Onyxarias

Also on this topic, the current Vox sprites actually make them physically larger, and easier to attack or interact with, than other races. It's minor enough, but really noticeable, especially once you have a Vox and any other race standing side-by-side. Dwarfism would bring them more in line with the other races in terms of clickable area.

Those have been my thoughts exactly. I enjoy playing Vox despite their mechanical drawbacks, simply because I find them fun to play as a race. But at the same time, I just wish for them to be brought up to speed with some of the other races, without giving them such a hug mechanical advantage that they would be THE race to play for anyone seeking to be the most mechanically powerful.

On the topic of the footsteps, I feel it would be a MUCH greater boon if Para had the footstep sounds/styles present on /tg/ based servers.

I agree with both of you, to be honest. What I had thrown up were some general ideas, and it's great to hear some feedback on them. The speed boost SHOULD be a temporary thing, locked to an ability like the Unathi tail-sweep. It fits the lore really well, and would allow a Vox to make a quick getaway if they need to, while keeping it balanced. As for the shock, yeah, full immunity is OP as skrek. I like the idea of having them merely be immune to the stun of it, while taking the burn damage.

Vox, for a long time now, have been an integrally unbalanced race. Back in the days of yesteryear, they had a feature removed that made them space proof, but...nothing else was changed to compensate for this loss. They still remain an unclonable race, same as the significantly more powerful Slimeperson race, and only retain very small plus sides compared to the race's immense downsides (bones that are easier to break, a 20% vulnerability to brute damage, relying on specialized internals, etc.). I'd like to put forward a few potential suggestions of features to add to the Vox, and to open discussion for other features and balance, to make them feel more unique as a 45 karma race, and to hopefully help balance them out compared to other comparable races. Here are two of the features that have been discussed in discussions I have been in: Making Vox Faster: Lorewise, Vox are a speedy race. They tend to avoid combat where possible, and will only fight if necessary. It would allow them to evade harm easier, and I don't feel it would make them any more powerful in combat, as the listed 20% Vulnerability to Brute damage remains, ensureing that any hits the opponent DOES land is more likely to cripple the Vox player in question. Another way this could be implemented, is in a speed-burst ability instead of a constant change, as per their lore page: "Despite their size, Primalis musculature is highly dense and capable of extremely powerful and rapid movement. Primalis physiology is ideal for sprinting and repetitive tasks, with experts surmising that the Armalis may be the predominant military force in Vox Society, while the Primalis seem engineered with labour in mind. Despite their engineered physiology, Primalis are still largely susceptible to the build-up of lactic acid in the muscles--rendering their often short bursts of speed little more than that, darting from task to task." Natural Shock Insulation: As described on the wiki, Vox Primalis have a tough, highly resistant outer layer, born of their intention of being the labour race for the Vox as a whole. Along with their natural gift for engineering and construction, it would therefore make sense that they would also have natural insulation due to the thick keratin scales that reinforce their skin. It would add an interesting feature to the race, while remaining not too powerful as too make them the ideal choice for powergaming players: gloves are easy enough to obtain if you know how, and traitors have simple, cheap access to combat gloves as it is. This thread is open for more topics of discussion, or suggestions that others may have to improve and change Vox to be a more interesting race, and to give them upsides to make up for the downsides they face.

First Name: Esforikakiti Last Name: N/A Gender: N/A, goes by they/them Orientation: N/A, they are a Vox Nicknames/Alias: Esfor Pictures: (Art by Octus/Tokorizo) Age/D.O.B: 18 years Place Of Birth: Vox Arkship "Refuge of Lost Souls Searching the Stars" Species: Vox Primalis Blood Type: A- Alignment: True Neutral. Esfor will do what they need to do, and try to protect themselves and those around them Affiliation: Employed by Nanotrasen, sold by their Arkship. Holds minor loyalty to the "Refuge" Religious Beliefs: Follows no spiritual beliefs, but feels that machines, especially ships, are as alive as they are. Childhood: Esforikakiti spent the entirety of their childhood aboard the Vox Arkship "Refuge of Lost Souls Searching the Stars", or just "Refuge". As vox society aboard this particular Ark was heavily stratified, Esfor was designated as one of the lowest aboard, and often found themselves fulfilling duties at the closest points to the outer hull, a dangerous place of metal and other Primalis much like them. They were trained for engineering from the moment they could wield a tool, and their small size allowed them to accomplish dangerous tasks that other vox could not, such as delving into reactor vents and weapons systems aboard the "Refuge" Adulthood: Unlike most Vox, Esfor never served aboard a raiding Skipjack, or found a place among a raiding crew. They were seen as too small and weak to accomplish anything, often ridiculed for this. Not long after they reached adulthood, their Arkship found a better use for them: Esfor was traded off to NT to be employed by the research megacorporation, in return for ship parts and weaponry needed by the "Refuge". While this might sound a bit rough for the Vox, they found relief in it, as they soon found a purpose in the engineering and maintenance teams of Nanotrasen, and eventually, others they could call friends. They continue to have trouble relating to other Vox, and is often made fun of for their short height, resulting in Esfor being rather quiet and immersed in their work. Detailed Information Appearance: Esfor is noticably short, even for a Vox, standing at a height of about 2'9". They are darkly colored throughout their form, with a dark grey body and long, spiny quills shaded a near-black. Their eyes stand out strikingly, a bright and intelligent blue, though these are often covered by the Meson scanners needed for their work. They are very rarely seen without two things: a Vox-customized welding helmet, regardless of work, a precaution in the mind of the paranoid Vox, accompanied by a faded wrap that hangs loosely over their shoulders, with a symbol barely visible on the lower part; the symbol of their Arkship, and the only thing they have from it. Character Voice: Esfor is soft spoken and not particularly talkative, and tend to speak Common better than the average Vox, a result of their training prior to being given over to NT. Personality: They are very quiet and withdrawn, sticking to their task more often then not. While they rarely engage with others, they do work well in a team, finding particular success in the Cyberiad's engineering department. They tend to get along a little better with the other Vox aboard the station, but even then, they are often seen rushing from one job to the other, always trying to stay busy, only take breaks in between work to enjoy their favorite food: vended noodles from the Mr. Chang vendors on board. Medical Record: Esfor does not have much of a medical record with NT, having not been employed for longer than a year. The only marked incident was the loss of their right foot during a catastrophic meteor storm, where they now sport a hastily made set of robotic talons. Character Biography Background: Almost entirely dedicated to engineering work aboard the Cyberiad, there are few who know the ins and outs of the station better than Esfor. Some crew report them talking to the station while working on repairs, showing what could be dedication, or mild insanity. Family: Doesn't really have anyone that they can call "Family". They have fond memories of a few Vox they left behind on the "Refuge", but other than that, no known relatives. History: Esforikakiti is what the Vox on-station refer to as a "Shinystack", used to describe a vox that has yet to have their stack moved from one body to the next, and as such, has only lived the one life, with a Stack age of 18 years. Faction Relations Allied | Love | Like | Neutral | Dislike | Hate | Enemy Nanotrasen: Neutral. Esfor was sold to them, and while they aren't technically paid for their work, they enjoy it well enough, and don't feel strongly about the company either way. Syndicate: Dislike. While Esfor can understand their goals, they think that they go about them entirely the wrong way, and regards how they operate as incredibly wasteful and reckless. USSP: Neutral. Esfor has had practically no contact with the Reds, and only knows little rumours from things crewmembers have said. SolGov: Dislike. Has similar feelings to them as they do to the Syndicate, especially to the stranglehold they keep on their holdings. Other Information Is VERY sensitive about their height, and often gets into disagreements with other Vox over it, leading Esfor to think they aren't really liked.