Guest Posted April 27, 2015 Posted April 27, 2015 The clown role was made for fun, not chucklefucking. This is not unlike any other role, which is also made for fun and it has their points. Not unlike any other role, again, it can be used for chucklefucking. But, really, as long as I was on facepunch having experienced clown shenaniganry and on the rare occasion being chosen as the sole disciple of the honkmother... eh. I don't think any 'entertainer' or clown or mime would really fit here. I don't think people play here for the honking. I don't really care, though, it really depends if the devs want to do anything with it.
Cassie Posted April 27, 2015 Posted April 27, 2015 Hey, I don't mind mimes being kept. I'm usually average when it comes to emoting, but when I'm mime I'm god. Clowns however, I've seen RP'ing clowns but they're rare and sometimes people can't resist the urge to chucklefuck. But you know, there was this excellent Clown I knew from Hypatia named Honkculus, which wasn't a two-dimensional character and wasn't annoying even if people were prejudiced toward him. If we had Clowns they'd have to be whitelisted. Still, I don't think Aurora could appreciate even RP'ing clowns. I think, actors, entertainers, etc would be good. A stage put in the bar would be excellent, but people don't go into bars as much they used to because they're afraid of the label "barfly" which is attached to erp'ing snowflakes (which aren't that common tbh) and it's shame since it's a good place to RP and stuff. It's a pure RP role and without other people it's useless.
Tainavaa Posted April 27, 2015 Posted April 27, 2015 I've never even heard of the term barfly. I thought those ERPing snowflakes always did it in the maintenance tunnels. Cough.
Carver Posted April 27, 2015 Posted April 27, 2015 I like Clowns, they're an interesting and rather unique sort of entertainer. But I like Clowns in SS13 for different reasons, and those reasons just don't quite fit on 'Heavy' RP servers, Medium, sure, but there's little to be gained on a 'Heavy' server so long as Clowns carry the reputation they do of the 'Veteran Chucklefuck' role. Because in the end, visitors will flock to the role for just that. I can't much see how whitelisting Clowns would work, either. With Heads you're looking for a responsible and experienced player, with Clowns.. What are you looking for? "Just don't be a shitlorde, ok"? Seems like a lot of effort for a very minimal impact role that merely carries a hefty reputation.
Susan Posted April 27, 2015 Posted April 27, 2015 I don't know whether to feel disgusted or unsurprised that Aurorans are seriously considering adding clowns and mimes back to a heavy roleplay server. You're there for a nine to five shift. There's TV, the extranet, holovids, the holodeck, so much in the way of wildly unrealistic employee accommodations. I don't have a clown to entertain me when I have 8 hour shifts ringing up businesspeople. I have a TV in the break room, and that is literally it. We don't need 'actors' as a job because it is pointless and makes no sense, and we don't need clowns and mimes because they add nothing to a serious roleplay environment; they detract from it.
Guest Posted April 28, 2015 Posted April 28, 2015 Agreed. I work 8 hour shifts as well, at most I get a half hour lunch and 2 15 minute breaks per day. No cluwnes.
Baka Posted April 28, 2015 Posted April 28, 2015 I don't mind costumes for the bar, to go with a theme. Clowns and mimes though? Nah.
Johnny Mnemonic Posted April 28, 2015 Posted April 28, 2015 >nine to five shift You mean to tell me that it's not hardcore RP to add something like morale directors on a station where every third employee suffers from PTSD? In the same station where we have priests,librarians/journalists,chefs and freshly grown ingredients from hydroponics, holodeck, a bar, pool, psychologists,occasional wizards, overpriced vending machines...etc None of which seems to detract from RP, nay it adds to it. Eve though it's not exactly uper realistic "tv in the backoom" workplace experience it's almost like people come here toget away from real life or or like fun or some bullshit also maybe make clown/mime gear require captain approval ]
EvilBrage Posted April 29, 2015 Posted April 29, 2015 I don't know whether to feel disgusted or unsurprised that Aurorans are seriously considering adding clowns and mimes back to a heavy roleplay server. You're there for a nine to five shift. There's TV, the extranet, holovids, the holodeck, so much in the way of wildly unrealistic employee accommodations. I don't have a clown to entertain me when I have 8 hour shifts ringing up businesspeople. I have a TV in the break room, and that is literally it. We don't need 'actors' as a job because it is pointless and makes no sense, and we don't need clowns and mimes because they add nothing to a serious roleplay environment; they detract from it. I'd love to hear your argument for how you think clowns in the workplace are less realistic than cat people in the workplace. If the station were truly built for a "nine to five" shift, why would it have all of these things we've mentioned? Or a dormitory with beds for several crew members, a cryosleep chamber, and individualized sleeping quarters for the captain? The station design simply does not support your assertion; some level of habitation is clearly implied in the layout. Then again, the quoted idea of how the station "should" work is less fun than actually going to work, if only because I don't get paid. But back on track. The role of entertainer could easily be filled by assistants (and throwing in the "theater" access that still exists to their ID's.) If you're dead-set on being a clown, jump out into space and retrieve a clown's gear from their shuttle before coming back - it's far enough out of the way to make it a reward to become a clown, and instances of individuals going through all that effort is rare indeed, and so Aurora has unintentionally created what I view to be the ideal clown - infrequent, but utterly hilarious when he does show up. There's enough material to keep people entertained without mechanically designating an entertainer at the start of the round.
Jamini Posted April 29, 2015 Posted April 29, 2015 Wait wait wait. You are comparing what is supposed to be an alien species hired explicitly because they are cheap, hardworking labor in a setting where they are internally consistent with the rest of the lore... to... A fairly dystopian and ruthless corporation hiring a child's entertainer who would have absolutely no skills or real positive impact on the station where people spend (lorewise) a good portion of their time, and some people may very well live for days or weeks at a time. The former makes sense in the setting, the latter is kind of rediculous. I don't mind an entertainer role. I've suggested as such to baystation before and it was fairly well-received (but not implemented). That said, clowns and mimes are goon-esq additions that have become an endemic blight on this game. They have no real place except as really shoddy comic relief, which is far better filled by the chaplain/janitor/bartender/chef. They are in-line with the original "Swedish chef" speech replacement and the more recent "Mr. Clean Has Risen" joke. Something ridiculous intended for servers that are light or no-RP. Clowns have no place here. Mimes are borderline at best. I do not object to an entertainer job personally, as long as they never get clown gear. Ever.
EvilBrage Posted April 29, 2015 Posted April 29, 2015 Arbitrarily utilized redundancies aside, my point was that nothing in this game is realistic. We have cat people (and judging from the amount of PC floating around the station and the high ranking positions they take, I couldn't tell they were hired for their "cheap labor") and our station is literally powered by a black hole. If we actually wanted to get into strict realism, consider that it took the United States a little over a century to abolish legal racism against African Americans - and then consider that tajarans have only been known to humanity for a few decades - if we want to shoot for realism, there would be legal prejudice against tajarans apart from "you can't be captain," and it would fall in line with a majority of the human race's belief. tl;dr nothing is realistic in this game, and my purpose was to point out how ridiculous an argument that is to make in the hopes that people will stop making it, because the moment we bring this game to ultra-realism is the moment we realize we could have more fun by actually going to work.
Jamini Posted April 30, 2015 Posted April 30, 2015 That said, clowns and mimes are goon-esq additions that have become an endemic blight on this game. internally consistent with the rest of the lore Point emphasis. There have been, to my knowledge and personal experience, a bare handful of clown who have been genuinely funny and liked compared to scores, and scores of poorly done and/or outright griefing ones. Aliens, even those who are hired as headstaff, are internally consistent with our lore. Clowns as corporate employees are not. Just because you dislike how something is handled (which is really the crux of your argument. "I don't like that aliens are not a perfect analogy for the history of one nation's slavery issues and consider that unrealistic.") does not change how it is. Using a self-contained black hole (which IS silly, and which is why both RUST and SM were created. Sadly Aurora has neither due to the playerbase being unwilling to learn new engines.) is internally consistent. A child's entertainer on-staff is not.
Chaznoodles Posted April 30, 2015 Posted April 30, 2015 I think it would be nice to have some sort of entertainer role. Even if it wasn't the clown or mime, it might lighten the atmosphere somewhat.
Skull132 Posted April 30, 2015 Posted April 30, 2015 If we want to utilize the idea of an entertainer, what would they need and what could they do? My general and present stance is: the job is niche enough to not warrant being placed in. Instead, gather yourself some jokes, ask a HoP for a custom job title, and entertain away.
Jamini Posted April 30, 2015 Posted April 30, 2015 If we want to utilize the idea of an entertainer, what would they need and what could they do? My general and present stance is: the job is niche enough to not warrant being placed in. Instead, gather yourself some jokes, ask a HoP for a custom job title, and entertain away. Off the top of my head the things a "Morale Officer" could use and would need. Need: 1. A wardrobe of some sort, with a fair number of costumes. (There's actually a ton of nice jumpsuits/costumes in code.) 2. A stage area of some sort. Probably incorporated into the bar or the holodeck. On the map update, the "private dining" or "smokes" room could be used as a stage. 3. Instruments. The piano or violin (assuming that people don't hate it enough to have it removed. Again.) 4. A microphone (functionally a loudspeaker) 5. Very strict anti-clown enforcement. Could Do: 1. Comedy acts (stand up) 2. Give speeches 3. Sing/Play/Act in the bar/cafeteria 4. Act as a more "secular" ear for people to speak too. Not unlike the bartender, but less busy. 5. Back up the bartender as a waiter/waitress/hostess for the bar/cafeteria. 6. Organize and throw parties. Especially considering the HOP and Captain are often too busy to really do much. 7. Act as a vehicle for non-religious lore. (Unathi or Tajaran storyteller/bard anyone? Perhaps an IPC with the entire repository of "Calvin and Hobbes" that they display on their screen, complete with voiceovers and sound effects?) 8. ERP all day erry day. I've played as an actress/singer once or twice in the past. It can be a good deal of fun to do for everyone involved if done right. That said, again, we need to keep "Entertainer" completely away from the concept of "clown". The latter has too much baggage and WILL attract chucklefucking and griefing behavior.
Tainavaa Posted April 30, 2015 Posted April 30, 2015 The idea of bard's tales for present lore is very appealing to me but most people are understandably god awful with the in game instruments and not being able to hear the tempo, rhythm, tone and such is no fun. I'm personally not a fan of the YouTube video linking. But. I can always dream though... I can always dream...
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