/!\ Calling all Skrell players! Important changes! /!\

[Frances]

Alright. Jackboot put me in charge of Skrell lore, and I want to get the ball rolling.

Quite simply, there's a problem with the Skrell as they currently stand, which is that people don't play them a lot. I suspect a good reason for this is that although strange and unique, they're just not that fun to roleplay as.

I'd like to think of ways to make them more enjoyable. Ideally, this goes towards making them more unique, not more human. IPCs are a good example of what I mean - they're the farthest thing we have from humans, and they're fun to play as because of their differences, not despite them. (And don't worry, I'm not planning to get rid of the "essence" of Skrells - I want them to remain our lovable squid scientists.)

Before suggesting any big ideas, I'd like to start by seeing what you guys think. Basically, what do you like about the race? What do you dislike about it?

As we don't have a lot of Skrell players, non-whitelistees are also strongly encouraged to contribute to this thread. Basically, all ideas are welcome.

[rrrrrr]

Mouth tentacles like Cthulhu. Those would unironically make me play a Skrell because then Skrell would look cool.

[halorocks22]

all races other than human are gay

[Sentient Bowtie]

Homosexuals are more easily able to identify and commune with other homosexuals than heterosexuals are with the opposite gender. Your words mean nothing.

[Lady_of_Ravens]

I've mostly only looked at the skrell lore because of how it relates to AI/IPC lore... but they seemed kinda based on the Japanese in some respects, so that's a good place to start with cultural quirks (and not just the tentacle porn). I bet they make great mech pilots (being both softer and more vulnerable to the environment and having a longer high-tech history), and reason better about 3D spaces due to their aquatic heritage. Not really sure what else... this is all very off the cuff.

Biologically it might be interesting if they can change color either at will, or from strong emotions... though with their tendency to hide emotions doing so in public could be seen as a loss of face by older and more traditional skrell.

As I recall they're also distantly related to slimes (same homeworld), so they could be more resistant to genetic damage due to evolutionary reasons.

Hating shoes seems to go well with being a squishy... though so does hating the dirty floors common on aurora.

Anyway, again, just throwing out ideas.

[Carver]

Hating shoes seems to go well with being a squishy... though so does hating the dirty floors common on aurora.

Do we really need a third/fourth (If you count Vox) species that shuns 99% of footwear?

[Jboy2000000]

There isn't a lot to like about the race, but there isn't a lot to dislike either. I guess the only reason I don't play is because of that, and there are others races and characters I can play that I do like. The thing I dislike the most about Skrell is how the talk. Unlike where you have to hold down the S or R key a few seconds longer, you have to replace the S sounds with SH, and I often have to go back and proof read it twice before actually talking.

[Dea Tacita]

The biggest issue I have with the Skrell (Which I am saying as someone who plays them rather often), is that it seriously looks like someone spent twenty minutes on their lore, and then went "Kay, looks good!" and never touched it after. So I'm pretty happy about this

I really, really recommend you move away from the currently established subspecies because they're so badly explained, Somehow Skrell (Who only went into space in 2016) managed to evolve into a subspecies on another planet. (referring to Aliosian Skrell), while the Skrell you imagine when one says "Skrell" (That being a lightish green one) is somehow the rarest Skrell subspecies that sits in swamps all day.

another thing I desperately hope you change, is to make the Skrell more substantial in the Aurora universe. They've been around significantly longer than Humans, but somehow they just sit in the corner of the galaxy marked "Not Aurora" and don't do anything or have any effect on anything, and unlike even Sol, they're never even mentioned in the new thingies/events.

But yeah, I'm extremely happy to see Ffrances will be the one giving Skrell the love they deserve.

[Killerhurtz]

So uh.

I'm going to put this out there.

I don't play skrell because my application hasn't been approved despite it being posted a month ago.

Otherwise, there's two things that bug me, currently, in Skrell history:

How much of a focus they are in synthetic design, and

How little we TALK of those who oppose that whole AI fear.

Every single group that has beliefs will generate people that has an equally extreme opposite belief. Where's our mad AI scientists?

(Also, evolution-wise, I don't know if the "clutch of eggs behind the neck" is a good thing for bipedal creatures - it feels like a single trip and BLAM.)

(Also also, I'd like to hear more about how the whole AI fiasco affected the industrial potential of the Jargon Empire)

OH OH Can we hear about the Skrell's war history, as well, and what sort of weapons they had?

Though mechanic-wise (if we're talking about that):

Slimy skins means higher chemical permeability. Make them twice as weak against contact chemicals (liquid and gaseous plasma, acids, so on). And like the Unathi, since their skin features more water, make them weak against cold.

As previously said, since they share the slimes' homeworld, give the Skrell slight genetic damage and rad resistance.

[Jakers457]

My Skrell is currently attempt to improve the organic simulation that IPC's deliver.

Biggest issue I have at the moment with Skrell, is that suddenly we now have tribal swamp skrell who are isolationists?? I mean, what, especially when I made a /green/ Skrell before this tribal trollop came about. Am I suppose to change his color so that I don't have to treat him, and his family as moss donning swamp men? Perhaps it's my fault for being away when this retcon or whatever happened but tribal Skrell, big no no. Skrell are supposed to be the big advanced race who are so clinically detached, they gave themselves a genophage to control their population.

[Vittorio Giurifiglio]

all races other than human are gay

^

Also I actually like skrell how Tool described them in Lore chat, as Advanced Xenophobic Eugenicists

[LordFowl]

Hating shoes seems to go well with being a squishy... though so does hating the dirty floors common on aurora.

Do we really need a third/fourth (If you count Vox) species that shuns 99% of footwear?

 

Technically, it makes sense. Shoes are a purely human invention. It doesn't make sense that it would be universally applicable, although we do currently run on the 'ever race is just a reskinned human'.

[Carver]

And yet shoes are universally useful for protecting one's feet, moreso for a 'squishy' amphibian species outside of water which might have more sensitive soles.

[LordFowl]

Even so, the idea that a shoe that fits a human would comfortably fit any other species is the main issue I bring up, especially when you consider the fact that humans and Tajara are the only species that are actually mammals in this universe.

[Carver]

Even so, the idea that a shoe that fits a human would comfortably fit any other species is the main issue I bring up, especially when you consider the fact that humans and Tajara are the only species that are actually mammals in this universe.

This issue could honestly be shared in how nearly every alien race (Vox aside) can wear clothes tailored for humans (And possess the humanesque body shapes required to wear such). One-size-fits-all seems to be the thing for the setting (This is particularly terrible when you think about magboots which /shouldn't/ be able to fit non-humanesque feet).

[EORhappiness]

honestly have to say- And I know this might sound like a stupid reason buuut...The only reason I haven't made a skrell white-list yet. Is because of that flippen accent man.... Don't get me wrong,I'm By FAR not against accents on species- I love the Tajarans Third person speak and rolling of the R's and the unathi's hissing of the S's but Really, I find the skrell accent hard to grasp and write out- even when I was practicing, The double letters like the SH's seem a bit much for me as they are used /very/ frequently and arn't typed out as smoothly as the unathi's S's or Tajara's R's... In my personal opinion if we could bump it down to one letter, (maybe W) and figure out a new accent, It would be a lot easier to manage and I would be a lot cooler with it. OR, Abandon the accent and give them somthing else about their speech that makes it unique! like the dionea have with there collective type speak referring to themselves as "We".

Thats my biggest issue, to be honest but here are a few other things I could think of.

Jargens Disease, I mean I REALLY do not want to play as a dying race, thats just my complete personal opinion. I'm Sure plenty of people find it an intriguing aspect for people to make them want to play them. But- it's not my jive, Not sure how many others think that as well but I do.

The lore right now is equivalent to a five year old trying to mimic a Da'vinci in MS paint with the text tool out.

Not sure how to put this one but, They just- Don't give off the aura of uniqueness the other races do...And I am honestly not sure how to aid in that.Just- The general feel of the skrell seems, like the color grey in a rainbow, people look at them and go WHY ARE YOU EVEN THERE GRAY- YOUR POINTLESS GTFO OUT OF MY RAINBOW, GOD....And That saddens me, it really truly does. I really think they need a SERIOUS makeover as a race to even compete with the others. I mean- give them some nicer buffs! somthing to entice people in...Look at the Robust as hell unathi, or the Claw Bearing tajarans that can see in the dark (kind of)...IPC's are immune to chems, Dionea are walking TANKS for gosh sake! What do the Skrell have that compares to that? I mean. They have /stuff/ but nothing that can /compare/, The rest of the races have something that can compare with one another while the skrell have been left in the outfield of the contest, They need something- something awesome. Something epic like everyone else, Something unique...and we can make it based of their superior intellect even! Don't even have to be a big thing, Lets say skrell are so smart they can pick up languages easily right? They can pick up to TWO extra languages including Alien languages like Siikh Maa's or Solian, Maybe even Voxese as a trade language- OR since there so hyper advanced technologically How about even Robotic speak!

OR Telepathy, That would be cool Just- be able to whisper into someones head that's within eye-shot, Not really a huge thing but, its COOL.

Maybe due to there Aquatic Heritage they require less oxygen than humans and are not as harmed by pressure- or even IMMUNE to pressure damage entirely, Now I know that ones a leap- but I think that would be something to Shove skrell in the right direction, Give them that edge, that robustness they need to compete with other races.

Now- those are just my opinions but...I love the skrell as an /Idea/ and would love to play them if they improve, but right now...there's just no benefit to playing a skrell besides slime and warbling...

[Dreamix]

honestly have to say- And I know this might sound like a stupid reason buuut...The only reason I haven't made a skrell white-list yet. Is because of that flippen accent man.... (...)

(...)

(...) Now- those are just my opinions but...I love the skrell as an /Idea/ and would love to play them if they improve, but right now...there's just no benefit to playing a skrell besides slime and warbling...

Well, the accent/slurring is not necessary. To prove my point, I am playing my Skrell characters without it, talking normally. My application was accepted, it was mentioned within it, that my Skrell trained out/lost their accent.

The application.

Other player's reply, to other player's application. Presuming that slurring is character-dependent.

Quoting: "As the person who wrote ALL of the Skrell lore the slurring is not and should not be forced, they have trouble pronouncing things, but that doesn't mean with enough practise they wouldn't be able to."

So, yeah.

Besides that, other points/things are still valid. As I imagine, right now there are two major groups of Skrell, these are two extremes/opposites:

- Super advanced, focused on science, space faring Skrells, that are so advanced and super-duper, they genophaged their own race.

- And we also have swamp Skrells, that still believe in Dioneas. That's just plain stupid. That's like still believing in mythological gods, in XXI century.

Also, give Skrells some variety! Look: this thread. More colours! Maybe unique Feudal (or however's it called) Japan-like clothes.

[Frances]

I have read all of your posts and appreciate the input so far (keep it up if you have more to say!)

I'm not really replying to any of it yet as I'd rather organize my thoughts into a big master post that will be easier for everyone to read or understand. I'll see about doing that before the end of the week.

But I will say that the accent will be removed and replaced by something easier to manage.

[Guest]

We were promised some cool Skrell mechanics from Skull132 and they still have not come, they were going to make Skrell cool. No amount of lore is going to make Skrell better, they mechanically are re-skinned humans.

What we need is the Skrell vegetarian code from Bay that makes Skrell sick from eating meat and stuff, we need them to be bioluminescent of colour-telepathic. These things were discussed for days and then just ignored when Skull came back.

Please fight for our Skrell mechanics.

[EORhappiness]

I have read all of your posts and appreciate the input so far (keep it up if you have more to say!)

I'm not really replying to any of it yet as I'd rather organize my thoughts into a big master post that will be easier for everyone to read or understand. I'll see about doing that before the end of the week.

But I will say that the accent will be removed and replaced by something easier to manage.

 

Alright Awesome! Thats a step in the right direction- but yeah my other main thing is they just have no way to compete with the other races, I think if we raised the bar a little on skrellian robustness- in /some/ way, it would attract more players- because frankly they /should/ be the most populated race /besides/ humans...and its currently TAJARANS, of all things.

[Frances]

We were promised some cool Skrell mechanics from Skull132 and they still have not come, they were going to make Skrell cool. No amount of lore is going to make Skrell better, they mechanically are re-skinned humans.

What we need is the Skrell vegetarian code from Bay that makes Skrell sick from eating meat and stuff, we need them to be bioluminescent of colour-telepathic. These things were discussed for days and then just ignored when Skull came back.

Please fight for our Skrell mechanics.

Tajaran and Unathi are reskinned humans and people seem to like them a lot

I think the Skrell can be made more interesting without giving them mechanics. What mechanics would you like to see?

If you want a mechanics-based species it might be easier to start from scratch. Dea's suggestion thread is a great project you should look into.

[Frances]

[Killerhurtz]

Also. Lore-wise, even though they are considered equivalent to humans, they should have a small superior complex. Like "We survived 3 AI singularities without problem and we're smart enough to not do it again" type of superior complex over humans, while being all like "Why are these pets working on the station" and "We're allowing animals on board?" with the tajara and unathi

That might make it interesting.

[EORhappiness]

theres muh frogs , Those mini-skrells and their cuteness~

[Guest]

We were promised some cool Skrell mechanics from Skull132 and they still have not come, they were going to make Skrell cool. No amount of lore is going to make Skrell better, they mechanically are re-skinned humans.

What we need is the Skrell vegetarian code from Bay that makes Skrell sick from eating meat and stuff, we need them to be bioluminescent of colour-telepathic. These things were discussed for days and then just ignored when Skull came back.

Please fight for our Skrell mechanics.

Tajaran and Unathi are reskinned humans and people seem to like them a lot

I think the Skrell can be made more interesting without giving them mechanics. What mechanics would you like to see?

If you want a mechanics-based species it might be easier to start from scratch. Dea's suggestion thread is a great project you should look into.

 

I want the ones the Dev Team promised us. Bioluminescence, special organs, and colour telepathy (the ability to convey emotions to other Skrell through colours appearing in the text box)