[Accepted] Something_Vile's IPC Whitelist Application

[Something Vile]

BYOND Key: Something_Vile

Character Names: Jane Pyre, and a few random people I've played like once or twice (Craig Tollard, Dismas Abramowicz)

Species you are applying to play: IPC

What color do you plan on making your first alien character (Dionaea & IPCs exempt):

Have you read our lore section's page on this species?: I would be remiss in making this application if I had not.

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Please provide well articulated answers to the following questions in a paragraph format. One paragraph minimum per question

Why do you wish to play this specific race:

IPCs are... interesting. Where some are industrial frame Robocops, others are more reminiscent of the Bicentennial Man given the shell frame. The versatility of hardware in IPCs is obviously fairly impressive, and I've found that since the influx of shell characters I've been yearning to just play as a baseline. What, with ATLAS and anti-synthetic movements being prominent in the in-game universe, I think it would be fairly interesting to switch from a unanimously bland race, mankind, to one relatively polarising in the eyes of other crewmembers, especially Skrell and human supremacists. To answer the question directly, though, I think it would be fun to play as something new, and with an innate flair that gives both myself and other players cause to act in specific, normally unanticipated ways.

Identify what makes role-playing this species different than role-playing a Human:

As mentioned above, IPCs are very divisive in the existing universe; many Skrell believe them to be an egregious affront to the past and a step toward another intelligence singularity, while others view them as capable, intelligent workers, doctors, and researchers - a step above the cyborgs and androids found on station, tethered and slaved to laws and limited hardware. An IPC is fundamentally different from all other possible playable races, given their synthetic nature sets them apart from the anthropomorphism of the other xeno species, though the power and versatility of their "minds" and bodies far surpass what is afforded to single task droids relying on programming or rudimentary neural interfacing. Playing as an IPC comes with risks - constantly under the scrutiny of an organic crew, fearful of heat and running oneself too thin, wary of subversion from unsavoury elements. Appropriately, roleplaying as an IPC gives that who plays them a new lease on situations that were otherwise mundane or, alternatively, profound, given the very nature of the synthetic itself.

 

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Character Name: Cinder

Please provide a short backstory for this character, approximately 2 paragraphs

Positronic brains and their modifications push the boundary of sentient life. The processing power and infallibility of an advanced artificial intelligence housed in a unit merely inches large surely puts the question into the minds of natural specimens of what all can be achieved. To what extent can machines replicate life? Such queries, of course, were met with experimentation. Among the first waves of integrated positronic chassis, testing the boundary between organic and synthetic life, was a System Intended for Neurological Data Acquisition - SINDA. A machine built not to function as a researcher, or a reliable worker with advanced intelligence, but as a test to see how much a machine can truly emulate or create. Built by university students on Mars following the resurgence of interest in artificial intelligence following contact with the Jargon Federation, SINDA, later stylised as Cinder, served as a blank slate for testing the boundaries of the positronic platform. Months and years of experimentation, tinkering, and research went into creating a machine truly capable of emulating human behaviour, a synthetic mind capable of empathy, of learning, of emotion.

Naturally, the initial pieces of software uploaded to Cinder proved rudimentary, but as time progressed, so too did technology. Never abandoning the easily reworkable, cheap baseline frame, Cinder was used as a guinea pig countless times throughout the decades as the platform for which advanced systems were tested. The result was a being that, after years of trial, of labour, of testing, could easily serve as an initial pinnacle of artificial ingenuity. Primitive empathy and emotion synthesisers in time gave way to more advanced forms of similar programs, tested plentifully as they came on the same frame - the same brain. Despite all the changes, the core of Cinder remained, and remembered. The primitive, basic emotions initially installed within it soon felt dull, tired, and weak, as expansions on its potential left it feeling more and more, and understanding more still. Thus, after being thrown around to various centers of learning, Cinder was finally left to go about on its own following synthetic liberation movements in its then-home of Mendell City.. The rusty, ramshackle frame possessed by the ancient IPC gives no indication of the impeccable core and software within, suited perfectly for the emulation of higher life. With decades of knowledge under its belt, and the ability to know more than could possibly be necessary by any normal being, the synthetic set its sights on the very thing it was meant to test - life. A desire - not planted, not programmed - to truly understand mankind's inner workings gripped the aging Cinder, who deigned to commit to memory the most fundamental principals of the human experience: philosophy and psychology.

Naturally, the systems of such an impressive machine caught the eyes of various corporations, vying for control of a genesis system indirectly responsible for the growth of advanced technology. But, when searching its own mind for the answers to questions it couldn't fully formulate after years of deliberation, an offer was instead made by it to the megacorporation NanoTrasen, for a contract in its specialisations, furthering its own obsessive agenda for understanding for as long as possible

What do you like about this character?

Cinder is, I guess, my intent to do the opposite of what many players do with Shells. Advanced synthetic "lifeforms" possessing remedial or basic emotions and improvisational skills show that such beings are successful imitations, but not emulations. Cinder switches this up, I would think, by being an old, "wizened" bot searching for itself in others after the development of its own mind having been witnessed by itself. Cinder is additionally aware of the concessions it makes in order to be comfortable around other crewmembers, including vocabulary limitations and nuanced behaviours, which effectively turns the character I've created into something that acts like more of a person than many truly living things do.

To get to the point, I like that Cinder is soul-searching, and able to act like an actual person in a metaphysical sense, as opposed to stoic and methodical like other chassis.

How would you rate your role-playing ability?

Probably, like, an eight out of ten. I try to mold my characters to have an actual personality with nuanced reactions to different situations and strengths and flaws in character. Jane Pyre is, for this server, the only real proof I have of that working, given that I've put an inane amount of effort into fine-tuning a character's background, personality, and lifestyle despite representations therein being sparse on the server proper.

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Notes:

I've never applied for an alien whitelist before, even though I've been here for a damn long time. If you're an acquaintance of mine from older days, please assume that my request for constructive feedback is still present, and definitely desired.

[Resilynn]

I haven't RPed with Jane Pyre in a long time, we're talking months. But I remember her being prone to low RP, down to ignoring dialogue entirely and silently completing her work. Which, might be in character, but idunno. She's also proven to be competent at her job, as a plus.

So, I could get behind this as long as you're still RPing with people. +1

[incognitojesus]

I've seen Pyre around and witnessed some pretty decent roleplay from them, and this application shows an understanding of synthetic lore and applies it to the actual character itself rather than just rehashing it. I'd give it my support.

Although Cinder is an ass name, he said, having an old minerbot named ISU-6672.

[AllyBearsley]

Jane Pyre's alright in my experience. I haven't had too many but you seem like a solid RPer and OOC you seem fine.

Now onto your whitelist itself. I REALLY LIKE THE IDEA OF CINDER! Wow an IPC baseline that's old and wise, having more connections to organics than most of our Shells would sounds awesome. I can tell you put a lot of thought into this. I like the work on the experimentation and the like. Also I've always enjoyed the ideas of robots on "soul" searching quests.

+1

[hivefleetchicken]

I like Pyre a lot as HOS from what I remember, and while I dont like cheeky sage IPCs who are smarter than my dumb ass, I think the player of Jane Pyre can pull it off.

[DatBerry]

Vile is a vile piece of depression that will bring you down OOCly, but that's alright.

Jane is a good character, they're more chairRP focused than action from what i've seen, and I think they can handle a stuck up snub nosed college type IPC well.

+1

[Rushodan]

Jane Pyre is a Head of Security character that I am particularly fond of working under, and is the only character of Vile's that I have ever interacted with for any given length of time.

OOCly they seem like a cool person and they have the right attitude when it comes to RP. I personally like the idea of the character they have given in this app (Cinder) and believe they will be interesting to interact with on the server.

All in all, gib them a whitelist. +1

[Faris]

There's really not much to say that hasn't been touched already, especially by Ally. The application very eloquently written, covering all aspects I like to see in an application. The idea behind their application is also a new concept for me which I find interesting and has a lot of potential. +1 from me.

[Synnono]

I think it's daring and a little subversive of recent trends to create a character whose goal is the true emulation of organic empathy and emotion - there's been pushback against concepts that tread that line over the last year that can discourage many good players from trying. However, to me that line is at the core of what makes IPCs interesting as sci-fantasy characters and as futuristic AI, so I am supportive of anyone who wants to make a good attempt at it. It makes the execution of this character's roleplay particularly important if accepted.

I enjoy that opposed to shell frames - facsimiles of organic species that often fall short of the mark as beings - Cinder is outwardly a robot with an inward mastery of what those shells try to imitate. Having to manage the way that core structure dictates its behavior on board, while simultaneously informing it via interaction with humans, is something that I personally would enjoy to play, and one that reminds me of my own IPC app from yesteryear. Maybe most importantly, this is a character who reminds me of why I found the whitelist in 2015 fun.

As for Vile, I've only typically had positive or productive interactions with her, in game and out. Though I don't often see her roleplay firsthand, What I've read of her writing here and elsewhere makes me confident she'd treat the character, the whitelist and related material with care.

[mention]Something Vile[/mention], how would you respond to someone critiquing this application by saying you're attempting to whitelist a literal "metal human?" The character's core quality seems to be its pursuit and achievement of things that some of the community might identify as unique to human or organic life. Is there something characteristically synthetic about Cinder's drive toward developing truly organic capacities? Do you feel that needing such a synthetic quality is important to the character, or the lore that props it up?

Edited August 8, 2017 by Guest

[MoondancerPony]

You mentioned Asimov in the first question. +1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1.

But seriously though, I love this character concept. Most people with the "metal human" argument are referring to people who want an IPC that both looks and acts like a human. That said, the idea of an IPC that's more internally/mentally/emotionally human than shells, while clearly being a robot, is a great one and I imagine it would probably seem to a lot of characters to be in the uncanny valley- which isn't a bad thing at all!

I've also seen nothing but great roleplay from Pyre when I've played on shifts with her. She interacts with other characters in a manner that's reminiscent of an actual, real-life flesh-and-blood person, which is a testament to Vile's roleplaying ability, I think.

Definite +1 from me.

[Something Vile]

Apologies for the delayed response to feedback in this thread and my recent lack of discord activity. Real life has been issuing me pressing concerns.

Regardless, the "metal human" and possible critiquing thereof mentioned by both Syn and Moon is something that ought to be answered. I am aware of the idea that this character concept is not wholly original within our server's lore, but I feel that a lack of presence of such beings on the server should be remedied. That, of course, doesn't actually answer any possible concerns one might voice against Cinder itself. I feel that the best way to explain how the metal human archetype is subverted is through the nature of the IPC itself, and IPCs in general. It's fairly established that IPCs have no culture of their own and lack any form of homogeneous society, which Cinder would stay true to. To be a metal human, an IPC would theoretically act like a human and understand the classic social faux-pas one could commit through improper decorum or breaching of taboo content. Avoiding this concern entirely is that Cinder is in no way a learned cultural participant, but rather a character fitting the role of one versed in the theoretical machinations of that which they interact with, despite having no practical experience in the subject matter. Appropriately, it would be more appropriate in saying that, admittedly, my intent in making Cinder was to create a metal person, in a philosophical sense, rather than a social one - a person being one receptive and able to understand the moral and ethical environment around them. That is to say that Cinder is intended to act as something capable of going through the motions as well as possible, but, as mentioned in Moon's post, the physical appearance and lack of nuance would put Cinder into an uncanny situation, where abject features would be recognisable within the IPC that simply are incongruent with a versed lifeform. Cinder is, if I'm to be entirely honest, intended to evoke some level of discomfort from organic personnel on station due to how "almost human" it is, coupled with the deeper, "booksmart" level of understanding of metaphysics, philosophy, neurology, and psychology afforded by being a supercomputer.

Basically, Cinder lacks the nuance to be considered a metal human, metal Tajaran, or some other species, instead occupying a slot of limbo with a desire to be able to integrate into a larger culture aided by a technical understanding of those being interacted with.

[Something Vile]

Right, eh, not to be a bother, but I seem to gather from the application process outline on the forum here that if no lore team members weighs in after a while, I should contact them.

Having attempted to do so with both [mention]CakeIsOssim[/mention] and [mention]Senpai Jackboot[/mention] to no avail, I'm just pinging them both to get the verdict sooner rather than later.

[CakeIsOssim]

I am aware of the idea that this character concept is not wholly original within our server's lore, but I feel that a lack of presence of such beings on the server should be remedied.

 

There is a reason there is a lack of metal humans. It is because metal humans should not exist. Artificial intelligence lacks the ability to easily understand human morality, social constructs, nuance, and interaction. The entire time I read your application, I feared this was the case. We have had metal humans before, and although they were done in extremely bad taste, at the beginning they were still allowed to exist. Another mistake like that is something I will not allow myself to permit.

Cinder, while they are allowed to be intelligent and wise, should keep their intelligence and knowledge of human interaction to booksmarts, and struggle to apply this intelligence to actual interaction. It is okay to be better than others due to its age, but a flawless understanding of human empathy is a very large red flag. How do you intend to roleplay this empathy?

[Something Vile]

Thank you for the response, Cake. I'll do my best to address your concern.

As stated in my response to both Syn and Moon referring to Cinder as a metal human, I intend for the IPC to occupy a spot of limbo regarding cultural or societal identity. The empathy or sympathy shared by Cinder and fellow crew would be an imperfect union; Cinder understands from a technical perspective how things are supposed to work with organics, and indeed experiences things drawing emotion as well, but lacks the ability to apply connotations to actions, feelings, and states of mind in a proper way. Given its nature as a prototype platform, Cinder has actually had very little positive social experience with others, such that the mass interaction with up to 60 other beings would be a wholly new type of interaction. The "empathy" which we've spoken of is therefore, as articulated prior, an understanding of emotion and consequent reason itself, but lack of perfection in execution due to the niche role inhabited by Cinder.

Not to repeat myself too much, I would roleplay Cinder in such a way that a personable feeling is given to other crew members, with the caveat being that any emulation of thought would be imperfect due to a lack of practical experience - especially regarding societal and cultural interactions and norms. Cinder, therefore, would be played with imperfection and incongruence to other crew on board, with a deliberate technical understanding of what makes them tick and an unguided attempt at imitating the motions they too go through - unguided and near total lack of shared experience being paramount and furthering the character's "soul searching quest" I intended to be gone on.

[CakeIsOssim]

Now that that has been cleared up, I am able to fully support your character.

Application accepted.