Dev Logs: Ark Norn Project (Part 1)

GOAL:

Make a base genome specifically sourced from a wolfling run done on the original C3 Ark with as few edits to the Ark as possible. No changes will be made outside of a few community patches. This means no modified elevator setups, no new/broken CA links or doorways (exception - anything that leads to the Capillata), no additional rooms/room extensions, etc. The process will be very specific: ALL genes will be set to never be cut, deleted, OR able to mutate. In theory, this should ensure that all successes are due to containing the "right blend" of these genomes. Each starting genome will be color-coded with in-built pigment mutations to make identification easier. "Improving" the final result can wait. The point is to make a foundation, and appropriate edits can be made later. Unless this totally fails, splicing will also be avoided.

WORLD INFO: 

Name: Ark Norn Project
Type: DS (Docked)
Additional Metarooms:

• None

Mobility Options:

• Walking

Other Features:

• Egg collecting and timed hatching setup
• Population Control Panel
• Autovocab

STARTING GENOMES:

• norn.aquakitty-pixie.LDC.gen
• norn.bruin.cfe.gizmo.LDC.gen
• norn.bruin.qolv18-LDC.gen
• norn.chichi.2017.LDC.gen
• norn.chichi.cfe.LDC.gen
• norn.chichi.cff.LDC.gen
• norn.chichi.enhanced.LDC.gen
• norn.chichi.gizmo.LDC.gen
• norn.chichi.intell.LDC.gen
• norn.chichi.ras.LDC.gen
• norn.chichi.standard.ra.24.LDC.gen
• norn.chichi06.ex47.LDC.gen
• norn.cs.bruin.hardy.LDC.gen
• norn.neorec.csqol.v15.LDC.gen
• norn.ras.expandedcombolobe.LDC.gen
• norn.rashaen.psychofuzz.LDC.gen
• norn.twb.v4beta.LDC.gen

DEV LOGS:

Session 1:

- It's time to start! I'm going to inject 2 males and 2 females of each genome. It's gonna start a little overpopulated honestly, but it'll probably whittle away pretty fast, knowing the Ark....

- WELL NOW,  THAT WAS A FANTASTICALLY GRIM START? I'll have to, uh, see if that TWB V4 genome is .. .. . . compromised somehow?

CATASTROPHIC TWB STILLBIRTH FAILURE

-  Uh, well, while the baby swarm begins to disperse, it gives me time to write about the reason I don't just stabilize a bunch of these genomes before the run. I legitimately want to allow nature to decide which combinations are most compatible with each other. I do still think at the core of things that more "default" genomes get neglected sometimes, so I'd like to return to trying to make an improvement that isn't in outright opposition to the originals. If I want to make something really built up and different on my own time, that's fine, but that's not what this project is for.

-  The deaths have begun!! THOSE WHO DO NOT LEAVE THE HALLOWED HALLS OF THE ARK SHALL BE DOOMED TO WANDER THEM AS A GHOST.

-  I'm happy to say that more and more pilgrims are arriving in greener pastures! Better than the halls, that's for sure. Now, I consider this hallway from the norn terrarium entrance to the lift that goes into the main "garden" area to be another death trap if a creature can't quite detect the way out over that distance. It takes a combination of a good sense of smell, the ability to concentrate on what matters most (eating when you're starving to death), and the capacity to use the elevator correctly. I have my issues with the way the Ark is designed on the whole because I don't honestly think that it's very well put together for how creatures actually see, smell, etc, but I do want to see if something arises that can handle this place okay without much help. The odds are against them, and I know that.

A first step to survival.

This is Totally Expected

- I've found myself at a funny crossroads here. There are some norns that are still in the hallway, but I know for a fact they can't have eaten once in their lives because I never saw them leave. I'm trying to figure out if I'll HAVE to intervene and export those or not to ensure I don't get anything that just "outlasts" the competition...

HEY. Are you cheating?

-  I'll keep an eye on the above issue, but I may not need to intervene. The deaths have really been rolling in in grim waves. It's sad, but I'm happy to see it because it makes me feel absolutely validated that the Ark is horrible lol.

- We are down to 16 creatures from well over 60! Horrible plague of starvation and woe!! 13 Now!

Pushes buttons all day, leaves to get food and enrichment, goes back to pushing buttons. Day Job Hell World, but apparently it's keeping her alive just fine!

-  Since we're down to such a small number from the start, I'm going to take tabs on what genomes have made it to this point and how many of each.

- I was actually making a spreadsheet of who's left so far, but two more just died right after I finished, so we're now left with 8. Looking pretty grim, honestly. I'll do the new tally.

Well, this says a lot about the Ark.

- So far, Aquakitty is KILLING IT. I have to check for "unfair"/"cheaty" mutations, but this is still excellent performance here. It's really cool to see. I'm also happy anything else has made it this far. I'm just hoping they breed. This means I can FINALLY put the world on speed-up and hang in there until something makes offspring.

Nooooo first Aquakitty death :C

-  That's it I'm teleporting all survivors to the Norn Terrarium this is bullhonkey.

Whatever. GO, MY NORNS.

-  After a LONG wait and fast ticks, and maybe a bit of blind faith, there's ACTUALLY been a pregnancy and a baby born!! I almost can't believe it because the wait took so long. He's mostly been sitting around so he may be a dud, but there's hope! This means there's hope.

IT HAPPENED. ATTA GIRL!

-  There is now next to no hope because two more norns just died in response to a single norn being born. This is terrible. And within minutes of the last sentence, we are down to 5 creatures. 4 are females. 1 is the obviously impaired baby. The run is over. As has become tradition, though, I'm making the survivors of this failed run available to download here.

Session 2: 

- Coming soon.

Session 3: 

-