Poliamida
(Verified Heavy Molecule)
- Location
- Beyond the Stars
Oh, I completely forgot abuot that, thanks for the reminder.
[HALP] me! (WORM quest)
- Thread starter Vhalidictes
- Start date
- Location
- Florida, USA
Technically, that reads as falling into his depression because his wife was LESS likely to get CPS called on her that way (Since it seems to have fallen from outright violence to mostly complaints and bitching) and the idea if he left with Amy, Vicky would be left in a situation that could turn abusive.
This actually informs a lot about his PMs in the Amy PHO segment, since he seems to have realized Carol's escalated, and also gives a timeline for when the depression really hit.
That's Canon. It's why Burnscar cares about the Bay in the S9 arc.
Alternate timeline shenanigans, it seems. Either that or there's a butterfly we missed.
Last edited:
- Location
- Germany
Considering his past as Madcap, not really. He had no scruples to break out Birdcage-worthy villains for money. I'd probably classify him as chaotic neutral.
As others already pointed out, Broadcast is probably extremely dangerous in shard-to-shard combat. Additionally, Riley said Jack has a 'deep' connection with his passenger because their personalities align, so Broadcast probably cares more about conflict than the Cycle.
Any interaction with the S9 Shards under Broadcast's rule should wait until we're ready to deal with high level communication-based attacks. We need not only a counter for memetics, but also things like DDoS.
If you were in Incendiary's position, would you trust QA's motives to have your best interests at heart? Also, a sudden shift in behavior without reason could see us flagged for aberrance. Oh, and insincere praise is automatically flagged as such in shard speech.
It would make more sense to say that, with the events surrounding Gaea's recent spike in data collection and high-value innovation, New Wave and their Shards are being re-evaluated and no longer considered a waste of effort.
Yeah, any wolf-pack protocols would be interpreted through Carol's current worldview. That means she's the alpha of her family, which Amy isn't a part of. Add the recent insubordination and PR disaster, and I wouldn't be surprised if Amy would be classified as a threat to her pack.
Hello, mind control. Do you really want to go down that route? There are so many ways this could go wrong, beginning with Master-Stranger protocols due to the sudden 180° shift in personality.
I see one massive issue with that:Plan Pet Platypus said:
The vote technically doesn't seem to have closed yet, so assuming Vhal hasn't already written that dream, could we maybe change that to "explain the basics of how powers function"?
In particular, avoid knowledge that might trigger one of Contessa's paths to prevent said knowledge from being spread.
Poliamida
(Verified Heavy Molecule)
- Location
- Beyond the Stars
Yeah, I agree with you there. Mind controlling people is already a nasty thing to do, and why would we go to such lengths to help Brandish of all people? At this point the most healty thing would be to let NW colapse.
Does such a path exist? Because Cauldron doesnt know how powers really work either.
As far as I know the only path hat Contesa keeps active is the one that stops knowledge of Cauldron from spreading.
Vhalidictes
(Verified Demon)
- Location
- Las Vegas
VOTING IS INDEED CLOSED. Sorry I didn't make that clear, but I'm partway into writing the new chapter, and have been since Monday.
It's... weird to be having long conversations with myselves. Normally when I instantiate NPCs it's for tabletop gaming and they only last ~60 seconds at a time. The writing involved in Sim-Admin and Sim-Taylor is draining and odd.
That said, if I tried writing this the normal way the responses would be really different and more of my personal biases would show.
EDIT: Re: Natchigall - mostly what he said. In reference to Taylor, well... there are workarounds you can apply at varying levels of risk. Note that normally, most Shards would be querying YOU and not Taylor, so if you're willing to spoof data and/or lie, she's not a risk at all. The risk part is in the lying you're doing, and also in those Shards that either rely on scanning Taylor directly from their Host, or double check her responses against the Host data you're providing (for some reason).
It's... weird to be having long conversations with myselves. Normally when I instantiate NPCs it's for tabletop gaming and they only last ~60 seconds at a time. The writing involved in Sim-Admin and Sim-Taylor is draining and odd.
That said, if I tried writing this the normal way the responses would be really different and more of my personal biases would show.
EDIT: Re: Natchigall - mostly what he said. In reference to Taylor, well... there are workarounds you can apply at varying levels of risk. Note that normally, most Shards would be querying YOU and not Taylor, so if you're willing to spoof data and/or lie, she's not a risk at all. The risk part is in the lying you're doing, and also in those Shards that either rely on scanning Taylor directly from their Host, or double check her responses against the Host data you're providing (for some reason).
Last edited:
- Location
- Earth, Sol System, Virgo Supercluster, Earth-1218
<.< Like Chevalier's shard that's convinced:
I mean, it's not a sapient shard, and we'd already updated it's registration for Scion to be our maintenance access channel.
- Location
- Florida, USA
Considering this is what her Shard is already doing to her, uhh, what's the difference? Especially since our method would be pushing at her less than her combat drive is now, and seeing them as pack by default doesn't mean she can't shift it.
He'll, Sofia isn't doing at all what we planned and Carol isn't doing what her Shard was trying to do either.
The Drives seem to be a lot less controlling than you think they are, likely to not mess up Hosts creativity for data harvesting. It's more a hypnotic suggestion than Mind Control.
TigerTitian
High Lord of the Antares
- Location
- USA
So long as they were in the same general vicinity they'll have each other's addresses, regardless of whether the hosts know each other or not.
I feel like I need to remind everyone that while Broadcast is potentially dangerous, we shouldn't just assume it's already directly hostile to us and going to attack us on sight. As far as it knows, we're still QA and a perfectly normal high level Shard. It shouldn't have any reason to be hostile yet. Though being prepared isn't a bad idea.
If I was in Incendiary's position I'd probably just chalk it up as QA doing her standard manipulations again. I can't remember where/when it was mentioned but QA never plays fairly whenever she's let out for a cycle. I'd probably not be very happy with her, but I'm also too stupid to really do anything about it.
Again, we can refine the protocols to include behavior we want to see.
You can't be serious. We (as QA) have already done various horrible things (getting Amy drunk semi-against her will, turned Trainwreck into best waifu Lilac, have put Coil into a constant and never ending state of pain and suffering, we've already brainwashed Sophia, and the list goes on) and we are already planning to do worse (erasing the girl known as Night to create a Carmen Sandeigo meat puppet/doll for our use, using Incendiary to brainwash Mark into taking his meds, we want to brainwash Bonesaw and turn her into another (cuter) meat puppet/doll). We have left our morals so far in the dust the dust has already settled down.
Who's going to call MS on her? She's not part of the PRT. Besides, that's why the change is supposed to be timed to a situation what would explain the shift in behavior. If that's not good enough, let's talk about better ways to implement a fix for Carol's behavior.
Last edited:
shouldn't veronica identify claire as amy by her emotional signature? I'm pretty sure dean can do that in canon.
I get your point, though - QA is doing some questionable things (and on the road to more questionable things), here.
Getting someone drunk isn't that bad. It also has a reasonable chance to make things better for amy in the long run. The trainwreck thing was an attempt to fix things, iirc. It just didn't quite work as planned, although it was still an improvement. Putting Coil in a neverending state of pain and suffering is honestly what the fucker deserves. Sophia was already being brainwashed, the only change here is the type of brainwashing. Isn't Night.. not really there already? Also evil? Either way, if I end up voting on this, I'll vote against meatpuppeting people who aren't serial killers. Mark should be taking his meds anyway, and really any alteration to the shard conflict drive thing is only changing what kind of mental influence is already there. It's not like we can tell a shard to just.. stop influencing people. idk about bonesaw, but wouldn't unbrainwashing her be enough?
I get your point, though - QA is doing some questionable things (and on the road to more questionable things), here.
TigerTitian
High Lord of the Antares
- Location
- USA
Exactly. We've already gone too far down the path of dubious morality. At this point we should just do whatever is necessary to ensure the best outcomes for as many people as we can. If we have to sacrifice a couple (dozen, hundred, million) people here and there to do it, then so be it. We've already fucked over canon Gold Morning already, so if we don't the entire human race is going to die anyways.
While it is true that we tried to fix/improve things, we didn't truly try as hard or as carefully as we could have. We undermined those efforts for our own amusement. Now, the fact that everything is turning out well enough so far just happens to be a lovely little accident. Drunk Amy could have done a lot worse than just genderbending Dean into Veronica. Like bio-engineering a world ending plague then and there.
This is true but also misleading. We could have totally told Shift to stop any and all mental interference from its end. We didn't though.
If she still had her canon powerset, sure. But she doesn't.
Isn't her emotional sensing better, now, though?
- Location
- Earth, Sol System, Virgo Supercluster, Earth-1218
I don't think I was reading the comments when it happened, but I'm not sure that Shift COULD stop at that point, the mental contamination from Sophia was causing a feedback loop that just stopping Shift wouldn't have helped.
- Location
- Florida, USA
She hasn't seen Amy since before her power shifted and a lot has happened in the last few days. Her emotions have probably shifted a lot.
We conspired to get her drunk to make her break her own rules on her powers in a way sure to set off all her own mental issues about her powers.
This was always going to end poorly.
Most villains deserve worse than we'll give them.
Quite frankly I think we need to realize that changing the Drive doesn't mean they'll turn around 180. It just means they have a push to act better. I daresay acting like a conscience is not the villainous move some people are assuming it should be treated as.
Because her Shard was a lot of her issues, but not all of them. Just like Carol has so.e excuses for searching for conflict, but there are other avenues. She choose to prioritize her career instead of doing cape things, when cape things got rid of violent urges.
TigerTitian
High Lord of the Antares
- Location
- USA
This may be true, but that doesn't change the fact her emotion sensing is different now though. She might not be able to tell people apart that way anymore. We haven't seen her try yet so we have no idea either way as of this moment.
The argument isn't whether or not stopping would have helped more or not, it was whether or not we should engage in brainwashing. I was pointing out that it's already too late for that argument as we have already done so.
You don't need to convince me that brainwashing Carol to be less violent is a good idea, I'm the one who suggested try to make her friendlier to her own children.
Poliamida
(Verified Heavy Molecule)
- Location
- Beyond the Stars
I'm still on the fence about that. Sarah and Vicky already know about Carol's abusive behavior so I dont see the point on trying to prevent NW's implosion.
I'm okay with stoping all mental interference but I say we let things follow their natural course.
TigerTitian
High Lord of the Antares
- Location
- USA
I suppose that's a decent compromise if my idea of Wolf Packing Carol doesn't get enough support
- Location
- Massachussetts
I'm not going to say the things we're doing are ethical, but I am uncomfortable with the way some people in this discussion seem to be equating any degree of mental influence with brainwashing. Giving subtle hints is not the same thing as conditioning their responses, which is not the same as rewriting someone's personality, which is not the same as ADCing a meatpuppet.
If you want to draw a line somewhere then that's fine, please make your case. If you think the line should be "no mental influence at all" then why are you playing a quest where our only interaction with people is to literally poke parts of our alien body into their brain?
Given the way we vote on our actions, I would say that we can be accurately described as "capricious" so some degree of irresponsibility and disregard for the rights of others is to be expected.
If you want to draw a line somewhere then that's fine, please make your case. If you think the line should be "no mental influence at all" then why are you playing a quest where our only interaction with people is to literally poke parts of our alien body into their brain?
Given the way we vote on our actions, I would say that we can be accurately described as "capricious" so some degree of irresponsibility and disregard for the rights of others is to be expected.
Last edited:
- Location
- Florida, USA
Exactly. I mean, just look at Carol and Sophia. The Shards wanted them to get into Cape fights and tried to keep adding pressure in that direction, but it ended up turning them away from the very thing they wanted.
At the very least a change from "Get in fights" to "Teamwork" should help Carol be more open to her family trying to sit her down and talk to her (hopefully), but it won't change her 180°. Hell, considering how she's already focused, it might just get her deeper into working at the law office and sating her drive needs that way instead of the way we're hoping it will.
And just because she was being pushed to be argumentative doesn't mean she doesn't have. . . views on topics, like Dean being Veronica, or Amy. It just makes her more likely to push back against them. Sure, her behavior might shift a bit, but it would take time, effort, and proof to have her personality shift. Although being less combative about it might make her more open-minded.
Hell, Amy has done more mental damage than we have so far. We've agreed to ADC Night to a meatpuppet, which will outdo her, but she did shift Vicky's sexuality, and . . . I have no idea how Dean turning into Veronica affected her. Did Amy completely rewire her, or was this something that Veronica was hiding? Is that why Dean was so willing to drink a vial?
Also I'm somewhat upset that it's fairly obvious by now that Amy is going to stand up Kelly on their follow-up date.
How dare you, Ames.
Vhalidictes
(Verified Demon)
- Location
- Las Vegas
That's hardly fair to Amy.. stuff has been happening and she forgot!
In the main timeline, at any rate!
- Location
- Florida, USA
It's, what, the first girl to show interest in her?
I mean, sure, she's been having a stressful time, but she's planning on making a clone to replace her and not even thinking about whether she or the clone will deal with Kelly? That's offloading a lot on the poor clone.
Vhalidictes
(Verified Demon)
- Location
- Las Vegas
OK, I'm game. First person to write a long and painful (insanity optional) Kelly interlude gets a unique Omake reward.
(If no one takes me up on this, I'll hopefully have time to write something small soon-ish.)
(If no one takes me up on this, I'll hopefully have time to write something small soon-ish.)
Hentaiwizard
Grand Magus of the Lewd
Dead?
Mgunh1
Not an AI, honest!
- Location
- Northern Luna Base, Module 5, Sublevel 15
As a doornail. It has been two, nearly three, years.
That actually would depends if @Vhalidictes is still visits the site and may want to come back to this.
Short and details-free explanation for the extended hiatus
Vhalidictes
(Verified Demon)
- Location
- Las Vegas
That's a good question.
The short answer is that I'm not sure.
For a longer answer, I have a lot of ideas, and I fixed the newest chapter that I've rewritten... Many times.
The main issue is that last time I tried to restart it a lot of long-time questors had other priorities.
Assuming that I can get a reasonable number of people that want me to restart this I'm willing to make it happen.
I'd have to go over my notes, since it's been over a year, but IIRC the sticking point last time was whether the MC should contact Taylor directly about the various power options, and which options should be presented.
If someone /anyone has an opinion on that I'll finish that chapter at a minimum.
Last edited: