[Accepted] Sleepy's Diona Loredev App

[SleepyWolf]

Ckey/BYOND Username: Sleepy Wolf

Position Being Applied For (coder, mapper, spriter): Diona Loredev

Past Experiences/Knowledge: I DM'd for my friends DND group for four to five years, creating worlds and characters that would all fit together in the game, and mix well with each other. My characters as well in SS13, I guess!

Examples of Past Work: I don't have anything beyond the characters I play, I've written drafts of stories for my characters but never saved them, and I can't exactly show recordings of my DND stuff.

Preferred Mode of Communication (Skype, Steam, etc.): Discord, steam, the forums.

Additional Comments:

My changes to the current Diona lore would involve biological explanations for them being space-faring species, with the ability to almost 'swim' in space. Nothing would change mechanically, I would just add explanations for the different 'body parts' that nymphs grow. Gas bladders, neural things, the other organs in a gestalt.

I would also alter their history slightly, making their communication between Skrell far earlier, 2369 for first communications. The Vaurca would know what the Diona are, except the Vaurca never communicated with them - only met them as basically rats, or pests, hijacking onto the side of the Vaurca ships and traveling with them. These would expand on the Diona being ageless, and everywhere - primarily space-faring. This would also add a lot more possibilities for different characters.

Also, just cleaning up the wiki a bit to make it go along with the other wiki pages, because right now it's a bit outdated, the mechanics section says they've got a weakness to fire even though they don't.

I'd add a few more 'Primary discoveries' as well, maybe a Diona Colossus that sinks down into a gas giant in an elliptical orbit and feeds off of the heat generated from the friction, morphing its body to intake and compress the air into heat more - much like a sort of biological atmospheric energy generator. Stuff like that.

[Butterrobber202]

the diona killed the dinosaurs

Seems pretty coolo, and sleepy is a good mod/staff/player/RPer/another title

so +1

Also, make rootspeak station-wide like hivemind when? Its radiation, I demand it sleepy, I demaaaand itttt.

[Pratepresidenten]

I'd very much like to support this application, as Sleepy seem to put a lot of effort and care into their characters.

This alone is a very strong quality to bring into anything, as you tend to be more meticulous and give the little extra to make your work special. I have complete confidence that you will make Diona lore great.

Best of luck Sleepy! <3

[Azande]

I don't like the idea of staff team members doubling up - I feel like it's better if everyone can get the chance to be involved in the server. But yeah like Sleepy is nice and competent and we have no official policy against doubling up so +1

[Guest Marlon Phoenix]

I would also alter their history slightly, making their communication between Skrell far earlier, 2369 for first communications. The Vaurca would know what the Diona are, except the Vaurca never communicated with them - only met them as basically rats, or pests, hijacking onto the side of the Vaurca ships and traveling with them. These would expand on the Diona being ageless, and everywhere - primarily space-faring. This would also add a lot more possibilities for different characters.

 

I do like the sound of this. Diona are by far our most ancient race. Having them be these shambling treepeople everyone has encountered in space travel would provide them more interaction with other races, I think. What do you think about Clearthoughts suggestion that Diona filter gasses, mechanically, when in a pressurized enviroment?

 

Also, just cleaning up the wiki a bit to make it go along with the other wiki pages, because right now it's a bit outdated, the mechanics section says they've got a weakness to fire even though they don't.

Garn threatens permabans to anyone that tries to nerf diona. What do you think about their immunity to fire? What do you think about diona mechanics in general?

In addition, what sort of role do you see Diona playing on station? Do you have an idea as to how you want people to view them in general? What is their relationship like with characters and factions? Should they be a little suspicious, or generally accepted?

[SleepyWolf]

I do like the sound of this. Diona are by far our most ancient race. Having them be these shambling treepeople everyone has encountered in space travel would provide them more interaction with other races, I think. What do you think about Clearthoughts suggestion that Diona filter gasses, mechanically, when in a pressurized enviroment?

 

 

I'd have to agree, and I'm fairly certain they already do that mechanically. Diona suck the air out of an unfiltered room until it gets to nothing already, although they don't exhale oxygen yet. I'd rather just keep them as they are, where they suck up any gasses to help themselves grow.

 

Garn threatens permabans to anyone that tries to nerf diona. What do you think about their immunity to fire? What do you think about diona mechanics in general?

 

I think the immunity to fire makes sense, and adds flavour. I'm likely going to add a small section on 'Flaming Diona', since the wiki currently states it by name but not anything else. The way they do it will still be left a mystery, but it'll be there.

also lol no to nerfing diona, they can be easily killed.

 

In addition, what sort of role do you see Diona playing on station? Do you have an idea as to how you want people to view them in general? What is their relationship like with characters and factions? Should they be a little suspicious, or generally accepted?

 

I plan to keep diona as these curious beings, floating between completely pacifist to naively dangerous. They never PLAN to be harmful, but they can be.

Overall, the Skrell would enjoy the Diona, some even having a religion to them (If Loow agrees), Sol humans have both good and bad situations with them, people native to Mars knowing of a few situations where Diona stole blood from blood banks.

Most Tajara would have never met a Diona, since they cannot LIVE in the cold enviroment of Adhomai.

Unathi would have two seperate feelings towards the Diona, depending on what Jackboot would think of either.

I'd also recommend a few news things for the different Galactic News Networks, I have a few news things already in mind.

Diona would have secrets in their biology that Skrell would want to harness - and maybe code into their own genetics. Over the whole amount of time they're known, they've only had a few genetic discoveries - but nothing along the lines of splicing out the code or getting anything useful.

[Loow]

Hey there. Loow here. Let's test the waters.

You talk the talk, Pilgrim, but can you walk the walk? I've heard tales of many things and stuff within my lifetime, some of which seem completely irrelevant at the time but prove to be interesting or indicative of things to come. On that note, let's talk about completely irrelevant things, my main man.

 

Past Experiences/Knowledge: I DM'd for my friends DND group for four to five years, creating worlds and characters that would all fit together in the game, and mix well with each other. My characters as well in SS13, I guess!

Examples of Past Work: I don't have anything beyond the characters I play, I've written drafts of stories for my characters but never saved them, and I can't exactly show recordings of my DND stuff.

How many campaigns have you run from start to finish, my man? This is more out of curiosity, and I understand that sometimes "one game" will go on for years while other games will barely get off the ground before the group/game/campaign falls apart.

My changes to the current Diona lore would involve biological explanations for them being space-faring species, with the ability to almost 'swim' in space. Nothing would change mechanically, I would just add explanations for the different 'body parts' that nymphs grow. Gas bladders, neural things, the other organs in a gestalt.

This really makes me think. Up until now, there's been quite a bit of mystery behind the glorious Diona as well as the Dionae and Dionaea. It might be "neat" to have some blanks filled in, and if that's what you're into, that's what you ought to do.

Let's check on something. How do you feel about friendship? How do you feel about Skrell? How do you feel about Diona and Skrell? If you get the position you're applying for, you and I would have to be able to work together on some level as well as engage in banter. Skrell and Diona have quite a bit of history, and I'm assuming you sorta have opinions on it. It'd be rad to hear 'em.

Oh hey! You mentioned that topic!

I would also alter their history slightly, making their communication between Skrell far earlier, 2369 for first communications. The Vaurca would know what the Diona are, except the Vaurca never communicated with them - only met them as basically rats, or pests, hijacking onto the side of the Vaurca ships and traveling with them. These would expand on the Diona being ageless, and everywhere - primarily space-faring. This would also add a lot more possibilities for different characters.

This part confuses me a little bit.

To quote the Diona page: https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=Dionaea#Discovery.2C_Part_One_-_The_Conglomerate

The first discovery - the one that proved their existence, in 2320 - was an immense pod-like gestalt."

and one of the Skrell pages: https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=Skrell_(Factions_%26_Politics)#Dionaea:

"In the year 2331, researchers began giving small clusters of these “Dionae” freedom to move about several population centers while under close observation."

Give those pages a read if you haven't already!

Changing the first date to 2369 would actually be moving the discovery date closer to the present. Instead of far earlier, that would be later. I think there's a typo in that section. Either that, or I could be misunderstanding something. Either way, the relationship between Skrell and Diona is pretty important to me and any possible future work we might do together. I'd like to get an idea of where you and I stand on that front.

 

I'd add a few more 'Primary discoveries' as well, maybe a Diona Colossus that sinks down into a gas giant in an elliptical orbit and feeds off of the heat generated from the friction, morphing its body to intake and compress the air into heat more - much like a sort of biological atmospheric energy generator. Stuff like that.

That could be cool! I'd definitely like to hear your ideas on things like that. I know Hurtz really added some cool stuff like the "Diona Colossus" you mentioned, and I'd like to hear your take on that. I feel like these details would involve filling in a few blanks in history, so I'd super like to banter on that when and if the time comes.

 

I plan to keep diona as these curious beings, floating between completely pacifist to naively dangerous. They never PLAN to be harmful, but they can be.

I really like this description as you've given it! It makes me hopeful, but I'd still like to clear up a few things. Your stances on Diona history so far and any opinions you can throw at me about their interactions with Skrell would really help me get a feel for what kind of work you want to do. While I'm at it, what kind of work/progress/content do you see yourself working on/approving/getting involved with with SkrellxDiona? Hurtz and I used to have cool chats and come up with ideas, and when/if you hop into lorechat, I'd love to talk to you about them. Of course, I'd also like to discuss any further interactions between SkrellxDiona with you when the time comes. Actually, you may have hit the nail on the head with a few of your comments on future Skrell-Dionae revelations. Really makes me think, haha.

It seems like we could do worse than having you on as Plant-Man, my dude.

[SleepyWolf]

How many campaigns have you run from start to finish, my man? This is more out of curiosity, and I understand that sometimes "one game" will go on for years while other games will barely get off the ground before the group/game/campaign falls apart.

 

 

It's mostly small campaigns that last 1 month at least, and 1 year at most. Lots of 'Themed' campaigns, for like, Halloween or Christmas, a vampire valentines themed one. Stuff like that, it was really fun.

 

Let's check on something. How do you feel about friendship? How do you feel about Skrell? How do you feel about Diona and Skrell? If you get the position you're applying for, you and I would have to be able to work together on some level as well as engage in banter. Skrell and Diona have quite a bit of history, and I'm assuming you sorta have opinions on it. It'd be rad to hear 'em.

 

When I've play my Diona from Skrell space, I have them think of the Skrell as companions, parents, or best friends. If there are ever issues, they would assume all Skrell are friends, unless it gets otherwise with specific ones.

 

Changing the first date to 2369 would actually be moving the discovery date closer to the present.

 

I only ever interpreted the lore page as 'These weird aliens were found, but they just look like fungus and don't talk! Just another space-faring species like Space Carp I guessl!', I never saw that as "We discovered Diona and integrated them into society." I'd definitely change that a bit, and add them being integrated to the main Diona page.

[SleepyWolf]

Another thing I brought up to Loow that I'd like to think about implementing, if Loow agrees:

what is the FURTHEST back you'd put the discovery of Diona

because before the rebellion, the federation was fairly large, and advanced. discovering diona before then and having the oldest Diona help with the rebellion would give older diona something to actually LIVE with

diona players could show their age wit that, instead of just 'Lol I floated in space for a long time and then came here'

it could be 'We lived alongside the previous Federation, and saw the fall of all society we witnessed.'

So, if we extended the first encounter with Skrell to maybe, between 1700 to 2000, we could see Diona who can relate with others who have experienced the same things they have - Skrell and Diona coming together over what they remember from before, Diona acting as libraries of information from research before the rebellion, and allowing Diona players to show off their characters age.

[Loow]

Another thing I brought up to Loow that I'd like to think about implementing, if Loow agrees:

what is the FURTHEST back you'd put the discovery of Diona

because before the rebellion, the federation was fairly large, and advanced. discovering diona before then and having the oldest Diona help with the rebellion would give older diona something to actually LIVE with

diona players could show their age wit that, instead of just 'Lol I floated in space for a long time and then came here'

it could be 'We lived alongside the previous Federation, and saw the fall of all society we witnessed.'

So, if we extended the first encounter with Skrell to maybe, between 1700 to 2000, we could see Diona who can relate with others who have experienced the same things they have - Skrell and Diona coming together over what they remember from before, Diona acting as libraries of information from research before the rebellion, and allowing Diona players to show off their characters age.

 

I typically prefer"filling in blanks" over "undoing" certain aspects of lore. Typically. Doubling back on the Diona-Skrell contact date at all would be something I would not accept.

It may not seem like it, but the date for Dionae discovery isn't completely arbitrary. Dionae discovery is set around the time Skrell surpassed or "caught up" with the technology of their old way of life, now revitalized to be more centered on the user and avoid the crutch of AI. Dionae should be seen as a step forward in a time where scientists might be asking "where do we go now? What's next?"

The (as you put it) "We discovered Diona and integrated them into society" arc isn't exactly over. The fact that it happened at all when it did, in my opinion, primes the Skrell to eventually meet Humanity. Keep in mind, the last "new beings" they met before Dionae were the ones they made. And that didn't go very well for them. Dionae are a more gradual arc, I guess.

Next, I want to touch on the reasons you've provided for "undoing" the contact date.

"...diona players could show their age wit that, instead of just 'Lol I floated in space for a long time and then came here'"

Diona enter the fray with Skrell during a time which, in my opinion, is one of their more interesting moments. The reunification of the systems, interplanetary travel, and technological renaissance are either recent memories or ongoing events of the century before Skrell met Humanity. Then there's everything we have in the 2400's. I feel like you'll run into the "I floated through space" angle for most Dionae at some point in their life, but there's not exactly a shortage of things to talk about in the more modern eras. If you or any player feels strongly about having a character who, as you said, witnessed "the fall of all society", then there's always the Skrell whitelist. I do appreciate the sympathy aspect for a character idea though. But maybe I just like the idea of people getting along and talking.

Big de-canonizations by new lore devs have a tendency to ruffle feathers. Everybody seems to want to make their mark, but I try to avoid marking over old works completely. I've been trying to build off of the base previous devs gave me. I won't say I'm doing perfectly, but I'm having a fun go of it. I am very happy to see that you care about Diona, and I'm also glad that you were willing to talk to me about the proposed change to the contact-date rather than just pushing for it with teeth bared.

Thanks for the good banter. I think you might be a good choice, but be careful not to strike too much from the old record while writing new content.

[DatBerry]

I think the immunity to fire makes sense, and adds flavour. I'm likely going to add a small section on 'Flaming Diona', since the wiki currently states it by name but not anything else. The way they do it will still be left a mystery, but it'll be there.

 

Not a fan of dionae setting themselves on fire, I wouldn't mind if it would last till the fuel spilled on them is depleted, but being on fire right now means your flesh is burnt, and I doubt any amount of energy is enough to mend wounds. I believe until recently, dionae would set themselves on fire and use the fire as a light source. It doesn't make any sense, why not just stuff lots of dionae into a TEG loop and use them as a power supply?

there's a few issues with dionae currently, and I don't like the fact that they can produce more power than they take, I doubt these 80Watt light bulbs are emitting enough energy to move a gestalt that is IIRC heavier than a human.

Dionae are currently walking stars, they produce more energy than they take in. How do you plan to address this?

[SleepyWolf]

Well, that would be one of the mysteries that no one has been able to decipher, not even the Skrell or Diona themselves. I'll be adding that to the 'Mysteries of the Diona' section.

[Guest Marlon Phoenix]

Application accepted!