[CLOSED PR] Add Flavor Text to Cyborgs

[Torchwick]

I do understand that cyborgs get all access and have cool quirks and etc. But I do not see how gameplay differences should equate to disallowing silicons from writing optional descriptions that have no actual effect on gameplay. As it stands, silicon players who imagine their cyborgs as a little bit unique display that much through emotes. Are we saying that cyborgs should not be emoting that they look any different from the standardized parts given?

I just think that as the playerbase shifts more and more into RP, it feels silly to limit the creativity of silicons by wholeheartedly insisting that you look exactly as you appear on screen. For humans, when you lose a limb, you head to robotics to get a new one sewed on. What happens to that humans flavourtext that once described a person with ‘two muscular arms’ now that they have a light cyborg replacement? Their flavourtext doesn’t match what the roboticist just did, but are any players pulled out of the immersion?

I think that having a ‘run of the mill’ borg that still sits on the normal law rack who looks a little unique is fun. It’s one way that silicon players can mix up the enjoyment of RPing when ‘realistically’ that cyborg probably wouldn’t even have personality. We suspend disbelief to allow silicons a bit of room to RP while still expecting they follow laws. Limiting written description creativity because silicons in game are standardized doesn’t align to me with all of the nonsensical things in the game that are perfectly fine. Most silicons would probably just write a little blurb about the way their screen head animates in more detail. Anything OUTLANDISH like a big robot that has wings and tentacles and takes up an entire room… those could be ahelped if it were enough of a problem for players regarding immersion.

BUT! Again this is just my opinion. I have seen the sentiment across people who play cyborg, people who play other codebases, and everyone in between. There are a lot of feelings to be shared between players, and I understand that there used to be a different vibe to playing silicon. As it stands now (as a humble silicon/robotics enjoyer) … I understand why people that play silicons feel discouraged. Is this decision the end of the world? No. However I still believe that the impact on ‘suspending disbelief’ for an optional description most people probably wouldn’t even read is … overstated.

Also a minor edit: I just woke up so I'm sorry if my reply seems aggressive. I hope it doesn't come off like I'm trying to start a brawl in a closed PR discussion. I know the decision is final, I just wanted to better word my thoughts on the matter, because hey-- maybe eventually something will be different and something like this will be reconsidered. I have no hard feelings for anyone that disagrees, I'm just laying out my points!

[Lord_earthfire]

I feel the person building the borg should give the flavor text.

Borgs are limited in their agency by what people let them be. Thats their gimmick, given the laws and their restricted tools. And i think borg customization is part of it.

The borg is only as special and quirky as their creator let them be.

[Retrino]

i agree with a lot of the sentiment in the pr and thread here, flavor text is an overall harmless benefit to roleplay that many people enjoy. those who don't can outright ignore it, examining cyborgs is hardly useful aside from checking what module they've got loaded. it has been pointed out many times that humans (using the word broadly to include all the mutantraces) already have this sort of suspension of belief when it comes to what they envision vs what is physically in the game. for example, players who use clothing items to act as a part of their body, like cat ears, to be canon to the character. another i've seen is roach people who describe themselves in flavor text as moths. my only suggestion to fit with the concern raised in the pr would be to have the flavor text preset rather than editable across the round, since a human would not be able to do the same (although i dont really see it being a problem if they could, it'd actually be a bit interesting).

the recent sentiment of calling things regarding character building within the game as "meta info" and treating it as a he-who-must-not-be-named topic in order to keep up the arcadey nature of rounds on a *roleplay* server is starting to push the enjoyment of the game as an rp platform in a negative direction. playing a character and playing your role are not mutually exclusive. having more expansive ways to express the detail of your character does not make the round any less fluid.

[Username Unavailable]

I understand the want for more customization, and I think more ways to roleplay is awesome, but I don't think flavor texts are necessary. Cyborgs already have cool ways to customize and express themselves via wearing clothing or using screen heads and selecting a face they want. Personally I don't care either way if flavor texts are added (sounds like they aren't, which is fine) but I can understand why people would want it because of character expression.

[Frank_Stein]

I feel like because of how things like laws work, the kind of personalization that flavor text allows would be impractical.

I think there's some fuzzyness in the line between whether or not borgs retain individuality or become more machine like, especially when it's a midround borging. Something like personalized descriptions could make that even fuzzier

[jan.antilles]

the recent sentiment of calling things regarding character building within the game as "meta info" and treating it as a he-who-must-not-be-named topic in order to keep up the arcadey nature of rounds on a *roleplay* server is starting to push the enjoyment of the game as an rp platform in a negative direction.

I genuinely have no idea what you're referring to with this. Can you be more specific?