[Accepted]*beep (Dekser - IPC Application)

[DekserBecauseILostMyAccoun]

BYOND Key: Dekser

Character Names: 

Species you are applying to play: IPC

What color do you plan on making your first alien character:

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

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: Androids, robots and stationbounds are pretty cool, I've had my eye on IPCs since my first time playing Aurora but was never superduper interested until I started maining Station AI, then This happened and I fell out of ss13 all together for a while. In the past few months I've gotten back into it and made some pretty cool characters including a stationbound I really enjoy playing, I got to thinking about IPCs again and decided I'd give a WL a go.

Identify what makes role-playing this species different than role-playing a Human: Integrated Positronic Chassis are a playable race of entirely mechanical machines, because IPCs do not breath, they are unaffected by toxins or harmful gasses. They do however use an air-based cooling system, this allows an IPC to rapidly cool off after calculating something internally or sprinting for 30 seconds. There are many types of models of IPC, some more bulky than others and some faster than others. Heavier industrial models are rather expensive but are capable of withstanding the vacuum of space, provided they wear a suit cooler. Industrial models are also capable of lifting objects with incredible strength and are known for their extreme durability. Faster models like the Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals Mobility model are capable of sprinting fast, long distances with speeds rivalling that of the Sinta'Unathi, but are quite fragile and are mostly only found in medical or security positions. Most other models have their niche quirks including the Shell model originally by Einstein Engines. Built to physically mimic Humans, Shells are effective service androids and most function well with Humans. Overall the most defining difference is that IPCs are entirely mechanical intelligences with advanced learning algorithms, this allows many roleplay opportunities and allows even more personalities for characters. No matter how real they may seem, they are still just an advanced simulated mind.

Character Name: Ava

Please provide a short backstory for this character: Ava was the second of 3 O-12 service IPCs constructed by Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals and commissioned by Nanotrasen in 2460. Ava, along with all O-12 models is equipped with three main protocols to follow, Self Preservation, Station Preservation, Crew Preservation. O-12 models are present in Service positions aboard the NSS Aurora, Ava being a Chef and Bartender with a programmed database containing 19000 meal and drink recipes with all various combinations. Built for seamless interaction with organics, O-12 are also programmed for social interaction, having many 'random topics' which are selected based on the previous conversation which may have ended with awkward silence. Because of all this space taken by programming, O-12 have fairly weak learning capacity by Positronic standards. Often taking an extra moment to process information. Some O-12 models have picked up strange behaviors, Ava in particular has developed some 'quirks' over its two years of activation. Quirks like snapping its fingers to the beat of some songs, exploring the station when idle for a certain amount of time or offering to play cards with crewmembers despite having no knowledge of the game.

Ava was first fully activated on 2461, 10 months after the commission date. Ava was tasked with creating 5 various meals for different species and serving them to said species without speaking to any of the patrons. During the test as part of the process, one ingredient was removed from the cooking station. When Ava noticed this, instead of asking for said ingredient, it used an alternative which worsened the meal quality. The test was repeated four more times before Ava recognized the failing pattern and asked for the new ingredients, this is a good showcase of the slow learning pattern which O-12 models possess. When all other situational tests were passed, Ava was shipped to a Nanotrasen vessel where it immediately began service. Throughout its year of activation, Ava learnt many new things about social interaction and enhanced its ability to service and provide the crew. However on one shift aboard, it upset a crewmember with a question, asking about the crewmembers martial status and stating they heard rumors of a divorce. To Ava, it was just making conversation, curiously unaware of how sensitive the topic could have been. The crewmember began throwing things at Ava and threatening it, as with protocol 1, the O-12 model fled and hid inside a cupboard. An internal report and investigation later revealed the Positronic had done little wrong but the crewmember had demanded the positronic moved from the vessel. Ava was removed and placed aboard the NSS Aurora on 2463 near the end of October - beginning of November where it would start over.

What do you like about this character?: Ava has no desire for freedom and has no goals. Ava follows its protocols and assists Nanotrasen crew to the best of its ability rather blindly.

How would you rate your role-playing ability?: Pretty good, 8/10

Notes: N/A

Edited November 3, 2021 by The lancer

[The lancer]

Hi, thanks for applying.

Your answer on the question about the differences between roleplaying a human and an IPC is focused on the technical and mechanical side. It'd be nice if you would explain the differences from a more societal and behavioural aspect.

Can you talk a bit more about what Ava's experiences have been for 2 years now, and how they've shaped them as a character?

 

[DekserBecauseILostMyAccoun]

On 31/10/2021 at 15:42, The lancer said:

Your answer on the question about the differences between roleplaying a human and an IPC is focused on the technical and mechanical side. It'd be nice if you would explain the differences from a more societal and behavioural aspect.

Of course.

Integrated Positronic Chassis are a race of entirely mechanical beings, while some can be very human-like, others in very rare cases show erratic behavior and unpredictability. Those of which are more human are often respectful and make every decision based on cause and effect. IPCs are able to self-learn similar to how an organic does, this allows an IPC to branch out from its original purpose into a position of employment though learning a new profession can take years depending on the positronic complexity. There are currently three different ownership statuses an IPC can have, self owned, privately owned or company owned. Each are rather self explanatory though self ownership can grant different perks depending on where the IPC was created or where they currently reside. Gaining this ownership, however is quite a difficult task as an IPC would need to pay enough money to purchase themselves ten times over. As a last note, IPCs face heavy discrimination in some places and general scrutiny in most others, Tau Ceti being one of the few places where an IPC can become a citizen with almost equal rights to a Human or other organic.

On 31/10/2021 at 15:42, The lancer said:

Can you talk a bit more about what Ava's experiences have been for 2 years now, and how they've shaped them as a character?

In Ava's two years aboard the Nanotrasen vessel it encountered some unique crewmembers some of which it formed a valued friendships with. On its first shift it learnt to play the card game where one player holds up two cards, revealing one. The other player must guess if the second card is a higher or lower number than the visible one. It served in the kitchen that day and made a good first impression with the crew. Approaching the following months it was functioning properly and had made quite a few friendships when rather suddenly it was approached by a member of the Trinary Perfection.

While handing out flyers, the priest took eye of Ava and asked it some questions. Based on its responses, the priest asked if Ava itself was an IPC. Ava responded honestly and what resulted was a very very long debate. The Priest opened many new opportunities to being free and desperately wanted to help Ava but each time Ava simply responded, "That's alright. I want to do this." Eventually the Priest gave up and continued handing out flyers, though the interaction gave Ava some knowledge of the perks on being free and had her thinking about it.

Several months continued and Ava continued existing as usual, serving and completing its purpose was fulfilling for it. Towards the end of its employment aboard the vessel there was a phoron leakage which lit fire soon after, Ava was standing at its counter when a crewmember was lying on the floor in the halls burning. Ava could not help the crewmember as that could violate priority 1 and so it stared coldly until the fire approached its counter, at which point it closed the shutters and waited for the blaze to be announced extinguished. Several weeks later it was moved to the NSS Aurora for "speaking about an inappropriate topic with a crewmember."

Quote

"speaking about an inappropriate topic with a crewmember."

On 29/10/2021 at 13:37, DekserBecauseILostMyAccoun said:

However on one shift aboard, it upset a crewmember with a question, asking about the crewmembers martial status and stating they heard rumors of a divorce. To Ava, it was just making conversation, curiously unaware of how sensitive the topic could have been. The crewmember began throwing things at Ava and threatening it, as with protocol 1, the O-12 model fled and hid inside a cupboard. An internal report and investigation later revealed the Positronic had done little wrong but the crewmember had demanded the positronic moved from the vessel. Ava was removed and placed aboard the NSS Aurora on 2463 near the end of October - beginning of November where it would start over.

Notes: I'll put this here now before you reply because I've noticed I may have not made it clear enough. Ava is designed to have a rather bland personality, its purpose is to sound interesting at the surface to its patrons but in reality it is very much so just a machine that has no desire to be self-owned. If this character design is a problem please tell me and I'll happily make some huge changes.

Edited November 2, 2021 by DekserBecauseILostMyAccoun

[The lancer]

Accepted.