Jeff - RavingManiac's Synth Application

[RavingManiac]

Byond ID
RavingManiac

Marine Names
Fumo Abato/Smoke Carter/Nehemiah Coates

Name/Designation of the Synth Character you’re requesting to use
Jeff

Are you familiar with the Synthetic Programming and Guidelines?
Yep

Synthetic Character Story

► Show Spoiler

"Unit status: online."

"Right, now...I'll call you Jeff. Do you like that name, Jeff?"

"Understood, Commander. My name is now: Jeff."

"Hm, try to be a bit more...human. And more chipper. I don't want to be giving orders to a goddam toaster."

"Yessir. I will try to act more human and cheerful. Is this suffic-"

"More chipper."

"Aye aye, sir. Does this work, or-"

"More."

"GOTCHA, SAH! I'M FEELING GOOOOOOOD TODA-"

"Dammit, less. Less! This...is going to take a while."



---



"You're looking pretty rough, buddy. Need some help?"

The man lying on the floor does not respond. His eyes remain wide-open, staring upwards at the ceiling. Blood slowly trickles out of the corner of his gaping mouth. His chest heaves, and a faint gurgling sound emanates from somewhere in his throat.

"Right, I'll have you patched up lickety-split! Now hold still."

Jeff, kneeling on the floor, opens the first-aid kit. A single bandage remains. He unrolls it slowly, and begins tying it around the man's left leg stump.

Somewhere down the darkened hallway, screaming and gunfire starts, then abruptly stops.

Jeff finishes tying the tourniquet and inspects the man. With the leg stump sealed, bleeding has been reduced by 34%. A positive result.

Suddenly, the man seizes up, his outstretched hand reaching towards Jeff. Then, he falls limp, his eyes dead and lifeless.

Jeff inspects the man's corpse. No pulse or breathing present. He stands up and scans the area.

The single working light tube on the ceiling flickers, illuminating snapshots of his small section of the hallway. Around him, a dozen people lie dead or dying. Bullet holes and red splatters cover the walls. Blood has pooled across the floor, flowing around bodies, guns, limbs and shell casings. Someone cries out for his mother.

Jeff walks over to the closest living human, slumped against a wall. This one is partially disembowelled, but conscious. Straining with the effort, she turns her head look at him, her eyes pleading.

"You're looking pretty rough, buddy. Need some help?"

How do you intend to play your Synth?
The potential in a Synth character lies in showcasing the inhuman, emotionless detachment possessed by what is essentially a machine dressed as a human being. In situations where anyone would be terrified, angry, joyful or grieving, the Synth simply... doesn't react. It maintains the same calm, cheery expression and manner whether it's a routine patrol, or the ship being overrun by abominations.
I would play the Synth mostly in a command-advisor role, filling in gaps in other support roles as needed.

How familiar are you with support roles? (ie; Medical, MT, Science, SO)
I've played all the support roles, but mostly SO.

Why should we whitelist you?
I used to play on Baystation, and find roleplaying to be pretty fun. I also like to think that I can write.

Have you been banned from CM in the last month for any reason (we will check, and lies may result in immediate denial)?
No

Are you currently banned from any other servers and if so, why?
No

Do you understand that any player - donor or otherwise - can have their whitelist status revoked should they break our rules or the Synthetic Programming Guideline?
I understand

[Karmac]

You've definitely taken my criticism the right way and I can appreciate your "show, don't tell" much more now that you aren't showing me an emotionless robit. +1, nothing super bad.

[JennerH]

Wow, that story. It may be short, but it's well written, displays your synth gimmick and keeps the reader entertained without overdosing them on detail. Great formatting too.

+1

[Avalanchee]

The story is really cool.
Definetly looking foward to roleplay with you
I dont think i ever saw you ig, but you're a dev so you are probably not braindead.

+1

[Adralimas]

Ye, Sure +1!

[Kerek]

I love Jeff, +1.

[Sleepy Retard]

your story is impressive, you must be very proud

a good example of short and sweet. I wouldn't need any more to know how your synth is personality wise. an interesting quirk and a suitable way of talking

i wouldn't mind having you as a synth, and seeing as you're on the dev team you're probably already one so it seems there isn't any issues there.

[DrPng]

:Nice lil story,+1

[awan]

This gets Awan's approval and will be a +1

[Wubs4Scrubs]

Your story is a perfect example of how a synth would behave, but is it a perfect example of how Jeff would behave? What I mean by this is that per the guidelines

Furthermore, Weyland-Yutani gives each synthetic a random single personality quirk, such as passive aggressive, sarcastic, cheery, comedic, rude, quiet, proud

synths have one personality quirk that gives them the illusion of being human. Having the quirk allows players to think outside the box and stand out from other synths because if they all acted and sounded the exact same the role would be pretty bland. From what I can tell the trait Jeff has is that he'd be cheerful all the time and not be intimidated by the horrors of combat around them, however that is a trait I imagine all synths would share by default.

EDIT: Just to summarize my thoughts a little bit in a way that is easier to respond to, my only concern with the app is that you seem to perfectly understand how a regular run of the mill synth would act and sound however you seem to lack a unique or personal connection to the role that would make Jeff stand out from other synths. Could you perhaps provide more information on how you think Jeff would stand out?

[Minimike]

Story is honestly amazing, would love to see Jeff in game. Embodies the true characteristic of cold machines. +1

[RavingManiac]

Just to summarize my thoughts a little bit in a way that is easier to respond to, my only concern with the app is that you seem to perfectly understand how a regular run of the mill synth would act and sound however you seem to lack a unique or personal connection to the role that would make Jeff stand out from other synths. Could you perhaps provide more information on how you think Jeff would stand out?

Jeff is essentially a superficially-human, cheerful mask on top of a thoroughly mechanical intelligence with no actual emotions. He assists humans and protects them, but isn't capable of actual empathy, or of reacting emotionally to events.

This isn't immediately apparent under regular circumstances, but as the situation deteriorates, the utter lack of change in tone and attitude stands out more and more. The situation in that short story is a culmination of this, with the same chipper attitude completely failing to match the horror and carnage in the hallway.

[Wubs4Scrubs]

Jeff is essentially a superficially-human, cheerful mask on top of a thoroughly mechanical intelligence with no actual emotions. He assists humans and protects them, but isn't capable of actual empathy, or of reacting emotionally to events.

This isn't immediately apparent under regular circumstances, but as the situation deteriorates, the utter lack of change in tone and attitude stands out more and more. The situation in that short story is a culmination of this, with the same chipper attitude completely failing to match the horror and carnage in the hallway.

Yeah I got that part, your story did a fantastic job at showing that a synth doesn't feel emotion and continues on doing their job without sympathy, fear, etc. However that can be said about all synthetics, a lack of emotion isn't something that would be unique or a quirk of just Jeff. My question is what is Jeff's quirk?

[RavingManiac]

The quirk is being "set" to only a single expressed emotional state. This can be adjusted on command, but otherwise does not change.

[Kavlo]

The character story though short get's the point of the synth across very well and makes you instantly know what kind of attitude this synth will have if you deal with them, and that alone marks the sign of a very good application.

+1

[edda]

+1 for the story alone. Good luck, Raving. I've never seen you in-game, but you obviously know what you're doing.

[Redikalzip]

Good story, my man, I hope you'll get your synth! Good luck.

+1.

[Rohesie]

+1 for the story alone. Good luck, Raving. I've never seen you in-game, but you obviously know what you're doing.

This, exactly. +1

[Jakkkk]

I like the vernacular and way he speaks, at that goes a long way as a synth. Having a certain way of speech is your main RP force, that and *me. Overall, I liked the application and my only gripe was there wasn't enough dialogue. +1

[Aceluke123]

Old app, but doesn't have very many responses. I don't know how well you are in RPing, but I would be willing to approve it because every response is a +1 and I can agree with in your story you show how your quirk would work

Also, you do play rather actively. Something I can hope for when you get the whitelist.

I will give this a +1 but am also a bit neutral with your view of how synthetics work in the game. More community contribution would be lovely.

To confirm, Jeff's default quirk/state is to be cheerful?

[Sargeantmuffinman]

The quirk is obviously shown in the backstory although it is short, the only thing wrong with it being short, is that there won't be enough information about the synthetic.

But as everyone here has a positive outlook on your application I guess you'll get a +1.

And do be more active in-game. I only recognise the name of Smoke Carter.

[Imperator_Titan]

Okay, let this be the final time I honestly respond to a synth app only because it's been around here for so long. That back story was short but it got the point across extremely well, not gonna lie. You're also a developer and are a trusted member of the staff team.

+1

[Emeraldblood]

Resolved - Accepted; your whitelist should be in next round.