The Research Director's Pet

[Killerhurtz]

So. The RD's pet, officially, is Lamarr right? And Lamarr is a declawed xenomorph facehugger.

Does that mean that Research Directors should have knowledge of xenomorphs (which IIRC knowledge of should be limited since antag)?

How does that work, lore-wise?

[nanotoxin]

They have minimal knowledge iirc.

[Thundy]

http://half-life.wikia.com/wiki/Lamarr

From half life, not alien.

[Killerhurtz]

I know that reference. But I have twofold problems with this:

One, it implies that the RD's pet actually breaks server rules by being a 'real character'

Second, if it's a Headcrab and not a xeno facehugger, it implies that there is a non-zero possibility of connection with that world, and there's no lore to back it up.

So either we face some cross-dimensional shenanigans or maybe the RD mildly knows about the xenomorphs.

[Lady_of_Ravens]

I'm with Killerhurtz on this one: Lamaar's existence suggests that the RD should probably know what a xenomorph is, if not necessarily that much about them. This mixes well with my understanding that xenomorphs are a known phenomenon, simply a very rare one.

On the other hand, maybe a Space Wizard once zapped the RD's pet iguana and now it's a neutered facehugger?

[jackfractal]

Now I'm wishing we had functional headcrabs.

[Frances]

The guide we're using says that xenobiologists, and by association some RDs, could have minimal knowledge of exotic alien species. Only lings are mentioned, but I believe it could very reasonably be extended to aliums.

This gives leeway to xenobios (and RDs) to choose how to introduce xenos and lings, and hopefully make things a little more interesting (and scary), if they so wish.

[Killerhurtz]

That's Baystation though. If you say so I'll apply it - but I thought the Aurora was trying to distance itself a bit from Baystation?

[Frances]

That's Baystation though. If you say so I'll apply it - but I thought the Aurora was trying to distance itself a bit from Baystation?

No use reinventing the wheel, though

http://aurorastation.org/wiki/index.php?title=Server_Rules#Guidelines

The guide Aurora is using for antag metaplay is Bay's, it's always worked and I've yet to see a reason to change it.

[Killerhurtz]

Alright, guess that answers it. Thanks!

[LetzShake]

http://half-life.wikia.com/wiki/Lamarr

From half life, not alien.

 

The NAME is from half-Life. But Lamarr is a facehugger. Facehuggers look pretty different from Headcrabs and LaMarr is definitely sprited the same as a facehugger.

 

The guide we're using says that xenobiologists, and by association some RDs, could have minimal knowledge of exotic alien species. Only lings are mentioned, but I believe it could very reasonably be extended to aliums.

This gives leeway to xenobios (and RDs) to choose how to introduce xenos and lings, and hopefully make things a little more interesting (and scary), if they so wish.

 

I've been told that guide doesn't apply, before. I use it some, but what's the official stance? Because this has come up before particularly in Changeling rounds.

I love this server but I think a lack of documentation on differences from the standard can be a big weakness of ours.

[Lady_of_Ravens]

On a slightly different note... wouldn't it be awesome if changelings were a fairly well known (at least among those "in the know" about alien species) phenomenon? Maybe not all the details, but enough that it's not first contact every time.

[MagnificentMelkior]

On a slightly different note... wouldn't it be awesome if changelings were a fairly well known (at least among those "in the know" about alien species) phenomenon? Maybe not all the details, but enough that it's not first contact every time.

Yes, I think the changelings could use some lore. Star Trek had changelings and that situation was really cool but I don't want to spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen DS9. If all people knew were rumors of body snatching alien spies (with in the loop people knowing that its not just rumors) with unknown intent, I think it would 1 bring more people into the changeling rounds because the presence of changelings on board would be more likely to be discovered (as opposed to everyone anti-metaing away from naming the changeling) and 2 allow for greater variety of RP.

[LetzShake]

On a slightly different note... wouldn't it be awesome if changelings were a fairly well known (at least among those "in the know" about alien species) phenomenon? Maybe not all the details, but enough that it's not first contact every time.

 

That is a good idea, I think, especially since they don't HAVE to kill people to acquire genomes anymore.

Though it was written in the past, at least, that a Changeling had to have at least murdered the crew member they replaced to get on board, so that's why they were previously considered to always be hostile. I don't know what the excuse is now.

[Frances]

The main advantage of changelings (on paper) is that they can replace people without being suspected.

If changelings were made common canon knowledge, you would have to expect a lot more metagaming.

[Guest]

albeit changeling metagaming is more amusing.

"I'm going to play a character that completely isolates themselves from everyone else for the entire round just because their friends could be a changeling."

[Gollee]

albeit changeling metagaming is more amusing.

"I'm going to play a character that completely isolates themselves from everyone else for the entire round just because their friends could be a changeling."

 

Ever seen Amy Heris as a Shaft Miner? This is the reason.

[Frances]

It's more of a disappointment because infiltration is only really fun to watch (and only leads interesting results) when people are being a bit careless.

[Guest Marlon Phoenix]

Changlings are completely unknown. They are canon and exist in the lore, with anyone at any time anywhere in the galaxy being a possible changling. The rounds where they board the Aurora is technically the "first time" they become known, every time. Nanotrasen has no idea what a changling is. The highest levels of government have no idea what Changlings are, and some of them may even be changlings themselves dedicated to actively suppressing any possible knowledge. This is a species that is completely unknown, yet has existed amongst the races for an indefinite length of time. There could be 12 changlings in the galaxy, or a quarter of the entire population of each race is a 'ling. We just can't know for sure! The closest possible way you could know about changlings is by putting vague facts together about how bizarrely common it is for people in the frontier to suddenly disappear, then reappear later, or subtle personality changes in people you know, or even a crazy person babbling about the entire government being body snatchers who is then locked up in an asylum or whatever.

Xenomorphs are a mess. I have no idea how to go about it, because you're all right in that the RD should have some knowledge in them because we have a xenomorph entity that it's implied we've had for so long it's considered safe enough to be considered a dog or cat or something, and the asteroid itself has a Nanotrasen (or syndicate, if the spacesuit you find there implies) incident with Xenomorphs. But do we want Command Staff to be aware of these things?

I've been playing on the nose that Central Command knows about Xenomorphs, but they consider it a biological weapon and don't know where it comes from, except that it's totally terrible. Basically, if CC knows there's xeno's on the station, the lore-friendly way the event would go would be to ask the Captain to arm the self-destruct.

[Lady_of_Ravens]

Changelings are completely unknown... until some poor bastard of one comes to NSS Aurora, goes on a killing spree, gets captured by security, and blows their whole secret. Gee, thanks Urist McLing!

Wouldn't it be waaaay cooler if they were known to NT and hiding 'cause they don't want to be forced to serve as living weapons or as horrible test subjects for a project designing living weapons? Does anyone think NT wouldn't do this?

A mysterious species of aliens hiding among us, their agendas unknown but probably not really in our best interests, but who have to hide among us because of of our superior numbers and weapons would be used to hunt them down and stick them in lab cells... that'd be awesome. Far more so than repetitive first-contact situations with an alien that's freaky and weird enough the crew can only realize what's going on by either metagaming or inventing some craaaazy theory about next-gen portable weaponized genetics equipment.

[Frances]

Changlings are completely unknown. They are canon and exist in the lore, with anyone at any time anywhere in the galaxy being a possible changling. The rounds where they board the Aurora is technically the "first time" they become known, every time. Nanotrasen has no idea what a changling is. The highest levels of government have no idea what Changlings are, and some of them may even be changlings themselves dedicated to actively suppressing any possible knowledge. This is a species that is completely unknown, yet has existed amongst the races for an indefinite length of time. There could be 12 changlings in the galaxy, or a quarter of the entire population of each race is a 'ling. We just can't know for sure! The closest possible way you could know about changlings is by putting vague facts together about how bizarrely common it is for people in the frontier to suddenly disappear, then reappear later, or subtle personality changes in people you know, or even a crazy person babbling about the entire government being body snatchers who is then locked up in an asylum or whatever.

Xenomorphs are a mess. I have no idea how to go about it, because you're all right in that the RD should have some knowledge in them because we have a xenomorph entity that it's implied we've had for so long it's considered safe enough to be considered a dog or cat or something, and the asteroid itself has a Nanotrasen (or syndicate, if the spacesuit you find there implies) incident with Xenomorphs. But do we want Command Staff to be aware of these things?

I've been playing on the nose that Central Command knows about Xenomorphs, but they consider it a biological weapon and don't know where it comes from, except that it's totally terrible. Basically, if CC knows there's xeno's on the station, the lore-friendly way the event would go would be to ask the Captain to arm the self-destruct.

You should definitely be putting this on the wiki, because it's not what our current guidelines on identifying antagonists are saying.

[LetzShake]

Changlings are completely unknown. They are canon and exist in the lore, with anyone at any time anywhere in the galaxy being a possible changling. The rounds where they board the Aurora is technically the "first time" they become known, every time. Nanotrasen has no idea what a changling is. The highest levels of government have no idea what Changlings are, and some of them may even be changlings themselves dedicated to actively suppressing any possible knowledge. This is a species that is completely unknown, yet has existed amongst the races for an indefinite length of time. There could be 12 changlings in the galaxy, or a quarter of the entire population of each race is a 'ling. We just can't know for sure! The closest possible way you could know about changlings is by putting vague facts together about how bizarrely common it is for people in the frontier to suddenly disappear, then reappear later, or subtle personality changes in people you know, or even a crazy person babbling about the entire government being body snatchers who is then locked up in an asylum or whatever.

 

The problem is this directly contradicts the Identifying Antags article which is linked in our rules. We're sending some majorly mixed messages about what the story is, and I think it really needs to be a priority to clear that up. I prefer Changelings be unknown, I like it better that way. The identifying antagonist article says "Changelings are not unknown, though no research or data has ever been collected from them. The threat they pose is unknown. It is highly likely that only research members, specifically xenobiologists would know anything about them." . I think this is an okay idea too. I just think we need to pick one, make sure it's clearly written, and not expect people to flip a coin on which set of written rules to obey.

 

Xenomorphs are a mess. I have no idea how to go about it, because you're all right in that the RD should have some knowledge in them because we have a xenomorph entity that it's implied we've had for so long it's considered safe enough to be considered a dog or cat or something, and the asteroid itself has a Nanotrasen (or syndicate, if the spacesuit you find there implies) incident with Xenomorphs. But do we want Command Staff to be aware of these things?

I've been playing on the nose that Central Command knows about Xenomorphs, but they consider it a biological weapon and don't know where it comes from, except that it's totally terrible. Basically, if CC knows there's xeno's on the station, the lore-friendly way the event would go would be to ask the Captain to arm the self-destruct.

 

I'm not a fan of xenos in this game at all. Aside from being a wholehearted ripoff, as gameplay goes, they're like space weeds and giant spiders had a baby. I think they're a bit too far to be a regular part of the game, except as an entirely separate gamemode, maybe.

[Killerhurtz]

Question answered, locking and archiving.