[Accepted]Zer0Winds Diona Deputy Application

[Zer0Winds]

Ckey/BYOND Username: Zer0Winds
Discord Name: Zer0Winds#0173
Position Being Applied For: Diona Lore Deputy
Past Experiences/Knowledge: Sadly, I have none to speak of.

What do you believe is the strongest aspect of Dionae lore that you’d like to keep pushing forward?
The Diona are a very alien species for good and bad. That is their biggest point. Their psychology, their biology, most of them. However, they are also very moldable. Their psyche allows them to pick up more human traits, even at the expense of just being uncanny. I like this about them, they can be almost as alien as you want. Their mind types can allow them to be as alien and unknowable as possible, or they can work and act as simple as possible. Each Diona, as a result, is more of a personal story. They don't often have any connection to massive lore, but the characters themselves can have boundless amount of story attached to their own character, allowing free reign to do what you want with them. I want to keep this balance, of a species able to be molded how you see fit for their character.

How do you feel about the changes made to the species over the past year or so? Good and bad.
The Diona have been improving vastly, in my opinion. The addition of various mind types, the CT-EUM was something I very much think was fantastic. My only real gripe with the species was merely the Coeus, when they first came out. I didn't quite like them at first, and I had thought they were kind of out of nowhere. I'm still more of a Geras player but I don't mind them as much now. I'm used to them. The Eternal is something else I'm fond of. The various branches, and the way it can somewhat synchronize with other religions, it falls in line with the species' own ability to do that with other species.

Is there anything you would like to change or specifically work on regarding the species?
I want to continue what the CT-EUM started. More Diona-Specific locations for them. Diona with specific cultures, like the Narrows, that do not always have to be completely in line with another species lore. I like where the Diona themselves are, and I think they could benefit from origins.

How do you feel about Dionae relations with other species?
In lore, I like the overall unknown factor of Diona. Misinformation spreads, people are cautious and quick to judge a Diona based on a small interaction. It allows varied opinions on Diona that you don't quite see often with other species. I like the integration within the Federation and Unathi. Diona limbs for example are one of my favorite things.
Outside that, I feel that for both good and bad, the Diona can be seen to rely on knowledge of other aliens as a result. Even the CT-EUM is an autonomous entity basically associated with the Federation. While they aren't bound to the Federation, unless your Gestalt is from Qerr'Nal, the Federation can play a big role in those from there. This creates a sense that to play a Diona, you need to know the lore of other species. While this is isn't necessarily true, it is something that I can see cropping up from the way they're more of a species integrated into others.

One thing, however, is I don't feel like their integration with human society is all that well. This could be intentional, but I think integration in places like Sol, Eridani (In particular with the Dregs), and more development of Dominian Diona could be beneficial.

Do you have an interest in working on more small scale or larger scale content?
Admittedly, I'm not the most sure what constitutes as larger or smaller scale. My main interest right now, is the continued development of the various clusters, and Diona-centric locations. After that, I would love to do more with their Human integration. I suppose I don't have much in mind for massive rewrites, so I think, multiple smaller-scaled content is what I'm interested in? I'm not against anything large however, either.

What is your overall availability for writing, proof reading, and general coordination?
Overall, I should be available most of the time, but I have a typically messed up sleep schedule. Next month in particular I will be more likely to be not fully around, but after that it should be fine again. I am often on Discord so I should not be too difficult to get ahold of.

Do you believe you would be able to work on anything outside of lore regarding the species, sprite work or coding, ect.
This, I'm afraid, is where I definitely fall flat. I would love to be able to, but I'm not much of a spriter, or even a coder. However, something I'd love to do is learn mapping, and I would love to work on away sites relating to Diona, like perhaps Wild Ones, or third party ships dedicated to the Voidtamers.

Additional Comments: So, I don't actually have any past experience. This would be the first REAL thing I've done of this sort. I understand then, if that would make this a more... risky proposition? I thoroughly enjoy Diona lore though, and I'd like to contribute more to it.

[Caelphon]

Hi there. Thanks for applying.

1. Do you mind writing out an extract (not exceeding one page) for a piece of Dionae Lore you’d like to see added?

2. Do you have any retcons that you’d like to see implemented should you get the position?

3. What do you have planned for CT-EUM?

[Zer0Winds]

14 hours ago, Caelphon said:

Hi there. Thanks for applying.

1. Do you mind writing out an extract (not exceeding one page) for a piece of Dionae Lore you’d like to see added?

2. Do you have any retcons that you’d like to see implemented should you get the position?

3. What do you have planned for CT-EUM?

1. Of course. I wanted to expand on the Rueltab system, and I wrote a... rough idea I had. It's not quite something I'd like to see on the wiki, until its actually more fleshed out. Its a starting point, and honestly, even kind of a thought experiment for the system, and it could change entirely before I'd be fully satisfied with making it 'finished.' Most notably, more history, a rough draft of the finished idea, and more importantly, formatting.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NUKduUkb9DcGBw-OCS7gJpkaUCa-nPswajt0KCa-HJc/edit?usp=sharing

On a side note, I also wrote something for the third question which somewhat also fits with this first one, as I couldn't quite decide which I'd prefer to share, but this other one I deemed a bit too little on actual Diona-specific Lore. I also decided to just share both. I do have a few examples for something I'd like to see on EUM. Similar to the previous one, this is a rough idea I have, and its somewhat of a starting point, or a thought experiment.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mFxCsHSXGqQBafAOqX4BYx9e1vhxD7SxD0xPEZ4o3k8/edit?usp=sharing

 

2. So, off the top of my head, the Dionae lore is currently in a pretty good spot, and honestly, retcons aren't often good for characters. Luckily, I can't entirely think of many I'd like to see, mainly just maintaining what we have currently, and adding new things.

 

3. The CT-EUM is pretty good now, but if there's anything I want to see done, it's the addition of a few native fauna, and possibly flora. The early history of EUM mentions protecting against native animals, and a few examples of what those might entail could be nice. I wrote a couple ideas above, but I think a few more, would be a nice addition. Similarly to something I mentioned before, I also think Culture is something that can be touched up on and I somewhat played with the idea with the wildlife above and the Ekane, but it is a hard balance between writing all Diona from the CT-EUM's city states into a corner, and allowing for the overall flexibility that playing a Diona allows. Also to move the environment and seasons section above the history.

An ambitious goal I have and would like to see with the CT-EUM is an arc dedicated to them, and their relations with the Federation. The CT-EUM is in an interesting spot, and could do a lot in the future I think.

 

Thank you, for the questions, by the way.

Edited August 28, 2022 by Zer0Winds

[Desven]

I'm making you the same question I made Boggle. How do you feel about Vaurcae-Dionae relations? Is there anything you'd like to expand or change?

[WhatsUpBrotendo]

Do you have any plans to expand on Diona-Skrell lore outside of CT-EUM if you're accepted? You've briefly touched on this I feel, and I got the impression that your focus as deputy would be more on Diona lore that is more independent from the other species. Something that I agree with as an aside, in case that came off the wrong way.

Related to the first question, how do you feel about collaborating with other teams on lore in general? The Diona team does this more than any other team due to the species' place in the lore, but this also includes things such as megacorporations or Biesel/the CRZ which the entire team is expected to contribute to when needed.

 

[Zer0Winds]

For the Vaurca-Diona relations, I find it to be lacking even more than the human-diona relations, if I am honest. I feel like the Pests Cluster can have potential, and is in dire need of some rework. My only problem is I personally am not sure how to go about it just yet, but its something I would be willing to attempt, but it will require some work. Diona-Vaurcae relations can also possibly be expanded upon through the Federation, as they're both prominent within, and provide a decent alternative, where the Pests might have a primarily negative view on Vaurcae, those in the Federation might find the C'thur especially in a much better light. I think this somewhat is just how Vaurcae are though, if I am honest. They are rather alien, just in a different way than the Diona, and they're often segregated to their own locations, that Diona-Vaurca lore does not often get to interact. Of course, giving them more opportunities to interact is a good start.

As for the Skrell-Diona relations outside the CT-EUM, I think Xrim is a good example of it, with the Shrkh being the antithesis to basically everyone, but especially the Skrell. There are a good amount of Federation Dionae as well, I feel, and they are seemingly well integrated. The other notable cluster being the Conglomerated Choir, which is supposed to be a more-looked highly upon cluster in the Federation, but it does have much less written compared to both Xrim and the CT-EUM, despite this however, it does have a notable amount of history and even some culture that you can tell how a Diona from this cluster might think. I think perhaps just some minor touch-ups and clarifications could be used on this particular page, can help. Things such as just what mind types are considered 'approved' and what the minimum score would be to get blood samples from Skrell (Perhaps its just being a Secondary?), but these are minor wiki updates more than anything. Otherwise, I think its pretty good, and if I am honest, I would prefer focusing on other species, like the Unathi, Vaurca, and Humans, than the Federation.

Which, leads to the other question of how I feel working with the other teams, I am all for it. This isn't just a Diona-specific view in my opinion, I think all species can do well with cross-species collaboration. One example being the Free Council, for Tajara, Gakalzal for both Unathi and Tajara, and, as we've seen, the Wasteland, or Xrim for Diona and either Unathi or Skrell respectively. I want to work more on Human integration I think, with the Diona, at the moment, and then Vaurca, and to do that, you of course need to work with both of the respective teams. And even not just integration but how mostly unaffiliated clusters interact with the other species.

[WhatsUpBrotendo]

I pretty much agree with what you've put down and I don't really have much else to ask.

Good luck with the app!

[Caelphon]

The applicant shows promising ideas and has an overall good reputation within the playerbase. This application has my support. 

[SilverSZ]

This is a good, well developed application so I'll be brief and ask my selfish question.

 

You talk alot about inter-species cooperation and lore which is something I'm personally also passionate about for every species, not just synthetics. Have you had any ideas or concepts for Synthetic-Diona lore that you would want to work with the synth team to achieve. And if so what are they?

[Zer0Winds]

Well, if I'm honest, I think that IPC-Dionae lore will likely be easier done with work on Human-Dionae lore, due to the close nature of Humans and IPC's. The Iron Eternal is notably mentioned to be pro-synthetic, but that's about all that is said, so expanding upon it, and in the process, the Iron Eternal as a whole, can help. The Trinary Perfection however, is where a lot of things will inevitably come up, when talking about synthetics. And from what I understand, the Trinary Perfection, while technically possible for other species to fall under its beliefs, is only really Human-IPC.

As for ideas, again, I wouldn't mind trying to expand the Iron Eternal, and by extension its relation to Synthetics. If I am honest, it will be a bit tough, as of the species interactions, I think IPC-Dionae is one of the hardest, but not impossible. Once it gets off the ground though, it could become easier.

In general, relating to this, I somewhat want the Eternal to play a bit of a larger part, and I think starting with the Iron Eternal will be a good place, to further the Eternal's influence, as well as figure out some more IPC-Dionae lore. At the moment though, all I have are vague... starting locations, if that makes sense, rather than any fully fledged ideas on how to better the lore between the two species.

[Yonnimer]

Application has been accepted, welcome to the team!