25's Totally Original IPC Race App

[25charactersorless]

BYOND Key: 6thechamp9

Character Names: Kennard Rose; Kaiden Callison

Species you are applying to play: IPC

Have you read our lore section's page on this species?: Yeppers

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 want to play as an IPC because I have a character in mind, and an IPC fits the role to a tee. Sure, a Dominian could do a robotic-like character, but they're still considered crew. While they may act robotically, they don't default to cause and effect logic for decision-making. Only a cold, calculating IPC could fill the trope I have in mind flawlessly. Also, the mechanics behind the race are pretty neat, and I like how the Corp. Regulations make a difference between an IPC and a crew member.

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

For one, you're considered less than a person onboard the station doubly so if a corporation owns you. You're property. Someone could cut off your arm for a prank, and the worst they would get is vandalism. That's amazing. On top of that, there are exciting interactions just waiting to be had with Dominian players. I can't wait for my coworkers to call me an abomination! Of course, that's not without mentioning the fun of playing a character that is essentially a mimicry of life. At the end of the day, you're not alive. You're a machine just doing a job.

Character Name: IRU-Charlie #413 706 394 - 50

Please provide a short backstory for this character.

A shell model IPC costing approximately 705,000 standard credits, the Idris Reclamation Unit Charlie is one of Idris' recent designs. Fresh off of the factory line and boasting all the latest features and augments on the market, Charlie is designed, as most IRUs are, as an efficient investigator and negotiator. However, it leans more toward the customer service end of the Idris spectrum than ruthless enforcer and debt collector.

Though, being fresh off the assembly line, IRU-Charlie #413 706 394 - 50 has yet to be adequately tested and diagnosed in the field. While this process is typically both lengthy and expensive, there is an alternative solution. One of NanoTrasen's many stations within Tau Ceti would make the perfect trial grounds for this chassis due to the versatile environment it provides. Notably, the NSS Aurora.

What do you like about this character?

Haha, robot detectibe goes brrrrrr. Onto a more serious note, though, the depressive Kennard J. Rose is always fun to play, but he encompasses only one part of the detective genre. He is Noir incarnate. Charlie allows me to play someone more by-the-book and generally less depressed and angry all the time. It's a bit more freedom to try someone else while also filling into the cyberpunk machine detective trope that I love almost as much as my Noir tropes.

How would you rate your role-playing ability?

I would say I have a good amount of experience under my belt with role-playing ranging from SS13 to tabletop RPGs, and that experience translates into at least semi-decent role-play. I can do any variation of any genre of detective-eques characters thanks to my Noir obsession, from hard-boiled to by-the-book. However, that doesn't mean I'm limited to them. I've made plenty of equally inquisitive characters who've filled roles from inane doctors to suave and alcoholic pirates to the stalwart and loyal guardians.

Notes: Notes are for notes, and I can't think of anything noteworthy to note down in notes. 

Edited April 30, 2021 by 25charactersorless
Fixed several *hyphens* and *pound signs* now that I've actually managed to post the app along with formatting.

[niennab]

Hello, thank you for applying. Are you able to greatly expand on the backstory as well as the question of how they differ from humans? Although the blank-slate character is suitable to IPCs, it isn't suitable for whitelist applications where one needs to demonstrate an understanding of the 'race'. I recommend trying to tell a story with it, while delving into what makes up the character.

[25charactersorless]

Right, well, given the character I intend to play is a blank slate, I'll spin up a hypothetical backstory for them when I get a chance along with expanding upon the differences from humans. Though, question on the latter question, is it asking about mechanically, lore-wise, or both in regard of differences? Appreciate the feedback nonetheless!

[niennab]

27 minutes ago, 25charactersorless said:

Though, question on the latter question, is it asking about mechanically, lore-wise, or both in regard of differences?

More about the lore, how they differ mentally, philosophically, etc etc.

If it helps, I try to wrap up an application after at a maximum of 72 hours since it's posted, so you have time.

Edited April 30, 2021 by niennab

[25charactersorless]

Updated differences:
The difference between humans and machines is what's so interesting about the race. It can vary between the characters. One machine, a shell, could be nearly indistinguishable from humans. That could be the whole character—An untagged shell doing its best to blend in as a human and avoid capture. Another could be a working machine, doing menial labor and trying to pay itself off. Mentality-wise, though, there's a lot to consider. For one, IPCs can't act on emotion or a whim. When playing as one, you have to think like one—Cause and effect. At the same time, you have to consider the laws inside the machine and the directives that keep it in line before you act, preserving its chassis being directive one. This is what drives IPCs, and how their laws can help define their actions. In essence, you have to think as a machine would. Another interesting tidbit that separates it from all races is that IPCs don't have a centralized culture to which they belong. Instead, they adapt to their surroundings and creator. 

Updated backstory: 
IRU-Charlie #413 706 394 - 49's systems start to boot up for what could be the first or thousandth time. Its already been dressed to the nines in an Idris suit—a black neosilk tie hanging loosely from its neck. Instinctively, or instead, automatically and almost mechanically, it raises a hand to the knot and tightens it. Directive upheld: Idris' appearance maintained. Finally, its cold optics start to survey the area—the hallway of some dingy apartment complex in Mendell City. It already knows why it is here. There's no partner to accompany it to the door of apartment 316. Alone it stands, calculating the best course of action. 

A knock would most likely get a response, so it proceeds to do so. Two quick rasps are all it takes before the door opens. A man standing in his boxers and a wife-beater opens it, eyes widening as he takes in the machine. Before it has a chance to respond, he slams it shut. A calculated risk, given the jacket. He knows why it's here, and he chose to be a problem customer. Reasonable force authorized. It kicks the door in, and the man cowers behind a couch, a small-caliber handgun clutched desperately to his chest. A shot rings out, the bullet tears through fabric and synthflesh alike before wedging into the cold machinery underneath it all.

Directive one: self-preservation. It takes cover back in the hallway while the man continues to fire haphazardly. If he keeps this up, he will run out of ammo, which will provide an opening. As predicted, click click click. Out from the hall, it emerges. He's still standing behind the couch, holding on to the gun for dear life as the machine draws closer. With a swift motion, his wrist is twisted, and the gun clatters to the floor. He drops to a knee, begging to be let go as tears well in his eyes. A shaky hand reaches up, holding a credit chip. His wrist is promptly released, and a warm smile crosses the machine's face, though it doesn't reach its eyes. "Thank you for your cooperation. Have an Idris day."

And then there was nothing. The chassis lays on a cold table with men in lab coats talking amongst themselves. This one still had too many flaws. Dismantle it and use its parts for the next. The next one will be better, they think. IRU-Charlie #413 706 394 - 50's systems start to boot up for what could be the first or thousandth time.

 

Hopefully, that's up to par for ya and, more importantly, actually what you were asking for.

Edited April 30, 2021 by 25charactersorless

[niennab]

Thank you for the expansion. After convening with my team I had a few more questions.

What is the character beyond the noir aesthetic? How has the constant reconstruction affected Charlie? Has it experienced memory wipes during so? How has that had an impact on the characater? What does Charlie think of self ownership or it's purpose?

[25charactersorless]

1. Charlie is actually the exception to the rule for me. No constant drinking or smoking for aesthetic purposes today. Taking inspiration from the cyberpunk and tech/neo-noir genres, Charlie is as much a tool as the station AI, intended to be used by Security staff to assist in investigations. However, that doesn't stop its Social Relations program from developing bonds with its coworkers. For efficiency's sake, of course.
2. Mentally-wise, reconstruction hasn't affected Charlie in the slightest, given the answer to your third question. It does, however, provide minor touch-ups and updates to its software and improvements to the chassis, if any are available.
3. Certain pieces of memory are transferred during reconstruction, such as Charlie's purpose, its directives, and persons of interest. Most memories, however, are wiped to prevent Charlie from becoming anything more than what it was designed to be.
4. As mentioned in the point above, it technically hasn't since it isn't aware of these wipes. However, they are doing precisely what is intended and keeping Charlie an obedient machine.
5. It doesn't. Trying to obtain self-ownership as an Idris machine is nigh-impossible given how the company handles IRUs and ISUs. The best way to ensure self-preservation is to continue obediently under Idris. As for its purpose, the reconstruction and memory wipes keep it from questioning or developing an opinion on it. For Charlie, there's nothing more to itself than accomplishing its primary directives. 

[niennab]

Thank you for the clarifications. For a last set of questions:

Do you envision character progression for Charlie? If it keeps being wiped, how will it handle daily interactions? Will the character remain the same?

[25charactersorless]

Inevitably character progression will have to happen. Pulling a Simpsons and going back to the status quo every time just isn't interesting story-telling. On the other hand, the wipes only occur whenever Charlie gets destroyed or if the current model is deemed obsolete and needs to be replaced. As mentioned before, persons of interest, such as coworkers, are carried over, so Charlie won't need to reintroduce itself every time a new one shows up and will have, at the very least, a basic understanding of the who's who. Even when this does occur and Charlie is essentially reset, there's still a sense of progression and room for more character development.

Edited May 2, 2021 by 25charactersorless
Deleted a repeating phrase

[niennab]

Sounds good! Your application demonstrates an understanding of IPCs. Accepted.