Violet Kirsch HoS application Encore, once more from the top

[Violetsaber]

Usual character name: Violet Kirsch
BYOND username: violetsaber
Discord username : ysolt. (with the period)
Recommended by: Zhailail
Goon servers you play:  3 & 4 interchangeably


Reason for application:
A head of security has a tremendous impact on any round they’re present in. They are a safety net and an example to the rest of the security team, while making the hard calls regular secoffs may not be confident in or have the authority to follow through. To the rest of the station they are a reassuring sight and opportunity for unique RP. Especially for antagonists they offer a focal point and source of opposition to spark memorable encounters. All of these things are aspects I strive for as a regular security member, but I think the authority and credibility of the beret will help me to help others. 


On a side note, I am also applying again because the last application led to a rich learning experience. Despite it being denied, it gave me valuable insight into not just secoff-ing but the nature and culture of the game on a larger scale. I hope I can learn something new yet again.


Security experience:


I first picked up the baton and taser on what is soon going to be five years ago (with occasionally large breaks from the game) and in that time I’ve gone through plenty of changes. I was hesitant at first to even get near security, scared I might accidentally do something foolish, but about a year into playing I bit the bullet and realized I rather liked it. I started out as a rather timid and unsure secoff, hanging in the back and following other officers' lead. Monkey see monkey do. Over time i grew confident in both my judgement, knowledge of the gig itself and robustness. But i also grew too confident along the way and let my temper fly off the handle. I was lucky to have both heads of security, fellow secoffs and even a few spine chilling admin pm knocks to put me back on track. As unpleasant as it was in the moment, it was a much needed ego curbing and i am in a far better and healthier place for it.

But i think it all really clicked along the way of my last application when I realized what playing security(especially on rp) really means. It’s an always changing show of improv theater with you in a key position. I try to give every player i encounter the best “scene” i can present. It’s far less about identifying every antagonist ASAP and coming up with a way to stop them before anything even gets going, but rather how you can make everyone’s time in any given round more fun. Sometimes that’s taser blasting and baton swinging threats, sometimes that’s shaking in your boots during a hostage situation and playing along even if you could bumrush the villain. A round is ~90 minutes, no matter how bad it gets the next one is right around the corner, and there is no “winning” or “losing”, just what little moments you can create with other players.

Mechanically and socially i feel very confident and comfortable. I can find fun in quiet shifts that’s just mingling with the crew or hell zones where you’re lucky to escape with your own butt in hand. I’ve worked hard on showing leadership when it’s required, while also not smothering the team since sec teams are (usually) adults who know what they’re doing. But when things get dire I know when to put my boot down and set up a course of action or step up to make tough calls. I am a bit of a stickler when it comes to certain things and i take a hard-line stance against cliquing (giant problem when I started playing), so I may come across a bit more stand-offish than I intend sometimes. My top priority is making sure security assistants, and new players in general, have a good time. I try to teach them when i can and involve them in things instead of just letting them rot behind the desk. 

All in all, sec is a tough gig, but it’s my favorite. I’ve learned to love the stress and chaos, and when to take a break. Just don’t ask me to operate a DWAINE terminal.


Answer two or more of the following:

• What advice would you give to other sec players?
  

everybody knows the usual things you might put here, but the real advice i can give is that sec-ing is 90% social stuff and only 10% actual hands on batoning. Most problems can be solved with talking and acting rather than shooting anything that moves, and even a discovered antagonist should first be engaged rather than “beaten”. Too many officers also hang around in HQ and talk with no one outside the sec team unless necessary. Instead, walk around, chat with people, say hello, peak your head into departments and see if anybody needs a hand. You are the big scary guard with the fancy gear, but there is far more fun in being social than just a butt kicker. And there is always enough butt to be kicked. And it’s okay to engage in RP that you are sure of might result in your death. Part of the story. If the antagonist set up a good hook, then it’s sometimes time to get gotten. 

• What game improvements or changes do you think would benefit security players?
  

What I really think would benefit security players is making their life a bit harder. This may be controversial but maybe panic buttons should be removed, or at the least limited. I understand the use of it but in practice a single alert goes off and you got 5 secoffs, a detective, the clown who got deputized to junior detective, 5 secassistants, the hos, the captain, 3 staffies watching security run, the AI shell and someone's grandma running into a room wordlessly and then bludgeoning some poor first time antag. At least on RP i’d prefer even a short yell over the radio. This is mostly a play culture problem but i dunno. errr increase the batons in the baton loadout. more mugs in the office!


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.
  

Halfway through the shift, no signs of danger, oh what bliss. I sit down west side of escape, I park my butt to a view of space. As i puff a cloud of cigar smoke, the window is hit by a collection of undead folk. First one, then two, then three and four, I rub my eyes and lo, there’s more! Not just gibs or another rotten corpse, but what looks to be a nuclear reactor cores. It seems it’s time to scream and run, because it’s clear that Cogwerks is having admeme fun!

previous bans:
-June 14, 2022: terrible round as changeling on rp on my part, no to little rping, toxic behavior to hive-mind members. 7 days
-April 29, 2021: responding poorly to an admin PM telling me to stop what i was doing. 3,5 days 
not making any excuses, but i am sorry for my past behavior and i try my best to learn from my mistakes

[Gaius_Frakkin_Baltar]

I cannot stress how much I think Violet is a great fit for Head of Security. Every shift out of the MANY I've worked with her on she's been a constant professional - Level headed, communicative, and has a clear understanding of how to keep a round fair and well paced. She is always working with security assistants to show them the ropes and does a great job managing the chaos of responding to security calls. This is a big +1 recommendation from me.

[RaccoonPope]

Violet, Vi, or officer Kirsch as I have called her across my time knowing her on sec has been one of the best sec officers I have come to know. Not only is Vi competent but she is funny and in my opinion brings a unique demeanor and personality to the sec force. I remember in my own early days seeing Vi and thinking that is indeed a good officer. Additionally Io wish to say I do believe Vi is one of those that truly adds to a round and isn't one of those types that simply is there to "get the antag" she is one of those officers that will recommend and go with novel solutions to problems and seek solutions that aren't just running in tasers ablaze. 

My only thing I wish I could say is I wish I could say I've seen Vi train someone. I cant recall if I ever have during my time sadly, but without a doubt in my mind she 100% would be a good trainer given how I see her carry herself and stick to the book where it is needed. 

All in all I do truly believe Vi has what it takes to wear the beret definitive +1 from me.

[Shiiba]

I've played Security for a pretty long time with you, you definitely have a good grasp and understanding of security, no doubt about that. I don't believe I've seen you train anyone in security and I'm sure you'd be fine with that as well.

I have noticed that you tend to behave differently depending on who is working on security. When you have certain people in security, you tend to become a little rude and harsh, especially towards people you don't know. I pretty recently experienced a round where you were very rude to me because I, a member of command, was begging security to not enter a breached area of the station because the only two engineers on station were dying from radiation in medical. Instead the response I received from security and you was to call me an asshole for trying to stop security and others from continuously entering the area and possibly causing a bigger issue for engineering. I was playing a character you did not know. Any other time I'm playing a character you know, you're relatively okay, especially when certain people are not in security with you.

Consider being mindful of how your behavior may change around others, I am mostly indifferent otherwise.

[Emimiyu]

From my observation, Violleta is good at keeping her morale up even in chaotic situation. Which is a good quality an officer could have.

Though, from interaction I had, I am unsure if you are ready to be head of security. When I was a detective, the barkeep was accused of poisoning people drink. I came to the bar with you to investigate the situation. I do not know what was the poison and I do not find any trace of it, the only thing we have was a hearsay and one claim from an officer who didn't give a follow up. You arrested the barkeep and I asked you if we have any enough proof or testimony. You didn't bother to answer and told me that I was rude. When I asked about what is the poison and what makes we think they did, you answer, "The poison didn't matter, what matter is we arrest them and they are poisoning people,"

This is not what I expect an officer to act to fellow security when asked why are we bringing someone in. Especially when someone brought in without a proof or search at all and the accusation only came from the radio without anh follow up. I am also uncomfortable of being told off over asking a basic question regarding someone arrest.

[Violetsaber]

From my observation, Violleta is good at keeping her morale up even in chaotic situation. Which is a good quality an officer could have.

Though, from interaction I had, I am unsure if you are ready to be head of security. When I was a detective, the barkeep was accused of poisoning people drink. I came to the bar with you to investigate the situation. I do not know what was the poison and I do not find any trace of it, the only thing we have was a hearsay and one claim from an officer who didn't give a follow up. You arrested the barkeep and I asked you if we have any enough proof or testimony. You didn't bother to answer and told me that I was rude. When I asked about what is the poison and what makes we think they did, you answer, "The poison didn't matter, what matter is we arrest them and they are poisoning people,"

This is not what I expect an officer to act to fellow security when asked why are we bringing someone in. Especially when someone brought in without a proof or search at all and the accusation only came from the radio without anh follow up. I am also uncomfortable of being told off over asking a basic question regarding someone arrest.

erm... pardon but i am not Violetta, and this sounds like some interaction you had with another officer. Are you 100% certain this was the character i play? Violet Kirsch? Because i haven't arrested a barkeep in forever as far as i recall

[Emimiyu]

From my observation, Violleta is good at keeping her morale up even in chaotic situation. Which is a good quality an officer could have.

Though, from interaction I had, I am unsure if you are ready to be head of security. When I was a detective, the barkeep was accused of poisoning people drink. I came to the bar with you to investigate the situation. I do not know what was the poison and I do not find any trace of it, the only thing we have was a hearsay and one claim from an officer who didn't give a follow up. You arrested the barkeep and I asked you if we have any enough proof or testimony. You didn't bother to answer and told me that I was rude. When I asked about what is the poison and what makes we think they did, you answer, "The poison didn't matter, what matter is we arrest them and they are poisoning people,"

This is not what I expect an officer to act to fellow security when asked why are we bringing someone in. Especially when someone brought in without a proof or search at all and the accusation only came from the radio without anh follow up. I am also uncomfortable of being told off over asking a basic question regarding someone arrest.

erm... pardon but i am not Violetta, and this sounds like some interaction you had with another officer. Are you 100% certain this was the character i play? Violet Kirsch? Because i haven't arrested a barkeep in forever as far as i recall

Sorry, I mixed your name with other officer. But I recall it was you, violet kirsch.

[Violetsaber]

From my observation, Violleta is good at keeping her morale up even in chaotic situation. Which is a good quality an officer could have.

Though, from interaction I had, I am unsure if you are ready to be head of security. When I was a detective, the barkeep was accused of poisoning people drink. I came to the bar with you to investigate the situation. I do not know what was the poison and I do not find any trace of it, the only thing we have was a hearsay and one claim from an officer who didn't give a follow up. You arrested the barkeep and I asked you if we have any enough proof or testimony. You didn't bother to answer and told me that I was rude. When I asked about what is the poison and what makes we think they did, you answer, "The poison didn't matter, what matter is we arrest them and they are poisoning people,"

This is not what I expect an officer to act to fellow security when asked why are we bringing someone in. Especially when someone brought in without a proof or search at all and the accusation only came from the radio without anh follow up. I am also uncomfortable of being told off over asking a basic question regarding someone arrest.

erm... pardon but i am not Violetta, and this sounds like some interaction you had with another officer. Are you 100% certain this was the character i play? Violet Kirsch? Because i haven't arrested a barkeep in forever as far as i recall

Sorry, I mixed your name with other officer. But I recall it was you, violet kirsch.

I only recall one instance that may fit what you describe, were you a lawyer that round by any chance?

---

From my observation, Violleta is good at keeping her morale up even in chaotic situation. Which is a good quality an officer could have.

Though, from interaction I had, I am unsure if you are ready to be head of security. When I was a detective, the barkeep was accused of poisoning people drink. I came to the bar with you to investigate the situation. I do not know what was the poison and I do not find any trace of it, the only thing we have was a hearsay and one claim from an officer who didn't give a follow up. You arrested the barkeep and I asked you if we have any enough proof or testimony. You didn't bother to answer and told me that I was rude. When I asked about what is the poison and what makes we think they did, you answer, "The poison didn't matter, what matter is we arrest them and they are poisoning people,"

This is not what I expect an officer to act to fellow security when asked why are we bringing someone in. Especially when someone brought in without a proof or search at all and the accusation only came from the radio without anh follow up. I am also uncomfortable of being told off over asking a basic question regarding someone arrest.

erm... pardon but i am not Violetta, and this sounds like some interaction you had with another officer. Are you 100% certain this was the character i play? Violet Kirsch? Because i haven't arrested a barkeep in forever as far as i recall

Sorry, I mixed your name with other officer. But I recall it was you, violet kirsch.

I only recall one instance that may fit what you describe, were you a lawyer that round by any chance?

pardon, i totally forgot the first line of the paragraph (dyslexia moment). If you were the detective then i apologize, just wanted to make sure you are talking about the right Violet. If i recall correctly, we (the sec team) have observed the effects of the poisons but couldn't get a medical reading in time to confirm which precice poison it was, only that the barkeep administered them. All we got from medical was "it was poison". I apologize if i made you feel ignored, but that was the choice i went with at the moment, sometimes you have to make arrests on circumstantial evidence and then look for clues during a search.

[notsuzpicious]

I think Violet Kirsch is a great choice for HOS! I've played with her quite a few times and she has always been very friendly, approachable and fun to RP with. I am not really a wordsmith so thats about all I have to say really, let her have a go!

[notsuzpicious]

I think Violet Kirsch is a great choice for HOS! I've played with her quite a few times and she has always been very friendly, approachable and fun to RP with. I am not really a wordsmith so thats about all I have to say really, let her have a go!

[joshie_bwoi]

I like playing with Violet, especially when I'm a security officer, because she is, in a lot of ways, the quintessential good secoff.

My big issue with her is that she bites down and doesn't let up. She will oftentimes doggedly pursue an antagonist. While this can be good in situations that demand decisiveness and rigor, I think it can also stifle good escalation.

I had a round where I was an antagonist and I had mind hacked someone. This person had come by some contraband and had passed it along to me. Violet (correctly) deduced that this person had to have taken the contraband because of the way it disappeared. But they had passed it to me and no longer had possession of it. My accomplice and I both knew Violet knew we had it, Violet knew we had it. The issue was that Violet had no evidence that we had it -- she only had her intuition or deduction. Instead of moving on and letting things develop after questioning us (or just moving laterally to solve the problem, such as trying to find the actual evidence or observing us from afar for further incrimination), she would not leave us alone, following us for a good while afterwards (to the point of even forcing herself into my office with no real probable cause). This made it really hard to develop our plan and we essentially just had to idle because we couldn't go anywhere or do anything.

I would give a +1 but encourage a less rigid approach to handling antagonists, especially earlier in the shift.

[Lefinch]

Hi! 

Just wanted to say I caught a few rounds recently and say the following. 

• Perhaps Violetsaber has already taken the critique given by joshie_bwoi on board or it's a sign that the capability of undertaking what they've suggested is already a feature of their play, but I caught a round a little while ago that was a pretty good example of balancing a reaction to an antagonist in a good way. An agent was hiding in the aviary with a -rather- large rifle, intercepted by Violet Kirsch and another officer. Rather than call in a security dogpile on them they gave the antagonist breathing space to have a conversation with the (then arriving) captain and adapted to the situation well. I'd hope to generally see that kind of approach to let an antag do their stuff so wanted to say that was nice to see.
  
• Later on in the round while apprehending another antagonist, it's a really small thing but stopping to engage in a little banter with them as an officer is always nice to see post arrest. Just a personal opinion but it's much nicer to see engagement during processing rather than just speaking to the team, even if it means taking a moment to do it.
  
• In prior rounds, I've noticed a good pattern of teamwork and delegation from Violet Kirsch that we'd want from HoSes: taking up and reporting back from crisis alerts, letting other officers take a lead on an arrest if they're leading, but willingness to take charge when appropriate. Seems like the kind of thing we want for the role. 
  

So if nothing else, it seems like they absolutely have the capability to either act on feedback or have the ability to make sure they're aware of pacing so hopefully that's something that continues!

[poobe]

I've had a few rounds where I've interacted with Violet a good amount and I can't really recall any negative experiences. While on the same security force, she was really helpful with debriefing and checking in with other officers often which I really appreciate. When I've seen her as crew, her responses and interaction with crew seem to hit the right balance between fun and measured. I can't really offer any info about playing an antagonist against her but otherwise I'm offering my +1!

[Zhail]

Hi there, I'm the one that recommended Violetsaber for this.

I've been watching Violet for a while, both in game and observing, trying to gauge whether or not she can handle Head of Security. I've been putting her in situations that would require her to interact with newer players and/or train new members of security for a couple months now. I see training new players as the biggest ask in upcoming Heads of Security, so I judge extremely harshly when it comes to this. However, Violet has displayed nothing but excellency in new player interaction, I've had zero complaints, with some naughty security players turning their act around in a single shift thanks to her. It's to a point that you can ask a new player who taught them and chances are it was Violet.

She's also shown very quick-yet-fair responses to antagonists. I personally have not seen her disable any antags in a LONG time. Further, in case there are any reserves about Violet's ability to grow as a player, there was a time where I never would have agreed with her going into this position. She grows and learns extremely quickly, and takes what others say to heart, so I have no doubts that she will only continue to improve after her approval.

+1, excited to see you on the team.

[Drakios]

I had many rounds with Violet and they are one of the officers I know I can trust, especially as HoS it can be stressful when every single person on the station comes to you sometimes but with player like Vi I know I can send some of those people over to her or trust them with a situation while I can focus on other things.
I saw her also teaching newbees often and being calm and fun to play with, they have a good amount of game knowledge.

So I would like to see her as an HoS, I think she is very qualified for it so a +1 from me,