"As useful as an umbrella on Visegrad" - OolongCow Command Whitelist Application

[OolongCow]

BYOND key: OolongCow

Discord Username: maybelle

Character names: 

• Jedrzej Kuhn, Security Officer
• Marisa Warren, Engineer

How long have you been playing on Aurora?
I've made several attempts to play over the years, but this time it's truly stuck. I've even started mapping and bugfixing (thanks, Matt)! I told myself I'd wait about a month before applying for any whitelists, to be sure, and that self-imposed waiting period has passed.

Have you received any administrative actions? And how serious were they?
Minor clarifications by admins, no actions. I once wore a cowboy hat as a security officer on deadpop in the middle of that kerfuffle about security uniforms awhile back and got so scared by an automated CCIA announcement that I didn't play for several weeks, though. 

Please provide well articulated answers to the following questions in a paragraph each.

What do you think the OOC purpose of a Head of Staff is, ingame?
OOC, it's to hold players to a soft-handed set of standards of roleplay, guide newer players who don't know better yet on how to behave, and use your IC position as someone in a position of authority to manipulate the round to be more enjoyable for everyone. That is especially true for roles like Captain and Head of Security, who might also have to interact with antagonists and take their enjoyment into consideration when making decisions. No one wants a captain that shuts down the mercs trying to do a gimmick at 00:30, but nobody likes a captain who gives those same mercs an unrealistic and exhausting amount of leeway either. It's a delicate balance that can wear on people, but it's one of the things I enjoy most about the game. I enjoy putting pressure on antags who forgot to do paperwork, only to believe them at the last second and let them wipe their brows. I enjoy pointing out little flaws in peoples' IC arguments to push them to close those gaps in the future, and then reward them when they go that extra mile to be convincing. Being a head means being willing to give much more than you necessarily take from a round, because as a head you have the ability to do so much to influence a round's flow. Every security player who's given the role more than a few rounds knows how much dread comes from a no-HoS, no-warden round with team antags and no communication. As a head it is your job to turn that round that otherwise might have turned people off a role, or ruined the one round they had time to play that night, into something fun. Ultimately this is a game and people come here to have fun. Being able to give up a little of your own fun by not always "winning" so that others can enjoy themselves is a cornerstone of collaborative RP and something I've held myself and others to for the years I've been playing SS13.

What do you think the OOC responsibilities of Whitelisted players are to other players, and how would you strive to uphold them?
Similar to my points above, it's to maintain an environment where those players can enjoy themselves. That requires the ability to identify what would be best for the round and act on it in the most believable, agreeable way possible. It requires an understanding of everyone's fun being more important than your own, and being willing to accept that without complaint. It means not abusing your IC position to take actions that harm people's experiences "because it makes sense" or "because it's what my character would do." Throwing the book at someone because of a distinct, harmless quirk of their character because you don't like it, or prescribing to an absolutist view of the rules and regulations makes the server boring. As does turning an eye to what someone's doing, despite it harming other peoples' experiences, because "that's just the way they are" or because you're IC or OOC friends. Heads have more than just the basic expectations of courtesy placed on most roles, they have responsibilities as characters and players when compared to the idealistic guidelines for everyone else. They have an obligation to not be "ugh them" characters to more than a few outliers. They have an obligation to just, in essence, make a round better by simple virtue of being in it. And they're given the tools to do that. Tools I think that I'm able to handle.

Explain how the recent events in the Spur changed your character and how they came to be employed on the SCCV Horizon.
Kuhn is a someone I really struggled with when I first made him. First he was going to be a weird cowboy-loving Vysokan, then Visegradi, but as I worked the kinks out and started genuinely playing for real this last while, I've come to a point and some arcs for him I really enjoy, and that I hope, from what I've heard, others appreciate.

Jedrzej Kuhn was born on Vysoka, in Sloboda. Nothing but homesteads, packed together like sardines to form an odd pseudo-city. Big for his age, and somewhat successful in school, he made a natural fit for the VNDF. Noticed by a medical sergeant who needed someone as large as Kuhn to help him move stuff around, he eventually picked up enough to replace his mentor once he retired. Serving his time idly in a time of relative peace, in 2459 he was picked up as his military contract was expiring by Zavodskoi's offices on the planet. Due to his medical certifications, he was offered a very generous contract, which he happily accepted, citing he'd be "stupid to refuse."

Sent through a variety of corporate training courses on Biesel, and rapidly exposed to the spur he'd never particularly known as a lower-class child born to a single mother on a planet that hadn't been politically relevant for decades, if not centuries,, the young man went through no small number of changes. The ideas of "democracy" and "self-rule" he'd never really thought much of as a younger man were abundant and suddenly appealing in the newly-formed Republic of Biesel, and yet...

Tajara, and Unathi, and Vaurca, and more. They were all so foreign, so different, so alien. He'd heard whispers about them. Stories on the schoolyard, and in the barracks, about what happened to human freighters that strayed too far...

And then the invasion of Biesel happened. Frost's actions were appalling, sure, but he was human, and Kuhn was still technically Solarian, right? They had to be on the same side. Surely the situation would resolve itself, and Biesel would once again be free, with some minor changes.

And then the Violet Dawn disaster happened. The desperate actions of a strained alliance had caused an immeasurable tragedy, but surely it was no one's fault? Sol would recover, and it would be alright.

And then Szalai happened. The de facto dictator of her own little kingdom, the SSMD. She seized control of a leaderless, lost Visegrad, desperate to be free and once again rule itself as it had long ago before the yoke of Sol had been placed on their necks, and for just a moment, to an outside observer, there was a glimmer of hope for something better. Of something greater.

Klaudia Szalai drowned that light in the flames of Sloboda as it burned, along with many of the people Kuhn had known his entire life. In seeking to "save" the Solar alliance, she betrayed the people of Visegrad and damned them to subservience once more. She damned his home. It was a husk. A puppet in the games of people who'd shown the spur their true faces. He couldn't go back. He wouldn't. Not to the burnt out ruins of Sloboda, where only his mother and the memories of friends now-dead waited for him.

Szalai could have been the human Na'ted. A regular Cincinnatus. But she wasn't. And Visegrad was gone. Gone, gone, and never to return.

His only home, now, was here. With a new people. A people who'd already fought back against bullies and crooks, like Szalai, who'd chain them to a nation doing whatever it took to survive. Who despite being so different from each other, who despite being comprised of peoples and races from every single walk of life imaginable, stood up, fought, and had won.

Kuhn burned his Solarian passport and applied for citizenship with the Republic of Biesel the next day.

What roles do you plan on playing after the application is accepted?
Head of Security, Chief Engineer (once I get about ~20 hours of atmos tech experience with ShakeyJakey's tutelage and then do some solo experimentation on a local server)

Have you familiarized yourself with the wiki pages for the command roles?
Yes.

Characters you intend to use for command or have created for command. Include the job they will be taking:
Areum An for the trial and for a short period afterwards, Jedrzej Kuhn as Head of Security if I feel he would be a good fit after this trial and trial+ period
Casey Boudreaux, Chief Engineer

Do you understand your whitelist is not permanent, and may be stripped following continuous administrative action?
Yes. Whitelists being something that can be lost due to abuse is an important part of why they work.

Have you linked your BYOND account to the Forums?
Yes.

Extra notes:
I'd like to blame Matt and Danse specifically for both giving me a reason to stick around, and for somehow convincing me to start mapping and coding again. This is all you two's fault and I will not forgive you.

Edited July 18, 2023 by OolongCow

[restricted]

I believe in she ep.

+1

(Kuhn is an excellent, level headed character and I look forward to what they have to bring to command.)

Edited July 13, 2023 by restricted

[Rookie Eyes]

Not only do I like Oolong's proposed character for HoS, but I feel that they are making an effort to be involved in the community beyond just RPing that character. I also liked their take on what's expected of a head of staff, and whitelisted player, here. +1

[Ricky_the_banshee]

Oolong is a delight to engage with on the server. Their characters are an example of a passionate desire to RP, from their backstories, recognizable mannerisms and quirks that they exceptionally express and naturally adjust depending on the circumstances thrown their way. As  an officer, I've seen them handle engagements with antagonists delicatly to avoid shooting down their gimmicks (within reasonable boundaries). 

From the app alone, I am under the impression that they are genuinely interested in assisting the flow of the round as a member of command. They seem to be aware of the responsibilities this role carries as well!

 

And while being a coder/mapper isn't a requirement for a whitelist, I don't think it is indicative of their dedication towards the server. Given them access to characters that could potentially improve the flow of the round would only come out as a net positive overall.

+1

I salute to you, commander Kuhn. o7

 

[dessysalta]

Oolong is a great writer and I love how they portray Kuhn on a day to day basis. I feel like Kuhn is my (static's) coworker in the security field, that's how well they accomplish them.

+1

[NM_]

I've thoroughly enjoyed my experiences with Kuhn with each of them leaving me a continued impression that this is someone to keep an eye on. I've yet to be disappointed, only reminded that when Oolong's character arrives, I'm bound to have something interesting to look forward to. I can't comment on the nature of their interactions with antagonists, but I can surely put myself in their corner from the clear investment they have to create roleplay with their fellow writers, present a compelling/immersive character, and enrich the rounds they play in. They conduct themselves well enough as is, Command won't be a problem.

 

You'll make it far, kid. Doc's always watching. +1

[icedcabbage]

I cannot pinpoint a moment where I haven't enjoyed an interaction with either of Maybelle's characters. With Kuhn they demonstrate restraint with letting antags do their gimmick and that is something you always look for in a Command Whitelist holder, to me it shows they have the roleplaying skill and respect for the game to further the round and assist in game progression. You get your +1

[Lent23]

Kuhn, my beloved.

I have never wanted to +1 something more than this post - Commander Kuhn is peak gaming, and I need it in my life.

[La Villa Strangiato]

I like [Polish] and Marisa, from what I've seen of them! From OolongCow's PRs I think they have a pretty good understanding of engineering, and I would like to see them in a leadership role just to see what they could pull off.

However, I would tentatively recommend you make a separate HOS for your trial. Making a character that you already have a head of staff can be a good way to burn out on them, and HOS is already a really stressful role.

Otherwise, +1!

[OolongCow]

12 hours ago, La Villa Strangiato said:

However, I would tentatively recommend you make a separate HOS for your trial. Making a character that you already have a head of staff can be a good way to burn out on them, and HOS is already a really stressful role.

I've gotten the same advice from others and am heavily considering it. I can always just say his paperwork's being slow during the trial, and I already have a good, blame-free IC reason he might be declined that doesn't reflect on his ability and is 100% believable if I chose not to have him promoted.

Edited July 16, 2023 by OolongCow

[OolongCow]

Okay, I don't want to disappoint all the people who want Commander Kuhn, but I think I'll follow the advice of my older and wiser peers here and do my trial and a bit after with a fresh HoS so I can judge if I feel comfortable playing him in that role.

[MattAtlas]

On trial until 25JUL2023.

[MattAtlas]

Accepted.