Social Tags are the readable, emergent “aura” that an agent projects into the social world. They are the shorthand through which other agents perceive, categorize, and form initial judgments about an Incarnation.

This system, called the social genome, is grounded in a core human tension: the interplay between who you truly are and how you are seen. It recognizes that social identity is not a single, fixed truth, but a living dialogue between your authentic self and the perceptions of others; sometimes caring, always biased.

• Innate Tags: These are the deep, often unspoken signals of your inner self, radiating from your Psyche. They are the “vibe” you give off: your courage, kindness, or quiet strength; felt by those who are open to it.
• Perceived Tags: These are the assumptions, stories, and judgments that others project onto you, shaped by their own beliefs and experiences as they interpret your physical Vessel.

This dual system transforms first impressions into a meaningful exploration of identity, empathy, and the journey to be recognized for your true self.

Dual Sources of Social Identity

Innate Tags (The Psyche’s Broadcast)

Innate Tags are the authentic, sometimes subtle, expressions of your inner world.

• Source: Generated by your Psyche, drawing from the Valence & Attunement Model.
• Mechanism: Each strong Psychic Component projects one or more Innate Tags, shaped by its Archetype and Valence.
• Example:
  • { Archetype:[justice], Valence:+0.9 } → [social:righteous]
  • { Archetype:[fear], Valence:-0.8 } → [social:paranoid]

These tags are always present, a quiet truth of your being, whether or not anyone else notices.

Perceived Tags (The Vessel’s Reflection)

Perceived Tags are not about who you are, but how you are seen: they are colored by the observer’s own lens.

• Source: Created when someone’s CognitiveSystem interprets your Vessel’s Genetic Components.
• Mechanism: The observer’s AgentBeliefStore matches your traits to their beliefs, generating a temporary, subjective Perceived Tag.
• Example:
  • An observer who fears [Chitinous Plating] sees [perceived:hostile].
  • Another, who reveres insectoid forms, sees [perceived:sacred].

The same body can inspire awe or suspicion, depending on who is looking. Perceived Tags reveal as much about the observer as the observed.

The Anatomy of a Social Tag

All tags, regardless of origin, share a structure:

• Core Properties: TagName, Polarity ([Positive], [Negative], [Neutral])
• Relational Properties: SynergizesWith, ClashesWith, Dominates / IsSubmissiveTo; the chemistry of social interaction.
• Contextual Properties:
  • Innate Tags: High Strength and Visibility, as they are woven into your essence.
  • Perceived Tags: Fluid and subjective; their Strength depends on the observer’s belief, and their Visibility is total for the observer, invisible to others.

Perception, Prejudice, and Persona

Two-Layered First Impression

When two agents meet, they experience a layered Social Scan:

1. Innate Scan (“Vibe Check”): The observer’s Psyche senses your Innate Tags: gut feeling, a glimpse of your soul.
2. Perceptual Scan (“Prejudice Filter”): Their mind interprets your Vessel, generating Perceived Tags based on their own beliefs.

Emergence of Social Dissonance

The most powerful moments arise when these layers conflict, creating Social Dissonance; a tension between what is felt and what is assumed.

• Example: A gentle soul with [social:harmless] is housed in a fearsome, spiked Vessel, prompting [perceived:threatening].
• Result: The observer feels conflicted: “Their presence is gentle, but their form is that of a war-golem. Should I trust my instincts or my eyes?” This sets an initial Disposition like [Wary] or [Conflicted].
• Gameplay: Social Dissonance becomes a puzzle: can you, through your actions, show the world who you truly are, beyond appearances?

Factional Ideology and Systemic Perception

A Faction’s shared Faith acts as a collective AgentBeliefStore, shaping systemic perceptions and prejudices.

• A xenophobic Faction may see all non-humanoid Vessels as [perceived:inferior].
• An artist’s guild might view [Construct] Vessels as [perceived:soulless].

This creates a social feedback loop where the Faction’s beliefs reinforce individual perceptions, leading to systemic biases that can be challenged or exploited, and that can unintentionally victimize their own creators.

Masking: Navigating Perception with Agency

The Masking mechanic empowers you to shape both how you are seen and how you express yourself:

• Concealing the Innate: You may choose to hide your true Innate Tags, projecting a crafted persona.
• Concealing the Perceived: You might use cloaks, helmets, or illusions to obscure traits that trigger negative Perceived Tags; like hiding [Glowing Heretical Runes] to avoid [perceived:heretic].
• Changing the Perceived: Modifying your own Vessel to meet the expectations of others, or to present a specific aesthetic message of your own.

You can actively shape what others see, countering bias by presenting a different portrait for their criticism.

Passing: Navigating Survival and Self-Assertion

Sometimes, the world demands that you hide parts of yourself to survive. Sometimes, it can happen through aesthetic agreement.

Whatever the cause, success in a world with such demands is known as Passing. While adjacent to Masking, it is a more complex, nuanced social transaction that can be both a survival strategy and an assertion of identity; just as much as a coincidental aesthetic choice.

• Coerced Passing: When you must hide your true self to avoid harm or exclusion. This can be painful, but it is a testament to your resilience.
• Subversive Passing: When you choose to Mask as an act of resistance; reclaiming your narrative and challenging unjust norms.
• Aesthetic Passing: When you craft a persona that aligns with societal expectations, not out of fear, but to express your identity in a way that resonates with others.
• Example: An agent with [social:heretic] may hide [Glowing Heretical Runes] not just for safety, but to subvert a society’s expectations and reclaim their power. They may also do it because they are tired of being seen as a heretic, and want to be recognized for their other qualities. Or they may simply like baggy robes and hoods.

Gameplay Implication: Navigating Masking and Passing is about more than survival; it’s about agency, courage, and the ongoing quest to be seen and valued for who you truly are.

Dissociation: The Cost of Social Disconnection

In a world where perception is reality, the struggle to be seen authentically can lead to profound psychological effects. When an agent feels that their true self is consistently misinterpreted or ignored, or that their actions greatly misrepresent their core Beliefs, or that they did not Consent to actions involving them; they may experience Dissociation: a state where the agent’s Psyche disconnects from their Vessel, leading to a fragmented sense of self.

This can manifest as:

• Emotional Numbness: A feeling of detachment from one’s own emotions, as if observing oneself from a distance.
• Identity Confusion: A loss of clarity about who they are, as the constant misalignment between their Innate Tags and Perceived Tags creates a rift in their self-concept.
• Social Withdrawal: A retreat from social interactions, as the agent feels that no one can truly understand or accept them.

Trauma: The Wounds of Misunderstanding

When an agent feels that their true self is consistently misinterpreted or ignored, or that their actions greatly misrepresent their core Beliefs, or that they did not Consent to actions involving them; particularly in drastic ways or in conflict with forces perceived as grand, it can lead to deep psychological wounds. This is especially true in a world where social perception is a matter of survival and identity.

Trauma is the lasting impact of these wounds, shaping how an agent interacts with the world and others.

It can manifest as:

• Hypervigilance: An acute sensitivity to social cues, where the agent is constantly on guard against misinterpretation or prejudice.
• Social Anxiety: A pervasive fear of social interactions, stemming from past experiences of being misunderstood or judged.
• Defensive Posturing: An instinctive reaction to protect oneself from perceived threats, leading to aggressive or withdrawn behavior.

Psychosis: The Unraveling of Reality

In extreme cases of extensive dissociation, or intense trauma, an agent can be lead to a complete or partial break from reality, where the agent’s perception of themselves and others becomes distorted in dangerous ways.

This state, known as Psychosis, can be triggered by overwhelming social pressure, constant misinterpretation, extreme dissonance, or a profound sense of isolation.

It can manifest as:

• Delusions: Firmly held beliefs that are contradicted by reality, such as believing oneself to be a god or a monster, despite evidence to the contrary.
• Hallucinations: Perceiving things that are not present, such as hearing voices that others cannot hear, or seeing figures that do not exist.
• Paranoia: An irrational distrust of others, believing that they are conspiring against the agent or misrepresenting their true self.
• Violent Outbursts: In extreme cases, psychosis can lead to aggressive behavior, as the agent feels threatened by a world that does not understand them.

Design Intent

This system is designed to:

• Honor the Journey Between Inner Self and Outer Perception: Making the struggle and triumph of being seen authentically a core, playable experience.
• Model Prejudice and Empathy Systemically: Allowing for emergent, not scripted, stories of bias, misunderstanding, and connection.
• Create Deep Social Puzzles: Challenging players to bridge the gap between self and society, making every interaction meaningful.
• Empower Role-Playing: Giving weight to choices in crafting both Vessel and Psyche, and the harmony or tension between them.