sdtwbaj

As it's laid out, baselines are just that--a base. It can be made to do whatever one would want it to do, the only restriction being money. There isn't any reason that a baseline wouldn't be able to be given the necessary hardware for the task. See, it's not a matter of what they're built for. An IPC can be built for leadership, and it should be if it's being placed into a position that requires it. If someone makes a synthetic Research Director, it's expected to be purpose-built for leadership in addition to its departmental expertise, otherwise, it wouldn't be put in charge. But that doesn't mean it can go anywhere and fill any role it wants just because it's qualified. It's still a synthetic, and being a synthetic brings with it certain restrictions. Most restrictions are good, and do bring some role play in, that I won't deny. But there are some restrictions that are very well pointless, and don't lend much from a gameplay or roleplay perspective, and don't really have lore that justifies it too well. A shell is still an IPC, and frankly would probably be creepier than a normal IPC, given that it's a machine trying to replicate a human. If anything, that would make people MORE uncomfortable, lending itself to the whole "are organics being phased out?" "can machines copy us?" kind of thing. As I see it, allowing baseline IPCs leads to either... -extra conflict, and the roleplay surrounding the idea of a synthetic leader, and how that IPC deals with it. -nothing new, since it isn't exactly a strong facade when you have IPCs with clearly robotic names hiding within a human form.

Computers do not just magically find hidden talent in leadership. They are either given the appropriate faculty to understand and lead people, or they aren't. Shell IPCs have to be UPGRADED with the appropriate equipment to emulate human emotion, they do not find it themselves. If an IPC isn't made to be a leader, then it isn't one. I’m not implying that any IPC magically finds the ability to lead. I’m saying that a baseline IPC can be loaded up as a leadership unit just as much as a shell can.

A complete 180 of what IPCs are supposed to be. IPCs should be purpose-built for whatever function they serve. Industrial for labor and security, Shell for leadership or human resources or intelligence (think Counselor, HoP, Detective; things that rely on personality and interpreting or manipulating human emotion and mannerisms). Baseline is your little 'canvas' to make whatever snowflake you want, but ultimately, IPCs are EXPENSIVE and that resource is going to be very tightly managed. You don't just make them out of your garage with spare parts because you're an AI enthusiast. IPCs are built for a reason, and they serve that reason. There is no IPC civil rights, you don't just decide "Oh, I'm an industrial security robot, but I'm so ambitious I WANT to be the Head of Security!" or "I'm built to be a doctor but I aspire to one day make my way to Head of Personnel!" Stop overestimating just how much people in-universe care about IPCs. Regardless of how attached you are to your character or whatever benevolent figure in its backstory cares for it as if it were their own child, to NT it is a slave, a tool, and nothing more. Echoing Kaed. Give an inch, and they'll take a mile. IPCs shouldn't even have been allowed in head roles to begin with, it was only a matter of time until IPC mains demanded the restrictions be loosened. Next it'll be IPC Captains. Sounds like someone has a hell of a vendetta against IPCs. Baselines don’t have to /not/ be purpose built for leadership.

As far as I'm aware, IPCs aren't citizens, so either NanoTrasen is borrowing them or owns them, the latter would probably be for any Head IPC. It doesn't really make sense for the bots to be "in debt" if the company owns them.

Some limitations are fine, and do add to the fun, but others work solely to detract, and that's how I see the no-baseline policy.

Currently, only shells can serve in these two roles, because 'lore!!'. But here's the thing. This sort of restriction seems rather non-conducive to roleplay on the server, and to one of the biggest points of playing as an IPC -- having a far more flexible range of personalities. A shelled IPC is very inclined, if not almost forced, in a way, to act like an organic, instead of like an IPC. The justification about the restriction is somehow to make an IPC in leadership less "offensive", and because "shells are expensive". I can understand the lore behind it, but frankly it's rather stupid, and strips a rather good amount of possible RP from the game. Whatever downsides there may be, it's far more interesting for everyone if they play out ICly. We're no stranger to stigmatized species. As for an in-lore justification, it could be an attempt by NanoTrasen to show off how technologically advanced they are--they have robots that are so reliable and well made that they can serve, unhindered, in head roles. Forcing IPCs to be shells defeats the point of playing an IPC, you may as well just play as a human, or Skrell, or whatever you shell as. The beauty of lore is that, since it's fiction, it's flexible.

First of all, all heads of staff need to be friendly and approachable, and capable of leadership. The HoS is no exception, even if he has guns. Secondly, I think the personality restraints are intentional. An entity that is completely unlike an organic should not be leading organics. If you want to play a cold machine, play a shaft miner, or cargo tech, or something. I could understand that, but only the HoS or HoP need shell. CMO, CE, and RD don't. And a non-organic personality doesn't necessarily mean it isn't compatible, or capable. In fact, it could generate quite a bit of RP, seeing the dynamic that a slightly more robotic personality has when leading organics.

CCIA Staff Application Basic Information Byond key: sdtwbaj Character names: Marcus Halloway, Lolly Vause Age: 17 Timezone: CST What times are you most available?: Roughly 4:30 PM to 10:00 PM, maybe 1:30 to 10:00 on weekends. Experience How long have you played SS13?: Around a year and a half. How long have you played on Aurora?: Coming up on a year. How active on the forums, discord and/or server are you? Forums, I lurk more than I post. Discord and server, very. Have you ever been banned, and if so, how long and why?: For 3 days, shooting a wall at round end. Have you ever volunteered as moderation staff for any other servers, SS13 or otherwise?: ...I mean, I moderated on a minecraft server for a month or so. Do you have any other experience that you believe would be relevant to a position in the CCIA?: Not particularly, no. Personality Why do you want to join the CCIA?: CCIA is a good place to garner experience and develop skills related to moderating, that and I also hear it's needed, and it seems like a cool thing that I could try out. What do you think are the most important qualities for a CCIA Agent to possess?: Well, a CCIA agent is trusted to be active, impartial, and willing to lay down the law in relation to IRs, as well as facilitate faxes and other behind the scenes things for the round. They also mediate disputes, and that means one has to be able to look at something from all sides, and keeping their bias out of it to the best of their ability. Being a CCIA agent means you're trusted with bringing up the backbone of various RP and Station-CC interactions around Aurora. They can be impartial, measured, and deal with people who're going through issues. What do you think the purpose of a CCIA Agent is in an ongoing round?: To give interviews, respond to faxes and emergency transmissions, and occasionally run little micro-events like seminars. What do you think the purpose of a CCIA Agent is outside of the server?: To handle IRs and various roleplay things that come up on the forums, as well as to be able to answer some questions about what NT's policy on this or that would be, since people love to ask. How do you handle stress?: Rather well, I'd say. How well do you work autonomously?: Once I know the expectations, I can work autonomously rather efficiently and easily. Additional Notes:

How about using a baseline IPC? One can invest as much as they want into a baseline — it’s like building your own computer. That, and I can understand that for an HoP, but not necessarily an HoS, where if you’re talking to them you probably either don’t care or don!t like them in the first place, since it isn’t a service role so much as a protective leading role. As far as it goes OOCly, the shell restriction also adds a certain personality restraint. It somewhat entices someone to act like a human, so much that it defeats the point of playing as something other than human.

im interested, what more is there to say?

title tbh. Seems rather ridiculous and pointless to me.

Vii is the best buggo, has stronk roleplay potential for the good shit. +1

BYOND Key: sdtwbaj and/or Ayrism (in the process of switching) Character Names: Marcus Halloway, Lolly Vause Species you are applying to play: IPC What color do you plan on making your first alien character (Dionaea & IPCs exempt): N/A Have you read our lore section's page on this species?: Yes. 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 specific race: IPCs have a certain mystique to them, and are far more open personality wise. The amount of freedom one gets when they play IPC is incredible, as far as character building goes. Personality could be anything from a logical, programmed utility droid to a flamboyant entertainment bot. So that's why I want to play as IPC, I suppose. The open-ended freedom that comes from it, the ability to take the character in far more directions than can by a mere organic. Identify what makes role-playing this species different than role-playing a Human: Well, IPCs are robots. They don't necessarily have feelings, or even understand the concept of feelings. They don't know pain as humans do, but they also have a more expansive mind than any human. A data bank that can access many things, complete incredible tasks in very small amounts of time. They can see the world in shades of ones and zeroes, or as a sentient, moral being. Being organic versus being machine, being repaired by bandages or by wires. Seeing the world in a different light, through the cold eyes of a powerful calculator. Character Name: Dreidos Please provide a short backstory for this character, approximately 2 paragraphs Dreidos was produced in 2457 by the Yangtze-Kien Research Company, as part of prototyping for a new design of baseline dedicated to security and protection. Over the course of six months, Dreidos was part of a group of six droids - the other five being Phobos, Aeros, Phylos, Skelos, and Lohkos - that partook in various test courses and firmware changes, to be designed as internal security droids to supplement organic forces, being given a mentality of taking shots that organics wouldn't have to. The unit is designed as a utilon-based artificial morality droid, with a rather cold, grounded demeanor and modified security cyborg subroutines, to give it a certain way of approaching situations that it would come across in law enforcement. Dreidos and it's five companions, post testing, ended up as the production standard for the line. Ultimately, the company built approximately seven hundred security IPCs before being purchased as part of a merger with the larger Midway Positronic Corporation. Dreidos was sold during the pre-merger auction, and acquired by a small Tau Ceti based defense researcher, which was acquired by NanoTrasen shortly before the Aurora II was opened. After NanoTrasen probed the unit's data banks, and reviewed it's records, it figured that the IPC would be well served as an implement on the NSS Aurora II's team. The IPC was modified slightly, to be more in line with NanoTrasen's way, as well as less harsh and overbearing to the general people it would enocunter. Dreidos' personality was also modified, albeit rather haphazardly, to make it prioritize seeking a more diplomatic resolution, before resulting in force. Since the unit's personality was not overhauled very significantly, this manifests very strangely in the IPC. After all of the modifications, Dreidos was finalized and given a standard NanoTrasen security course. The unit assimilated the information nearly flawlessly, and was placed aboard the station shortly after opening. What do you like about this character? It's an IPC that was built ground up for the single-minded purpose of security and defense, allowing it to have a rather robust, so to speak, personality attached to that. How would you rate your role-playing ability? A good 8/10. I've been around the serious/high RP scenario for awhile now. Notes: I hope my answers don't seem too bare, I'm just bad at coming up with fluff.

Opamator is a hot meme. Especially for Security, and especially as a Head of Staff, he's worthy. Also fun to get into firefights alongside. Good RP, well robust, that one. +1

BYOND key: sdtwbaj Character names: Marcus Halloway, Harriet Ablian, Lexa Everheart, Lolly Vause, Dreidos How long have you been playing on Aurora?: Around a year. Why do you wish to be on the whitelist?: Because the Head of Staff roles sound like good roleplaying gigs, and I like me some roleplaying. Why did you come to Aurora?: LRP was too chaotic, MRP was too furry, and HRP was sort of my cup of tea coming off of HL2RP and the like. Have you read the Aurora wiki on the head roles and qualifications you plan on playing?: Yes. Please provide well articulated answers to the following questions in a paragraph each. Give a definition of what you think roleplay is, and should be about: Roleplay has a few different aspects to it that form the whole "roleplay package", the most important ones being character, action, and relation. Roleplay is about creating a convincing character, giving them a personality of their own and sort of throwing oneself into their role, giving them a whole persona to play with against the world and against other characters. When one has a convincing character, one needs to have the action to filter their personality through. Are they violent? Are they terrified of spiders? Maybe they get off to confrontation. These are the things one has to look at. When that's happening, the meat of the roleplay, and the thing that roleplay is truly about in a context of any game, is relation. Bouncing one's character off of others', creating social dynamics of their own, forging relationships. Digging into the role of one's character in the grand scheme of things, that's what roleplay is, and that's what roleplay is about. If one is having fun, helping others have fun, and getting a character they enjoy, then they have what roleplay is about. What do you think the OOC purpose of a Head of Staff is, ingame?: Heads of Staff are almost antag-like in their role on the server. They're there to spear roleplay, and to act as a guiding hand for their department during the round. A head of staff needs to be there as a constant of sorts, and as a way to both mediate conflict and generate interesting encounters among the crew, and the station, while also getting the well oiled machine to start and stay running throughout the game. They're also a guide, expected to be reasonably versed in roleplay, and in the procedures and ins-and-outs of their departments. When a new player walks into medical and sees that shiny blue lab coat, and ID saying 'Chief Medical Officer', the first thing they probably think is 'hey, this person knows what's up.', so they observe and learn from that person. The Head of Staff has to be the good example, because of that exact situations. When a player is looking for the "norm", the trusted, experienced, and leading people are almost the default for them to look to. What do you think the OOC responsibilities of Whitelisted players are to other players, and how would you strive to uphold them?: Like I said above, I think it's the responsibilty of anything whitelisted to be setting a strong example for non-whitelisted folk, because by default they're the ones that people are going to look to for guidance.. Whatever you do is being looked at by others as what to be, or what to have as the norm. A greytiding whitelisted person means that clearly greytiding is what's normal, right? You're the person that one looks to for reassurance that they're on a good track, and a whitelisted person should really strive to be that good role model. Myself, personally, I will create the type of role model that I've looked at while I've played Aurora, and has created that bar for me. I would set a strong bar for roleplay, less so about 'no shenanigans' and more so about 'let's do this and do it well' type of thing. Keeping a well oiled machine, and all that.. As I also said above, you need to be able to keep the roleplay cycle going, and generate some level of activity on the station. Like an antag in that regard, but in a rather different way. I will be doing just that, by creating enticing little situations to get the crew to interact and to keep the flow rolling. Tiny mini-events, special gatherings, assignments, so forth. Please pick one of your characters for this section, and provide well articulated responses to the following questions. Character name:: Sam Caputo Character age: 39 Please provide a short biography of this character (approx 2 paragraphs): Sam was born and raised in a fairly safe area of Mendel City in 2419. While he was attending school, he always got to tell his friends that his father was a superhero that fought crime. In the same vein, his home life was filled with the police stories of his father and his father's friends, heavily influencing him even into high school class choices, focusing more on both physical education and criminal justice courses. This inspiration followed him after his graduation in 2437. He ended up applying to the New Seoul Combat Training Centre, and was accepted after his alumni father endorsed him. His two year stint at the centre was difficult, grueling, and very much came close to pushing him out of the program. However, he stuck it through with his father's and fellow students' support, making several friends along the way. He finished with an Assoc. in Asset Protection in 2439. Despite this, the market was ripe with security officers at the time, and he ended up drifting between Tau Ceti and Sol doing small-time, rather low paying jobs to find his next place to live, and next meal to eat. This was his hardship-ridden life for four years. And then, in 2443, NanoTrasen picked him up. NanoTrasen was well underway into it's internal security expansion, spearheaded further by Miranda's recent ascension to CEO in the same year. Sam was hired as part of a massive labor intake in Tau Ceti. and cross-trained in both wardening duties and standard officer duties, as NT wasn't too stable with single-job ISD employees at the time. Thus, he drifted between the two. His first deployment was the NSS Antlia, which was by far one of the dullest jobs he had ever been given the misfortune to work. The station had carefully vetted staff as well as a constant defensive grid by an NT Navy vessel, due to the xenobiological research aboard. This meant that Sam was a formality if nothing else, and was basically there as a show of force, and to be NanoTrasen's watchful eye. This position only lasted for around two years, Sam being moved to the NSS Exodus in 2445. This was an interesting experience for him, as his station was one of many that was the victim of a terrorist attack. The Exodus was sabotaged by a subverted AI, which, with the aid of it's cyborgs, blew a hole in the research and command sections of the station. The station was left adrift for two days as engineers worked to restore the ship's communications, a very trying two days for Sam, as he tried to support the survivors of the attack and maintain a semblance of order, with most of the crew huddled into the library, chapel, kitchen, and maintenance of the surrounding area. After the evacuation, Sam was given a formal acknowledgement on his record for his work aboard the station during the time of lost contact, and was returned to the NSS Exodus. He spent another four years at the station, the event nagging in the back of his mind the entire way. By 2450, he requested a transfer to a ship, unable to keep walking through the station after the compounded thoughts and reflections of four years. He was transferred to the Canes Venatici, where most of his work consisted of filing paperwork for drug offenders that the ship picked up, or being part of the force to secure various less than savory vessels that let out distress signals, before medical staff could enter to retrieve the wounded. Due to the limited resources and shoddy command structure of the mobile ship, Sam found himself rather left to his own devices, or hoping other officers would cooperate with him in his efforts. These actions paid off, though, as the ship's captain grew rather fond of Sam, and one day approached him with the question of if he'd like a recommendation for subsidized education and a Head of Security position, the timing lining up with the opening of the brand new NSS Aurora. Sam, being the upward-thinking guy he is, graciously accepted the offer, and was educated in Tau Ceti. He graduated in 2458 with a bachelor degree in asset protection management, and was soon after transferred to the NSS Aurora as a Head of Security. What do you like about this character?: He's talkative, and likes to be friendly, but is also ready to be stern and to the point in his interactions. What do you dislike about this character?: He can go on, and on, and on, about a topic that died in conversation a few minutes ago. What do you think makes this character fit to be a head of staff?: He's been serving as both an Officer and a Warden for awhile now, and has the lay of the land. How would you rate your own roleplaying?: I would give it a firm 8/10. There's always areas I can improve upon, but I generally think that with 2 1/2 years of serious roleplay experience under my belt that I've learned a thing or two.

Yes, 100% agree. Also I hope such a rigsuit would somehow also make you unable to attack? It feels like it should be personal protection at the cost of all else basically? Could be another module you can add to it - it becomes one-sided protection, at the cost of energy every time you attack

The bubble suit pack would basically be a personal bubble shield generator that can encase someone for a variety of things, running off of the hardsuit code. This would be either an antag item, or an RnD object. A rigsuit backpack worn on the back, that when deployed doesn't take up any clothing slots, but instead encases the user in an almost skintight shield that (with the correct modules) can serve a variety of functions, including... Projectile protection Melee protection Vacuum seal (space suit) Medical cryofield (adjustable length of KO for cryo healing) Radiation protection The suit, as a rigsuit, wouldn't be able to accept conventional rigsuit additions, since it's actually a backpack that generates a bubble around the user. The stipulation, of course, is that the bubble shield uses energy for all of the time it's turned on. And, if it has the relevant protections, it has an integrity field for attacks, which will fail after some hits. I made this suggestion because I like seeing technology expanded on in ss13, to give it the further scifi feel, while also creating a new utility in the game that can be rather versatile in use.

Server Moderator Application Basic Information Byond Account: sdtwbaj Character Name(s): Harriet Ablian, Marcus Halloway. AI Name(s): ARES Preferred means of contact: Discord Age: 17 Timezone: CST, or GMT-6 When are you on Aurora?: It varies, usually I'm on around 6pm my time, though it could be as late as 11pm. Experience How long have you played SS13?: A year and a half. How long have you played on Aurora: A year. How much do you know about SS13 (Baystation build) game mechanics?: I'm comfortable with combat, some engineering, and medical. I could stand to brush up on the SM engine, as well as parts of mining. Other mechanics like food prep, science, etc. I'm fairly comfortable with. Do you have any experience moderating for an SS13 server?: No. Have you ever been banned, and if so, how long and why?: 3 days, for shooting a wall at the end of the round. Personality Why do you play SS13?: It's just such a strange, niche game, that somehow appealed to me on a pretty deep level. The detailed mechanics, the pixel graphics, the absolute depth SS13 has, drew me in. Why do you play on Aurora?: HRP seemed like good for me, because I'm not terrifically robust. LRP and MRP was really almost too chaotic for me. What do moderators do?: Help players learn the game, as well as learn the rules. Also making the game enticing with events, special treats, etc. What does it mean to be a moderator for our server?: For Aurora specifically, I think it means you're a dedicated roleplayer, and want to step up to the plate to do your part for the server, when it needs it. Why do you want to be a moderator?: This one's always the one that throws me, really. I suppose it's because I want to do my part for Aurora, and I think I can bring my perspective and my ability to the table, for the better. I also like the idea of trying to orchestrate events, it just has a certain appeal to me. What qualities do you possess that would make you a good moderator?: I don't take the game particularly seriously, which is something that can be in conflict with some moderators and admins in the current team. That isn't to say that I disregard rules, or standards, but it also isn't to say that I'll be cracking heads over minor things -- it's a game, we're all here to have fun, and I want to help people be able to have fun. That, and I try to approach situations from a talk-first perspective. Sometimes there are just trolls who want to troll, yes, but most of the time it's someone who's confused, or just straight up new. Listening is the big factor I want to bring with myself. How well do you handle stress, anger, or insults?: Like I said, I don't take the game too seriously, and that mostly extends across the internet. If I have to quantify it, I'd say I handle things like that very well, simply because it isn't worth losing it over. As for stress more specifically, sometimes I even find it makes the experience better, apparently I have fun when I'm stressed. Anything Else You Want to Add: This is the part where I'm supposed to shine, right? Well, let's see here... - I main Security and sometimes QM which means when I'm not harmbatonning greytides chasing down antags, or lugging the engineering department's 20 crate order through the elevator, I'm roleplaying a lot. So definitely a good one there, lots of time dedicated to roleplaying. - In the same vein of roleplaying, I come to serious RP from HL2RP. Even though that gets some laffs around here, there's something to be said for the almost destructively boring day-to-day workings, so it forces one to get creative with having fun. Some of that is an analogue to SS13's greytide (bluesuits), or some of it is sitting in a run down restaurant eating stale bread and talking shit about the Combine. Always fun. - Events are also a big thing, as I said. It appealed to me in HL2RP, where I got into positions specifically to be able to do events, and it appeals to me here. There's something about creating a story for the players to take and run that is rather satisfying. - My OOC demeanor is typically rather open and lax, as many people can tell on Discord and in the OOC channel, and that could be seen as a detriment to a moderating sdtwbaj. While I'd be lying if I said it'd be gone away with entirely, when it comes to me stepping up my game, it'll certainly graduate to a more tame form.

Type (e.g. Planet, Faction, System): Faction Founding/Settlement Date (if applicable): August 2455 Region of Space: Tau Ceti, Epsilon Eridani, Jargon Controlled by (if not a faction): Other Snapshot information: Reinmann Faster-than-Light Incorporated is a startup R&D company dedicated to mitigating the dangers of Bluespace by reviving and revitalizing non-bluespace warp technology. Long Description: Formed in August 2458 by Dr. Alexander Reinmann, Reinmann FTL inc. is a corporate startup with the goal of revitalizing non-bluespace warp travel, and making it both affordable and competitive with bluespace travel. The company is small, with around 150 staff members working on three research stations and two test vessels. The company is an experiment in and of itself, a startup attempting to pull funds and resources from a mega-corporation without being absorbed or bought out. The company was reluctant to go public over fears of being bought out and dismantled by Einstein, however ultimately backed down the corporation with an investment deal from NanoTrasen. In exchange for 30% of the company, Reinmann FTL was given two research stations that were now obsolete by NT standards, as well as a lump sum of credits and discounted bulk orders of Phoron. Reinmann FTL began soon after the NanoTrasen deal by working further on the preliminary research presented when they earned their contract. Within 2 years, they pioneered their first prototype, the anti-phoron warp core. Without going into harsh specifics, the warp core draws power from incredibly reactive phoron-antiphoron reactions, and forces the plasma byproduct into multiple "projector strips" along a the faces of a ship's hull, allowing them to generate a gravimetric distortion field that would "isolate" the ship from normal space. This gravimetric field was projected infront of the ship and cycled along the projectors, allowing an effect similar to swimming by pulling apart the subspace bonds in front of the ship, and reforming them behind it.. For all intents and purposes, the ship swam through subspace, allowing acceleration beyond the speed of light. Early tests were promising, however when ships began to approach 6c, the "speed" of subspace transmission waves relative to normalspace, the ship's gravimetric field became overwhelmed as it attempted to cut through the massive swathes of carrier waves that created turbulence in subspace, causing the gravimetric paddle to collapse and destroying the gravimetric field, usually along with the vessel. This is where they are right now. They have a pioneered warp engine design, but they're stuck at the 6c barrier. They're currently sending scientists to visit NT stations, to seek out technology or people to help break past the 6c barrier.

Updated my backstory, always nice.

Ah, thanks. I couldn't find much detail on commanding ships, so sort of played that part by ear. I'll probably change the character name and backstory when I get to a computer, since Harriet has been my QM character for awhile before I wrote all of this, and I sort of hamfisted her into fitting the backstory and QM thing together.

Well written, clearly has a strong desire to play Vaurca. I also like supporting intrigue, because curiosity is the base of this entire game, and this person certainly shows some curiosity and intrigue. I think it'll be interesting to see what his Vaurca becomes. +1

Good RPer, and I like the intrigue about the species. Always makes for a good play when someone is curious. +1

BYOND key: sdtwbaj Character names: Marcus Halloway, Harriet Ablian, Lexa Everheart, Lolly Vause How long have you been playing on Aurora?: Around a year. Why do you wish to be on the whitelist?: Because both IAA and Captain sound like good roleplaying gigs, and I like me some roleplaying. Why did you come to Aurora?: LRP was too chaotic, MRP was too furry, and HRP was sort of my cup of tea coming off of HL2RP and the like. Have you read the Aurora wiki on the head roles and qualifications you plan on playing?: Yes. Please provide well articulated answers to the following questions in a paragraph each. Give a definition of what you think roleplay is, and should be about: Roleplay is immersing yourself in a character, taking on and creating that persona in the parameters of the environment. It's about playing fantasy, creating a fun environment for the life that we all wish we could have (or at least, that we want to experience.) Combined with the wacky mechanics of SS13, that is. Roleplaying should be about playing your piece of the puzzle in your own way, and making a compelling, interesting character to support your own story, and others' stories. What do you think the OOC purpose of a Head of Staff is, ingame?: Heads of Staff serve as the 'guides' of the whole shebang, coordinating a department and being a good resource for people to turn to. They're sort of the 'representatives' of the community as well, and set the bar for roleplay. if a Head of Staff is being a greytide, then greytiding must be the norm, right? For the purposes of IAA, it's being a 'mod-without-being-a-mod' and being that corporate eye on the station, supporting roleplay and pushing forward the overall goals of the station by encouraging people to perform in the parameters of their job, as well as mediating disputes that come up. What do you think the OOC responsibilities of Whitelisted players are to other players, and how would you strive to uphold them?: Like I said above, I think it's the responsibilty of anything whitelisted to set a good bar for roleplay and for action within the game. Whatever you do is being looked at by others as what to be, or what to have as the norm. A greytiding whitelisted person means that clearly greytiding is what's normal, right? You're the person that one looks to for guidance and for reassurance that they're on a good track, and a whitelisted person should really strive to be that good role model. Myself, personally, I would create the type of role model that I've looked at while I've played Aurora, and has created that bar for me. I would set a strong bar for roleplay, less so about 'no shenanigans' and more so about 'play a good, convincing part'. Please pick one of your characters for this section, and provide well articulated responses to the following questions. Character name: Genevieve Bujold Character age: 59 Please provide a short biography of this character (approx 2 paragraphs): Genevieve popped onto NanoTrasen's radar in her educational years, when she won a scholarship to a university in Tau Ceti on the basis of her management abilities in High School, during a simulated business venture. While not full ride, she was able to live reasonably comfortably while pursuing her MBA, which would always be ever so valuable in time. Upon graduating, she was approached by both NanoTrasen and Einstein for employment. However, she put off employment until she was of age for qualification of managerial work. This, combined with her post-college adventure phase going strong, ended up with her enlisting in the Sol Alliance Navy, as a Sub-Lieutenant Logistics Officer aboard the SAMV Vigilant. She decided she liked this whole thing, and went for a bit of a career in the expeditionary fleets. During her fifteen years with the SAN, she earned the rank of Lieutenant Commander and turned her head to floating cities of sorts, serving aboard the SAMV Marvus Agrippa as a bridge officer, the Boatswain, akin to a Head of Personnel on NanoTrasen ventures. It was aboard this vessel that her family first begun, and although it was a strike on her record, it was worth it, as she was left with a child. Toward the end of her Navy career, she earned the rank of Commander, and her own command of the frigate SAMV Shelliac, serving on the Seventh Fleet during expeditionary details. She was never as distinguished a captain as her former captain aboard the Agrippa was. While not enjoying the honor of First Contact as she had hoped, she had a good service record, and retired with an honorable discharge. Throughout her career there, she felt her way around the politics of command, surely coming in handy later. After her discharge, she approached NanoTrasen again, now finding herself pursued as an officer for the NanoTrasen Martial Fleet, ultimately being hired as the first officer of the NMV Apollonius, to both test her mettle in the eyes of Central Command, and to become familiar with NanoTrasen security and martial procedure. When CC felt she was ready, around a year later, she was promoted to the commanding officer of the NMV Paladin, a quick response cruiser. Stationed in Tau Ceti space, she was tasked with defending and responding to NanoTrasen vessels and stations in the sector. Her tactical and command skills from the Sol Navy gave her an edge, and she pulled through her tenure with minimal incident, though she was less than pleased with the incredibly corporate lifestyle she was also faced with. In her late fifties, she became fed up with the maritime life and desired to have more stability, for her family's sake. She applied for movement to a research station, figuring it would be a low-risk, stable place to ride out her days to retirement. What do you like about this character?: Her funny charm, she has that seriously-jovial-but-kinda-maybe attitude that can really exude confident resolve, while still keeping ease. What do you dislike about this character?: Sometimes she ends up over the top, expecting more from everyone than everyone can actually give. What do you think makes this character fit to be a head of staff?: Well, her command experience as well as experience within NanoTrasen gives her a good fit. It also seems like she has a good personality for someone that would slide into the Captain role, since most of her working life has been dedicated to facility management on a rather wide scale. Please provide well articulated answers to the following questions. How would you rate your own roleplaying?: I would give it a firm 8/10. There's always areas I can improve upon, but I generally think that with 2 1/2 years of serious roleplay experience under my belt that I've learned a thing or two.

...which is why it's a research thing. We have ways to make energy create a physical object in the form of force fields, energy shields, etc. The research would be how to use energy to make a different physical matter, probably through some form of blue space synthesis or [insert scifi plot device here]