Zelmana

me "takes a drag of their cigarette. GOD they're so cool."

I feel you've gotten better at developing more grounded characters and would be fine seeing what you can add to synth rp with IPCs. +1

Yes to engines no to thrusters

Then you are, as your analogy puts, still learning the notes. Plenty of 'good roleplayers' without Command WL are capable of doing a majority of the list of things you listed you struggled with. I would say, analogously, they are 'playing songs'. Command is supposed to be above that. They are 'composers' in terms of quality, if you will.

I would like to restate my desire to see Fluffy learn to roleplay well by playing a something like bartender to see if their quality rises. Otherwise, I do expect the nearly exhaustive list above of a Command/HoS character. I'm leaving my review as -1 for this go around but hope to see them take advice and learn some things as I've seen them do well previously. I think I've said my piece.

Hey Fluffy- the tone is shifting here a bit, but I want to be clear on why. The problem you had with my grievance is that you cannot manage to do so many things at the same time. Additionally, the piece that I pointed out to you- regarding prose, grammar, and character believability, are the cornerstone of great roleplay. Command is supposed to be not only an example of individuals capable of doing mechanics of a role, but doing them in a manner that is a) compliant with the ruleset b) encourages the round and flow c) with a developed character and most importantly d) doing so through roleplay, of which quality is ideally above par comparatively to the playerbase. That being said, there are many characters who are NOT command and roleplay AMAZINGLY, and conversely there are some in Command who neglect occasionally proper roleplay standards. You posted a huge list. Below I have grouped them into categories. I believe that almost the entirety (except one) are 100% completely expected of someone who is both roleplaying well and running Command. It often times that a trial whitelistee is someone who roleplays well, or can do the role of Command well, but must be taught to do both at the same time. I fear that through your trial you've demonstrated that both these skillsets (roleplaying well and the command role separately) need some work. Anyway the list you posted above stating you can't do them all are categorized neatly into some broad subjects that are essential to good Command RP: Departmental Orchestration & Running of Security (Heightened Responsibilities of Command & Difficulty Rating of Head of Security (difficulty is listed as one of the hardest in game)) Send personalized instructions on what to for every change of the situation Send status updates along with the above Get status updates from everyone on how are things going Go around checking how things are going in the ship Observe the brig to ensure the correct sentence and proceeding is applied Check the IC law on the wiki to make sure of the above (You should, without a doubt, be able to have a decent knowledge of IC regulations as a member of Command, doubly so as a HoS. Many HoS can quote i-codes. This is just being familiar with IC regs which is expected as HoS) Remind everyone that we have investigators and to hand over the antags for the processing, to the investigators to go check things reported by the crew, to officers to go check potential calls (Simple departmental orchestration, making sure people stay in their lanes) Read the security history of the multiple POIs that the investigators print and assemble, which do not print the charges so you have to use the PDA (Not really needed, you can just stay informed through talking to your detectives and having roleplay conversations about people they've found interesting.) Try to negotiate with the antags (Through Roleplay) See when it's time to send bystanders away in a manner that makes sense for the IC reason to protect them without cutting the OOC fun of seeing the gimmick (Aka roleplay) Act in a Chain of Command (Heightened Responsibilities of Command) Send status updates along with the above keep the captain and rest of the command updated, which is basically doing the same thing as above but in another channel Check the bridge and bridge crewmen to know and remain updated on the status of third party ships, including roleplaying with them (Not always essential as HoS, but if you're the only Command, yes this is of course a requirement of being in Command) Try to negotiate with the antags Roleplay Capability (Expected of all Characters, Not just Command) Go outside the department to meet and talk with various characters (not just doing your mechanic role of say just doing surgery quietly) writing and doing actions with the Me command Evaluate how the character would IC react to something Evaluate how OC is best for the round to react to something Merge the two together in a balanced way Get to know new characters Coordinate with other departments to prepare for medical emergencies, breaches, explosions, scientifical analysis and whatnot that makes IC sense (Otherwise known as 'responding to what's going on in round and roleplaying') Read through all the local chat, public channels and our channel to see if there's an emergency, someone asked something to me while i was writing or doing something, if I'm needed somewhere, if there's something I should be aware about (Keeping up with the flow of text is expected of someone in Command. Like I mentioned, I waited about 20 seconds for you to shake my RPC's hand, and I did not see a typing indicator for your character. Unless you had this disabled I'm not certain what you were doing.) Feign ignorance on what is happening when comms do not work, the antag starts sucking blood, morph into some mass or whatnot, in a believable way (This is a simple concept known as 'preserving round integrity' and should be done to an extent) Talk about it with the people present Have a Developed Character Characterize the character with more distinctive quirks (this is just developing a character and roleplay vs. creating a 'John Doe' to play a role) Go outside the department to meet and talk with various characters Maintain and foster established knownship/friendship with other characters (Known as having character relations, something that is a must) recall what each said or did, what we were discussing, what was the last thing we talked about, evaluate what's appropriate for the round to talk about (Otherwise known as 'Know whats going on') Get to know new characters (And form relationships with them if you find them interesting? God forbid) Not Always your Responsibility as HoS Coordinate with the other departments to involve them as possible in the gimmick - This majority of the antagonists responsibility Things You should actually probably not be doing unless necessary: Go hunt the antags with the rest of the security myself as possible (You should definitely be on-scene, but spearheading major things when you have appropriate staff is not something the HoS should do so directly, and is called 'frontlining'. Further, doing so without like, putting on a bulletproof vest, is also seen as a faux-pas.) Additional remarks: An ancedote regarding a gruff HoS doing the bare minimum to keep the department running is not something I want to see be an excuse for lack of good RP. They may have been a trial whitelistee, they may be under investigation for HoS removal, they may have had a player complaint immediately after the round for failing to RP well.

I realize that with such a long post going off on prose and syntax, I might as well have had some proofs from the above commenters. Note- I'm not in a position of authority or anything on this and my intent is to help show you where others are seeing the same things that I am seeing. I would recommend playing a roleplay heavy job to improve. That means something like Bartender or Chaplain (Chaplain is very very hard to do well). Ideally, with a flavor text and customize some items on your loadout to add flair. Utilize good emotes as something like a bartender, and use italics, bold, and proper punctuation to create an interesting and pleasant to read conversation. Create a believable backstory beyond a person who has a job to do. Something they can talk about, relate to other characters, and be explored by other players for fun.

Keeping in mind, and this is something that I am amazed at- your punctuation and writing style on the forums is admirable. Yet in-game it is just lacking so much. Why?

Forgive me for the length of this post, but from my observations you are very good at receiving feedback so I do not wish to hold back per se, because I believe you can improve if given proper feedback. My intent here is to instruct not only you but others in the community on better syntax and prose. Regarding your above post, I didn't complain about conflicting orders, and understood there was a radio jammer in Science/on the perp. However, what I did mention, was lack of overall roleplay standards. Some notable things that stood out to me, My character held his hand out to shake and I waited around 30 seconds and you never noticed, or reacted at all when I then emoted that I awkwardly returned it to my side. You never properly capitalized titles. Many times throughout the round I saw lack of proper punctuation such as good commas to support sentence flow. Tonation and Utilizing Italics & Bolding It is typically expected that someone in Command has a better grasp of grammar, and develops a tone of writing. Character tone is incredibly important to having a well thought out character. When you forego punctuation entirely, your character lacks proper intonation. Additionally, I do not recall you ever utilizing the SS13 specific text markup for assisting with even further tone/intonation that I would expect from a good roleplay. Those are the things that italicize or bold words for proper tone. For example, my Captain character will often be very cool and collected in speech, but will emphasize certain words with italics to show an elongated pronunciation of a word. Using bold and italics for different stresses of speech are what I'd classify as detail oriented roleplay. If it is lacking your characters will seem bland and one dimensional. In contrary, my bartender character is a synthetic. They speak very concise and robotic. They are utterly, and entirely, unemotional and totally service-oriented. My main grief- in a conversation about a completely mundane topic, say, Skrellian Delicacies, could one tell a difference if they were speaking to Ben vs. speaking to Fyodor? I don't think so. They don't change the way they speak, they have no difference in tone, roleplay speaking cadence, or things like that. Using Emotes While you do use emotes, they're not on the same level as some heightened standards of Command. Simple nods are the waterline but more is great. Again, the handshake thing- sounds like a simple miss but it notates to everyone around you're either not paying attention or can't keep up with the flow of roleplay chat. Punctuation Simply put, you do not separate clauses well. Use commas to separate independent clauses when they are joined by any of these seven coordinating conjunctions: and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet. You don't have to be perfect on this, but it makes a big difference when it comes to reading and sentence flow. Personally, it completely takes me out of my immersion if someone types like this: McCool Commander says, "Okay I got it I will be heading to the armory." McCool Commander says, "Warden see to it that the weapons are dispersed." I am not a betting man, but I would be comfortable guessing that people who type like this rest easy knowing that our game will do the absolute minimum- that is, capitalize the first letter of your speech input and add a period. Wouldn't it be much better to read something like this: McCool Commander says, "Okay, I got it- I'll be heading to the armory. Warden, see to it that the weapons are dispersed." Note that although there is use of a dashed line here, and that may not be 100% grammatically correct, in roleplay syntax it is utilized as a pause in speech. While some of our Command lack in some areas of the above writing advice, I put emphasis on some. Continually toeing the line on many of these sections, purely from a roleplay syntax and writing style, is lacking some advanced roleplay standards. Keeping in mind, none of this directly implicates your in-character actions, or lack thereof, and the grievances that some other users may have written. My main point in this is to show you that specific area of improvement, prose, syntax, and emotes.

I think a lot of these are from a Fyodor round last evening, around the time of posting.

I would like to see you raise the bar on your current standard of roleplay, namely grammar. That means proper capitalization of proper titles and utilizing commas where needed.

Originally going to post this as a shitpost to offtopic, but it is unironically something that should be removed from the menu.

If spawn as rat is diabled for everyone but staff, then it doesn't need to be in the menu. It's never enabled. It's a holdover flag of victory that looms over mousemains and quality mouse rp from the mouse debate. No, I'm not being ironic. Quit rubbing I can't play mouse in my face.

Color selector for synthskin on shells would be kino too if synth dev permits.... Think of the Golden Deep possibilities i beg you...

I remember Fluffys first day, and it was rough. They've certainly grown a lot since their grey days and I feel like this could be another step in their roleplay capability. I would like to see them in command whitelist and to see how that drives them to improve.

Niko Kimura, Martian Midjourney AI Generated Image

CON'T PROMPT 2, ANSWER B: (Request: Tell me about Niko Kimura's experiences after moving to a megacorporate ship called the SCC Horizon) Niko Kimura has recently accepted a new job opportunity on the SCC Horizon, a massive megacorporate ship owned and operated by the Solarian Consolidated Corporation (SCC). The ship is one of the largest and most advanced in the solar system, and is responsible for transporting goods and passengers between the various colonies and habitats in the solar system. Niko was excited to take on this new challenge and begin working on the ship, which he saw as a great opportunity to further his career and gain valuable experience. Upon arriving on the SCC Horizon, Niko was immediately struck by the scale and complexity of the ship. With its massive engines, advanced robotics systems, and state-of-the-art facilities, the SCC Horizon was like nothing Niko had ever seen before. He quickly settled into his new quarters, which were small but comfortable, and began exploring the ship to get a feel for its layout and operations. As he settled into his new role on the SCC Horizon, Niko quickly found himself working long hours in the ship's engineering department, where he was responsible for maintaining and repairing the various systems and equipment that kept the ship running smoothly. Despite the demanding nature of his work, Niko enjoyed the sense of purpose and accomplishment he felt as he worked to keep the SCC Horizon running at peak efficiency. In his free time, Niko took advantage of the many amenities the ship had to offer, including a gym, a library, and even a small park where he could go for a walk and enjoy some fresh air. He also made some new friends among his coworkers and the other passengers on the ship, and found himself enjoying the close-knit community that had formed aboard the SCC Horizon. Overall, Niko's experiences on the SCC Horizon have been both challenging and rewarding, and he looks forward to continuing his work on the ship as it travels throughout the solar system, connecting people and places in ways that were previously unimaginable.

CON'T PROMPT 2, ANSWER A: (Request: Create a Character in this Setting) Meet Niko Kimura, a 25-year-old engineer living and working in the arcology of New Tianjin on Mars. Niko was born and raised on Mars, the child of two former Earth immigrants who had come to the red planet in search of a better life. Growing up, Niko was always fascinated by the inner workings of technology and machines, and he excelled in his studies in engineering and robotics. After completing his education, he landed a job at one of the largest tech companies on Mars, where he works as a design engineer, developing new technologies for use in the harsh Martian environment. In his free time, Niko enjoys tinkering with his own personal robotics projects and exploring the surface of Mars, often taking his all-terrain rover out for long, solo expeditions across the planet's rugged landscape. He is also a member of the Mars Mountaineering Club, a group of thrill-seekers who enjoy the challenge of climbing the planet's tallest peaks. Despite the dangers of living and working on Mars, Niko is optimistic about the future of the planet and the people who call it home, and he is determined to make a difference in the world through his work and his passions.

RESPONSE TO PROMPT 2, ANSWER A: (Request: Expand upon the lore) The Violet Dawn disaster is a catastrophic event that occurred on Mars in the year 2550. It is not clear exactly what caused the disaster, but it is known to have involved massive fires that spread across the planet, causing widespread destruction and poisoning the atmosphere. The event had a devastating impact on Mars, killing many of the planet's inhabitants and destroying much of its infrastructure. It is also believed to have disrupted the planet's electromagnetic shield, which had previously protected it from harmful radiation. In the aftermath of the disaster, the survivors were forced to rebuild their communities and adapt to a new, harsher reality on the red planet. Despite the challenges, they have managed to establish a new way of life on Mars and continue to thrive in the face of adversity.

PROMPT 2: The Entire "History" Section of Mars: https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=Mars

RESPONSE A2: (Re-roll of PROMPT A) As the newest member of the SCCV Horizon crew, you were excited to be part of the team exploring the unknown regions of space. The Horizon was one of the most advanced ships in the Conglomerate's fleet, and you knew that being a part of its crew was a once in a lifetime opportunity. As the ship made its way through the Human Wildlands, you were on the bridge when the alarms suddenly sounded. The captain's voice came over the intercom, ordering everyone to their stations. You rushed to the engineering deck, heart racing as you prepared for whatever was coming. When you arrived, the chief engineer was already barking orders at the rest of the crew. "We've got an incoming vessel," she said, her voice laced with tension. "They're demanding we surrender control of the ship." You exchanged a worried glance with your fellow crewmates, knowing that giving up the Horizon would mean the end of your mission and potentially even your lives. But before you could come up with a plan, the chief engineer turned to you and the others. "We're not going down without a fight," she said firmly. "I need you to gather whatever weapons and supplies you can find and meet me on the main deck in five minutes. We're going to defend our ship." As you hurried to gather what you needed, your mind raced with fear and determination. You knew that the odds were against you, but you also knew that giving up was not an option. When you arrived on the main deck, the chief engineer had already set up a defense perimeter and was issuing orders to the rest of the crew. You took your place at the front lines, heart pounding as you waited for the enemy vessel to make its move. When it finally did, you and the others opened fire, determined to defend the Horizon and your lives. The battle was fierce and lasted for what felt like an eternity, but eventually, you and the rest of the crew emerged victorious. The enemy vessel was destroyed and the Horizon was safe. As you and the others celebrated your victory, you couldn't help but feel proud of what you had accomplished. You had faced incredible odds and come out on top, and you knew that you had proven yourself to be a valuable member of the SCCV Horizon crew. From now on, you were ready for whatever the universe had in store for you.

RESPONSE A1: As the captain of the SCCV Horizon, a joint venture between the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate and NanoTrasen, I had always been proud to serve under the banner of the most powerful corporation in the galaxy. But as we entered the Orion Spur, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. It had been three months since the phoron scarcity hit, and tensions were high between the corporations as they fought for control of the remaining deposits. The Solarian Alliance was on the verge of collapse, and the Human Wildlands were a hotbed of chaos and violence. As we approached our destination, a small mining colony on the outskirts of known space, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were walking into a trap. My fears were confirmed as we entered the colony's airspace and were immediately hailed by an unfamiliar ship. "This is the SCCV Horizon, identify yourselves," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "We are the Dionae Collective," a calm, almost hypnotic voice replied. "We have come to claim this colony and its phoron deposits for ourselves." I knew the Dionae were a peaceful species, but I also knew they were not to be underestimated. Their advanced technology and telepathic abilities made them formidable opponents. "I'm sorry, but this colony is under the jurisdiction of the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate," I said, hoping to negotiate a peaceful resolution. "Your corporations mean nothing to us," the Dionae replied. "We will not be swayed by your greed. Leave now, or face the consequences." I knew I had no choice but to retreat. We couldn't risk a conflict with the Dionae, not with the phoron scarcity already causing enough problems. As we turned back towards the Core Worlds, I couldn't help but wonder what other challenges we would face in this new, unstable era of humanity's expansion into the stars.