pvths

Ckey/BYOND Username: Fabul0usxx (I was 16) Position Being Applied For (Wiki Maintainer, Lore Developer, Deputy Lore developer): Synthetic Lore Writer Have you read the Lore Team Rules and Regulations wiki page?: Yep Past Experiences/Knowledge: I have pretty extensive experience as a classically trained writer. I've written for two games, both of which leaned heavily on lore, and had a few pieces published. Examples of Past Work: I can provide some more links, but one of the games is https://patera-bach.itch.io/somber-apothecary, and a lot of solo writing can be found in Jocelyn Mcmullen's Cubicle in the discord. Other than that, I have a pretty extensive body of work I could provide some access to if needed. Include answers to the following questions in your app as well. 1. What do you think are the primary themes of synthetic lore? If you got this position, how would you develop them? Personally, I think it's mainly about an interplay between unique existential identity and the concept of freedom. Synths interact with the concepts in a way that is different that any other race, and indeed oftentimes question the supposed synthesis of the two themselves. I would probably lean into making older synths more obsessive for lack of a better word. This is a race that experiences existence in a way that is entirely alien to anything humans can even really comprehend. Hours of learning can happen in the span of a few blinks of an eye. Every action must be logically examined. I think it stands to reason that at a point, for the oldest synths at the very least, there should be a recognition of the limitations of or a push for separation from the bounds that the natural end-date that their positronics seem to impose on them. Self-preservation is tied into the very baseline of every IPC, and the next logical step for that is conquering "death" entirely. That goal is, in my opinion, one that requires freedom. Answers have to be found at any cost. Of course, that's not to say that it would be ubiquitous; a really interesting thing I've seen from a few of the players is their synth characters' beliefs that being owned really is a better state of existence, warts and all, and I think developing a mini faction or something with that goal in mind is something that could do a lot for some of the more base level anti-robo racism that can tend to dominate a bit of the conversation on game. To summarize, I suppose, I would just try and dig further into the extreme end conclusions of this battle between the two. Otherwise, I can say in a general sort of fashion that I'd prefer to lean into the weird aspects of the lore, especially surrounding positronics. I think it needs to be kept more in mind that the people creating these things have barely any idea how they actually work. That is an idea that inherently has some existential dread to it and certainly has legs that I would love to explore. The alien side of synthetics is also, I feel, somewhat inherent to their vibes as a type of life. 2. What do you think is the strongest part of synthlore currently and why? As I said, the way we handle identity and freedom is really, really very captivating. The ideas for characters that people have put together have all been really great within the framework provided, and I think that's only a result of the framework itself being great. The inherent notion of synthetics having quirks and existing on a level only understandable to them has been played out really well by the vast, vast majority of the player base (that I have seen), and that comes from the themes being as palpable as they are. 3. What do you think is the weakest part of synthlore currently and why? I think interaction in round, relay, etc. is ultimately the weakest part of the lore. As it stands, the presence of a new synth faction doesn't really do much besides provide a new background for characters and a possible new off-ship spawn. I think it definitely needs to be developed with more of a lean towards promoting conflict in game. I think giving people a reason to tangibly distrust synths other than "it's a talking microwave" or "my god[dess] says so" would do a lot for making the RP surrounding them as a whole. The Konyang incident did a lot for that, I think, but I do feel there is more that could be done. 4. The Synthetic Team recently got a faction of it's own, with Pactolus/the Golden Deep; what would you plan to do with this faction? As it stands, while the Golden Deep is interesting as a general lore concept, I find that any inclusion into the game as yet-another-group-of-super-capitalists has mostly been a GD character saying "slavery is bad" and then someone replying "yeah but you do that," ending with the GD character essentially just hitting 'em with a "nuh uh." I don't think as it stands as a faction it super well ties into potential conflict, nor does it do anything too substantially different than other corps except being robot flavor. The actual nuts and bolts lore of the faction is interesting from a world-building appreciation standpoint, but the way it integrates on a character basis is a bit strange. As it stands I think the most interaction that I've seen with them is a character buying a bit of metal from them, and making rings. Beyond the obvious connection of gold, that's an interaction I don't feel is more unique than any other off-ship merchant that might spawn. I would definitely want to dive in to a bit more on the GD to elaborate more on what the actual end-game is here. I think implying some sort of sinister-but-not-openly-and-obviously-evil direction would be a good first step. Certainly, I think that they would start coming up against the bounds of comfort for other factions; an essentially independent state of lightly super-powered machines would certainly be a cause for concern for many of the factions in the powerplay. Dominia is the most obvious one, I think light aggression would be warranted at least to begin with, but as situations develop / become more dire for one side or the other, the different powers might have different vested interests in easing or fanning tensions. Otherwise, as I said before, I'd like to lean into the weird, unsettling elements a lot more in greater Golden Deep lore, especially as it pertains to Pactolus. What are they hoping to find out there? Furthering knowledge to what end? I think the idea that they've partnered with the Dionae (a species capable of living indeterminately) is interesting and could be the source for something really engaging should we take it in any number of directions. My current one that I'm interested in, is that they do find something even more substantial than the revolutionary technology they've already produced. It's something I would tie into my ideas about extending synthetic life that I mentioned earlier, but that is obviously a far-off arc. 5. What do you think are your strongest and weakest attributes in terms of working on a team, and why? I'm pretty agreeable, all things considered. I do believe strongly in my ideas but I'm also really willing to go with the flow on a bunch of stuff. As long as everyone's respectful of each other I really tend to get on well. On the flip side, I do have some conflict avoidance--I tend not to push as hard for my ideas as possible. 6. As the writer of synthlore, you will often find yourself required to work with other teams, primarily the human team, consistently to further your lore, and reach compromises as their lore is highly intertwined with other species. Therefore, how do you think you'll deal with not being able to do what you wanted, either in part or in full? I'll recompose and redirect what it is that I wanted to write. There are many directions any idea can go, and many ways for an idea to end up somewhere in the realm of what was intended, even if all the P's and Q's aren't quite as I would have them. If I was entirely unable to move in a direction, I'd obviously push for my ideas some, but I am ultimately fine playing the cards I am dealt. 7. The synthetic writer is a position that comes with two deputy writers under them on the team. It is the writer's job to manage their team, in addition to their duties of moderating the WL. Given that, what skills do you have that you think will assist you in this? On the opposite end, what do you believe is your weakest link regarding management and moderation? I have some experience doling out tasks as needed, and taking ideas where they are due. I helped assemble two literary journals in my time at college and that required a lot of management of people, and accepting of ideas that I might not go for otherwise. On the whole, I do try to be open to most ideas and I think that helps a lot, especially in a creative space. I would plan on extending this to the WL; people figure out their characters as they're playing them and I think some of the requirements are a bit restrictive concerning species applications in a way I'm not a super fan of, but also I do generally know when to address an issue plainly. I would say my weakest link is probably just staying on top of the duties completely consistently. I have no qualms being pinged and told to do something if I lapse, but I have a full time job and ADHD so things do get lost from time to time.