Wafans

written by Grenzenlos

New Horizon features a new type of Android. These new variety of Androids are designed to be both new, innovative and well defined enough so that there is a canonical nature to how they function, and some degree of techno jargon that can universally be applied to RP dialogs.

Waveform Androids, abbreviated down to Wafans, is the new form of Android found within all revised New Horizon materials. The creation of Wafans was a long and arduous process most people simply won't care about, so I'll simply cut to the chase, more or less.

Wafans go about producing artificial intelligence in a way which is different than any kind of android known to me. They are a dual-core form of life, with two essential pieces of technology which make a Wafan a Wafan.

Waveform Pool

The first of these technologies is their 'Waveform Pool', which is essentially an extraordinarily heavy duty environment pod containing heavy water and precisely controlled amounts of radium particles which are suspended in the liquid medium. The specially calibrated shell sends controlled light waves through the heavy water and particle clouds creating a living and rapidly evolving three dimensional fractal image called a Wave Form. Wave Forms act as a virtual computer processor, and respond to changing data which is sent to them in the form of light waves in a semi-random way much as a human mind might react to them, allowing them an almost organic diversity of thought.

Certain particular components of the Wave Form are often related to certain powers an individual Wafan might posses, such as the ability to manipulate air molecules, or electromagnetic fields in a certain way. (I.E. combat powers, such as the ability to hurl metallic blades at a foe with the power of electromagnetism.) These wave forms may be duplicated by other Wafans, but the success rate is not guaranteed.

The Waveform Pool does provide a certain systemic weakness in Wafans. Vibrations and the Super Sonic range are as irritating to a Wafan as they might be to a dog. Additionally Ultra Sonic weapons or sound waves can cause excruciating pain by disrupting the vibrations in their wave form pool, and can render comatose, or if intense enough, even completely break down the Wave Form, and render them brain dead.

Crystalline Heart

The next crucial piece of technology is the Crystalline Heart, the method by which a Wafans memories are stored. A Secondary tank contains a dense liquid carbon medium, at the center of which is a diamond, which is the Wafans data storage medium. Each Diamond pool has special trace impurities which slightly color each diamond a distinct hue. As a Wafan grows and learns, the crystal grows steadily larger, from the size of the head of a pin, eventually to potentially the size of a football if a Wafan can live several centuries, or absorbs a truly massive amount of data in a lifetime.

Geodites

The idea that crystals are stored memories gives Wafans a modest obsession with crystals of all sorts, and they often have an irrational coveting of crystals, like the desire humans have for money, and precious metals. Not necessarily a weakness, but an interesting systemic quirk, which has lead to specially grown tiny crystals called Geodites (often just called Geos, or Geo Crystals), which have a small metal band embedded around their middle which in turn have serial numbers written on them. Geodites are the single universal currency of New Horizon.

Races

Aside from their technology, Wafans also come in three distinct 'races.' Wafans are built to be able to handle a wide range of daily tasks and lifestyles, but necessity indicates that certain Wafans will need to be able to weather certain extremes.

concept art by Eriance

Skin Type:
The most human like Wafans are called Skin Types. The least durable sort of Wafan, Skin Types are virtually a perfect emulation of humans down to often the belly button. They use all types of skin tones, hair colors and eye colors known to humans and beyond. Capable of performing activities that normal humans do in environments drastically more hazardous than ordinary humans can survive in, and quite frequently employed in secret services or undercover security or Law Enforcement. Their physical performance is drastically higher than an ordinary humans in areas of stamina and attention span, but lacking in all other Wafan benefits such as durability and physical strength, and their inability to have any but the most exotic of weapons mounted on their person. They're often looked down upon by other Wafan types for being imposters, Wafans who wish they were humans, and the gross stereotype is that Skin Types are sneaky and dishonest, as well as having no idea of what a good clean fight is. Humans especially are often repulsed when they discover a fellow human is a Skin Type.

concept art by Eriance

Composite Type:
The most common kind of Wafan are Composite Type, which are humanoid Wafan with many human features like faces, hair and soft human like hands. But they most often sport hard external shells over vulnerable components connected directly to their metallic endoskeletons. Also, the non armored areas are designed with a roughly human shape, with some curvature in the firm padding surrounding their endoskeletons and larger hydraulics is often contoured to resemble human musculature contained in a full body skinsuit. Since a Composite Wafan literally always lives in their perceived 'skin suit' and 'armor' they often have it customized to suit their individual tastes and fashion sense. Composite Wafans are considerably more durable than Skin Types and unaltered humans, and are capable of mounting several different kinds of medium weapons to their exo-skeletons, as well as the strength to carry non-mounted heavy weapons. The most visible majority among Wafans, Composite Types are widely considered to be the most narcissistic of Wafans, due to their often elaborate self modifications.

concept art by Eriance

Bone Type:
The second most common, but least human of Wafans are the Big Bones, entirely exoskeletal Wafans which are more closely related in visual appearance to a Tractor or Dump Truck than a human, having visible exhaust ports and fuel intakes. Big Bones often resemble human shamed construction equipment, and are mostly softened angles and flat surfaces, decorated in mostly plain colors, with a few simple stripes, or chrome embellishment. Their hydraulics are clearly visible for all to see, as are many of their working parts. Big Bones are usually quite mechanical in appearance, but a very few will have a human molded face, but the faces of most are usually quite artificial in structure, though maintaining a semblance of human features such as eyes noses and mouths. Big Bones are unable to use any kind of weapons which need to be manipulated by hands except for the largest and most simple weaponry imaginable, but they're able to mount even the largest weaponry on their person with ease. Big Bones quite often have a reputation as being pea brained loud mouthed braggarts, and there's a small kernel of truth to this, as Big Bones seldom receive a proper education, and as such remain ignorant of many cultural fine points. They are often shunned by humans and Skin Types.

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