Barksley Dogson Head of Security Application

[Nerkson]

Usual character name: Barksley Dogson
BYOND username: carthridge
Discord username (if you are on our discord): nerkson
Recommended by (if applicable): bork
Goon servers you play: 4

Reason for application: I would say there are two reasons I am applying today: One is that through feedback, I can improve myself as a role player and a security player. The second reason is that I enjoy lower population (Sub 50? ish player) rounds, which means most days I am playing on Goon 4. I'd like to encourage more people to play there, to click antag, and to try new things, even if its to test out new things or new character ideas. Smaller form roleplay can be more one on one than the 70-100 pop servers, and having a HoS who can help make calls is a good idea.

Security experience (300 word minimum): Security is my most played role. I've played every role in security, from detective, actual officer, to security assistant. I actually prefer to roll security assistant most days rather than officer, as I feel it gives antags who are newer more breathing room and it allows me to be a flexible beacon that makes call outs, sets arrests, and helps fill in new arrivals with whats going on - not to mention that it is fun to try to tango with antags as someone without a baton or taser. While not a directly security role, I also play a lot of Lawyer, a role only available from Wed-Thurs, because I enjoy the roleplay that security can provide to a situation. In the three years that I've been playing here on Goon, I've learned from a wide variety of Head of Securities as well, from Bork who taught me the rules of engagement with antags, to Cal who told me to stop wearing those godawful brown shoes and get some black military boots from the vendor.

One thing that can sometimes slip away, or easily be forgotten in the haze of a 90 minute round, is that security gets to be the people who help a round flow. I might not fully search someone who broke into engineering at first because I don't want to end their roleplay immediately - we're not there to kill antags and call the shuttle at minute 20 mission success. There is a fine line between waggling a finger at a situation and going full on "If you do this again, you will be executed with no hesitation." Other people have feelings too, and thats something I've had to learn to keep in mind in my time playing security - There will be situations where I cannot make everyone happy, but as long as my rulings and logical though process are consistent then it usually works out well.

Answer two or more of the following:

• What advice would you give to other sec players? It's okay to not spend every minute patrolling or looking for crime. Let antags warm up at the start of a round, let them make a few mistakes, and then start looking into things after some time has passed. In the mean time, hit up the bar, the arcade, or go ask Engineering some stuff about plating your gear. Exchange some war stories with the chaplain - the start of the round is for having fun too! Now if the antags want to start beating people with baseball bats well, you know which end of the baton to hold I hope!
  
  
• What was one of your favorite security moments? (Either playing as a sec officer or interacting with one) This was on Nadir. Back before security officers had mindhack protection, me and another officer were mindhacked by the detective and told to kill the HoS Spacious House. We lured the HoS to a prefab room that had a meal in it, but it seems a roach critter came by and ate it all. I said to the HoS "Well thats a shame too, because that was your last meal." before we started blasting and punching him. The HoS runs out of the nearby airlock into the acid ocean, begins eating donuts like a mad man, and runs around the station outside to another airlock, not dying at all. It was one of the most terrifying moments for sure.
  
  Another moment I greatly enjoyed was also during a Nadir round. An arcfiend was threatening to kill the AI, and so we dragged the AI's core to security. I got a gas mask, my teargas grenade, and a puffin 40mm grenade launcher and slid down the garbage chute, waiting. Within seconds after the other officers leaving, the Arcfiend arrived. They said a few words to the core, and then I popped out and beaned them. Arcfiend captured. Too bad we didn't cut the wires out of the brig and they just escaped but for a few moments, I felt like a genius hero.
  
• What game improvements or changes do you think would benefit security players? One thing I've always wanted to see is some sort of extra benefits baked into the security glasses. Much like how medicals glasses give you a rather detailed overview of someone, it'd be cool to get an overview of someone walking by (So long their ID is visibile) which can include things like why they are wanted or their past criminal history. Could offset it by making it a separate glasses purchase and removing stun protection from them or something. I'd just like more reasons to use someones backstory in a round!
  
  
• Describe any differences in your playstyle when part of a full security team and when being the only security officer. In a team, I can delegate responsibility and collaborate ideas with someone else, and I can try to let others do the talking for once. When I'm solo, I often have to make calls or do things on my own that might be trickier to call. If I'm lucky and there's several officers, I find great enjoyment in coordinating information and relaying call outs - I've seen it way too often that security can get too laser focused on a specific goal, or that they get information crossed that they miss out on something.
  
  

Answer one or more of the following fun questions (because it's important for the HoS to be fun):

• Write a poem to convey your thoughts on security/NanoTrasen/space/bees/anything related to SS13.
  Their brow is furrowed -
  The Sec Ass writes a ticket.
  "Stop Farting on me"
  
  
  
• What's a security gimmick that you've ran or wanted to run? I've always wanted to run a firearms training day. I did it once as a Head of Personnel many years ago but I haven't run it since. It'd be fun to get the more timid crew out somewhere, put a gun in their hand, and point to that oddly clown looking balloon that is the target.
  
  
• Draw a picture! ok
  
  
  
  

Previous bans (while this will not affect your application lying about it will): I have never been banned.

[klushy225]

I've seen Barks on the team many times, and cannot recall any negative experiences with them. They're a good officer, and they know their stuff. My only concern is that I haven't (personally) witnessed Barksley demonstrating leadership as security, however, that is not to say that there is none, only that I haven't seen it myself.

Regardless, I'd be comfortable seeing Barksley as an HoS. This is a +1 from me.

[Emrsnn]

Absolutely yes, no doubt in my mind. Nerkson is an incredibly level-headed and reasonable person, regularly goes out of his way to talk to new people, offers help constantly, etc. Although I've not recently been on a sec team with him, he handles pressure in the other roles he plays very well and I have yet to hear anything questionable from my own sec comms evesdropping. He has the perfect temperament I love to see in a HoS, regardless of the kind of character they play- Barksley being a chill dude is just an added bonus.

+1

[Lefinch]

+1 from me, though I admit I won't have as much insight as fellow security officer players here. The reason I give the endorsement is that entirely through observation and a few antagonist encounters over a long period of time, Dogson's a pretty consistent officer who does the job well. It would hopefully be good to see a Sylvester HoS who can break out of the smaller regular group and include and engage others and you can read that intent in the application. I'd hope to see that.

[Torchwick]

I wholeheartedly support Barksley in this endeavour to shoot for HoS. Before the application was up, I can recall being relieved any time I saw Barksley join up in a round knowing that it'd be in good hands, whether that be in security or otherwise. He's very good at being fair to antags and giving them a chance at their own story while also upholding his job in security. I've seen him talk down c-saber wielders and potentially deadly interactions extremely well.

One reason to show my support may at first seem like a bad thing, but let me clarify; I mean this to show how much he's grown in security.

I remember a round when I was fairly new. Things didn't go his way, the odds were stacked against him and a low-pop crew, and he was very clearly verbally unhappy with the round. I bring this up now because I haven't seen this sort of behavior since, and I've seen him, unprompted, express regret over the way he used to react to some things in game. This itself shows growth as a security player, and as a member in the community. This is someone who recognized that things weren't handled well OOC and has since taken the time to fix that, as far as I've seen. It's probably been over a year since this happened, and I'm confident with saying that Barksley has grown since then.

All of this is to say; I think Barksley would make a great HoS. He's inclusive and tries to communicate well, both with his team and with the other members of the crew. He goes out of his way to include people in gimmicks and fun scenarios. While being on 4 means he doesn't have as many opportunities to train / lead, I've actually seen him shine a lot with this, even just by means of ensuring folks get to escape, or leading funerals for fallen crewmates that were unrecoverable.

Huge +1 from me. I'd love to see more HoS players on Sylvester.

[Solenoid]

I'll keep it short, since I feel like I don't have enough "technical" security knowledge. However, Barksley is honestly one of the most fair and resilient officers I've seen during my time on Goonstation. He doesn't let a bad round get to him, treats antags with respect, and tries to drive roleplay with them through his interactions. Beyond security, Barksley is one of the people I always get a chuckle out of with his occasional stories and in-character moments. He's good at his job, and good at bringing positive energy, so I'd definitely say +1.

[Silent Majority]

Nerkson is a fantastic person. They're an amazing member of the community. And in general a great presence to have.

My primary concern is I rarely see Nerkson playing security officer, or leading. I usually see them as assistant.

I'd like to see him in the fromt a bit more. Otherwise everything I have seen is admirable.

[Glamurio]

Barksley is a great officer, I've seen them around a few times and find them to be excelling at all attributes I'd want to see in an officer. While I personally have not seen them teach or lead either, I'm actually very convinced it would come to them naturally, and they've likely done it while I wasn't around. Definitely seems capable and worthy of the responsibilities introduced with the beret.

[thevaliantknife]

This is a strong yes from me. I've not played a lot of rounds on 4 when compared to my time on 3, but I certainly have had nothing but fantastic interactions with Nerkson while they're working security. It's definitely a relief to see them on Security staff, and I highly-highly appreciate their approach to antags (both in letting them breathe a bit, and in de-esclations). It makes for better stories rather than the tired old: see antag, shoot antag.

+1 from me.

[Cal]

Generally good interactions, calm and polite on discord. I'd be for Nerkson HoS.

[Carton]

I've worked with Nerkson pretty extensively since starting playing sec on goonstation, heck, I've basically co-led teams with them pre-HOS. I can attest to their ability to teach and lead, and I've literally never had an issue with them.

A confident +1, keep it up!

[Azurnite]

Many have already said what I would have said, but one thing in particular I remember is that I've noticed they are flexible and they'll play along with the antag's bit while on security to help engage in trying to have the station have fun.

+1