Question: Ling Idea for my character

[Japak121]

I was wondering.. could I essentially have my character be a Ling (Lore wise for me) always?

I had a round where my main (Jeanette Locklear) was a ling and some of the staff may or may not have seen her..heal. During the round, she was conversing with the other ling and said she was covertly infiltrating the station, attempting to move up the ranks and amass power and all that jazz... anyway, I was wondering if I could sort of canon that for her? Obviously she wouldn't be able to use ling powers on rounds she isn't an antag, but I think it could make for some really interesting RP.

Example. The round I mentioned her as ling, the other ling claimed it was his wish to do the same..but violently. She challenged him and later, got him to attack her and set him up to be caught in the act and arrested by security (Knowing the would discover what he was and that he would eventually be killed.) So anytime she is an antag, she would be extra careful not to get caught and to preserve assets she deems valuable to her future. It would also be interesting canonizing anytime anyone may have suspicions about her, carrying it over to other rounds to see if anyone ever figures it out and see what would happen. Maybe the person who finds out would care about her too much to say anything? Maybe an epic showdown with an enemy or, even better, a loved one? Hell, maybe she just gets gunned down by a trigger happy officer and spaced. However things go, I think it would make for an interesting story.

Thoughts?

[K0NFL1QT]

Only if I can play a werebear.

[Guest]

Nope, this would give your character knowledge on antags that are supposed to be unknown to the crew.

[Frances]

Nope, this would give your character knowledge on antags that are supposed to be unknown to the crew.

Does it matter as long as it's not used in a way that is disruptive?

The rule on knowledge of antags/antag items exists solely to prevent meta (afaik). A player could be an underground syndicate CEO for all we care, as long as they didn't disclose any of their antag knowledge to others or put it to use during a regular round.

[Guest]

Where do you draw the line?

[Frances]

Where do you draw the line?

Based on the ability of the player not to involve others with their foolery against their will.

I have once played a "human" character who was a ghost-in-the-shell-style android escaped from a high-tech laboratory. I antagged during antag rounds, and pretended to be perfectly normal otherwise (while still trying to hide my secret). I interacted with a few people who knew my secret during non-antag rounds, but they were willing participants who consented to keep previous events cannon and didn't mind the whole story.

The other side of that was a couple of players who roleplayed being a werewolf and a vampire, and had a full werewolf-vs-vampire fight in a public hallway in front of a group of people. It was terribly silly and I think they were both talked to.

[Tainavaa]

That's how I play one of my characters. They're a hired gun who has worked for the syndicate before. They don't do shit to help the syndicate however, unless antag or there is some really good reason for it. Even on nuke rounds, they actively works against the nukes knowing they're syndicate operatives. Every time.

Edit: I think it's also worth mentioning that no metagaming is involved as any sort of hinting at knowing their equipment, their motives, etc. could possibly out them as a collaborator or other criminal. So it's best to keep quiet and pretend they know less than what they actually do, so long as it secures their survival and freedom.

Also I'm really dumb.

[Japak121]

That's how I play one of my characters. They're a hired gun who has worked for the syndicate before. They don't do shit to help the syndicate however, unless antag or there is some really good reason for it. Even on nuke rounds, they actively works against the nukes knowing they're syndicate operatives. Every time.

Edit: I think it's also worth mentioning that no metagaming is involved as any sort of hinting at knowing their equipment, their motives, etc. could possibly out them as a collaborator or other criminal. So it's best to keep quiet and pretend they know less than what they actually do, so long as it secures their survival and freedom.

Also I'm really dumb.

 

This is exactly how I was going to play it out basically. I don't see how it would be metagaming anyway unless I came out as ling and everyone just...accepted it, then every ling round I went around and sabotaged and called out other lings. That's the only way I can really think of metagaming it.

[Guest Menown]

In my eyes it plays out like this, if one does it, everybody will. Then suddenly we have a high-tech research facility staffed by changelings and syndicate cover agents, (which we're already treading the line on.)

[Tainavaa]

I don't have a syndicate cover agent character.

Either way. This is something that requires heavy moderation to even allow. But I'm doing it anyway.

[Crescentise]

In my eyes it plays out like this, if one does it, everybody will. Then suddenly we have a high-tech research facility staffed by changelings and syndicate cover agents, (which we're already treading the line on.)

Isn't this a bit slippery slopey? Like, I completely understand the concern. But hasn't Aurora as a whole been trying to be more open-minded with this sort of stuff recently, in order to combat the many complaints of roleplay being too heavily regulated? I feel like allowing this and seeing where it goes could be a nice first step into that. /two_cents

[Guest Menown]

It's just a no from me. It can't further roleplay. If it could, it'd be used for meta, which it can't be used for. So there's nothing here for it, other than, "my character is ling, isn't that cool."

[Japak121]

It's just a no from me. It can't further roleplay. If it could, it'd be used for meta, which it can't be used for. So there's nothing here for it, other than, "my character is ling, isn't that cool."

 

That is sort of a fair point, but like I tried to point out in my original post, it will eventually end and people will find out (during an antag round as ling), which would effect a few people already ICly. Also, like that round that inspired the idea, it did create some interesting RP between the antags and how they interacted with non-antags.

However, I see your point that this does seem to be more about just my character than anything, but then again, so do a bunch of custom items that people have. It COULD contribute to roleplay, but I recognize that it also may fail to turn into anything other than what you said.

[Guest Menown]

That's the issue. It /can't/ turn into anything outside a Ling round. Otherwise it'd be in violation of meta rules. So it's only a certain applicable thing to be used in a certain instance with a certain person. It'd make you an antag every single ling round, which may lead to your character getting outed.

And since ling rounds aren't held canon, how would canonizing your characters actions during that round go? Since nothing she does could be held canon due to the rules.

[Frances]

That would indeed create a bit of a headache.

If I understand Meowy well, he's saying every other person involved with the changeling would get metaknowledge of changelings during ling rounds.

Still, could we simply trust everyone not to get dumb with this? There were syndicate characters with syndicate-related character arcs before, and everybody got along just fine.

[Guest]

Still, could we simply trust everyone not to get dumb with this? There were syndicate characters with syndicate-related character arcs before, and everybody got along just fine.

If my understanding of human nature is right, no. People will end up getting dumb with it because it's a cool idea or makes them seem edgy.

It's easier to have something like that when your community is around 20-30 people a day, but when you statr hitting number 70+ it get's a little harder to keep to a sensible level.

[Guest Marlon Phoenix]

I have to say that my approval for such things tends to revolve around... Not 'realistic' concerns, but ah, things that make sense outside antag rounds? I can't find the words right now.

Basically, ling rounds (and most antag rounds) are self-enclosed canons. Ling rounds are the first time the station has a ling infiltrate it, and cult rounds are when the cult has finally infiltrated it, etc etc. These things exist in-universe, but they are not onboard the NSS Aurora for anything other than the rounds in which they're actively involved. Any sort of consistent changeling would have to remain in forum-side roleplay, or on other mediums, where it can do things not on the Aurora.

He can run around as a serial killer on Biesel or w/e, that's all fine, but this is a combination of preventing meta and ensuring that the crew roster during extended can be reasonably considered an actual crew of genuine working, non-xenomorphic people. People with ulterior motives are great, but a ling is about two steps beyond the line of reasonable suspension of disbelief.

[Guest]

I have to say that my approval for such things tends to revolve around... Not 'realistic' concerns, but ah, things that make sense outside antag rounds? I can't find the words right now.

Basically, ling rounds (and most antag rounds) are self-enclosed canons. Ling rounds are the first time the station has a ling infiltrate it, and cult rounds are when the cult has finally infiltrated it, etc etc. These things exist in-universe, but they are not onboard the NSS Aurora for anything other than the rounds in which they're actively involved. Any sort of consistent changeling would have to remain in forum-side roleplay, or on other mediums, where it can do things not on the Aurora.

He can run around as a serial killer on Biesel or w/e, that's all fine, but this is a combination of preventing meta and ensuring that the crew roster during extended can be reasonably considered an actual crew of genuine working, non-xenomorphic people. People with ulterior motives are great, but a ling is about two steps beyond the line of reasonable suspension of disbelief.

 

The word you're looking for is plausibility.

I would have to agree. Establishing characters are lings even when they aren't actually ling in-game kind of kills the plausibility and immersion factor.

There's nothing wrong with working with a terrorist organization and operating under deep cover inside an enemy corporation, in an IC sense. But, saying that your character is either secretly a wizard or a changeling just isn't going to work out.

[Japak121]

Ah, I see now.

It seems there were a number of things I overlooked. I appreciate everyone's feedback on this and helping me understand that this just can't work.

Thanks to everyone that took the time to respond!