Lordnesh

I've reworked the backstory a little. Nothing major has changed. Just flows a bit different and includes other details.

It might be, but that's not what they're getting at. They're saying they want the ability to remove inconvenient camera alarms. Such as the ones at the bomb testing range. I don't think I ever recall them actually getting repaired. There's usually no real point.

Zo'ra. Sorry, but I hadn't realized it wasn't specifically mentioned in the backstory. That should probably be in there. Now that I'm awake, and have reread the question, I realize I didn't actually answer the question. Xinth is from the Liminal Queen's brood.

Feeling about what specifically? Since only a small part of the AI apps have been accepted there haven't really been many to form much of an opinion about the changes. Other than, there's not a whole lot of them.

Because of the relationship the Zo'ra hive has with Biesel, Xinth has a fairly positive view of humans, and more of a neutral view towards the rest. And while it resents the hindrance that the discrimination its kind faces, it has chosen to ignore it for the most part. Whether that's because Xinth views itself as a more "advanced" life form, or some other reason, I haven't quite decided yet. That seems to be a common theme among the Vaurca I see play, but I haven't seen any mention of it on the wiki. Xinth is seven years old. So, they were born near the tail end of the journey to Tau Ceti, but haven't undergone their transubstantiation. They struggled through the later parts of the journey, surviving famine and district 9, and have finally managed to be worthy of a position with more responsibility. Xinth will be in engineering. I have some ideas for some of its quirks, using the maintenance tunnels to get around, for example, but nothing is really set in stone yet. Some of Xinth's personality quirks will be developed through roleplay, as I get a better feel for the character.

BYOND Key: Lordnesh Character Names: Alex Nerva (Physician), Bethany Strange (Drill Tech), Lyndsey Fane (Bartender), Vanessa Mousa (Lab Assistant), Victoria Jensen (Engineer), DIRE (AI), PIXIE (Robot), Ficsit (Robot), Simon Cohen (Retired) Species you are applying to play: Vaurca What color do you plan on making your first alien character: (RGB 61, 0, 0) 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: (One paragraph minimum) There are several reasons I'm looking forward to roleplaying as a Vaurca. Chief among them is just how alien they are as a species. Next to Dionae, the Vaurca are the single most alien species available to players. While the other species not already mentioned are different, they're not as different as the Vaurca are. The other reason I'm interested in playing this species is the challenge it poses in creating a backstory. Due to requiring an avowal in game, I am limited in what I can do with any backstory I create. It also, just by existing, encouraged me to find out what exactly the avowal even was. Identify what makes role-playing this species different than role-playing a Human: (One Paragraph minimum) As I touched upon briefly, the Vaurca are a truly alien species, and almost everything about them is different from roleplaying a human. Vaurca are not born, they are designed at inception to fill a role. As such, unlike humans, Vaurca have a clear and well defined purpose in their life. Normal food that most other species can eat is highly toxic to vaurca, and the same can be said about Vaurcae's food when consumed by anyone else. In fact, merely growing their own food is a real danger to other sentient species. The full list include things like societal and cultural differences, reliance on bound instead of synthetics, and even temperament. Character Name: Ka'Akaix'Xinth Zo'ra Please provide a short backstory for this character (Approximately two paragraphs) For the first time in a long while, Xinth finally felt optimistic about their future. Part of Vaur'skiyet'sca brood, before she became Titan Prime's new High Queen, Xinth was one tiny little cog among countless others. Its purpose was assisting in the repair and maintenance of the vast hive ship, Titan Prime, replacing one of the many workers that had expired over the course of the centuries long voyage from their homeworld. Whether a blessing, or a curse, Xinth was born at a turning point in the Zo'ra hive's history. While the horrible journey from Sedantis 1 was finally over, they would soon be faced with other troubles. As newcomers to this section of space, and numerous, they were met with hardship and discrimination. Xinth would eventually find itself living in, what would become, District 9 after a brief stint in a few refugee camps. However, Xinth would not remain there for long. It had been selected to receive what was called a “job” on the space station Aurora. While sad at prospect of leaving the massive construction project that was District 9, it was ecstatic at the idea of being able to help its hive by utilizing its specialized knowledge. Xinth was looking forward to proving itself, and earning the coveted avowal, thus cementing its competence and worth at its new job. What do you like about this character? I like the character's outlook on its future, despite the obvious discrimination towards its species. How would you rate your role-playing ability? Above average. Notes:

It does work. I have the two temp antag bans to prove it too. In hindsight, I think the situation could have been handled differently to have been more effective, but that's a different topic. This is pretty much the entire reason I only have wizard enabled as antag. The wizard's kit is just so much more versatile. I've done undying death cults, turned aurora station into a horror movie, been a super hero, and even had a stint as special acting captain. With the other antags.. I just feel so constrained. Both in my tools, and also what I can do with my tools. Which isn't conducive to inducing creativity. I actually had the same thought as you while in the shower. I think, one thing we can actually do, is this. I think it would be helpful if we've made it so people have to effectively play for a week or so in game, before being allowed to enable antag roles. I might be willing to support this if it was reinforced that it is a suggestion, and not a requirement. I don't like the idea of forcing people into gimmicks. I did have an idea for a suggestion about making a "gimmick discussion" section on the forums. Some place where people could post their gimmicks and people could discuss them. Hell, if it was really successful could even use it for sort of planned non-canon events.

When I said "robust security team" I was more referencing their usual greater experience in combat, in comparison to less combat focused players who play antag every once in a while. Like myself, for example. I've pretty much played every department but security. So my knowledge of even somewhat simple combat mechanics are lackluster. This is one of the reasons I only have Wizard as a role enabled these days. I tried off the cuff antag stuff, and most of it was bad. Although, to be fair, I was also just a bad antag in general. It took several months, and two antag bans before I finally started getting actually decent at playing antag.

I agree with a lot of what Cnaym said here. The current lackluster environment is a result of many different issues that combine to become one massive issue. To add to what Cnaym has already said: Double standard between antags and crew. When an antag talks about how they did that round, you often hear remarks to put down the antagonist (ie "it's not about winning"), but whenever security/ERT brag about bagging the antag they're celebrated instead. Toxicity towards antags in general. A lot of times people will just shit on antag gimmicks, and even the antag themselves. If there even is any constructive criticism, it's usually sandwiched between backhanded insults and general toxic comments. Honestly, sometimes it just feels like bullying whenever I see several people team up to bash some antag that had a bad round or gimmick. It's usually when I turn of dchat or OOC. Toxicity towards specific gamemodes. This usually includes long, already heard, rants about how terrible the game mode is and other such disparaging remarks. But it also includes people deliberately rolling certain antags, just to prevent other people from getting the role. Real, or perceived, differences in treatment between antags and crew. I don't know if this is only my personal experience, but from my own interactions, it seems that antags are held to a higher standard than crewmembers are, in regards to roleplay, and disciplined accordingly. Another example is when an antag talks about how they did in a round, you often hear remarks to put down the antagonist (ie "it's not about winning"), but whenever security/ERT brag about bagging the antag they're celebrated instead. However, in my opinion, the biggest contributor to the lack of quality antag engagement is the whole issue of risk vs reward. Being an antag is difficult. You take on the, usually sole, responsibility of entertaining the entire station. And you are expected do so while dodging valid hunters, a highly robust security team, and roleplay with everyone you see at your own expense. Well. Combine that, with mechanics and gear that limit your ability to explore interesting gimmicks, and you get the feeling that you're essentially the whipping boy of the entire station. That's assuming you even have a good gimmick that people enjoy in the first place. I don't really have a solution to this, because of how complex the issue is. All I do have is a suggestion. I think one of the things we need to do is discourage toxic behavior aimed at antags in general. That, at the very least, should create an environment more welcoming to antags. And just more pleasant in general, honestly.

Another agreement from me. With only four options to heal oxy loss, one of which is usually unavailable (Rezadone), patients with extreme oxygen damage have to be monitored and kept on a steady drip of inaprovaline and dexlin/plus. That's two people forced out of the round for some time. The other option is to give Pneumalin or Dexalin/plus the ability to heal oxy loss at a decent rate like all the other damage healing medicines.

It takes so long because there are only four methods to heal oxy damage: tricordrazine, both cryo mixes, and rezadone. And all of them, except the last iirc, heals at like 1 per tick or something.

BYOND key: lordnesh Discord name/id: Neo_shark#3620 Borg / AI names: DIRE, PIXIE, and Ficsit Have you read the Aurora wiki page about the AI?: Yes. Why do you wish to be on the whitelist? I wish to be on the whitelist because I love playing the AI. I don't always feel like playing, but I do often enough that if I didn't at least try I would be upset with myself. Sometimes I feel like being involved in a round, but at one step removed. Not in the action, but adjacent to it. The AI allows this style of play. It also allows me the ability to share my knowledge, experience, and advice with anyone that asks for it. Or even just a little bit of assistance. The AI is one of the few roles where you can make relationships with other characters across the entire station, and at all levels of responsibility. Have you received any administrative actions? And how serious were they? I have received three administrative actions that I can recall. One on the forum for posting something off topic, and two were temporary antag bans for poor antag behavior. After the second, and most recent, temp antag ban I took a break for a month or so, and since I came back I haven't received any administrative actions. I don't know that I would consider any of these as particularly serious. The temp antag bans were a result of a combination of inexperience and nerves, rather than maliciousness. Do you understand your whitelist is not permanent, and may be stripped following continuous administrative action? Yes.

For reference, I was the bartender that round. Was the gimmick bad? Yes. Do I think someone should be punished for bad gimmicks? No. Not even if they should know better. Punishing players for bad gimmicks seems like a bad idea to me.

I really like this. With the current system you essentially only have two choices, extended or secret. But with dynamic I can actually influence the vote, even if only marginally (rip wizwoz).

There is no reason every department must be the same. Diversity of experiences is a good thing. I like medical the way it is, including the trimming of the roles. I just wish they'd add nurse back in.

Getting mycosis is essentially a death sentence.

I just had an idea. What if we link being able to follow people on cameras to their ID/PDA? That way, an antag can just hide/toss their ID/PDA, and they can't be tracked.

I think eight seconds is good enough. I'm almost tempted to argue it should be ten, but I feel this is a good middle ground to test things out. Making it an audible alert is an excellent change. It'll give the antags A) information about how the AI/crew are planning to deal with them, and B) allow them time to decide if they want to move or stay.

One thing I've noticed, and haven't seen addressed, is the shield generators near the core. They were added as an extra layer of defense in extreme circumstance. However, with the removal of the mech, they no longer function without outside help. Has anyone considered making them bolted to the floor by default?

It's difficult, for me, to think of ways to mechanically nerf AI more then it already is. Mostly because it can't really do much anymore. With the removal of the mech, it's greatest strength at the moment appears to be the automatic follow function of the cameras. However, you can't simply remove the feature, because it impacts other things. As I've mentioned, a lot of antags have ways to counter this already. Agent ID's have a scramble function to interfere with the AI's ability already, and lings have a similar evolution. If you remove the camera following feature, or restrict it, those features become defunct. I like the idea of adding a message about the AI's role in a round, something similar to the traitor message they get at start. Because, like with most things, it's not so much a problem with the tools, but about the people that misuse the tools. Either deliberately for power gaming, or accidentally. With that said. I don't like the idea of removing it completely, as some people would wish. I'm my opinion, the advantages it offers the crew, and even antags, outweigh the disadvantages. In my opinion, one of its biggest strengths is the ability to interface between departments. Things like, warning medical to expect patients because security is freaking with a hostile situation. It also offers opportunities to antags. A simple law addition can suddenly give them the advantage.

I recently came up with, what I believe to be, a very interesting wizard gimmick. One that doesn't even use the dreaded fire ball.

I would support linking camera following to suit sensors. Although, agent IDs have a function that make it so the AI can't track you.

This has been my experience with one exception. The other reason people tend to die is when medical can't get to someone in time. Sometimes people die through no fault of theirs, but sometimes they do. Sometimes they stop and chat with the crazy cultist when they should be running. Sometimes an antag dies because ERT curbstomps them to death while they're on the ground. Death isn't inherently the end of roleplay. Sometimes it's a turning point in a narrative. Your death only means nothing when you mean nothing to everyone. And chances are, if you end up doing on my surgery table, you meant something to me. Deaths always impact my character, shakes them out of their usually devil may care attitude. Especially avoidable deaths. TL:DR turn on your suit sensors and run faster next time.

Soultheif is a good, and consistent, player. They do their best to involve themselves in the round, despite being the AI most of the time. +1

Yes please. It's very irritating to have to dig around in someone's cheesy cavity fifteen times or more to remove a handful of bullets. No, that wasn't deliberate. Yes, I'm keeping it that way.