that require crossing an open cone “just for a look.”
Map aids: Key Rooms, Atlas Overview.
Commit
Commit is the interact window. It is short on purpose. Rules:
- One objective per commit when learning.
- Fingers ready on hide before you press interact.
- No skill spends mid-commit.
- If the window closes, cancel — do not chase into Clinic or Security thresholds.
Keyboard clarity for interact vs hide: Keyboard Controls.
Retreat
Retreat is not panic sprinting. It is a pre-planned exit tile. After commit:
- Move along edges.
- Prefer returning toward nest-safe halls over “shortcut” open rooms.
- If a cone turns early, softlock immediately — retreat can become hide in one step.
Softlock under desks
Softlock is the Demo’s signature recovery verb. Use it when:
- You are spotted or about to be.
- You finished a loud action and need detection decay.
- You need to re-time Kitchen or Security doorways.
Intended softlock: you enter hide, wait, leave hide, continue.
Broken softlock: UI dead, cannot leave — Softlock Fixes.
Do not mash every bind while stuck. Confirm locale readability first if prompts look wrong — Locale Emulator.
The ~1 minute detection hide
After a clear spotting, treat one minute as the default safe hide. Players wipe when they leave at twenty seconds because the room “sounds quiet.” Use Detection Timer while learning. Pair with Stealth and Detection for system framing.
Partial looks still deserve a short softlock. Hero sprints after “maybe they didn’t see me” are how Kitchen routes die.
Commit types that feel loud
Even without naming every adult beat, some interactions are louder in the stealth economy than walking:
- Captures and nest-feeding actions.
- Object interactions that shift patrol attention.
- Boss-adjacent pressure moves — How to Beat the Boss.
After loud commits, bias toward immediate softlock even if you think you got away clean.
Room overlays
Kitchen
Food-wing sight lines punish center walks. Softlock furniture is dense — use it. Route sheet: Kitchen Route.
Security Way A / Way B
Both branches keep the same verbs; only timing changes. Read Security Routes and Security Room before inventing new verbs mid-gate.
Clinic / Laboratory / Cafeteria
Side risk rooms. Same loop, longer punish for bad scouts. Do not invent a “run everywhere” action set.
INT / STR and stealth verbs
Skills modify how often you must commit under bad windows. They do not replace scout or wait.
- INT — cleaner utility commits when the tree supports it.
- STR — pressure when a pattern refuses to open.
Still softlock after loud moments. Still wait the minute after spots. Planners: Skill Tree, Skill Planner.
Drill: stealth actions gym (10 minutes)
- Scout one doorway for a full cycle.
- Commit once.
- Retreat to a desk.
- Softlock on purpose.
- Wait a full detection minute.
- Leave hide, bank nest if available, stop.
Repeat until boring. Then resume Demo Walkthrough or How to Play.
Failure dictionary
| Feeling | Likely verb failure | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Instant re-spot | Wait too short | Full ~1 min hide |
| Always chased | Scout skipped | Watch a full cycle |
| Nested but stuck weak | Bank/spend skipped | How to Nest |
| Cannot leave desk | Broken softlock | Softlock Fixes |
| Cannot read hide prompt | Locale | Locale Emulator |
Related pages
Master the verbs before you memorize every Atlas hall name. The Demo rewards boring stealth actions more than dramatic chases.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to common Alien Invasyndrome questions.
What is the core stealth loop?
Scout → commit → retreat → softlock → wait if spotted → bank nest → spend skills. Details are in the verb sections above.
How long should I softlock after being spotted?
About one minute. Use Detection Timer and Stealth and Detection.
Is hiding under desks always safe?
Intended hides are safe recovery. If you cannot exit, treat it as a bug and open Softlock Fixes.
Do INT or STR replace stealth actions?
No. Skills change commit windows; they do not remove scout, hide, or the detection minute. See Early Build.
Where should I practice stealth actions?
A low-threat corridor with a desk, then Kitchen. Follow the drill on this page before Security Routes.