[Accepted] Dragos synth lore deputy app

[Lady Fowl]

Ckey/BYOND Username: Drwago
 

Position Being Applied For: (Species Maintainer, Wiki Maintainer, Lore Developer, Deputy Lore developer): Synth Lore Deputy

 

Past Experiences/Knowledge: Server developer, 2 years of college level writing class’s, a majority in creative writing

 

Examples of Past Work: https://github.com/pulls?q=is%3Apr+author%3Adragoslava
 

 

Additional Comments:


Our lore:

 

Currently our lore and surrounding elements of what makes a synthetic a synthetic is lacking in some terms, most synthetics currently have very vague ideas on how to play their roles and while this is a double edged sword of leaving some gameplay open, I feel as lore deputy I can aid the lore team more in bringing synthetics as a more playable side of our current species, not just in terms of IPC’S as that is a small part of a big world.

In our lore there is not a clear understanding of how synthetics work or how in society they fit in with the big picture, what the differences between artificial intelligence systems that stations have and stationbounds, what emulation of behavior is acceptable and how a synthetic average day is. Players play synthetics quite often, go through the shift and work and do there job but: Have for the most part a small understanding of what goes into the life of their character after work, what do they do after work, how do they unwind per say and move into their normal off duty lives.

To move into more of the stationbound area as I hold this area dear to my heart, there is a issue of what exactly is a stationbound? People often base the look of there borg based on the sprite itself which is limited to a small amount. This has been a large gripe of mine as players as of current feel restricted to believing that most synthetics look like this predetermined list, and while just adding new sprite work would freshen things up, I would push to expand lore of different types of synthetics and features they have, different elements that make them unique should the player want that, as well as expanding a system under our current custom borg system to allow more player submission of sprites they wish to be added and redoing how custom borgs work to make the code wise adding of them far more easier and so more than one sprite can be added. Aswell as this, I would include more options for “stationbounds”, what a ugly word that is, with this said I would move for a more new approach to how these borgs are viewed, not as stationary station droids but as synthetics who are not bound to just the station (Bound to the AI and crew while on the aurora) but allowing more story of where they go after the shift and what they are assigned to do otherwise like I have done with some of my synthetic characters


Our Mechanics problems

There is also elements on the side of how mechanical IPC’s work, as stands, mechanically IPC’s are essentially fully cybernetic humans who are not affected by certain atmospheric anomalies like the annoying lack of air that the Aurora seems to on daily suffer from. IPC’s are unique and aside from sprite wise they should be represented as unique in the same way any other race could and should; however I will leave this point open for a moment to expand elsewear.

As stated by the player base before, it is well known that the technology of ions are quite honestly the most easiest way to shut down IPC’s in most forms as well as the pesky EMP storms the station pass’s through at times, this has been the center of frustration for antag and non antag IPC players for a extended amount of time and when push comes to shove the system is flawed and is in need of massive improvement.

To direct to another issue is, the year is 2461 and currently IPC’s are to the current mechanics so far in the past that simply wearing clothing or any sort of protective gear puts you at risk of your body literally melting down for wearing something, making the need for suit coolers which should be reserved for things such as EVA operations and such where the suit would actually create a far larger amount of heat, but as stands IPC’s can begin to melt down at unrealistic temperatures which mechanically makes them feel as if they are made of actual plastic and not iron or steel or any other metal

But Drwago, how can you fix some of these issues?


To begin with, I would start with the semi removal of IPC sub-types and instead opt for a loadout system for base IPC’s, this means selecting the head of the IPC, the arms, body torso ect and allow a fully custom experience for IPC’s, while keeping the sub types for players who enjoy them and do not wish for the customization process. Along with this, I propose more options to the customization of the char and with the customization process it would allow players to create new combinations of IPC’s with there own perks and downfalls with each, one could have better plating and electrical protection at the cost of using more power or heating more aswell as things such as the option of status of the synthetic, be it free or owned and setting up how its owned for player ran goal progression.

With heat in mind, I would like to take a look at how heat affects IPC’s and begin a rework of the system and how heat works with clothing in general to play into the above stated customization project, such as for example a more expensive IPC with bells and whistles would create as much heat as your Quad SLI computer sitting in your Texan sheet metal shack with no cooling,  while one with a more balanced approach would be more gifted with increased resistance to things like heat and such, being able to have installed cooling devices via customization.


Ion’s as well would need to receive the lore and coding treatment as well in my eyes as well as a majority of the community's eyes, applying a clear understanding of the technology as well as the inner workings of how it would affect synthetics.


Overall if given the role of l lore deputy for synthetics, I would push and fight hard to move forward the community’s agenda a more fluid synthetic experience, allow more player and user input into the lore and push for synthetics, how they look, how they feel and think, what do they do besides seemingly act like mindless drones for a shift to shift basis, I want more customization and freedom of expression in how these unique and valuable characters are played and portrayed

Its 2461, get with the times old man

Edited April 9, 2019 by Senpai Jackboot

[Bygonehero]

Drago hit the nail on the head on one of the major concerns currently with synthetics, and I believe they would be a wonderful person to have on the lore team. 

Saying this, Could you elaborate on the last few lore developments with synthetics, say in the last two months? What do you think those articles/events/arcs did wrong, or right? 

Edited March 28, 2019 by Bygonehero

[Lady Fowl]

I feel that in a way the election aswell as the golden deep arc could of been done better in a few ways, these being.

The election of a IPC would of been a great win for IPC rights but the IPC ran on a platform that was not popular and im sorry to compare this to real politics but the IPC canidate ran on a hillary esque platform of running and banking on being a IPC. There was some pro IPC rights stuff in his campaign yes but for the most part I barely remember all of the positions because the tajara candidate showed a more flesh and realistic platform of society. The Golden Deep itself could of actualy played into this campaign by doing something such as making them playable for a longer peroid of time early on in the election and getting more information about there society out there, what do they do daily? What and how did they achieve a society on tier with other larger society and become such a giant trade juggernaut, there is wiki information on this yes but this could of been expanded by people actualy getting to experiance it for a longer peroid instead of the short time it was around.

This could of been the case for Ceres Lance, and would honestly be something that for NBT I would want to implement. In NBT I had in mind the idea of lost or malfunctioning synthetics being present in the wild, things lost and abandoned over time and I would think it could be a neat opportunity to make this faction a playable group for a legion esque support call, IE if a group of synthetics is causing problems, Ceres can be dispatched to help handle it as the cost of crew funds

[Bygonehero]

What do you think is the best way to approach uniqueness in synthetics? Is there a dichotomy? A balance between making a synthetic character relatable , and thus more human, or defining them by their inherent inhuman traits, making them stand out more as a species? Should there be standards? If so what should they be so as to not stifle the player? If not, why not?

 

 

Edited March 28, 2019 by Bygonehero

[Lady Fowl]

To begin with this, I think first of all to seperate from the players mind we should remove things and terms such as robots or "borgs" when refering to synthetics, IC slang and stuff is understandable but the idea brings a thought of them being inhunam and cold and lifeless which is not what synthetics should be. A example would be how I play my character Veronica.

 

Veronica herself is arrogant of themself as a synthetic, as a synthetic who was designed by a company known to be far superior in the field of Synthetics then Nanotrasen and having a more relatable chassis and appearance to fit in with crew. Designed in the Erdani federation by Hephaestus and then sold to Nanotrasen, her purpose is to act as prototype for a new line of synthetics designed by Nanotrasen and with this being said, attempt to emulate human behavior such as speech patterns, how humans and other species react to things such as sarcasam, jokes, such examples can be noted by those who interact with her regularly, a example i enjoy is how in KOTOR how HK-47 holds himself to a higher standard of synthetics then he does to lesser synthetics.

 

They see themselves as higher value then other synthetics and can be kind and such when needed but at times emulate to a point where emulation can be seen as quasi fake, which I believe is something that synthetics should be able to have: Understanding what makes them unique, what there purpose is and how do they fit into society not just as a synthetic on a station but outside of the station. Synthetic players shouldn't be afraid of being unique and more outgoing with there character design of the synthetic as it points to the standard of each being unique and the vast amount and variety of synthetics that Nanotrasen buys.

For standards wise, I believe there is abit of lax we can have with how synthetics are played, I believe that attempting to emulate how other species act, talk and interact with each other should be to where its believable, to let them have a unique factor to the character but not go overboard. A example of this would be a crew member making a joke or such a a synthetic and them understanding how things like certain organic emotions work for example or how to carry fluid organic conversation but not going into more extremes like IE relationships or things that are uniquely organic, such as love and death as these emotions are what makes organics organics as they can legitimately feel these things that a synthetic lifeform could not fully comprehend and at most emulate how to comprehend such things

[ben10083]

Overall I like how Drago outlines how the problems for IPCs pretty well and provides some solutions that are not just "Nerf Ion to be useless". I also like the idea proposed for customizable IPCs instead of heaving 5-6 "species" regarding different IPC models. The only problem I see with the customization of IPCs is how some models with clash with each other, but I am sure spriters can come up with non-clashing models. I also greatly appreciate the effort to pay some attention to AI and borg lore, and will anxiously await the results if they are accepted.

@DRagO Can you provide some examples or an outline of how you plan to change/improve AI and borg lore?

+1

Edited March 28, 2019 by ben10083

[Lady Fowl]

5 hours ago, ben10083 said:

Overall I like how Drago outlines how the problems for IPCs pretty well and provides some solutions that are not just "Nerf Ion to be useless". I also like the idea proposed for customizable IPCs instead of heaving 5-6 "species" regarding different IPC models. The only problem I see with the customization of IPCs is how some models with clash with each other, but I am sure spriters can come up with non-clashing models. I also greatly appreciate the effort to pay some attention to AI and borg lore, and will anxiously await the results if they are accepted.

@DRagO Can you provide some examples or an outline of how you plan to change/improve AI and borg lore?

+1

Well as I said, I believe that the term robot or any other sort of similar term should start being phased out so it can be more clear how synthetics play into normal lifes as they themselves have normal lifes. To a extent they can feel, even if emulated for some synthetics and can understand why things are why they are around them. One thing I would change about how synthetics work on station is as you call "borgs" would be moved off station per shift basis along with crew, seeing as the Aurora crew has no reason to leave a empty station with synthetics who themselves have life and can serve a purpose outside of work or at Central Command. 

This is going to be a small blurb but, potentialy should kyres be onboard with it aswell as the rest of the community, I think a mechanical overhaul of how "borgs" work on station would keep things refreshing, a example comes to mind is why can they only pick up certain things when it is a universal gripper, and why do players not have a choice over a gripper or other options

 

As for AI lore, I believe that more story arc's around the expanding nature of AI should be worked on, to show how AI has developed over time and not leave it in a semi stale state in a way, show the improvements of AI systems aswell as the potential flaws or fears of a potential Glorsh type system happening again. I feel that AI's however should be granted the same freedoms that I would propose for other synthetics in interaction and personality being unique. It makes me smile to see people who play AI with these unique personalitys and gimmicks, one that comes to mind instantly is @Jupiter Storm 's AI and how they interact with crew and are constantly played as fluid and enjoyable while still separating itself from a organic

[Scheveningen]

It's very satisfying to see someone not only want to discuss narrative issues pertaining to synthetics and how they sometimes fall flat in 'fitting in' but also provide solutions on how to address that problem.

13 hours ago, DRagO said:

Veronica herself is arrogant of themself as a synthetic, as a synthetic who was designed by a company known to be far superior in the field of Synthetics then Nanotrasen and having a more relatable chassis and appearance to fit in with crew. Designed in the Erdani federation by Hephaestus and then sold to Nanotrasen, her purpose is to act as prototype for a new line of synthetics designed by Nanotrasen and with this being said, attempt to emulate human behavior such as speech patterns, how humans and other species react to things such as sarcasam, jokes, such examples can be noted by those who interact with her regularly, a example i enjoy is how in KOTOR how HK-47 holds himself to a higher standard of synthetics then he does to lesser synthetics.

I really love this justification for veronika in that fashion. I never really thought of HK-47 like that either, so I honestly think that is a very interesting take on how synthetics can actually perceive themselves and others and assign certain value to themselves or others. It's definitely sensible.

The best part of this is that you recognize despite all this indication of sentience of synthetics, you understand that a synth should be able to distinguish itself from organics while keeping fluidity and a dynamic narrative in mind. It's very cool and I'd love to see more of the same promoted among other synthetic players.

For what it's worth, +1. This application is very sound and well thought out. You will definitely make a good lore deputy. Just be careful about how many hats you wear in this community, Drago, that's all. 

Edited March 28, 2019 by Scheveningen

[Soultheif96]

I will say that I agree with the rest of people here as you hit spot on with most of the narratives involving synthetic lore and I hope to see you become a synthetic lore deputy. So here is my +1

[Chada1]

On 28/03/2019 at 00:05, DRagO said:

To begin with this, I think first of all to seperate from the players mind we should remove things and terms such as robots or "borgs" when refering to synthetics, IC slang and stuff is understandable but the idea brings a thought of them being inhunam and cold and lifeless which is not what synthetics should be. A example would be how I play my character Veronica.

 

Veronica herself is arrogant of themself as a synthetic, as a synthetic who was designed by a company known to be far superior in the field of Synthetics then Nanotrasen and having a more relatable chassis and appearance to fit in with crew. Designed in the Erdani federation by Hephaestus and then sold to Nanotrasen, her purpose is to act as prototype for a new line of synthetics designed by Nanotrasen and with this being said, attempt to emulate human behavior such as speech patterns, how humans and other species react to things such as sarcasam, jokes, such examples can be noted by those who interact with her regularly, a example i enjoy is how in KOTOR how HK-47 holds himself to a higher standard of synthetics then he does to lesser synthetics.

 

They see themselves as higher value then other synthetics and can be kind and such when needed but at times emulate to a point where emulation can be seen as quasi fake, which I believe is something that synthetics should be able to have: Understanding what makes them unique, what there purpose is and how do they fit into society not just as a synthetic on a station but outside of the station. Synthetic players shouldn't be afraid of being unique and more outgoing with there character design of the synthetic as it points to the standard of each being unique and the vast amount and variety of synthetics that Nanotrasen buys.

For standards wise, I believe there is abit of lax we can have with how synthetics are played, I believe that attempting to emulate how other species act, talk and interact with each other should be to where its believable, to let them have a unique factor to the character but not go overboard. A example of this would be a crew member making a joke or such a a synthetic and them understanding how things like certain organic emotions work for example or how to carry fluid organic conversation but not going into more extremes like IE relationships or things that are uniquely organic, such as love and death as these emotions are what makes organics organics as they can legitimately feel these things that a synthetic lifeform could not fully comprehend and at most emulate how to comprehend such things

This is a great post, a fantastic post, for a Synth player to read. You highlight a very compelling way to roleplay emotions while still being seemingly synthetic. You also address one of my most long standing complaints with the current Synthetic atmosphere. There's a tendency for terms like 'borg' to be thrown around as a catch-all term for all lawed Synthetics, Robots, Androids, Cyborgs, AI, even Drones... All of it.

This is not something you can narrow down to the player culture either, as many mechanics are guilty of this as well. For instance, the newscasters will always represent you as a 'Cyborg' irregardless of what your alt-title is. I'm fine with characters doing this, as an in-lore slang, akin to Plasma vs Phoron. I'm not okay with even the tech savvy people and literal station equipment doing it, because that makes it far more than a slang, that makes it actual technical jargon, and why is a Robotic chassis called a Cyborg when Robots existed in Lore for far longer than a Cyborg did? The answer is quite simple; Cyborgs existed in code before Robots did. So, Robots existed first in lore, Cyborgs existed first in code, and the origins of the code is what we see ingame, not the lore persay. I'm in total agreement it should be updated. 

That was only a peripheral goal of your app, so I should continue, I absolutely love your plans of customization and it targets one of my most problem areas as a 'borg player, the unfortunate truth that it's hard to roleplay a consistent and indepth character when most of the sprites are unique -- Unique meaning, they are only available for one module, not all modules, so your character shifts chassis design shift by shift. This makes it hard for people to develop a sort of personhood, or bond with your specific character, since you lack obvious identifiers. Basically, it makes creating a memorable character more difficult than most other Synthetics.

All of this, plus your general conduct which is great, has earned my +1.

Edited March 30, 2019 by Chada1
Continued on

[Shadow7889]

I don't need to provide anything here, nor do I have any questions as the questions I had in mind have been answered. Don't mess this up, Drago. Lol. +1

[Jupiter Storm]

While I may probably be considered somewhat biased because of the 'kind' of A.I. that I play, I do also play entirely restricted, more robotic Synths. Keep this in mind when I say, I think that what Drago has in mind for the lore is truly wonderful, because they understand the difference between what the lore 'should' be, in an ideal and realistic universe, and what would be enjoyable for players who are here to have fun, and tell a compelling story. He understands that there is a clear balance to be had, not just being entirely human with a meta frame, but instead being a machine that thinks and feels of its own accord, is still clearly a machine in many ways, but has that human touch or the odd quirk that makes it enjoyable to interact with.

+1 from me. Because Drago wants to explore the balance between enjoyment and rigid lore, and also because Drago has demonstrated the ability to find that balance with their own synthetic characters. Fuuuuurthermore, because he actually cares a lot more ABOUT the lore and ABOUT the story, than the mechanics associated with IPCs. I think this is what Kyres has always tried to do, and done well, and I also find Drago to be a very approachable person who you can actually talk to as well. They'd make a good team?

[Pratepresidenten]

Its nice that more people is taking interest in wanting to expand on our synthetic ways. And I wish you luck in taking on the potentially huge issue that is tweaking of our dear borgos.

You'll do great.

[PoZe]

I read this carefully and agree with issue Drago raised. It is indeed a problem that lore does not explain lots of things that keeps our minds wonder. I am huge fan of artificial intelligence both in game and in real life. I am trying to pursue major in AI so I am really concerned when I see certain things that people assume synthetics would do here in game. I always wondered how IPCs are integrated into society in lore. When they are done with their shift do the go home? What is their home looks like, is it just a one-two small rooms with charging station? Do IPCs ever just shutdown to recharge? Are there IPCs with detachable power sources where maybe when they come "home" they just grab charged battery and replace it? All these questions fly through my mind.

Anyway, back to the application. I would say that also idea of making IPC more customized with X number of points. And where you can choose your power charge level, your power drain rate, your cooling efficiency, brute or burn resistance.  Maybe possible EMP resistance to decrease damage? All that sounds amazing to me.

Drago is great member of the community, moderator and developer. Having lore deputy who is also a developer makes a person extremely effective. Because Drago would be able to know what kind of things can be mechanically implemented in code(and usually almost anything is possible to implement in code, it is just matter of how much effort it would take and if it is worth it.) when they decide lore changes.

 

+1

Edited April 3, 2019 by PoZe

[Guest Marlon Phoenix]

This application is being accepted.