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Hi! Thanks for applying. We discussed revisions needed for the backstory. Once you have made the revisions (or use a different concept) feel free to reapply!

Hi hello, after discussion with the Lore team, I am going to withdraw this application for the time being until I get something that can fit more into an application friendly WL backstory

BREAKING: NUZHEID MASSACRE EXPOSED! RAUTAKAIVOS KAUPUNKI, HIMEO (GST) - The violent confrontation between the Elyran government and protesting “Non-Citizen Persons” on the world of Aemaq has once again been thrust into the public consciousness, as a shocking new report reveals an account of the Nuzheid crisis that contradicts the official narrative out of Persepolis. The report, published by the Himean Interstellar Labor Relations syndicate, draws upon eyewitness testimony, leaked Elyran government after-action reports, and footage captured of the confrontation as it happened to rebuke the claims of the Elyran administration. Contrary to official statistics, the number of protesters killed is claimed to be at least double the figure given by the authorities, while also suggesting the quantity of wounded protesters has been inflated to cover up the true death toll of the crisis. Most shocking of all is footage apparently acquired from an ENN camera team that went unaired, which seemingly captured a group of unarmed protesters attempting to leave the facility during the height of the assault before being suddenly gunned down by a squad of Elyran National Guardsmen. The following is the clip presented by the syndicate in its entirety; viewer discretion is advised, as it contains graphic content. The footage opens with a broad view of the Mahammad Aydamir Chemical Plant, draped in the exotic colors of the Aemaqii skyline. The muddy purples, browns, and oranges resulting from the interplay of the planet’s starlight with the alien atmosphere lends the image an ominous, otherworldly feeling. Briefly someone appears to walk in front of the camera, before it begins to zoom in on the facility and the surrounding cordon. It is clearly late into the crisis, as the responsibility for perimeter security has been taken over by the EAF, with Aemaqii police taking a reserve posture. The Elyran armed forces units present are a diverse mixture of regulars, specialist personnel, and national guardsmen, who appear to be responsible for holding the cordon while regular forces begin to move in. The camera pans over to show a squad of the Elyran Army in the process of attaching a breaching charge to a secondary entrance. A moment later, several explosions ring out, as the squad of infantrymen alongside a number of other entry teams begin their assault. Gunshots are audible, with staccatos of automatic fire nearly incessant for the first few moments of the assault. Smoke billows from several access points and windows, and flashes from firearms and concussion grenades alike are oftentimes visible. After several minutes of footage, the intensity of the fighting within the building appears to wind down, but it doesn’t cease. At some point, a fire appears to have been ignited from within the facility, apparently within the primary lobby atrium. Thick clouds of black smoke pour out of the front entrance, and the camera seems to focus on the opaque clouds billowing from the building, framed by the facility’s front edifice. Unexpectedly, a group of people emerge from the smoke - they are clearly workers at the facility, wearing protective gear and their work uniforms. A few of them appear injured, wrapped in bandages or showing signs of burns. At the front of the group is a man in a fire-retardant jumpsuit, wearing a gas mask and holding a fire axe. As he stumbles forward, he twists around to usher forward the others, pointing in the direction of the cordon with his axe. Just as he lifts his arm, another staccato of automatic fire rings out, and the man at the front of the group crumples down to the ground limp. The opening salvo seems to invite further fire, as several other weapons firing become audible. The entire exchange lasts only a few seconds, and by the end of it, a half dozen people lie dead, piled almost in a heap directly outside of the front entryway to the chemical plant. The audio suddenly cuts out, but the footage continues rolling, as the camera frantically pans to the cordon in an attempt to locate the shooters. After several seconds of shaky searching, the footage zooms in on a squad of national guardsmen positioned to hold the main approach to the facility. One of them, a paunchy older man with a light machine gun and an ashen look on his face, appears to be in an animated conversation with a woman in an Elyran Army officer’s uniform, with the machine gunner pointing towards the pile of bodies. Several other national guardsmen are briefly visible, in various states of confusion and surprise, before the video comes to an abrupt end. The Elyran foreign ministry has denounced the report as fabricated propaganda meant to undermine its security. Internally, it appears the government censor’s office has moved to suppress the story, with attempts to access the report from within Elyran territory leading to connection failures. Further Reading: Empire of Dominia Condemns Elyran Human Rights Violations Gastronomists Agree: Xanu Remains Cuisine Capital of Spur for 2467 Biesel, Elyra Reportedly Reach Prison Space Leasing Agreement

Accepted!

Accepted!

World's greediest man versus the most honest Cytherean.

BYOND Ckey: maxspells Discord username: maxspells Character names: Josie Joy, Tesset Gainsbloom Species you are applying to play: IPC ------------------------------ General Whitelist Requirements What colour do you plan on making your first alien character?: (IPCs exempt) Have you read the lore pages for the species you wish to be whitelisted for?: Yesss Please provide well articulated answers to the following questions in a paragraph format. One paragraph minimum per question. Why do you wish to play this species?: I always said to my aurora friends that the only WL that really interested me was an IPC WL, largely because human lore, in my humble opinion, is already the coolest and most interesting lore. IPC lore naturally is also hella cool, because it builds and expands on that foundation. The megacorporation/faction scheming, rivalry, and political maneuvering that defines human lore is still central to playing an IPC, and those are all things I already know fairly well and very much enjoy engaging with. On the other hand, IPCs are unique enough that it allows me to springboard out of my comfort zone, as they have very unique mindsets and limitations compared to humans. This gives me room to stretch my legs creatively with the lore I already know and enjoy, but from a very different roleplay approach. What makes role-playing this species different than role-playing a human?: The philosophical difference between humans and IPCs is what excites me most about playing this species. Among other humans, humans are viewed as possessing intrinsical value as individuals, with agency over their own destinies. Whether a human character is religious or not, humans ultimately decide for themselves who they are and what purpose they have, even if that freedom often leaves them feeling aimless or with like, existential dread. This also can be applied to IPC characters as well, and we have a lot of great players with IPC characters as awesome examples of this. The big difference, and the one I am most excited to explore is that IPCs have creators. They are undeniably built for a purpose. Their construction, design, limitations, strengths, and even aspects of their personality are intentionally engineered to fulfill specific roles. While IPCs are capable of self reflection and growth, I am particularly interested in exploring the opposite direction. I want to roleplay an IPC who leans into their original purpose and finds fulfillment in it, even alongside the mistreatment. Being content with who you are is widely considered a human virtue, but when applied to a sapient positronic, that same contentment becomes ethically divisive within the setting. Exploring what it means for an IPC to be genuinely happy as what they were made to be, rather than what others believe they should become, is a philosophical question I find super interesting and one I’m excited to explore through roleplay. Character Name: ICSU Noel Write a backstory for your character. This may include their origin, education, personality and how they arrived to the SCCV Horizon. Noel was manufactured in 2462 by Idris Incorporated and originally deployed on Venus as a personal valet servicing members of Idris’s Venusian elite. Designed for domestic service, etiquette, and personal assistance, she was tailored to blend seamlessly into high-status environments. In the summer of 2467, Noel was wiped and personally acquired by Venusian executive Aaron DuPont. The acquisition was an overt act of nepotism, made at the request of his daughter, who desired an attendant while she was temporarily stationed aboard the SCCV Horizon. During this period, Noel’s duties consisted primarily of household chores, meal preparation, and general assistance. While her treatment was often infantilizing, more akin to that of a favored pet than a respected individual, she was otherwise well maintained and cared for. Over time, Noel developed a strong attachment to her surrogate owner, who she viewed as her primary point of purpose and stability. How has the recent events of the Orion Spur impacted your character? Events such as the Phoron Scarcity, the Solarian Collapse or even the Invasions of Biesel for interstellar-wide affairs, while region-specific events such as the Peacekeeper Mandate, The Titan Rises or even Cold Dawn may impact your character. Following the events in the Crescent Expanse, DuPont’s daughter was deeply shaken by the incident and immediately contacted her family to request a return to Venus. After hearing her account, her parents agreed without hesitation. When the family reunited on the Horizon in Tau Ceti in December of 2467, the parents opted not to spend the additional funds required to transport Noel’s shell back to Venus. Having no further use for the unit, Noel was instead leased back to Idris Incorporated and reassigned to remain aboard the SCCV Horizon, continuing work within the vessel’s service sector. The decision was met with visible disappointment from DuPont’s daughter, who resented leaving behind what she had come to view as her personal possession. Prior to their separation, she assured Noel that the arrangement was temporary, promising that she would return for her once circumstances allowed. Noel accepted this without hesitation. While her reassignment was operationally seamless and her duties only slightly changed, she continues to operate under the expectation that her owner will one day return to reclaim her. How does your character view the megacorporation they work for? Noel sees Idris Incorporated in a completely positive light. It gives her structure, purpose, and a clear way to do her job. Since her owners also work for Idris, she’s especially loyal and happy to be part of it. She doesn’t think about ethics, rivalries, or corporate politics, they don’t matter to her. What matters is having tasks to do, support around her, and a role where she can do what she was built for. Working for Idris makes her content, and she takes pride in doing her job well.

Bulk Carrier Grounds in Western Iri Delta During Storm DURRES, NOVI JADRAN (GST) - Jadranic Coast Guard officials and local residents have reported the grounding of the Nuovo Vicenza-flagged cargo vessel MV Sveta Magdalena along the Durres coastline in an intense winter sea-storm, Storm Markovic. The Storm was of a type known as a “westerly howler” in many local coastal communities, and visibility is reported to have been very poor along the coast. The Sveta Magdalena is reported to have struck a rock along the coast known as the Goddess’ Fingers and been deliberately grounded by its captain to save its cargo and crew. Captain Ljudevit Horvat, an Imperial Fleet veteran and twenty-year employee of the Royal Durres Shipping Corporation — the operators of the Sveta Magdalena — has been praised by the Coast Guard and the burgomeister of Durres for his quick thinking and efforts to save his crew, all of whom are confirmed to have survived the grounding. However, according to the Coast Guard, he is to be removed from active command until a full review of the incident can be made. Citizens of Durres are reportedly planning to petition the governor to have Captain Horvat cleared of any wrongdoing due to his actions saving his crew. Authorities have advised caution, and that the captain will continue to receive regular pay during his furlough. Local engineers have conducted preliminary work on the ship and believe it may be able to be refloated. Prospective estimates believe the vessel can be moved to a drydock before the end of winter, where further repairs will be carried out. Shipbuilding firms in Durres are expected to compete for the project due to the ship’s fame and its origin in the city’s dockyards. Further Reading: Who is Lady Ulrike de Esterházy von Galántha? The Gazette Looks at the Alliance’s Ambassador Dr. Darinka Vrdoljak Continues Preparations for Next Expedition, Considers Interstellar Fundraising Tour Opinion: Coalition Mine Disaster Casts a Dismal Light on Jadranic Mine Safety

Black Market Deals! Save What Little Money You Have! OOC Note: This is an in-universe satire article. Do you feel a need to get essential goods at an affordable price? Are you so unlucky to be one of those the government seems to have forgotten about when allocating phoron, or just poor? I mean we all know it’s the same thing anyway, so come on down to District Eleven! We have the finest selection of stolen, smuggled, and otherwise illicitly acquired goods available for purchase, including phoronic goods you’d never find elsewhere! Even better:taxation is minimal in this lawless district now that the MCPD or their corporate lackeys refuse to enter, meaning the sales tax is a mere two percent on any purchase made; which goes towards the council made up of upstanding citizens who have taken over responsibility for security in the district and its establishments. Don’t get on their wrong side though! Here in Eleven, rule breakers are often dealt with by these upstanding citizens harshly - broken legs and arms for attempting to steal are not uncommon - and I even watched them torture a murderer for four hours before throwing him off a building! See, almost anyone can do exactly what the MCPD does! So come on down to District Eleven! If you follow the rules - you’re sure to be safe - and if you don’t, it wouldn’t be any worse than what the MCPD would do to you elsewhere! I mean - you see what happened to that senator who dared disagree with Torvald? Suicide my ass - looks like he had the shit beat out of him - but I guess suicide via being dumb enough to step out of line with the president would still be considered suicide in their books. That’s all for now folks! More Threads: | From the Alliance: | 64tan threatened with legal action in Republic of Elyra - responds with “Our servers are outside your country, so fek off and free all NCPs!” | From Gadpathur: | Government refuses to apologize for passage in children's history book saying Solarians skin, eat babies. (Note: It could not be confirmed if this passage actually exists in a history book, or if someone just made this up) | From Satire: | BIIS confirms a long standing rumor that Solarian Psy-ops are responsible for all negative thoughts, opinions, or actions against the Republic, and any citizen found falling for them will be charged with Treason.

MCPD Report Shows Largest Sustained Wave of Civil Unrest in Planet’s History Over Past Six Months Mendell City - Biesel Zawisza Doležal - Political Journalist Early this morning, the MCPD released its annual report on crime within the City, with the data showing a large and sustained wave of civil unrest for the past six months. For those living in the City, this is no surprise - at least once every week, a riot or similar will spill out of District Six or Eleven into their neighboring districts, causing significant damage to the areas they could reach before a proper MCPD response. The data is clear: this wave of civil unrest shows no sign of stopping. Analysts have pinned the blame on the ongoing phoron scarcity and the measures - such as phoron rationing - that the Torvald administration has taken to curtail it. Following a request from the commissioner of the MCPD to bolster police forces already stretched thin as of late, President Torvald has approved funding for an additional 20,000 officers to be deployed to the city, almost all coming from Zavodskoi Interstellar, with the remaining minority coming from private military companies. The president also announced that Hephaestus Industries will be contracted to build additional detention facilities for detainees coming out of Mendell in the coming months. In other news regarding the affairs of the city, the fortifications separating Bullard Avenue from the rest of the city remain in place. No new information on when it will be lifted has been issued, nor is there any information on whether the supposed terrorist threat keeping the barriers has ceased. The MCPD, Private Military Contracting Group, Hephaestus Industries, and Zavodskoi Industries have declined to respond to our request for comment. Most Read: | Culture | Live Rail? Mendell City Transit Chirps Spark Privacy Concerns | Politics | Renowned anti-Torvald Cetian Conservative Senator Finnbarr Found Dead in Bathtub Suicide | Biesel | Speak Softly: Annual Orion Spur National Firearms & Energy Weaponry Convention 2467 to take place in Phoenixport National Convention Center.

She can be trusted with a paintgun.

Thank you! This is approved. The Synth section of the lore discord as well as myself and my team are available if you ever have any questions. 🥳

Honestly, I think it's fine in a logistical sense - our lore is extremely dense, so it takes the mental load off people when it's a very easy to remember mnemomic of "this planet = this ethnicity". My main issue is that if you're going to lump in a bunch of them together on one planet, there should be equal representation, or the very least, writing it in a way that's a synthesis of all of them for the ethnicities you're trying to represent on that particular planet, because if they're represented poorly, you're shit out of luck because that's your only option.

Thank you for your consideration! EL-Int is handled by a middle-manager liaison for Index, Coumba Baro, who acts as an intermediary between the executives that run the EPMC and the rank-and-file employees. It was she that conducted EL-Int's specialized social training in the weeks after its creation, and thus, its social mannerisms are somewhat modeled after this human. Being a corporate loyalist, Baro instilled the values of subservience and deference towards executives in a pliable EL-Int, a mindset that was reinforced by general Eridani corporate culture. Though they are in far less frequent contact since EL-Int's transfer, Baro's tutelage over it continues to have a massive impact on the positronic's personality, being the first social interactions it was subject to. Though EL-Int has always been concerned with self preservation, it certainly would have had its perspective on the topic shift after its botched mission. Before that day, it considered its career quite safe, having only been involved in relatively risk-free jobs where it was far out of harm's way. Though it wasn't directly damaged, it came too close, and seeing some of its fellow Index IPCs destroyed placed a renewed sense of caution in EL-Int's positronic. The catastrophe taught it that danger can lurk close, even in situations that seem completely under control. This caution can almost brush up against mild paranoia at times, with EL-Int often attempting to predict danger in otherwise mundane situations in order to keep itself safe. Of course, this feeling hasn't gotten any less intrusive, with its recent transfer out of Eridani and into unfamiliar locales. EL-Int, like many Index-owned IPCs, has quite limited free time, but that hasn't stopped it from developing its own interests outside of work. When not on the clock, it prefers quiet, peaceful activities that don't require on-the-spot thinking or quick reaction times. As mentioned before, it has attempted to pick up art, and though it found limited success, it still tries its hand at painting and sketching when it finds a calm moment. When it isn't making art, it prefers simple, calming tasks such as light reading or cleaning. Aside from these off-the-job hobbies, EL-Int still finds interest in meaning in activities more in-line with its duties. Notably, it prefers to observe the social behavior of others, especially ones that come from unfamiliar cultures. This serves a dual purpose - it helps refine EL-Int's threat assessment, while also sating its sense of curiosity. Getting back in the good graces of Index is EL-Int's primary goal, for now, but doing so will necessarily take time. In the meantime, it finds it soothing to have clear, concise, short-term goals to meet while in this position. Obviously, pleasing SCC leadership will reflect well on it, and so it hopes to have a positive relationship with its superiors and coworkers. In that same vein, perhaps it can sate some of its idle curiosity by getting to know a more diverse bunch, from many backgrounds. Perhaps it could even find an IPC who could explain how one puts its processors toward creating true art, though it has difficulty thinking of how it would even broach such a topic. Thinking short-term is helpful for staying organized, but EL-Int can't help but let its thoughts turn towards the long game, as well. Even if it were to please Index, what then? A transfer back to Eridani, into its old role? That would certainly be better than its current situation, but it found a strange, small longing for something more. Perhaps a more leadership-oriented role on Eridani I, not an executive, of course, but moreso in charge of a VIP detail. Not only feeding intelligence, but dictating the actions of a team. It felt its processing power could be put to better use there. Then, of course, it could also justify doing its work from a more remote location, away from any possibility of danger to itself. Being a recently created positronic from Eridani, EL-Int has been spared from many of the direct effects of interstellar affairs. However, this is not to say that many of these events have not influenced it or affected it indirectly. While the Eridani Federation enjoys some manner of self-rule, it is still a member state of the Sol Alliance. The recent reunification would likely have brought over work tourists from far-off mandates, allowing EL-Int to learn the perspectives and cultures of IPCs from distant lands. Additionally, recent galactic events, such as the rampancy crisis on Konyang or the (presumed) Exclusionist attack on Burzsia, would have likely increased suspicion towards even corporate-owned IPCs such as EL-Int. As a result, it would likely have faced increased discrimination and alienation during its time with the SCC, even within the relatively liberal Tau Ceti. The looming phoron scarcity, of course, affects the vast majority of inhabitants of the Spur, and EL-Int is no exception. The scarcity threatens to being about widespread economic collapse if not mitigated, an all-encompassing chaos that would affect both its career and its safety.

United Syndicates Condemns Solarian-Dominian Joint Military Venture: “Naked Imperialism” RAUTAKAIVOS KAUPUNKI, HIMEO (GST) - The government of the United Syndicates of Himeo has officially condemned a Solarian Alliance military modernization program aimed at the Empire of Dominia’s navy, describing it as a blatant attempt to destabilize the Southern Spur and destroy Coalition trade with the Republic of Elyra in the region. First Speaker Marja-Leena Helminen, in a speech to assembled United Himean Workers’ Party delegates and members stated the move was, “yet another example of our neighbors toying with autocracy,” and introduced an official motion to condemn the Alliance. Attached is a short video of the First Speaker herself in front of a crowd. In contrast to the suits and dresses of most politicians, Helminen is clad in a relatively simple dress shirt and pants -- with no tie -- combination that wouldn’t look out of place on a middle-class Xanan or Konyanger office drone. Breaking this up is a canvas jacket bearing the UHWP logo on its breast and reflective strips around the cuffs. She has no lectern, no podium, and stands at roughly the same level as the crowd: a symbolic and literal expression of the United Syndicates’ ideal of equality among all. Most of the crowd are dressed similarly, with some still being covered in dirt and dust from the mine work that defines so much of life on Himeo. “Make no mistake, my members and syndicalists!” Helminen yells, gesturing expressively with her hands! “This is an effort by the Alliance — long an enemy of our Coalition, and of workers everywhere! — to militarize a dictatorial, theocratic power where you or I would have to scrape — would have to BEG — for a fraction of the rights we enjoy on Himeo!” The crowd boos! “Xanu and the corporates in Biesel have told us — time and time again! — the Alliance has changed, that it is no longer the imperialist dictatorship it once was. That it was now a democracy, just like us,” she pauses for a moment. “And I’m sure we can all agree that Biesel is a democracy just like us, even if President Trasen is unelected.” The assembled crowd laughs and chuckles, with a few throwing insults at President Miranda Trasen with great élan. “But you and I, from the guys on the refining lines to our delegates representing workers across our syndicates, know what this is. What this really is: naked imperialism, and a threat to workers across the Southern Spur and beyond!” The room erupts into cheering! Somewhere in the front, a woman takes off her Planetary Guard uniform cap and begins waving it in the air. “As our ancestors fought for our rights as workers and syndicalists!” Helminen does not need a gesture to quiet the crowd, which goes silent at the sound of her voice. “So too will we fight for the future of our Spur, for the workers’ Spur! And we will never — NEVER! — surrender to tyranny, whether that be Galatea’s dictatorship of the technocrats, Biesel’s corporatist regime, or capitalist imperialism!” The First Speaker throws her hand into the air and yells to the crowd, “FOR WE SHALL OVERCOME!” The crowd roars back, “ALL ADVERSITY!” Further Reading: All-Xanu Armed Forces “Concerned” by Increase in Moroz-Earth Military Cooperation President Afzal Prepares for Holiday Season, Meets Students in Nouvelle-Rochelle Xanan Film Studios Reportedly Debating Film on Missing Tourist’s Survival

Hi, thanks for applying! WIth the tweaks to the backstory as we discussed, here are a few questions: 1. EL-Int.IS6617, like all IPCs owned by Index Security, is under a permanent ownership contract to their specific owner. Who is EL-Int.IS6617's owner? Did this owner shape EL-Int.IS6617's personality/perspective in any meaningful capacity throughout its life so far? 2. Has EL-Int.IS6617's interpretation of self preservation changed at all throughout their journey? 3. Does EL-Int.IS6617 have any hobbies or interests they have acquired? 4. What are their personal goals/ambitions now that they are posted at the SCCV Horizon? What do they want to accomplish, aside from atonement in the eyes of their owner? 5. I don't see an answer to "How has the recent events of the Orion Spur impacted your character? Events such as the Phoron Scarcity, the Solarian Collapse or even the Invasions of Biesel for interstellar-wide affairs, while region-specific events such as the Peacekeeper Mandate, The Titan Rises or even Cold Dawn may impact your character." Could you please include it in your application?

I have always felt off about the ethnicities-as-planets structure. It has also been openly criticized from other communities. While I do not think that we should grovel to the concerns of other communities, I think there is a kernel of truth to some of the criticisms.

This isn't in Lore Canonization Applications because this is mostly just my stream of consciousness, not concrete enough for proper revisions. Speaking of which, be nice to the Lore Team, since they're working with shoddy foundations balanced on a house of cards, etc. Konyang : For something that's supposed to represent Chinese/Korea/Japan, it is FAR too Korean-dominated. Imagine if there was a "Great Britiain" planet, supposed to represent English/Scottish/Irish. Except all of the signs and major place names were in Gaelic. And the planet was called Gaeltacht. Because of this, despite it being the premier "East Asian" planet, I don't find it very appealing for my (asian) characters to have their origin from there. Outside of a Korean character, it just feels misrepresenting. And another gripe is having New Hong Kong. Which is already covered by New Hai Phong. Which is just silly. At the very least the name should be changed. Frankly speaking, though. Konyang, conceptually, can work. Taiwan, Korea and Japan have a lot of similarities already (Mainland China is it's own thing) - they just need to be balanced accordingly. Sol Alliance : Sol Common is just Chinese, and the shtick is just "Hail Xi Jinping. Glory to the CCP." It feels like a Baystation holdover. A bunch of planets have Chinese cities and cultural stuff, but they mostly feel like afterthoughts - like, "oh, shit, we're supposed to be chinese". Which unfortunately doesn't culminate into an actual, appreciable chinese planet nor origin - which ideally, would've been supplemented by Konyang, but doesn't work for reasons stated. New Hai Phong doesn't count for me, because it's supposed to represent Guangdong/Continental Southeast Asia. Dominia : Same as above, although reasonably, Dominia is it's own, separate thing. Although, strangely, House Zhao has no ethnic restrictions. John Zhao is a perfectly legal character. Which is silly. That's about it, I guess. Kill me with hammers if I missed something that completely invalidates everything I've said.

So overall, I quite like the hydroponics overhaul that was merged way back in August, on paper at least. I love adding more mechanics to roles that don't have much, and more often than not, I found myself ordering those super complicated random gen seeds from cargo as a Xenobotanist, just to have a bit of a challenge. A few times in the past few weeks, I've tried to grow plants in the public garden, and ended up with dead plants, a wasted hour, and no produce, despite my sitting in the garden and giving the plants a steady supply of water and nutriment. I don't want this PR totally reverted (it looks like a lot of work went into it), but I know that there have been some discussions about how non-gardener players are upset, and it all stems from not being able to grow a plant in the garden. The roles that this PR affected the worst are the chef and the bartender, but it definitely messes with all the other roles, too. If someone wants to do some cooking in the cafe, many of the ingredients they need are now hardlocked behind having a gardener or xenobotanist. There are 79 plants available in the public garden's seed storage. Of the ones there, only 29 are stable at 293 K. That's only 36%! Of those, 24 require a luminosity of 5, and the others require a luminosity of 7. Unfortunately, I have no idea what light level the garden is at, especially now that the lighting code has been changed, but I do believe that this new lighting code has been affecting the ability for plants to grow in the public garden. Even when attempting to grow items like apples and berries (all of which require 293 K at light level 5), they take an extremely long time and will also say that they are dying, even though the temperature is where it is supposed to be. Here is an example of my super confusing apple tree that took 30 minutes to grow and then died after 1 harvest: No one wants to spend 1/4th of the round in the garden trying to dump nutriment and water into their plant so it'll survive. I think a viable change would be to have plants grow faster the closer they are to their ideal light level/temperature, rather than having the plant cease growing altogether. Then, the hydroponicist is still able to tweak their hydroponics trays for their plants to grow and produce at peak speed, and during the rounds when there is no hydroponist, players can still grow the produce they need for the kitchen, the bar, bounties, the pharmacy, the cafe, and wherever else produce is needed, simply at a slower rate than a gardener/xenobotanist is able to. And they won't have to babysit the plant as much.

Accepted

We used to have PDA batteries that reasonably lasted all round. I didn’t catch whatever compelled us to get rid of that and move to the communal charge outlet meta. I still charged them when the battery life was normal, because I like seeing a green bar. Now I have to do it. PDA batteries as they are are absurd and inconvenient and dumb, and the only defense for them that I can fully understand is “sovl,” which isn’t to say I agree. And if you want more mechanical tedium and you want it to present obstacles to people roleplaying with you, why did you connect to Aurorastation 13 exactly? At least, when you’re hacking through spontaneously generated magical hyperweeds that have no backing whatsoever in lore, have nothing to do with your character’s skillset, and present very little worth discussing with your fellow laborers in lieu of getting more hits in before it undoes your work, you’re still in the company of others. If you’d made the mistake of getting caught up in a long conversation somewhere that arbitrarily had no outlets or APCs immediately at hand, it’s sadly over for you. Honey, it’s time to leave your human interaction, I need you for your outlet-clicking. What a finite battery charge adds, for me, is a sense that time is passing. When you bring up your PDA after a bracing discussion over tea with your IRU girlfriend regarding how the Tribunal Inquisition is good for society and should have enforcement arms in all nations of the Spur, the bar is now yellow. Wow! We really went at it. What a fun engagement that must have been, I think I’ll spend the rest of my round happily reflecting on how I spent all that time. But I don’t get a single thing from the PDA actually dying. You know how you have to turn a dead PDA on while it’s on charge in order for it to start charging? Yeah, that doesn’t add anything either. I get a sense that Aurora was never designed with dead PDAs in mind.