yeehawguvnah

Vaat fully agrees with Vaur's attempt at becoming VP. She believes it's exactly the sort of decisive move needed to make a place for the Zo'ra in Tau Ceti, and for the Vaurca in the Spur as a whole. I've got to be honest here, I don't really know about the WPLC's narrative links to Torvald and the Queenless, even after re-reading the wiki's summary of the Court of Queens arc. Vaat's view of the Queenless leans more towards pity than disdain. I would think that the West Pheonixport Law Centre is related to either the legal challenges that occurred over the creation of Bulwarks, or the ensuing riots. If it's the latter: Her stance is that once Vaurcae have been made Queenless, they are no longer under the lawful responsibility of their hive; privately, however, she sees it as a biting shame.

I have to agree with the "easy to disable, hard to kill" approach. Machines, by their nature, are likely to be easier to maintain and repair than organics. One of their primary benefits in a corporate setting (at least, one that implicitly treats IPCs as unequal to humans) is that even if they are hurt, that's harm that isn't happening to an organic. A machine doesn't starve or rot; at worst, any part that wasn't directly damaged is likely to still be useable. The lack of pain is something that comes up in any discussion of IPC balance (and for good reason), so perhaps focusing on other forms of disablement that fill the same role in balancing is the way to go. EDIT: Sorry, I should have checked the posting dates, I didn't mean to necro this and I'll pay more attention to how old a thread is in future. I saw a link to it today and totally forgot.

BYOND Ckey: Yeehawguvnah Discord username: pinskidan Character names: Far too many to list. Characters I've played recently include Rasira Khour and Katerina Doraks. Species you are applying to play: Vaurca ------------------------------ General Whitelist Requirements What colour do you plan on making your first alien character?: Dark red, in accordance with the colour scheme of Vaur's brood. Have you read the lore pages for the species you wish to be whitelisted for?: 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 species?: Vaurcae provide a unique perspective amongst the alien species of Aurora, and one that I'd like to explore. The primary themes I wish to explore with this particular character, in connection with the species' as a whole, are the way that a Vaurca's personal priorities differ from those of other species or even other Vaurcae as a result of their society and biology. The vast difference in lifespan, for example (whether it's a Worker living for a couple of decades or a Ta seeing entire generations pass by), can lead to a completely different mentality. What makes role-playing this species different than role-playing a human?: Vaurcae seem to have a different idea of individuality to the usual human view, influenced by the fact that each one is born with a purpose. From the perspective of a human, it can be strange to imagine a being who simply has no desire to deviate from their born calling. But every Vaurca is shaped both physically and mentally by the Imagotis; they aren't just suited to their role, they are created to be the exact person who would take to it. A Worker built to maintain life support systems could probably understand the idea of doing something else with their life. They just wouldn't have any desire to. This forms part of a larger worldview that, even with its internal politics and hierarchy, is more collectivist than most other societies of the Spur. ------------------------------ Character Application Note: I would be playing this character as a Consular Officer of the Zo'ra Hive. I am already whitelisted for command. Character Name: Ta'Akaix'Ton'zet'vaat Zo'ra Write a backstory for your character. Vaat (because I'm not pasting that name over and over) was born around three hundred years before the Exodus, before the Rennaisance began to come to an end. In her earlier years, she spent a great deal of time at Yie. She was an observer by nature, usually content to watch others debate. When she was old enough to take on diplomatic and advisory duties, she made a habit of meditating on those matters within areas of extreme time dilation. She had always shown a fascination for watching events unfold, sometimes spending (virtual) months simply observing and delivering occasional nudges towards whatever outcome might appear interesting. Like many Vaurcae of her age, the Exodus was a pivotal time of Vaat's life. As her Hive made preparations to flee, her duties usually centred around the counseling of Workers developing the hiveship Klo’xryek. She took to this as a challenge; Vaat was driven to not only see that her kin would keep up, but that they would be driven to greater feats. To a certain extent, she was successful, though to the antennae of some her impassioned style of guidance was too unpredictable. The rest, for the most part, is history. In the grand voyage that followed, she took a distanced liking to the scientists of Xakt's brood (as much as a diplomat can afford to be fond of a neighbouring house, at least) for their unique curiosity. Like most of her kin, she eventually entered cryostasis for the long haul, only to awaken on the borders of Tau Ceti. In the coming years, she took a liking to the species of the Spur, though yet again her social ways have been divisive in the eyes of her peers. Some would call it reckless to whisper into the ears of fleeting creatures; Vaat herself almost seems to see it as a responsibility. How has the recent events of the Orion Spur impacted your character? Obviously, the K'lax conflict has been a concern to any Ta, especially given that it could well affect the Zo'ra's relationship with the K'lax. Vaat has refrained from making her stance officially known, beyond voicing an opposition to the use of voiding in the Xathul Xon. Privately, while she believes that Zkaii holds a legitimate claim to the queenship, Vaat is opposed to the K'lax becoming a fiefdom within Unathi jurisdiction. How does your character view the megacorporation they work for? Technically not applicable, so I'll answer in regards to her Hive. Vaat believes that the Zo'ra, and the Vaur Brood, are in a politically advantageous position. Despite the ongoing issues in District 9, she has confidence that Vaur’skiyet’sca is fit for the mantle of High Queen. Of the other Zo'ra Hives, she has a fondness for the Xakt, and has found common ground with her own curiosity. While she respects the far greater experience of Athvur, she has concerns for the New Goddess' attitude towards leaving behind past convention.

Captains, maybe, but not to the same extent. They're quite likely to be the most valuable person (in the eyes of the SCC) on the ship, and should probably be able to at least get away from trouble at a prompt speed.

That's all from me, then.

I can live with that outcome. One question, though - when do strikes expire?

If the strike was because I said this Why doesn't the text of the strike reflect that? Also, I didn't dispute the ban; I criticised engaging in a debate and then striking the other person in the debate, on the grounds that the debate was in the wrong place - it takes two to tango. Once again, I did follow the instructions. I did not engage in the debate after you made it clear we shouldn't, even if I later posted about a different topic (the strike) in that channel. You say "I don't like the idea of you two not going to the proper channels for this" but I literally did. no Dream was participating longer than I did. I'm sorry, but it is absurd to frame this as "practically begging" us to stop. You said, and I quote "take that to the lore discord". And I did. Edit: I won't be further addressing Cyb's responses to this until another staff member has been able to weigh in. I don't want to argue over this when the facts of their response are demonstrably not accurate.

BYOND Key: Yeehawguvnah (action taken on Discord) Staff BYOND Key: Unsure (action taken on Discord) Game ID: N/A (action taken on Discord) Reason for complaint: Yesterday, there was a discussion in the Aurora Discord's code_dungeon channel about Bieselite Consulars and how they would be seen by the SCC. I and several others disagreed with Cybs, and after a while this was said (I am "Weakest Dominian Exile"). Cybs makes a remark about arguing that to the lorestaff. They did not tell us to take it to the lorecord at this point. A minute later, they tell us to take it to the lorecord - and I do. I made one post after that, which was a few seconds after Cybs' and was appended to my last one. To emphasise, their post and mine were moments apart, it's not like I continued to argue after they said it. As soon as they actually said "take it to the lorecord", I left the discussion, and I did actually take it to the lorecord. Despite this, I was issued a strike several minutes later. I believe this strike was unnecessary. I did exactly what I was asked to do, when I was asked to do it ("you can try and argue that to the lorestaff on the Discord" was not clearly an instruction at all - it comes across as "don't argue with me, argue with lorestaff" not "don't argue here, argue in the lorecord") The fact that I did do exactly as instructed after Cybs clearly said "take that to the lore discord" is evidence that I'm more than willing to follow the instructions of staff, that I was acting in good faith, and that a strike was not needed or justified. Evidence/logs/etc: Included above. Additional remarks: Maybe it's petty to appeal a Discord strike, but I don't want an unjustified strike on my record. All I want is for it to be ruled invalid, not for Cybs to be punished.

You can complain about staff in Player Complaints, in the same situations that you'd be able to make a complaint against anyone else. "Staff Complaint" doesn't properly describe the Staff Complaints board, because half its purpose is to dispute a decision - AKA to review it.

BYOND Key: (byond key) Yeehawguvnah Character Names: Mara-Lucius Volvalaad IRU-Luna Ulysses Ari Barak Bailey Garrison Pitch Wilder Species you are applying to play: Vaurca What color do you plan on making your first alien character: Dark green (114327), as they're an Unbound Worker. 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: I like bugs. I like vhunny little guyz who talk like thiz. But really, what draws me to the Vaurca is simply how alien they are, even compared to the other non-Humans. Their biology, their culture, their lifecycle - it's completely different to any of the other organic races in ways that would seem bizarre to a Human. I also personally find the organisation of Vaurca society interesting, in the way they're divided up into Hives and Broods. Overall, it's a chance to sink my teeth into playing a race that's just incomparable to Humans. Identify what makes role-playing this species different than role-playing a Human: For one thing, Vaurca in a majority-Human workplace are basically square pegs in round holes. Instead of using the pheremonal and Hivenet-based communication they're used to, they're effectively translating into verbal language from something completely different with the help of their augments. They're generally extremely specialised, with many being "designed" for a task before they were even born - so much so that it likely wouldn't even occur to most Vaurca to be dissatisfied with their designated role. After all, it literally comes naturally to them. Character Name: Ka'Akaix'Zohv K'lax Please provide a short backstory for this character: Ka'Akaix'Zohv K'lax was curious. Which, for her brood, isn't unusual; if someone knows just one thing about the Zkaii, it's probably their reputation for tinkering. But curiosity can take many forms. What interested Zohv wasn't just working on machines, but studying them to push her own limits. She was designed not to make, but to use. Born in 2460, she never knew the Vaurca's journey through space, spending the first years of her life amongst Humans and Unathi alike on Tret. Rather than taking part in the mining efforts directly, she flew shuttlecraft. To Zohv, there was no greater peace than the hum of a familiar engine and a few seconds shaved off a route. If she wasn't flying, she was maintaining her assigned shuttle; when she rested, she explored VR flight simulations. Flying was her craft, and she was proud to be damned good at it. But Tret, with its familiar routes and rickety overland craft, could only offer so much. Zhov knew that there was more she could do. More complex ships to fly, more expansive skies to sail, more to sate her curiosity and push her limits. And so she bid farewell to Tret, to the miners she had ferried more times than most people would care to count, and set off for Tau Ceti. A K'lax in the Foreign Legion is perhaps an unusual sight, given that the Zo'ra are so much more common in the Republic, but a trained pilot is a trained pilot. The Legion accepted Zhov, and she leapt at what she saw as a chance to truly put herself to the test, and to master a new kind of vessel entirely. TL;DR: Zkaii Worker's mechanical curiosity manifests as an obsession with mastering flying vessels, so she joins the Foreign Legion in the hopes of flying more complex craft and improving her skills as a pilot. What do you like about this character? I feel that she puts a unique spin on the "mechanical curiosity" and tinkering of the Zkaii brood (being less "what can I do this machine" and more "how can I use this machine to its fullest potential"), as well as just generally being a character who'd be played very differently from a human. How would you rate your role-playing ability? I'd say I'm a pretty decent RPer. Notes: I'd be playing Ka'Akaix'Zohv K'lax in the TCFL Peacekeeper Pilot role.

BYOND key: Yeehawguvnah Discord name/id: pinskidan#0420 Borg / AI names: N/A; I do not have a Cyborg/AI character yet. Have you read the Aurora wiki page about the AI?: Yes. Why do you wish to be on the whitelist?: I've enjoyed playing AI on other servers, and I find it's a very unique experience. Have you received any administrative actions? And how serious were they? No. Do you understand your whitelist is not permanent, and may be stripped following continuous administrative action? Yes.

Gotta agree with this, especially when it comes to allowing them to lean into one being a detective and one CSI.

Fair questions! Like I said, I've never been great at exposition and backstory. "Frontier" was intentionally ambiguous, but yes, the edges of the Coalition was more-or-less what I had in mind. Somewhere without extremely strict government, where a lone IPC of dubious legal status could potentially fly under the radar. Given their original owner was from the Alliance, probably somewhere closer to Konyang, where the CoC meets the Alliance. Generally, the kind of thing it did before: working as a guard. IMO, what it did is more important thematically than narratively - monotonous, dangerous work that nobody wants. However, part of what I wanted to imply (but now realise I didn't get across entirely, see the above note about exposition) was that there was an element of A) seeking out people who didn't necessarily have the resources to maintain IPCs, and B) coercion via the classic technique of "being a giant robot who can twist someone into a pretzel" to sneak some better prices. Not outright robbery, but "you should probably take this deal". It'd be long, hard work to raise that sort of cash - but with those factors lowering prices, the fact that Ulysses is used to monotonous, dangerous work, and that every IPC purchased is a new source of income? I thought it'd be plausible, especially with the timeline below. I'd put it somewhere around: 2421: Manufacture/purchase 2429: Went rogue 2452: Joined the Deep. So, that leaves more than 20 years for Ulysses to work its way up. And if there's one thing it kept from its first role (other than the gear on its back), it's patience. I would imagine that, given the Konyang region's unique relationship with IPCs, Ulysses would have tried to seek out other synthetics some time after it began its "business". Visiting the Golden Deep to deal with an already-established merchant would have been an ideal way to get its foot in the door, so to speak. In addition, the industry of maintaining, improving and leasing out other IPCs naturally lends itself to the ways of the Deep, where buying your competitor is simply a way to "win" the great game. Discovering, and joining, the Golden Deep would have been exactly what it was looking for; a society that inherently values mutual exchange, one that holds a sense of camaraderie and tempers competition with a unique kind of respect. Really, the Deep would have only cemented Ulysses' ideas. It sees itself as playing the system; not doing anything wrong, but merely making the most of the world's flaws. One thing that Ulysses doesn't tend to agree with other Golden Deep members on - other IPCs in general, really - is clothing. If I recall, many synthetics use clothing made for organics, or at least compatible with them with regards to decency while still allowing airflow for venting heat. Ulysses sees this as a form of appeasement - in its eyes, synthetics shouldn't be expected to imitate the mannerisms and dress of organics. (This is also why they use "it" and not "they"; to it, it's a way of embracing that it's not the same as an organic and doesn't want to be). Hope this answered your questions!

(This post had a major change to the backstory below after posting; please keep this in mind if you're returning to it) BYOND Key: Yeehawguvnah Character Names: Simisola Olatunji Mara-Lucius Volvalaad Eden Harrow Bailey Garrison Pitch Wilder Ari Barak Maria Caladius Species you are applying to play: IPC What color do you plan on making your first alien character: 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: Well, for one thing, I like robots. I like playing robots, and I like technobabble. Beyond that, though, I think that playing an IPC would let me explore some new avenues of RP. While there's a lot of variance in the political standing of humans in Aurora's setting, the unique status of IPCs as entities who are still - for lack of a better term - being defined within society offers some unique angles. I think that their inherent differences from humans in political status, actual traits and mechanics will encourage me to approach RP differently. Identify what makes role-playing this species different than role-playing a Human: For one thing, they think differently than humans - than organics, full-stop. A human's brain runs off generations of instincts and reflexes, combined with countless learned responses. While you can analyse them and understand their decisions, organic brains are for good reason associated with a certain amount of unpredictability. An IPC runs on quantified, strict parameters, even if they learn from experience. Every decision is, ultimately, mathematical in nature, based on strict ideas of cause and effect. Character Name: Ulysses Please provide a short backstory for this character: Oh boy, I've never been good with exposition, especially endings. This ended up way, way longer than intended. Summary below. I'm generally not great at conveying an idea via a backstory, so please ask if something doesn't add up! TL;DR: G2 is worked to the bone as the bodyguard of a paranoid trader, who its "brother" dies to protect. Flees, pulls itself up by the bootstraps to gain ownership of other synths, becomes a Golden Deep member by accumulating enough workers. Eventually makes a living buying, maintaining and leasing other IPCs. What do you like about this character?: Other than the fact that they're a big robot, I like that they can form a parallel to the way organics treat IPCs, and hopefully provide a new layer to the discourse of "Are machines people?". Are they a hypocrite for trading in their own kind, or do they have the moral high ground for doing so with principles? Are they perpetuating the same injustices they experienced, or are they simply doing the best they can in an oppressive system? How would you rate your role-playing ability? I'd call myself an experienced, pretty decent roleplayer. Notes: If approved, this character would be a Consular Officer of the Golden Deep.

Interacted with Han as a few characters and I, personally, think Diggey's a good fit. They engage with RP surrounding Han's experiments in, IMO, exactly the ideal ways for a research player. +1

Shit, I thought I'd posted to mention this a couple of days ago, but I must not have - as I was busy on the 17th-19th I wasn't able to play on those days.

I see that on the Web Interface, it says I do have the whitelist, and I have access to the Head of Staff section of the User Menu. Does this mean that the whitelist is accepted? I don't recall seeing that during the trial. No intent to rush you all, just checking whether this means I'm good to go (and play a Liason character) or whether I just didn't notice it before!

Thank you.

I can understand this. I will say that I spent about 5 minutes at the bar with the other Dominians before things kicked off (and another 2 at roundend), and that there was a considerable amount of stuff going on in command chat throughout the entire shift which (until the captain showed up) almost exclusively involved requests for my input. I don't feel the text roleplay remark is entirely fair, because of this - as you mention, you weren't in command chat. With that said, I do recognise that I wasn't at the top of my game there. I've played a good bit of HOS on other servers, but that was some time ago, and so the usual coordination strategies I would use weren't on display. I'm still getting back into the groove of it. That's fully my bad, I messed up there. Anyway, thank you for the feedback, even if it's a -1 in the end. I hope you'll keep an open mind on me for the rest of my trial - I believe I'll be able to show I can do better than this. (This is an error I'll correct.)

From what I've seen, Jill tries to engage with the crew (as has been said) in a way that opens up RP opportunities. +1 from me!

Okay, thank you for clarifying. EDIT: Also, updated info in the post to reflect the characters I intend to play during/after the trial.

Thanks! To make sure I understand the trial - is this for people to be able to give feedback on how I am as a Head-player, or is this solely for staff to see that I'm not fucking up? Just checking so I know whether or not I'll still need to look for feedback.

Aaaaaand done!

I see, I misunderstood what was meant by that. Sorry, that's my bad! I did have a Head of Staff character concept rattling around in my head; would you want me to make a new post for that character, or amend this post?

Due to a misunderstanding, this post was originally for a Liason character. It's been edited to also go over a Head character. Also edited to elaborate on some questions. BYOND key: Yeehawguvnah Discord Username: pinskidan#0420 Character names: (I've had a few, but I'm only including the ones I play consistently now after properly getting a feel for the server) Bailey Garrison (Machinist) Vera Joyce (Surgeon) Ari Barak (Bridge Crew) Mara-Lucius Volvalaad Pitch Wilder Simisola Olatunji How long have you been playing on Aurora?: I played here and there quite a while ago (hard to pin it down, it was likely more than a year ago) and while I did hop on for a shift here and there, I've returned now to play more consistently. Have you received any administrative actions? And how serious were they? N/A Please provide well articulated answers to the following questions in a paragraph each. What do you think the OOC purpose of a Head of Staff is, ingame?: In my opinion, a Head of Staff needs to act as a leader, which breaks down to a few primary roles: To set an example for the department. Ideally, a Head of Staff should have good understanding of their department - both in roleplay, and actually using the mechanics of the job. If someone isn't sure about how to do their job, their Head should be the obvious person to help out. This doesn't mean every Head-player has to have a perfect understanding of the mechanics, but I believe that the best Heads know their job well enough to improve their own methods and teach others. To coordinate the department, in downtime and in conflict. In downtime, this is ensuring that everyone is aware of what's needed, that the department is supplied properly, and that things are generally able to run smoothly. In conflict, this might involve acting as a mediator for inter-staff disputes, ensuring the department can keep running after a catastrophe, or stopping their staff from fucking up. And yes, sometimes this involves reprimanding or punishing staff. Making hard choices is a part of playing a Head. EDIT (because I wanted to elaborate further): You can think of Heads as the mission control of this game. They hang back, they direct you, they give you instructions - but unless things go badly, that's it. As a Head, you should aim to do things with your crew, not for them. What do you think the OOC responsibilities of Whitelisted players are to other players, and how would you strive to uphold them?: OOC, a whitelisted player is playing a role that's both prominent in a round and has the ability to considerably affect other players' experience. They don't need to be infallible, but they have a responsibility to be familiar with their duties and the applicable IC regulations. They need to keep in mind that they have the power to (intentionally or otherwise) improve or worsen someone's round. Could you give us the gist of what is currently happening in Tau ceti and how it affected your character and their career? There's quite a bit happening in Tau Ceti lately, such as the formation of the SCC and the occupation of several planets by the TCFL/PMCG. However, I'd say the event that affected Eden's career the most was the Second Solarian Invasion. Eden Harrow, as managerial security staff aboard a research facility on the edge of Tau Ceti, was amongst the first to directly encounter the incoming 35th fleet. She lead Zavodskoi personnel to hold the line against Solarian boarders in an extended siege, ensuring the essential personnel aboard remained safe from the nationalist incursion. Or at least, that's the company's official spin on the story. In truth, while the facility wasn't completely spared from the invasion, it was hardly bombarded - it simply wasn't worth much effort or cost to the fleet. Hostilities were minimal; most of the shots fired were in warning. But tales about heroic leaders holding the line against evil sell well, and thus the Invasion was Eden's ticket up into the upper echelon of Zavodskoi. To the company, she was ideal for presenting a positive brand image in a controversial market. As for Vera, the formation of the SCC had an effect on her career, if only because of her own reservations. Having separated from NanoTrasen on less-than-ideal terms and joined Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals, the former corporation's prominent role within the Conglomerate has lead to a mistrust of the group as a whole, and a fear that her past unpleasant resignation may impact her career (even if said fear never actually comes true). What roles do you plan on playing after the application is accepted? Chief Medical Officer Executive Officer Head of Security Research Director Captain Corporate Liason (Zavodskoi) Have you familiarized yourself with the wiki pages for the command roles? Yes. Characters you intend to use for command or have created for command. Include the job they will be taking.: Eden Harrow, Corporate Liason (Zavodskoi). This character will be created, if I'm whitelisted, but isn't around yet. Vera Joyce, Chief Medical Officer Ari Barak, Executive Officer Mara-Lucius Volvalaad, Head of Security Do you understand your whitelist is not permanent, and may be stripped following continuous administrative action? Yes. Have you linked your byond account to the forums? Yes. Extra notes: When I make a character, I tend to begin with a basic concept and work on them from there. In Eden's (the Liason I'd be playing) case, the concept that came to mind was: For a number of reasons, arms dealers and PMCs aren't particularly popular. Eden's focus is on presenting Zavodskoi Interstellar as a boldly progressive, good corporation; one that's at the forefront of science and justice. Not a company that arms militaries and upholds the law, but one which pushes the bounds of research and keeps people safe. As for Vera, I envision her as a doctor just nearing the end of her prime, putting up a perhaps too-strong confident persona to cover up an irrational fear that she'll either be replaced by younger staff or blacklisted after a (in her eyes) "bridge-burning" resignation from NanoTrasen in her youth. In addition, to address the elephant in the room: I understand I'm not particularly established in Aurora. If it's decided that I need to be around a little longer before you can make a decision, I understand - but I do hope you'll give me a shot!