Nomoresolvalou - Commanding Officer Application

[Nomoresolvalou]

Commanding Officer Application - Nomoresolvalou

What is your BYOND key?

Nomoresolvalou

What is your Discord ID?

oggdoboggdo

What is your timezone in UTC?

UTC-06

Player Name You Use Most?

Willard, Adam ‘coil’ Burns, Ellis ‘boudin’ Boudreaux

Ban Appeals, Whitelist and Staff Applications:

Nomoresolvalou - Synthetic Application | Synth application; Accepted

Nomoresolvalou - Yautja Application | Yautja application; Accepted

Have you been banned in the last 3 months?

Nah cher

If so, why?

N/A

Command Knowledge:

How familiar are you with command positions?

I am incredibly familiar. I know how to operate all the consoles, make announcements, change alert levels and hand out medals. I can load the OB and set AA, plot coords and promote or demote aSLs. I have intimate and familiar knowledge with every single role in the game and what they offer to the round, their unique skillset, role, and expectations. When I see someone I can determine their capabilities within moments. I’m familiar with both high pop and lowpop commanding, and the unique challenges each type of commanding requires. I am used to commanding from CIC completely on my own, and I’ve come to expect that as the default state in rounds unless I see more command staff have awoken to assist me. All in all, I’m a freak gremlin at this game and I’ve sunken an ungodly amount of hours into it so I know my shit, to say the least.

Hours in XO:

26.0 hours

Hours in SL:

156.0 hours

Character Information:

Why did your character decide to become the CO of a ship?

Ellis Boudreaux never intended to become a marine, at least not at first. After graduating from the Weyland-Yutani Technical University of Louisiana and landing a job at one of the many Company chemical plants, he was content to live his life as a civilian. He loved making small talk with his coworkers, and bringing them out down to his home for crawfish boils, jambalaya, and all the kinds of Cajun food that he loved and grew up with as a kid. But everything changed after the bombing. A CLF activist bombed the plant Ellis worked at during a shift. He was lucky to survive, but many of his friends weren’t as lucky as him, either killed outright, died slowly from fume and chemical inhalation, or ‘survived’ with life changing disfigurement and disabilities. After that day, Ellis knew he had to do something to make sure that nothing like this would ever happen again. He signed up for the marines.

How did your character attain the position of CO?

Despite the initial anger and hatred that drove him to join the USCM, Ellis proved to be a very upbeat officer. Ellis kept the phrase “your network is your net worth” to heart. He was always talking with other officers and higher ups about his experiences as a working man, and was happy to share a meal when he could. Ellis’ extrovertedness landed him many friends within the corps, and after his performance during the almost shit show operation that was Operation Voodoo-Comet, he was promoted to the position of Captain aboard the USS Placid. After many years of faithfully serving aboard the Placid, the time came when its Commanding Officer had to retire. In his wake, The obvious choice for promotion was the lovable Ellis ‘boudin’ Boudreaux, named so by the marines he commanded on the account that Ellis always smelled like boudin.

Provide a short story of your CO.

The Death of Major Ellis Boudreaux

Command Actions:

When do you believe it’s appropriate to pardon a prisoner?

I believe there are a few factors that determine whether I would pardon someone or not.

First is the severity of the crime. Was it a simple minor crime, possibly even an accident on the part of the offender? Much more likely to be pardoned than a major or even capital crime, which I’d never pardon outside of extremely exceptional circumstances.

Second is remorse. Does the offender regret what they’ve done and are they likely to do it again? If it seems like they can own up to what they’ve done and that they’re unlikely to re-offend, then a pardon is more likely. But someone who clearly doesn’t care or is even vindicated by the crime they committed, they’re definitely not on the pardon track, especially not if it seems likely they’re to re-offend.

Last is operational importance. This one will never be the deciding factor, but it is worth considering. If someone is trying to pull the “but I’m a spec/SL” card, then that’s an instant no from me. But if they’re someone critical to the round, like being the only doctor/comtech awake, then a pardon is more likely.

Give some examples of when you would or would not use pardon.

This first one comes from a situation I actually saw during a round. The operation is going on as normal in the CIC. Just one problem, the XO has unfortunately placed Jones on his head, and the CMP is not happy and calls for the XO’s arrest. Now, whether or not you want to argue the semantics on whether or not Jones counts as “headwear” and is therefore possible to violate SoP by putting him on your head since he is not assigned, I think it’s rather pointless. It’s clear this CMP has something against the XO, or is just on a powertrip, and just wants to stick the XO with a charge. In this situation I would pardon the XO. It’s a minor action that’s harmless, and the XO is very important to the success of the operation.

The bravo SL is not happy that he’s in bravo, and wants to be on the frontlines. Despite bravo being assigned to FOB, he leaves his squad and runs to the frontline. The bravo SO sees this and marks him down for insubordination. Being on the frontline, he gets hugged by a player hugger and has to be medevacced shipside. After receiving surgery he is arrested by MPs and brigged. Over radio he calls for the CO to pardon him because he needs to be groundside to lead bravo. I would not pardon this SL. It’s obvious he doesn’t have remorse for his actions, and it is incredibly likely that he would reoffend were he to go back groundside. Despite being an SL, he’s not above the law, and bravo will be fine with the SO and an aSL in charge.

When do you believe it’s appropriate to use a Battlefield Execution?

I believe the coveted BE should only be a last resort used in exceptional circumstances. There must be a legitimate threat to either myself or my marines in order for a BE to be used. In addition to this, all other options must also be unavailable or spent. If MPs can deal with it, then the BE isn’t needed. The only exception to this would be if someone drops like the most horrendous, gut-wrenching ERP type shit in the chat. I’d say I’m more used to dealing with it being a synth player and talking with other synth players, but like, gross. No thanks.

Give some examples of when you would or would not use Battlefield Execution.

I’m leading from the front groundside, and we’ve just pulled back from caves and are holding while medics are patching up marines after we’ve suffered a lot of casualties from the push. I see a medic treating a marine who has around 500 damage, and is close to redlining. A rifleman next to him is angry that the medic forgot to splint him, and starts disarming the medic and yelling at him to splint him. I yell at him to stop, pull out my mateba. He doesn’t stop, the marine is flashing. Life privileges revoked.

Later in the round, we’ve fallen back from caves to the FOB, it’s looking bleak, and evac is called. The alamo pilot, being a bit knuckledraggery, locks the alamo down in the middle of evac, killing many marines as we launch and leave them behind. Despite my obvious outrage, I don’t BE the drooler pilot, and he is instead arrested by MPs and locked in the brig.

[MeH0y]

Fantastic member of the Yautja whitelist and a long-standing synthetic whitelist holder, I have no doubts they will uphold the standards of the whitelist and be a great addition to CO. +1

[NessiePendragon]

Hey there, @Nomoresolvalou. Thank you for your application!

I may not know you very closely, but you are a player whose conduct I am quite satisfied with, I don’t think anyone has doubts about that. However, to be honest, I found your answers and story rather weak, which makes your ingame performance as a Commander figure all the more important. I will be basing my vote on that.

I would appreciate it if you could answer the following questions. Please see them as an opportunity to enrich your application. I would rather you respond in a way that fits your character than try to find the correct answers.

• You are deployed groundside on Kutjevo Refinery. After a flank attempt from the Queen failed, you’ve managed to gain momentum. To get through a choke, you call in an OB, incendiary. Your coordinates are perfectly fine but when the shot is fired, it lands roughly ten west of where you intended it to land- scorching your frontline and killing five marines. Command comms starts screaming about a misfueling, and the ASO and XO are at eachother’s throats. Your men can hold the hive off and get these men up. What does Boudreaux do?

• You are shipside aboard the Almayer. Suddenly a tech purchase is made without your knowledge when you ask about it, the XO begins getting snippy at you, and generally being patronizing. One of your SOs agrees with the XO on the purchase, while the other is expressing his frustration with the Captain for wasting points. What does Boudreaux do?

• Its lowpop, briefing, you have no MPs. A marine breaks into the bubble mid briefing and sits down in a chair next to you. He starts cracking jokes and giving fake orders out loud, and marines are becoming distracted by him. What does Boudreaux do?

• A Visiting Officer (Major rank) arrives in CIC and is generally disrespectful to you and your CIC staff. All of you are currently standing in the middle of CIC and things are getting tense. What does Boudreaux do?

• Its highpop. All Command slots are filled, including departmental heads. Its your XO’s first ever XO round, and they’ve told you as such. Your SOs are all generally green. There is absolutely no groundside leadership with all SLs rather MEDEVAC’d or dead, marines are scattered to the winds, not paying attention and your XO seems overwhelmed. You are currently on the Almayer. An MP calls you for an appeal, while a researcher claims he needs you in research now to publish a stimulant. A CT is asking for help with requestions because he is alone. The Liaison is asking you to sign an NDA. Everyone seems to want your attention, but you are only one man. What does Boudreaux do? Where are their priorities?

• You’re a CO shipside handling an appeal. You speak with the prisoner who has committed a Manslaughter, as well as MPs who witnessed the arrest and you’ve decided to pardon the prisoner, believing that he’s a good guy who doesn’t have to be brigged over an accident. The Warden and CMP, however, disagree with you and not releasing the prisoner, claiming that you can’t pardon a prisoner who has committed a Capital crime, they are disrespectful to you the entire time, and the MPs are uncomfortable with both the CMP and MW. How do you deal with the CMP, MW and the prisoner?

• During briefing, one Marine hits an another Marine with chair repeatedly, then you stop briefing and call the CMP over to hall, you point the Marine and order CMP to arrest him. CMP refused to arrest that Marine and leaves the hall. How would you react?

• Your SO accuses you of breaking SOP for wearing M46C in CIC on green and he says he’s going to fax to Provost about it, is he correct?

• The CL acquires a Xeno egg and is busted by the MPs and charged with sedition. The egg is in his private containment, but was never planted. The CMO mentions that the CL was asking about growing a xeno specimen, but since they didn’t have everything they needed for one, the conversation never got anywhere. The CL is appealing his Sedition charge, what’s your move?

[Nomoresolvalou]

Thank you for the response! I’d love to answer your questions.

• For this one, Boudreaux would try and ease tensions between the XO and ASO. What happened happened and there’s no use crying over spilled milk. The cause of the misfire can be determined later, right now we need to focus on getting our men back up and resuming our push on the hive. the XO and ASO both have more important things to be doing than arguing right now. He’d keep a close eye on the frontline after the OB flames clear and make sure that all the marines hit by the OB are recovered and treated by medics before attempting to push again.
• Boudreaux would take the comments in stride, and acknowledge whatever reason the XO might have had for making the purchase on his own. He’d let the XO know to please let him know before making any future purchases on the tech tree. If the XO refused to listen and buys something else later without notification, then he might get MPs involved.
• Boudreaux would again first attempt to be cordial, “ey naw cher don’ be actin like dat, go sit down wit ya squad.” If he doesn’t listen, he’d threaten to call MPs. Even though there aren’t any awake, the threat alone could be enough. If it really came down to it he’d pick him up, set him down outside the bubble, and ask to give him 40 while he continues on with briefing.
• He’d try to appeal to the major’s sense of duty, “we’re all workin hard fa tha same cause here.” and that even though they might run things differently on his ship, they get the job done. If the Major is still being prickly, he’d offer him a drink, or for the chef to cook them up a good meal to settle everyone down.
• I like this question a lot. Deploying here is out of the question, he can’t rely on the CIC to run without him. despite the SOs being green, he’d get the most confident one delegated for the appeal, as Boudreaux needs to focus on matters in CIC and getting the marines organized. Since it’s highpop there’s most likely a CMO awake, so he’d radio medical comms for the CMO to publish the paper. If there isn’t? oh well, the world ain’t gonna end if a paper doesn’t get published. If there’s a synth awake, he’d ask them to help out req, if not then he’d ask an SO if any of them know how to work req, and pick the one that’s most confident down. As for the CLs NDA? Well, he’s got a lot to deal with right now, and the Company’s always had his best interests in mind, so he can just sign off without needing to read every word right?
• He’d tell CMP and warden that, first of all, manslaughter ain’t a Capital crime. Second of all, his decision is final, and if they’ve got a problem with it they can take it up with High Command. Since the prisoner is pardoned, he’d take em out of detainment himself if he needs to.
• He’d tell the CMP that he needs to march his ass back to briefing and arrest that marine or he’s gettin charged with NoD and insubordination.
• No, he isn’t. the M46C is a CO vendor item, and as such is considered as issued at the start of the operation. Firearms like the M46C and the flamer that the CE has in his vendor, are allowed to be carried on green. So even though it may be strange to be packing heat on green, it isn’t an SoP violation.
• While the CL didn’t manage to plant the egg, the circumstantial evidence is pretty clear that he intended to do so. Creating a hive on the ship in secret is a massive threat to everyone on board, and absolutely counts as Sedition. Conspiring or attempting to commit a crime lands the same punishment as doing the crime. Appeal denied.

If you want any further clarifications or have any more questions I’m happy to answer them! These little thought experiments I think are the funnest part of the app process.

[NyoomVoyager (Nyoom)]

Cool player, always putting effort into believability and creating an atmosphere. To be clear this is a +1

I haven’t run into Ellis but my only comment is when playing under Burns as XO, sometimes you make decisions to stay and fight when it’s not possible. XOs and COs can make those kinds of decisions though, it’s not a fault, I just didn’t know if it’s intentional or not. It’s very possible that Burns is meant to be hard-headed and aggressive in tactics and I missed that.

+2 though, Cajun Command takeover is inevitable; we will stir gumbo in the CIC in victory

[5let]

+1 i think he’d make a good addition to the wl

[DukeofCagliostro (Archibald V. Cartwright)]

+1. The man is solid and is great at RP.

[Donk (Sam G)]

+1 they’re a great member from the other whitelists and would add to the CO whitelist.

[Ingwe]

+1 had fun rp moments with him in both his human and synth chars, only nitpick is the naruto toad pfp

[Carlo]

+1

Solid XO and good role player, I especially enjoy the XO bit character. Would bring great variety in contrast to the current roster of John Marines who wield the mateba.

[Fortelian]

I always love to see Willard around, or especially his XO character Ellis ‘boudin’ Boudreaux. The personality is fantastic, something that we don’t see enough of, and I am looking forward to this translating into his CO playstyle. Not only is he a good commander, but a fun person to interact with all around.

Very easy +1 for boudin.

[Harrysno]

Hiya Nomoresolvalou

The council has taken a vote, and unfortunately we are electing to deny your application this go around. You have an excellent character and a very clear vision for the type of commander you want to play, something that we were very pleased to see. However, your mechanical skills are not quite at the level that we expect to see from Commanding Officers. Ideally, we’d like to see you improve on:

• Your announcements. It’s been observed that many of them lack critical information that leaves the whole announcement worse off. (i.e. cardinal directions, identifying landmarks, and so on)
• Groundside leadership. When deployed, your primary purpose should be to provide leadership and direction to enlisted marines, it’s been noted that you trend towards frontlining and take some irresponsible risks.

Additionally, the council was unsatisfied by many of your answers to Nessie’s questions and your general knowledge of the Code of Conduct. Due to the fact that the Commanding Officer is the highest shipside authority, it is imperative that CO whitelistees have a solid understanding of their role with regards to marine law and their duty to maintain the atmosphere of the round. I would encourage you to reach out to whitelisted COs or members of the council to better understand the above, as while your general philosophy towards CO appears to be in line with that we’re looking for, how you apply it has left much to be desired.

Myself and the rest of the council are certain that if you spend some more time in command roles your next application will be aided greatly, and that we’ll be more than happy to accept you when that time rolls around.