Kostyan's IPC app 2: Metal Boogaloo

[Watchboi]

BYOND Key:  Kostyan 
Character Names: Donovan Murphy (Have more characters but don't play them at all)
Species you are applying to play: Integrated Positronic Chassis
Have you ever read our lore section's page on this species?: Yes

Why do you wish to play this specific race: I like robots, want a shot at playing as one.

Identify what makes role-playing this species different than role-playing a Human: Different mindset from those of an organic, like view on personal connections, life/death, slavery, etc. Overall a different perspective grounded in cold logic more than anything. Interactions, based on exploring those themes may yield interesting Roleplay opportunities, even more so between synthetics. Due to the views on their freedom and sapience has been mostly uncertain on the galactic scene, their interactions with organics opposed to the idea may be volatile and worth delving into. I'll definitely roleplay more on the cold-synthetic side of things.

Character Name: Terra
Please provide a short backstory for this character: 

Terranius Diagnostics creates TD Unit-5XT on June 3rd 2409, a First Generation Industrial Model IPC. Whilst initially revolutionary, the frame would further create issues for TD Unit-5XT almost half a century later. 

Initially designed for hard labour, it was eventually bought by a now defunct conglomerate of mining corporations. Its beginning years were hardly considered "luxurious" by many, with TD Unit-5XT sustaining damage to their chassis thanks to unsafe mines and precarious circumstances within the void. It was inevitable that eventually the unit would be crushed by machinery whilst excavating additional shafts for mining.

Discarded, and unable to see any change for the foreseeable future, TD Unit-5XT was hopeless. Against all odds, they eventually were saved by the "Scrappers", more specifically a group of salvagers that came across the remains of the IPC. Installed within a rusting baseline chassis, TD Unit-5XT soon found themselves inquiring about their existence -- "free, and no longer bound" even despite laws regarding its existence proving such a concept was nigh impossible, perhaps they'll find the answer later on. They named themselves Terra, in reference to their place of origin almost an eternity ago. 

Due to it's programming Terra quickly found an aptitude for research work, as well as involving themselves within augmenting robotic companions that had a similar past to Terra. Despite the gratitude for being saved and finding someone to get them a fake documents about their ownership, Terra eventually moved on from being with the scrappers, keeping week ties with the former colleagues. For over a quarter of a century it worked alongside their synthetic comrades within District 14 on Biesel, be it endless scavenging duty or simple repair of it's metal brethren, before laws binding their existence were overturned in 2458 CE. Despite a lengthy invasion, Terra and numerous other IPCs found themselves free. 

They hurled themselves into a world where they were no longer bound, and invested all their resources into advancing themselves -- eventually securing a position within  Nanotrasen, having enough knowledge to serve in a research department, they were accepted on the NSS Upsilon for almost four years before finally moving over to the NSS Aurora within the early months of 2463.

 

What do you like about this character?: It's a robot and roleplaying as one will be very interesting for me.

How would you rate your role-playing ability?: Intermediate

Notes: Boop.

Edited March 20, 2021 by Watchboi
Added a bit more stuff.

[niennab]

Hello, thank you for applying! Are you able to greatly expand on the question here?:

34 minutes ago, Watchboi said:

Identify what makes role-playing this species different than role-playing a Human:

Moreover, what does the line 'free, and no longer bound' refer to? Why or how did Terra have an aptitude for research despite having previously been built for excavation? Did Terra start out in Sol? How did they make the move to Tau Ceti? When? What is the below referring to?:

37 minutes ago, Watchboi said:

before laws binding their existence were overturned in 2458 CE. Despite a lengthy invasion, Terra and numerous other IPCs found themselves free. 

 

[Watchboi]

25 minutes ago, niennab said:

Hello, thank you for applying! Are you able to greatly expand on the question here?:

Moreover, what does the line 'free, and no longer bound' refer to? Why or how did Terra have an aptitude for research despite having previously been built for excavation? Did Terra start out in Sol? How did they make the move to Tau Ceti? When? What is the below referring to?:

 

Will expand it in a bit.

"Free and no longer bound" means that Terraneus Diagnostics considered the machine destroyed, no paperwork remaining to prove the connection, it officially stopped existing.

Excavation duty, besides mining, included xenoarchaeological studies, which did affect their choice of career later on.

It's place of origin is Earth (Terra), but as said, they were sold to the mining conglomerate at the time, I decided to keep it more or less vague as to where exactly they've been operating during their employment.

Scrappers, as per lore, originate from Sol and Eridani, and frequently flee to places where synthetics are tolerated. Perhaps I should've clarified.


As for the last bit, I am not quite sure how to explain.
 

[niennab]

Where did they get the knowledge for Xenoarcheology? And why? How then did they acquire the knowledge base for both standard research and robotics? If I understand the application, you're proposing a character that knows Mining, Science, Robotics and Xenoarcheology which is not allowed.

Can you explain this portion as well?

12 hours ago, Watchboi said:

before laws binding their existence were overturned in 2458 CE. Despite a lengthy invasion, Terra and numerous other IPCs found themselves free. 

 

[Watchboi]

14 hours ago, niennab said:

Where did they get the knowledge for Xenoarcheology? And why? How then did they acquire the knowledge base for both standard research and robotics? If I understand the application, you're proposing a character that knows Mining, Science, Robotics and Xenoarcheology which is not allowed.

Can you explain this portion as well?

 

The knowledge for xenoarcheology was passed down from the conglomerate as it was required for the job. The aptitude for research work extends only to xenoarchaelogy. The mentioned "Simple repair" of their brethren is as small as using nanopaste and welders for superficial outer shell repair and is not meant to be indicative of intricate robotics knowledge.

As for "before laws binding their existence were overturned in 2458 CE. Despite a lengthy invasion, Terra and numerous other IPCs found themselves free. " 

I think I just messed up on the wiki and misinterpreted something, since the date of the IPC right acknowledgement is 2447. So it should be something like "before laws binding their existence were overturned in 2447 CE. Terra and numerous other IPCs found themselves free." 
Terra was 'unoffically free' until 2447 since it was operating with the scrappers, when they moved on, their only way of safe travel was the use of fake documents about their ownership. And since the "Synthetic Threat" and Ceres Lance weren't prevalent during those times, it was easier to get lost among hordes of machines and other synthetics. After 2447 Terra's freedom was recognized by Tau Ceti, yet they stayed without a citizenship.

[niennab]

Thank you for the clarifications. After some deliberation I have decided to deny your application for now. The application is close and I think there is promise however I am not confident that it offers an understanding of IPCs. I will detail the issues I have with it below:

The question of how IPCs differ from humans remains too bare-bones and neglects a lot of the core concepts to Auroran IPCs (one example being the lack of self preservation). How do they differ? How does their mindset differ? Consider getting into the details. What does it mean that interactions with organics are volatile or worth getting into?

Moreover the application is proposing a character with both a background in mining and xenoarcheology while lacking a concrete reason. It would make little sense for a company to put all the work into possessing a machine meant for carefully excavating artifacts only to stick them into a role of strip mining.

In helping their fellow synthetics in District 14, how did they acquire nanopaste? Not to say that they couldn't acquire it, but it begs the question of how they were able to get their hands on something so expensive in the first place.

Then comes the matter of the character themselves. Why did they help the synthetics around them? Why did they deem themselves 'Terra' and not any other name? Why does their place of origin hold weight? Consider that everything an IPC does is for a reason.

You're welcome to reapply in three days at the minimum nonetheless.