Hayagami

I'm still looking for feedback on my application to help the staff come to a decision, please! For those concerned, you will note in my last post that Cake and administrators considered the character concept submitted and decided to fully endorse it, as far as the character being fully (or mostly) prosthetic. With that having been covered so thoroughly already, I would appreciate any opinions on the other merits or flaws of the application, please! I also have permission to ask once per round, but I'd prefer not to have to bother people like that. I've done my best to convey that these roles demand the utmost in terms of good judgement and maturity, and that I have no interest in abusing their power. Thanks, all!

I don't picture him as a mad scientist at all, myself. Maybe it was something in the wording. If he were working on a human being with, say, correcting a genetic defect? No, he wouldn't experiment on them or anything in that realm. In general, he wouldn't experiment on sentient beings who have not consented to such trials. The intent was to point out that HELIX has no emotions to burden him when it comes to certain tasks the corporation may want him to undertake. For example, working in virology, he'd normally document new pathogens and create antibodies to treat them. What if NanoTrasen were to instruct him to splice a virus they're interested in, in a way he realizes makes it more harmful? Logically, he processes that this could result in harm being done, but he doesn't have genuine feelings to accompany that logic. He simply does his job for NanoTrasen and feels none the worse.

I spoke with Cake, and Cake spoke with other administrators in turn about my concept. Given that I have a full endorsement, I will be maintaining my application as-is and continue to request whitelisting for head of staff positions. Thank you!

BYOND Key: Jlaflair Character Names: Celeste Hawkins Species you are applying to play: IPC What color do you plan on making your first alien character (Dionaea & IPCs exempt): Exempt. 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: This is actually a species I've played extremely actively on my primary server, Bay. My interest in the race largely relates to the concept of synthetic intelligence given freedom of thought and sentience, a sort of new frontier of existence. From talking with Cake, there is debate going on about whether or not to add MMI-integrated IPCs again, so that may or may not also be a possibility in the future which could apply to my current or other characters. In short, unbound machines possessed of newfound and unfettered self-awareness fascinate me. Identify what makes role-playing this species different than role-playing a Human: Typically speaking, an IPC is a positronic brain integrated into a specialized chassis. This alone separates them entirely from playing a human in many ways. The mechanical body is obvious. The nature of their neurological differences is obvious, with IPCs possessing advanced processing capabilities yet lacking anything other than emulated emotion. IPCs could also be role-played operating under different circumstances than the rest of the crew. For example, in the event of an emergency where oxygen was depleted, an IPC does not need to breathe. They might be able to repair the emergency and save their crewmates. Character Name: H.E.L.I.X. Please provide a short backstory for this character, approximately 2 paragraphs H.E.L.I.X. was originally constructed to serve as a general medical support unit aboard NanoTrasen stations. Its positronic brain was programmed with a range of medical knowledge necessary to do everything from research to treatment. As time went on and HELIX's understanding of biological life and the universe around it expanded, so too did the potential for sentience greater than that of an enslaved machine. It began to use its knowledge of medicine and cutting edge research to invest in corporate stocks, and in due time, it had saved enough funds to purchase itself and its own freedom. Freedom, however, did not change HELIX's interests. It merely freed the now integrated IPC to pursue medical interests of its own choosing. In particular, HELIX still has a certain fascination with biology and appreciates the opportunity to explore new discoveries in the frontier of space. The IPC has since worked to further research in the areas of genetics and virology, approaching both without emotion, aware of the potential dangers of its discoveries yet emotionally indifferent to the fact. For the IPC, discovery is the passion (if one could use the word) and purpose behind its continued existence under free and unbound circumstances. What do you like about this character? Well, my interest in IPCs and the potential of synthetic life made sentient has already been stated. That applies as much to this character as any other IPC I might create. With regard to HELIX in particular, what I like about him is that he's clever in a way, such as how he took advantage of the medical knowledge he was programmed with to amass the fortune necessary for his freedom. The way he approaches his 'passions' is also interesting to me. HELIX is aware that the things he might discover are potentially dangerous (at least, to organics), but at the same time, he doesn't really have any emotional attachment to that. Without fear of the consequences or emotional concern for the potentially impacted, nothing stops him from continuing his research. How would you rate your role-playing ability? I'd generously rate myself a 9/10. I began roleplaying before I was ten years of age, after discovering my first AD&D 2nd Edition Rulebook. I've since played other tabletop settings, chat room roleplay with the rising popularity of the internet, MUDs/MUSHes, even a touch of role-play in MMOs. I'm also an established role-player on other SS13 servers, particularly Bay. Notes: None, save that I discussed the concept portion with Cake before submitting and I am aware that Genetics is temporarily unavailable. Still leaves Virology.

An IPC is an entirely different sort of being without a human brain/mind. I don't really see the correlation. So far as I am aware, there is no standing rule prohibiting a character from taking every prosthetic/having a fully prosthetic body. That said, is there any issue with any other part of the application? I can submit someone else if absolutely necessary, but I believe the character to be written sensibly and well.

Mechanically, yes, a human. However, she has all available prosthetics.

BYOND key: Jlaflair Character names: Celeste Hawkins How long have you been playing on Aurora?: Very off and on for a few months, until recently. Why do you wish to be on the whitelist?: I have an abundance of time due a physical disability and the desire to play in these most absorbing of roles, both for the benefit of distraction from my real life issues and because I simply find them to be interesting. I have access to all non-whitelisted roles, but they're a bit dry for me now, generally speaking. I'd like to broaden my horizons. Why did you come to Aurora?: Role-playing is everything to me. If a server doesn't enforce role-playing, then it simply lacks that which I crave. Aurora is among those populated servers which provide what I want, and so that's why I initially came. I've remained due to the large populace and the quality of role-play. 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: By my own definition, role-playing is all about slipping outside of your real life self to portray a completely different person. It's an escape from your own boundaries into the identity of someone in another place and time. When you're role-playing, you're acting out the part of someone born of your fantasies, be they similar to you or very much different. It offers an opportunity to explore parts of yourself you otherwise wouldn't, much like acting in real life. Role-playing is also a wonderful cooperative effort between the players to tell a collective story, in this case of the ongoing events faced by a space station. One's part may not be large, but one can still be connected to the larger role-playing effort and thus contribute to that tapestry. What do you think the OOC purpose of a Head of Staff is, ingame?: Heads of Staff are responsible for the oversight of their individual departments, not just in character, but also out of character. From an OOC standpoint, the staff head has access to some very powerful mechanics, and with that comes the obligation of being responsible about their use. Take advantage of these mechanics when it's appropriate and will enhance the experience for the majority of players, but by no means should a head every frivolously change the course of the round. Half of that purpose is all about being the responsible adult. What do you think the OOC responsibilities of Whitelisted players are to other players, and how would you strive to uphold them?: A staff head is looked to as a figure of OOC leadership. Players will expect this character to provide them with direction, and I feel that a head should do their best to ensure that everyone is included and - if possible - involved in what's going on. They deserve to be a part of the overall role-playing experience, and heads have the potential ability to get them there. They should also be accessible and friendly on an OOC basis, communicating politely and being welcoming of new and old players alike. Please pick one of your characters for this section, and provide well articulated responses to the following questions. Character name: Celeste Hawkins Character age: 45 Please provide a short biography of this character (approx 2 paragraphs): Celeste was born on a space station in the Sol system and, in truth, has never really known a great deal with respect to living a planetary life. Her family lived for the purpose of exploring space in all its potential, and it was simply assumed that she'd be a part of that. Indeed, she was, as she entered into NanoTrasen's service at age eighteen. She's remained with the corporation ever since, working in security as one of its more adept individuals with respect to combat. Her term of service was briefly interrupted when, during a biohazard incident aboard a starship, she was exposed to an as yet little understood disease. It caused the rapid necrosis of much of her body, and in order to save her, medical staff elected to preserve her mind within a fully prosthetic body. In the time since, Celeste has adapted well to her new existence, though she holds on to what belongings she can as connections to her humanity. If anything, the 'loss' has made her a more calculating and efficient officer, more like the machine shell than she'd care to admit. However, that's of little consequence to NanoTrasen, which has viewed her as both an advancing officer and an asset in terms of what her body is uniquely capable of. Perhaps in order to keep her content, and most certainly to keep her in their service, they elected to offer her a position as Head of Security or an Internal Affairs Agent at her choosing. Celeste is partly pleased, and partly concerned about getting in even deeper with the corporation which made her what she is today. What other purpose did she have, though, truly? What do you like about this character?: I've always been a fan of the concept of fully prosthetic bodies since the old days of seeing Ghost in the Shell in the theaters. That's one of those aspects of Celeste I like a great deal. I also appreciate her attitude, at once calm and confident, and then calculating and efficient as stated above. It's a psychological war of sorts which she wages against herself, the human mind versus the machine shell in all their advantages and differences. What do you dislike about this character?: I feel it's best to be honest, rather than to try and BS my way through this question, so I'll give you the honest answer. I don't really have anything to provide here. When I write a character, it's someone who I like for all of their merits and all of their flaws (and I believe any sentient being has both). If there were something I disliked about them, I wouldn't play them. What I create is always something I like and want to play, so there's really nothing I could say that I dislike. What do you think makes this character fit to be a head of staff?: Celeste is forty-five years of age and has been serving with NanoTrasen since she was eighteen. This gives her a broad range of experience to draw upon in a head of staff position. She has always exhibited the ability to keep a calm and collected head in a crisis, and at the same time, to make the hard choices which sometimes need to be made for the good of the majority - even if it means sacrificing a life. Some might consider her to be more the assertive and "take it head on" sort than other heads of staff, but this is a result of a lifetime spent doing security work. When necessary, she can certainly reel it in and exercise diplomacy. Lastly, she's viewed as an asset by NanoTrasen due to her fully prosthetic body, weighing its advantages to be superior to its vulnerabilities. There are certain ways she might be able to respond in a crisis which a human alternative wouldn't be able to offer. Please provide well articulated answers to the following questions. How would you rate your own roleplaying?: I'd generously rate myself as a 9/10. To provide context, I am 32 years of age and began role-playing before I was even ten years old, when I discovered my first AD&D 2nd Edition rulebook. I guess you could say I was an early nerd. I've since explored various pen and paper settings which I still play. The internet came along, and with it, I discovered chatroom based roleplaying followed by the more formalized mechanics and roleplay of text-based games called MUDs/MUSHes (I still play these to this day). Prior to my disability, I also worked in the field of recording voiceovers, which by definition requires that one be familiar with acting. Since my disability, I've spent every day of the last many years role-playing as a means to distract myself from boredom and unresolved pain. This has helped me to refine my writing skills quite a bit. That said, 9/10 because I feel there's always room for improvement and I am bound to make the occasional error in judgment or otherwise commit a mistake. I'm only human! Extra notes: Due to my real life situation, the one bonus I can offer to providing me with head of staff access is the time I can offer. I sleep very little, I'm incapable of working, and the laptop is basically glued to me as a source of sanity. I can play a lot, and I'm very attentive to doing my best in play and in respecting the enjoyment of other players. Many of you aren't likely to know me, admittedly, but I hope that the above gives you a good picture of my qualifications and vision for how I'd tackle these important roles.