SIMULACRUM

[ryslighelpers]

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SIMULACRUM

BASIC INFO Simulacra are artificial creatures created from synthetic materials. Their inorganic bodies make them stronger and more resilient than humans, but it's their emotional distance and reductive thinking that leaves others wary. They toe an uncanny line between monster and machine. MANDATORY CHANGES ● Mechanized innards. This can include things like nerves replaced with wiring, oil instead of blood, mechanical ball joints, and so forth. ● Mechanized limbs. While these must approximate and function like human limbs, they are much stronger. At least one of a Simulacrum's limbs must be mechanized, but can be more. ● Synthetic skin. Tissue is replaced by a synthetic/processed material. At least half of a Simulacrum's skin should become synthetic. ● Vocal cords replaced with a sound box, speaker, or other mechanical sound-producing device. ● Metal components. While a Simulacrum's skin and innards may be any kind of synthetic material, metal must still be worked somewhere into the Simulacrum's body for weaknesses to take effect. Examples are metal clockwork, metal plating or wiring. ● Increased endurance. Simulacra can exert themselves for far longer than their organic counterparts. ● A weakness to water. Even small amounts can trigger malfunctions and short-circuits, causing Simulacra to become confused, volatile, or physically pained or injured. ● A weakness to either magnets, computer-related issues, or both. Exposure to magnets will disorient Simulacra with this weakness. Computer-related issues include logical paradoxes, extreme temperatures and external sources of electricity. ● A need to feed on the energy of humans. They accomplish this by extending their nerve-wires into the bodies of humans and extracting their energy directly. This can involve making a "complete circuit," wherein a Simulacrum's electrical power is sent through their victim, electrocuting them to death. [back to top] OPTIONAL CHANGES ● Any psychological changes are welcome! Feel free to pull from real world myths, canon creatures of this variety, or any other source! ● A fog form. This is an exaggerated version of their monster form that appears only during the fog and is a chance to make your monster more "horrifying" during the fog. ● Travel or Stealth form: the ability to take the form of a (1980s or older) technological gadget no larger than the average cat. In this form, the character will look like a normal gadget and will be able to move around as freely as its anatomy will allow. However, they will also be more vulnerable and depending on what the gadget is, they may have difficulty moving around without assistance. (So a R.C. car could be a Travel form, but a blender would be a Stealth form.) Players must choose one manifestation of the form. ● A cyborg or robotic head. Simulacra that go this route have rigid facial features, and are hairless, lacking even eyebrows. (Synthetic hair or hair-replacements are okay.) They may also lack noses, eyelids, or external ears, and their mouths might not move when they speak. They can also have cybernetic eyes capable of lowlight vision. ● An object-head. The humanoid head is replaced in its entirety by an inanimate object. The object can be anything human head-sized, or a smaller object that is scaled up, but not a large object scaled down. ● A small monitor that measures the Simulacrum's vital signs. This may also measure useless information like the weather or time. This monitor can be placed anywhere on the body. ● A nameplate anywhere on the body. It includes the date of manufacture (i.e., their original change date), and can include other harmless or random tidbits about the character. Some plates include "Made in Dyster," or attribute ownership to the Fog God. ● Basic electronics or machinery as part of their body. While a machine gun for an arm would be overpowered and not acceptable, a simple cigarette lighter in their palm would be fine, as would slots in their back for toasting toast. ● A difficulty in expressing or reading emotions of others, though not necessarily in experiencing emotion themselves. Simulacra often have to be told how others are feeling. ● Subservience. Simulacra are prone to suggestion and have a hard time refusing orders from anyone. ● Blunt demeanor. Simulacra can often be reductive of circumstance, simplifying matters into black-and-white or right-and-wrong binaries. Nuance and subtlety are often lost on them, but they can jump to dangerous conclusions as a result. ● Inquisitive nature. Simulacra are naturally curious about the things around them, but their difficulty sympathizing with others may lead to them trying to pry out others' secrets by any means necessary. [back to top] ALLOWED SPECIES Simulacra do not have any particular animal to be based upon. Functional parts incorporated in the Simulacrum's base design cannot be more advanced than 1980s tech, but can be upgraded to later technological advancements through the reward system. [back to top] ARTWORK Artwork generously donated and submitted by players as an example of this monster in various forms. This can give you an idea of what you can do with this monster. Want to donate? Submit your own Handsome Jack Normal form by Faye Kain Highwind Normal form (with wings from Mana) by Carbon Star Butterfly Normal form by Groof Zack Normal form by Nyanka Normal form by Nyanka Normal form by Nyanka Fog form by Nyanka [back to top]

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Comments

(frozen comment) FAQ

[ryslighelpers]

Have a very specific question in mind? Here's some questions that have been asked in the past!

MONSTER ABILITIES:

Since a Simulacrum can have either a Stealth or a Travel form depending on the gadget, does this mean we can choose which one the monster turns into every time they transform?
No. Please choose one gadget for your monster to transform into at any time. The gadget's 'anatomy' will determine whether it's mobile enough to fall under Travel form, or automatically default to the Stealth boon.

Can I upgrade my Travel/Stealth form to be tech that's more advanced than 1980s?
Yes, that's possible through either reward system.

The gadget I chose is technically mobile enough to fall under Travel form, but I'd rather have the stealth boon instead. Can I do that?
Yes. For example, say you choose a R.C. car. It could be categorized as Travel form and be 1.5x faster than the Sim's usual speed. If you decide to make this car a Stealth form instead, it will move far slower and instead gain the stealth enchantment. Please make a note of this on your Monster Info page! Only Simulacra can make this choice!

Can my Sim's Stealth/Travel form be a weapon?
Not really. Weapons will be rendered non-functional, so something like a gun wouldn't be able to fire bullets.

Can Simulacra interface with RSDOS or the laptops in general? What about other technology? Can they hack things?
No, they cannot. Laptops and the network are always out, but hacking other devices in Ryslig could be purchased as an ability through Mana, or gained through the gods, with certain limitations attached depending on the God Boon tier level.

Can Simulacra give people and other monsters a nasty (non-fatal, just painful) zap or short out standard electronics?
Simulacra are capable of zapping people with their feeding cables, but it will simultaneously drain sims of their electrical power. Basically, bear in mind that zapping a victim or another character to death will drain the Simulacrum's batteries, and your character will need time to recharge afterwards. This applies equally to standard electronics, but only if the cables are directly in contact with the item you're shorting out.

Can Simulacra absorb energy from wall sockets or other electronics to 'take the edge off' from their monster hunger? Or even animals?
Yes. Both the animal option and the electronics option would work the same way as any other monster type attempting to feed off animals; it staves off the hunger, but not for long.

Sims have increased endurance, which I assume extends to how long they can keep running, but is their actual speed faster than a human's?
Simulacra are not inherently speedier than humans; their advantage is only superhuman endurance. Superhuman speed is considered an additional ability this monster, so if you are interested, you can purchase it from Mana or acquire it as a god boon.

Are leg rocket boosters allowed for jumping?
Assuming the rocket boosters would not boost a Simulacrum's jump beyond roughly average for a monster - ie, would not offer them any extra advantages, just make up for an otherwise lack of jumping ability - rocket boosters to assist in jumping would be fine! If you'd like increased speed/height/flight, you would need to a request a functional body mod from Mana, or poke around the god boon domain a little.


MONSTER BODIES AND CHANGES:

Can I have more details/examples for the synthetic skin and mechanized parts?
You can use materials such as metal, rubber, plastic, glass, nylon, vinyl, plastic fabrics or even exposed circuit boards. This material may be from opaque to transparent if you'd like, though the Simulacrum's insides would remain completely opaque. More than one material or type of material (e.g. copper and steel) may be present, and there may be welding lines where they meet on the body. You can also add synthetic velvet flocking as 'fur'.

How futuristic does the Simulacrum have to be? Would it be okay to do the changes more akin to a clockwork doll- porcelain skin, clockwork innards, and music box voice cords? How about emulating a wooden puppet made with processed lumber?
Simulacrum do not necessarily have to appear futuristic, as long as they appear inorganic (and satisfy all bestiary requirements). Magnet and water weaknesses can both be justified through metallic clockwork inside any synthetic outer shell. So yes, all of these examples would be completely acceptable.

What about the opposite? How futuristic can we go?
While a futuristic aesthetic would be acceptable, futuristic functional parts (the sort of technology seen in Star Trek, for example) would not be allowed. In terms of functionality, the parts cannot go beyond Ryslig's local tech. (At the moment, that would be 1980s advancements.)

So my Sim can't have a USB port?
Sorry, you're starting off with a floppy drive or a cassette player.

How robotic can their physiological functions be? Is there sleep mode rather than sleeping, can they still eat food that isn't energy, do they still breathe, etc?
This is completely up to you! However, some limitations can't be surpassed due to mechanical replacements. For example, while they won't need to breathe, the ocean's pressure would still be enough to crush them if they went deep enough. Sleep mode could work much like sleep itself, though it would negate the need for dreams. You may have a Simulacrum retain some form of a "human" digestive system, and whatever complications result, or have them rely only on energy.

At least half of the Simulacrum's skin should be synthetic, but how far does "mechanized innards" go?
Just as with the skin, at least 50% of the Simulacrum's innards are mechanical. As for the rest, that is up to you! Your Sim can be 100% mechanical or a mix of robot and human, as long as at least 50% of it is inorganic.

So can the Simulacrum's brain be mechanized too?
This would be fine! The only caveat we ask is that the inorganic brain retains the same functions and weaknesses as a normal brain. A bullet to the head is still going to kill you just like it would a fleshy monster.

Can limbs be significantly non-human?
Of course, as long as it provides no advantages in combat. Simulacra don't need to be all that humanoid in appearance. If you'd like to style yours after a Star Wars droid or something like that, feel free to do so.

What do you mean when you say 'the object-head can be anything human head-sized, or a smaller object that is scaled up, but not a large object scaled down'?
Scale models or derivatives of larger objects cannot be used. For example, your Simulacrum's head can't be an RC car, a battleship replica, a roomba, etc.

Can my Simulacrum's head be something with a screen? Or can only the eyes be replaced by a sort of visor-like screen? What would it show?
Yes, you can do these things. The screen will replace the Simulacrum's face, and can make rudimentary displays to convey emotion, like single words, simple pixel pictographs, flashing colors, or emoticons and emoji.

Can my Simulacrum have a robot animal head, for a creepy mascot animatronic aesthetic?
This would be fine within limits! In short, it depends on how far you take this design decision. A Simulacrum must remain clearly a Simulacrum and not imitate other monster types; you couldn't have something that could be mistaken for a robotic werewolf, for example. But a robotic mascot type head, on a visibly-Simulacrum body with inner parts visible through decaying synthetic fur, would be completely fine.

Apart from the lowlight vision, if a Simulacrum has cybernetic eyes, does this change the way they see the world?
This is up to the player! Vision may not improve or be enhanced by monster changes, beyond what is listed as a change in the bestiary. However, vision may stay the same (despite unusual "eyes") or be negatively impacted, if a player so wishes!

Can Simulacra have detachable limbs?
While a Simulacrum can detach their limbs, they will stop functioning until they are reconnected to their body.

What about a detachable head?
Not that one, we're afraid. Removing a Simulacrum's head will kill them.

Can parts be retractable?
Yes, it would be perfectly fine to have retractable limbs.

Can a Simulacrum's feeding cables be prehensile, and if so, how strong can they be?
A simulacrum can have prehensile feeding cables! They have the strength of one finger, much like most additional prehensile limbs.

How long can the feeding cables be?
No longer than 20 feet.

Can the feeding cables come out of their mouth?
Absolutely, go for it!

Since the vital signs monitor can also display "useless information like the weather or time", could it work a bit like a primitive smartphone home screen? Can it have screensavers?
Yes, of course. You can choose whatever useless information and functions you'd like. Just remember, it can't be a touch screen monitor and the emphasis is on 'useless'.

You said no machine guns, but what about smaller weapons as part of their body? Power tools, razor blades, etc.? What about a swiss army knife with several tools?
Weapons like that should be fine, even up to simple motors and electrocuting a part of yourself; as long as it's for the aesthetic and not a blatant attempt at power-gaming, we'd like to encourage our Simulacrum's design choices. For the record, combustive/ignition weapons (such as guns, bombs, etc.) are prohibited across the board.

When a Simulacrum gets hit with water or their second weakness, how long does it usually take for them to stop short-circuiting and return to normal?
We aren't enforcing any specific times for this; it's up to you! (Please keep it reasonable, though - no half-a-second recovery times. It should function as a genuine weakness!)

Just how impactful is that water weakness? Do Simulacra already start short-circuiting when drenched in heavy rain? Swimming is definitely out, right?
Simulacra are somewhat okay as long as water does not get beneath their body's surface. Think of it like a phone; you would not want to submerge your phone in water, would you? So swimming is probably out of the question, but a few droplets landing on your phone isn't necessarily a problem yet. A Simulacrum caught in the rain would likely feel uncomfortable at the very least, and a heavy rain would carry significant risk of the water damaging their innards. However, it is also up to player discretion. If you want the rain to be very damaging to the Simulacrum, that's fine!

Since fluids are a weakness, would thicker substances like syrup or molasses also cause nasty short circuits?
That is up to you!

Will electricity stun a Simulacrum?
That is also up to you. Either way, Simulacra don't have an immunity to electricity, so it would hurt them regardless.

Can a Simulacrum go to a robot tech for repairs outside of waiting for the fog to heal them?
Humans and monsters don't know enough about Simulacra's mysterious inner workings to do anything bigger than minor patch repairs. For minor repairs like soldering a loose wire back into place, this would be fine. Any major wounds or part replacements would require the fog to heal. A good guideline is to think of Simulacrum injuries as analogous to flesh wounds. If a “wound” or injury can be easily patched up with basic medical attention, then go for it! If a Simulacrum is suffering from a deep gash, limb loss, or something of a similar magnitude, then it will take time and fog to heal.

Can Simulacra have mechanisms that involve manufacturing and dispensing candy or food?
This is absolutely fine! Ingredients need to be manually replenished in whatever gross way your heart desires.

Can Simulacra have a small incinerator inside them to act as a stomach?
Also absolutely fine!

[crazyequalsgenius]

Me again... How well can the mandatory voice box mimic human speech?

[ryslighelpers]

This is up to player discretion. However, the mechanical nature of the voice will always be apparent to some degree - the Simulacrum cannot sound exactly like a living person.
Please also bear in mind that mechanical functionality is limited to technology from the 1980s or earlier, which means that analogue sound distortions such as static or tinniness are very likely.

[crazyequalsgenius]

Thank you! Could the box work like, say, a variable-speed voice changer, to modulate pitch? Nothing as fancy as auto-tune, I'm thinking more along the lines of Dave Seville chipmunks/deeper voice stuff for comedic value.

[ryslighelpers]

Pitch shift technology already existed in the 80s, so a Simulacrum's voice box could make use of that if the player wants it to.

[endlesspastability]

QUESTIONS:

1) Are Zoids acceptable travel forms? They were released in the US in 1982 c:
2) If Sonic's lil toy robot form has wings/jets, can he fly in travel form thanks to his Mana boon?
3) No real bullets or lasers... but could he shoot silly little plastic action figure bolts?

[ryslighelpers]

ANSWERS:

1) Yep, Zoids are acceptable!
2) Travel and Stealth forms both retain a character's reward abilities (Mana purchases and god boons), so players are free to incorporate those into their little guy designs. Enjoy!
3) This would be allowed, but the plastic bolts would work just as they would in an actual toy. This means the character can only hold as many bolts as the actual toy can hold, and reloading needs to be done manually. (So if a Zoid can only hold one plastic bolt at a time, Sonic can only slot one of them into his Travel form and after firing, would need to find a way to reload himself.)

[endlesspastability]

Oh the bolt is absolutely just for comedic effect, so having to go grab it and reload it is perfect.

ADDITIONAL QUESTION: I am thinking of changing Sonic's design a little after the Modern Prometheus event -- would floating ears be alright? As in just floating about an inch off the top of his head. They're still "attached" and if someone pulls them off they'll be broken, just like any other piece of him. It's really just an aesthetic change (and I may not end up doing it, jury is still out on redesign or not)

[ryslighelpers]

This would be fine, as long as the technology is appropriate to Ryslig's era - so, Sonic's ears moving with magnets and a gyroscope (like BB8) would be fine!

[steeped_in_horror]

Question- I have a character that deals with basically recording supernatural stories on tape cassettes. Would it be possible for the character to have those recorded stories with him if he so happens to become a Simulacra? There will not be any added benefits to the tapes themselves besides being super creepy and not always in his true voice. Or would he only be able to have the stories that he personally recorded?

[ryslighelpers]

Hello there!

Unfortunately, cassette tapes recorded prior to this character's arrival in Ryslig would not come with him wholesale. If he has a reason to have one or two in his pocket at his canonpoint, we would allow that, but not more. As a simulacrum, he would not have the prior tapes as part of him, though it is certainly possible for a simulacrum to be part tape recorder and have a tape player as a component. The tapes could also be bought with activity rewards later as a Mana purchase.

We hope this helps!