# Biosynths (new roundstart species) ## Abstract Biosynths are a new roundstart species, designed to be a balanced take on a "robotic" species in the vein of androids, IPCs, and so on. They consist of a soft "core" of artificial mycelium-like fibers contained within a self-customized, humanoid outer shell. As they are designed to mimic a number of the functions of living organisms, they still play similarly to other species, without a laundry list of immunities to things like toxins, hard vacuum, and so on. As a non-silicon artificial intelligence, they provide interesting role-playing opportunities, and their obviously-artificial, customizable appearance should appeal to a variety of players interested in playing robots. ## Goals 1. Allow players to play as a robotic species that is not bound to laws. 2. Introduce a new species with interesting and unique gameplay mechanics and story opportunities. 3. Give a wide variety of customization options to let players make biosynths look how they want. ## Non-Goals 1. Create a "true" robotic species with the laundry list of immunities that that would entail. Biosynths have most of the same needs as organic beings to avoid them being a "superior" choice mechanically. 2. Make medical's job harder. Biosynths have a number of mechanics that change how treating them works, but none of these should be confusing to experienced medical players. 3. Introduce a "sleek" and "shiny" sort of robotics. Exact aesthetic considerations are included below. ## Biosynth Mechanics ### The Mycelial Core The main mechanic of biosynths is their "Mycelial Core", a unique organ. The core, technically a type of brain, serves as several consolidated organs, representing the biosynths' strange, distributed internal structure. Specifically, it is simultaneously a brain, heart, lungs, stomach, and liver. It is *not* eyes, ears, or a tongue, as these are components of their shell rather than their core. The core is a single, irreplacable organ with a *very* high capacity for damage, significantly more than any other organ in the game (probably in the 300-400 range). However, when damage would be dealt to any of its component organs, the whole core takes damage instead. This makes them more resilient to any individual type of organ damage (such as liver damage from poison); however, it makes them far more susceptible to organ damage from multiple simultaneous sources. The core's mechanics need to be tested and adjusted carefully to avoid frustration - if all of the organ damage effects are blindly layered on at once, it may become immensely frustrating (for example, taking brain traumas after smoking a few cigarettes). However, severe core damage *should* cause numerous problems as part of its design. The core can be repaired surgically through a unique, repeatable procedure. It is also located in the chest, meaning biosynths *can* survive the severing of their own head if the damage does not kill them outright. Finally, "normal" organs cannot be placed into a biosynth body at all, and the core cannot be placed in other types of bodies. I'm not sure yet how the mycelial core will interact with MMIs. Most likely, it will not fit - a new biosynth shell will need to be constructed to contain the core instead, a job that likely falls to the roboticist. ### Body Parts Biosynth body parts are all robotic. Damage to them must be repaired via mechanical tools, much like cybernetic limbs. Surgery also must be conducted via mechanical steps rather than organic ones. This may or may not require some extension or modification of the current surgical system. To facilitate this, each medical storage room is provided with a single "medical toolbox" that is intended specifically for robotic repairs and surgeries. As robotic limbs are a pretty significant boon, biosynth limbs in particular may be of a unique type that is capable of receiving biosynth-specific wounds. These will need to be designed. Biosynth limbs may also *not* receive the armor bonus of proper cybernetic limbs - though those can still be attached as normal for their benefits. Organic body parts cannot be attached to a biosynth torso. ### Miscellaneous Mechanics * Biosynths have no food preferences at all. Nothing is toxic to them, but nothing boosts their mood either. * Biosynths have standard cybernetic eyes/ears, though they may have special types for aesthetic purposes. * Biosynths also have cybernetic "tongues", and speak with robotic text style. However, they have speech verbs that are not "states", as they are capable of emoting. ## Aesthetic Considerations Biosynth shells were originally designed for function over form. Their bodies have a utilitarian, industrial look to them, laboratory-designed to be durable and functional. The "standard" shell should be greyish, and none too sleek, though it will obviously need to fit inside of the normal human silhouette. Biosynth shells are, however, *customizable* by their nature, and many biosynths mod their bodies to be more *them*. This may include different styles of eyes, different installed plating, synthetic "hair", and so on. One particular goal is to make robotic versions of many external features other species have - snouts, tails, ears, and so on, for those biosynths who decide to mimic the form of those other sapient species in the galaxy. Ultimately, biosynths have extremely diverse appearances, built atop the basic "industrial" chassis to make something unique. ## Lore Biosynths were designed some decades ago by one of NanoTrasen's many competitors, with the goal of creating a "new generation" of silicons - fully artificial beings that could be *grown* rather than built, and which could mimic the human form enough to perform many of the functions humans do without installing specialized equipment. This project did not pan out, as the newly-created "biosynths" could not be slaved to laws as silicons can. As the project was abandoned and the company went over, the laboratory complex where biosynths came into being was soon taken over by them, and biosynths began to build a fledgling society on the edges of space. [UNDER CONSTRUCTION]
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Contract Killer (minor midround/latejoin antagonist)

Contract killers are a midround and latejoin minor antagonist, picked from the crew much like sleeper agents/Syndicate infiltrators. They are antagonists with a very simple mission: assassinate one randomly-chosen member of the crew. As killing some members of the crew, such as heads of staff, may prove challenging, the contract killer has help available to them. By spending time around their target, they can “gather intel” - once enough is gathered, they can summon a special gear kit. Using this kit, they can attempt to kill their target off once and for all. When this is done, their mission is “concluded”, and they can go back to being a member of the crew.

12/15/2023
Xenoarchaeologist (New Research Job)

Abstract The Xenoarchaeologist is a new job in the Research department, focused on the retrieval and research of artifacts from Lavaland (and Icemoon). The xenoarchaeologist travels to the mining world, seeks out relics to dig up, and brings them back to the station to research them. Artifacts come in a number of tiers, from relics that are purely for flavor (to be placed in display cases or sold), to various levels of "useful" artifact that can be recovered to a functional state and used to help various station departments. Recovery is a major focus of the job - different types of artifacts will require different steps to recover, many of which may require interaction with other departments. There is also an emphasis on the different cultures that have inhabited Lavaland over the millennia, intentionally or otherwise - each will come with distinct types of artifacts to discover. Goals Add interesting new content to Lavaland that isn't purely focused on fighting monsters and collecting loot. Give Research an engaging new job that is less formulaic than every single science job that currently exists - there is a degree of randomness that should always keep things interesting rather than rote. Inject unpredictability into the items available to the crew each round, as nothing from xenoarchaeology is guaranteed to be found. Encourage cross-department interaction. Not only between Research and Mining, but with other jobs too (other departments can help activate artifacts, and artifacts can be given to other departments in turn). Add fun and flavorful objects to discover that can be put on display to be seen even in future rounds.

5/14/2023
Orb Traitor / Traitor Escalation

Problem Statement Orbstation players have expressed a general dissatisfaction with the effect of Progression Traitor on the pacing of rounds and actions of antagonist players. A particular issue is the tasks of lesser impact provided by the progression system, which encourage people to accidentally expose themselves early and then create confusion amongst the crew about how to treat them from that point onwards; knowing that they are probably going to become exceedingly dangerous in the future OOC but unable to particularly justify acting on it IC. Additionally, the breakneck pace of task accomplishment encouraged by the infinite treadmill of secondary objectives (with a strong incentive to do as much as possible) could seem overwhelming and stretch belief in terms of what one person is doing. On a low population environment, this can often be quite difficult to detect or to stop even if it is detected, allowing players to "snowball" in a way that isn't that satisfying. Other players have expressed that they benefit personally from the mechanical guidelines and reward structure giving them a framework on which to base their play. Additionally, some few of the tasks presented by Progression Traitor are both very cool but also undesirable to give to a player as soon as the round starts (weakpoint exposure, final objectives). We need to attempt to solve the issues of the former while still maintaining some elements enjoyed by the latter group. In terms of Final Objectives we also want to preserve some concept of scarcity for them, such that they do not occur in every available round as traitors themselves appear in most rounds (1 in 4 or 5 may be more appropriate).

4/30/2023
Troublemaker (minor roundstart antag)

Abstract NOTE: This design doc is pending complete rewrite. Reason: progression traitor is likely to be completely changed soon, and the original purpose of the troublemaker may no longer matter. The "troublemaker" is a new minor antag that is intended to stir up low-level conflict and provide a smokescreen to other, more serious antags by having similar objectives to them. At the start of the round, a number of troublemakers are drafted depending on the crew population, potentially including zero. They do not consume threat, and interact as little as possible with the dynamic system. They have 1-3 objectives, at least one of which always duplicates a more serious antag type's objective. Finally, troublemaker status does not prevent someone from becoming a different antag later via the dynamic system. Goals Provide a "nuisance"-level antagonist that is still mostly on the side of the crew, for variety. Give an extra source of minor trouble/conflict for the crew and security to worry about, without being excessively disruptive. Give plausible deniability for low-level antag objectives, such as early Traitor objectives, to disconnect actions such as "putting up rude posters" from the foregone conclusion of "will try to kill you and blow up the station later".

4/26/2023
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