Slight Reworking of Mindshield Implants for Skrell

[Owen]

I am deeply saddened by being relegated to the psionic cuck cage whenever I play as a Skrell Captain or Head of Security. I would really appreciate it if there was an option for Skrell who have mindshield implants to receive telepathic messages. Or if, perhaps, you could voluntarily even opt-in to a different implant. It is very sad to not be able to telepathically communicate outside of sending messages as a Skrell Captain. 

I would like to hear if others have the same thoughts. 

And to give some more serious detail--I imagine it would be extremely traumatic for a Skrell to be cut off from receiving telepathic communication from other Skrell since they are so reliant on the Nlom/Srom for their social and emotional well-being. I think if there was a way to subvert this, Skrell would ICly definitely appreciate it and be more willing to engage in some upward mobility into positions where they would otherwise be force to cut themselves off from telepathy.

[RustingWithYou]

Mindshields are kind of weird in general TBH, and we could probably just replace them with giving Captain/HOS blanket immunity to antag conversion, as that's pretty much all that they do anyway.

Failing that, I think that removing the psionic cuck cage for Skrell - either fully or by adding some kind of toggle or alternate version to the implant - would be for the best. Given the general influence of Skrell in the setting, and the various corporations which have Skrell in high positions (NT and Zeng both come to mind), it feels kind of weird that they'd require Skrell in positions of authority to basically cut themselves off from other Skrell for no real gain (90% of the shit mindshields protect you from is non-canon antag abilities)

They exist for a purely OOC reason, I don't see the sense in cutting out a big part of Skrell RP because of it.

[Lmwevil]

I feel sorta the point is how ascending through the corporation removes your own choice and control of your own life. You have backstabbed your very own culture to become a megacorporate slave, where you know so much NDA information that connecting to the Srom or having your thoughts read is a huge flight risk, hense the implant. 

I feel it's intended in the current design role, and not designed solely for ooc reasons, given that it was explicitly made to stop Skrellian shenanigans. Remember, corporate secrets are often things that states like the Federation should not be made aware of, and in places like the srom or telepathy you could spill things you couldn't otherwise. 

It protects non skrellian HoS and Captains, and directly acts as a reminder to a Skrellian Captain what they have sold out to become a megacorporate puppet. 

Captains are not your friend, they've sold their souls for corporate climbing. 

[Owen]

I understand where you're coming from with that, but it is also super inconsistently applied. As it currently stands, Skrell with mind shields can enter the Srom both voluntarily and involuntarily, and that is where all the secrets would be leaked anyway. So in that case, you would just see that Captain and HoS Skrell would maybe have to sleep in insulated rooms so no one can invade their thoughts.

 

That still brings the question of passing out involuntarily, which idk a real solution for that. The only time that really happens is during surgery, which... if we really wanted to, we could just say that room is shielded or something idfk. 

 

Ultimately, my biggest gripe with it is that it is a weird disconnect where it is literally just receiving psionic communication that is blocked, you can send out whatever psionic actions you want to send out so I could be telepathically telling all my skrell buddies about the nuke disk or whatever. They just cannot respond. 

[Fluffy]

I think the point is that they cannot "intrude" (communicate) to your mind? You having the ability to talk on skrellnet is completely under your control, that'd be like taking the radio and announcing the nuclear codes - if you're trusted to know things, you're also trusted to not reveal things - the main issue would come from the psionic frogs sending thoughts to (and thus, influencing) you to do or say things, which is the part that seems to make sense to do (?)

[FlamingLily]

I think removing a unique species trait just based on a job only really serves to limit the amount of people playing that species/job combo (which, for captain, is a big deal considering the species limitations).

In terms of OOC concerns, we can absolutely keep mindshields having antag conversion resist without necessitating psionic cuckery.

ICly, I do absolutely understand the logic and the thematics of such, but I think the same effect can be achieved with more of a lore explanation then mechanical punishment.

 

Consider: mindshields don't prevent psionics, but they do monitor them for any unwanted activity. Something along that line.

[Owen]

Bump. I would like to see that this isn't forgotten. I am still stuck in the psionic cuck cage