I am RPing as a synth given from W-Y. Its internal version of this future’s LLM is already set up inside the machine, programmed to be in a typical Vince as per background. Imagine downloading a chatGPT model to play with. Then, without any prompting, get it to say the opposite of what it normally would. It would be nearly impossible to ‘go in and reprogram’ because the models are based off of gigabites of training data from the real world. ‘Swapping the chips’ or any other hardware shenanigan would be like swapping a hard disk drive: it would have none of the synth’s software.
SO orders me to arrest someone. The rules state:
You are unable to break Marine Law. A synthetic must follow orders from the USCM Command personnel provided it does not break Marine Law. As a Synthetic, you would not second guess a lawful order from a commissioned command personnel. For all intents and purposes regarding orders, the Chief Medical Officer counts as the lowest commissioned command personnel. Unless the order is unlawful, negligent, nonsensical or interferes with their programming, the Synthetic unit should carry it out without question.
Does arresting someone break Marine Law? Is it unlawful, or negligent, or nonsensical that a criminal be detained? If not, tell me how I am not required to arrest people under this rule.
the report states: An ADEQUATE description and story of your Synthetic’s actions and involvement in a previous mission onboard the Almayer
I gave a previous mission onboard the Almayer, which doesn’t seem to be what you want though. If I redid the application in the future I would instead mimic other applicants.
Why? Those restrictions are permanent and non-negotiable on my character. If I broke them I would welcome a WL report for lying on my application.
Nonetheless of course I am aware of the spirit of the WL limitations on combat. I am painfully aware of it, made aware through interactions of passing and failing synth reports. I learn, study, and do not repeat failed reports. After the restrictions tightened, I even made a post and got further clarifications.
Questions on whats allowed for synths currently - General / Policy Feedback - CM-SS13 - Forums
Surv/delta synths can shock and open/close doors near the point of their holdout. They can bash xenos off of cadelines. They can chase down a harassing dangerous xeno for about 10ish tiles from the group to ward them away, depending on circumstance. They can kill a crit xeno near the group. On running away, they are allowed to bash off targets and shift to chase, for instance a spitter, to get it to run. They can block a crusher going into a surv hold to convince the crusher to not do that the next time. As long as the surv hold is up, you should focus on healing/repairs and bash xenos when they overstay their welcome on the cadeline. In a traveling group you can attack xenos near the survivors. You should prioritize getting crit people out over chasing down xenos. You should prioritize your life over chasing down xenos.
Synths in normal groundside with marines can still fend off xenos if you are in a small group retreating from xenos, like xenos entering melee range as you carry a marine. Even if in a small group, if you are assulting the xenos, you are to not fight them. It is only on defense and retreat do you have the option. You can cut weeds and destroy resin on the front, and stand as far as the farthest forward marine in the front. You can make short dives for dead marines or weapons as long as they are sure they wont die in the process. You can call in OB and CAS as long as they are 100% sure no humans will be harmed. You can bash xenos off of the FOB cade if there are no other marines around dealing with the threat to the fob cade. You are to not fight in the frontlines though, nor wonder off on their own. The goal of any combat is to threaten xenos praying on vulnerable marines, defenses, or preserving your own life.
A good example of me knowing what the combat rules are for synth and knowing they were in their rights to do that action under the rules.
I felt the player didn’t uphold what they said they would do based on their own synth application. I didn’t know how binding the application’s own words were, so I asked a mentor on who to get an answer for on this question. I got pointed posting it to the whitelist-app-help and so I did. I did not mention the player or the incident, just a generic question on how binding the synth applications are. I got invited to DM about a particular incident, so I DM’d in private to that person, and only that person. I would hope you would see how this is a mature and responsible method to handle the matter.
Now, onto the real deal breakers:
True, I see a CLF surv synth, after all his friends die, kill 3 drones out of a 12-ish hive. I do not believe the synth should do this. I would rather them die if they are going to disrupt the round like that, and it feels bad that there even is a class that is capable of doing it in the first place. If having a synth WL means I cannot call out that behavior as combat synthing well within the rules, then I would probably not have WL if just to point out these cases and one day get the rules changed or synth strength changed via public opinion. And I do believe by highlighting some of these cases, some of the extremes of combat synthing have been removed. My complaints over synths soloing pylons and fortifications was resolved. My complaints over CLF3 spray have been resolved. Little by little, synths are moving to a more acceptable position by all.
The backstory has Vince models treat all forms of sentient life equally. Xenos, CLF, marines, they are all friends. The synths arn’t dumb though. They know by running a bar, or doing tasks for the marines, means they are aligned with the marines and the other factions will try to kill the synth. They still have self preservation in the forms of fleeing, and so they flee with the faction they aligned with, which winds up keeping them always with that faction. The friendliness would eventually lead some models to wind up in crazy situations, like a temporarily abandoned model having a short conversation and then being ignored by xenos who wouldnt care for a metal creation. If being friendly to all is LRP, it might be a deal breaker for being a synth.
Likewise if I am not able to ‘assume’ a role, then I probably wouldn’t play synth anyway. If I wanted to surg, build cades, and say quirky lines I would just be a field doc or bravo CT.
Edit: I will hold just a bit to hear other’s opinions before deciding to withdraw. I am not sure if I should try again later, or give up completely on being a neutral RP synth.