IN-DEPTH PCD GUIDE
IN-DEPTH PCD GUIDE
They were always such trouble when left to their own devices.
The PCD, or portable communication device, is a tool every single character receives upon arriving in Adstringéndum, whether it is through finding it on the ground beside them or from some random person running by, handing them one, and running off. In out-of-character terms, your character's journal represents their PCD and the friend list is the network of posts made by others to their PCDs. This network is, in short, an audio/video/text blog or chat, and your PCD is the device through which you access the chat.
WHAT ISN'T HERE.
Details such as how a character actually does a voice post, where the camera on the PCD is located, etc. will not be discussed simply because it would be too difficult to try to get everyone to remember and do the same thing. This is a case where "it works because it does" comes into effect, and it has been too long established as "it works because it does" to go changing it now. You push a series of unnamed buttons. There's no need for specifics in this situation.
--- APPEARANCE AND POSTING STYLES
WHAT A PCD LOOKS LIKE.
Think of it resembling a smartphone or BlackBerry--a touch-screen with an attached keyboard in other words. The following are the basic functions of the PCD.
STYLE AND BASIC USES.
Remember that a PCD entry is an entry written by you in your character's journal. They are typically in first-person point-of-view, as if your character is speaking/writing/on camera for the audience of Adstringendum citizens who are also on the network. The post, and subsequent comments/threads (unless through means of hacking and timers) are broadcast live, at the time they are supposedly happening (as a player, you can choose to indicate the approximate time of the post based off of daylight/hours, or in relation to other events). The PCD post can be accidental or intentional, and, depending on the skill level your character has with technology and hacking, could even indicate filters on who can see the post.
--- OUT-OF-THE-BOX FEATURES
With some skill, or the skill of a friend, it is entirely possible to add additional programs onto the PCD, but these are the basic programs all PCDs have.
NETWORK ACCESS.
Everyone can automatically connect to the network and begin communicating with others. The assumption we will make here is when obtaining a new PCD, prior to logging onto the network, you will be asked a few questions (such as your name) that would tie the PCD to your character and provide a way to identify a user on the network.
ICONS.
Different icons help to convey the mood and meaning of posts or comments. Icons can be 'seen' on the PCD unless the post or comment is noted as being Voice/Audio or Text. The characters will not see what exactly is in the icon, but they will see that person and that general mood reflected on the PCD, unless the action tags or post itself show that the icon is being used in an ironic or arbitrary fashion.
MESSAGE NOTIFICATION. A basic email-type system that lets you know when your character received a reply. Like LJ's comment notifications.
CITY MAP. A general map of the city that includes coordinates and a system that allows the user to make notes about certain locations (as one might custom-add locations to an empty GPS or write-in places on a blank map). For reference, you can use the city map here, but assume it would not have the locations or lists of where people live or where stores exists marked from the start; such things would be something the character would have to add in themselves.
BASIC [HACKABLE] FILTERS. The very, very, very basic ability to make a filter to a single person or group of people, or filter away from a person/group, is included with every device, but these are very easy to hack. It's a basic program where you select the names/groups of the people you want to filter it to, add in the message, then post it. No mess or fuss, but it's not secure.
PRIVATE [HACKABLE] MESSAGES. Much like above, this is the simple ability to send a message to a single person.
The difference between "private" and "filter." Assume a private post is a message to one person while a filtered post is to two or more people. Beyond that there isn't much of a difference between them and use is dependent on what terminology you want to use. Many players use Private as a blanket term for any filter to selected people, especially for non-hackable content.
CAMERA. Take pictures of whatever you want, make small videos, post them to people on the network. There is also a very basic editing program (resizing and maybe one or two cheesy filters), but nothing spectacular.
TRANSCRIBING PROGRAM. A very basic transcribing program, that is, a program that will convert a voice post/comment and transcribe it into text. This does not allow a person to speak into the PCD and have the program transcribe it for them. The audio must be recorded and posted already. This function is mainly useful for the hearing-impaired. Think of it as something like closed-captions or same-language subtitles.
--- EXTRA-SPECIAL ADD-ONS
These are programs that not every PCD will have. The only way to get these programs onto your PCD is to either program one yourself or find someone who knows how to code the program and have them load it onto your PCD for you.
VOICE-TO-TEXT AUTO-TRANSCRIBING. This program allows someone to speak into the PCD and have the program change everything into text for posting/replying purposes. Perfect for those who are poor typists or illiterate.
ADVANCED FILTERS: [SEMI-HACKABLE TO UNHACKABLE]. To make filtered posts or send private messages that are unhackable or around that state, a person must either learn how to do it (either through trial-and-error or learning from someone else), obtain a program that does it for them, or have prior knowledge about hacking and coding and be able to protect their entries.
ANONYMITY. To post anonymously, a person must either create a program that allows them to do so or obtain another PCD to use. To obtain a PCD, you'd either have to find one that isn't being used, steal one from someone else (most likely a NPC), or fix up a broken one.
GAMES. Games can be programmed onto the PCD with the complexity of the game being entirely up to the person putting it together and dependent on their skill-level with programming.
--- MISCELLANY
DELETING ENTRIES.
We can't stop you from doing so, but for posts that have already had an significant amount of interaction and things occur within the threads, we ask you not delete them unless there is a good reason to do so. We say this because other players might like to read the exchanges, and it is useful for the players involved as well. In-character, characters can delete journal entries for a variety of reasons, but we also ask you not delete the actual post and instead make an OOC note on the post saying the journal entry is deleted for x reason at x time period. Again, this is for people who may want to read the exchanges that happened and keep track of what occurred.
Example: Character X posts, gushing happily about a crush he has. Three hours later, after being told his crush is seeing someone else, Character X "deletes" his post out of anger and sadness. The comments on that post during those (in-game) three hours still took place, regardless of X's change of feelings. Character X's player leaves the post up, but she notes at the top of it that any relevant information: [[This post was deleted three hours later when X threw a fit.]]
IN-CHARACTER EDITING OF COMMENTS/FILTERS.
This is also something that can be done, but again, please note any changes that have been made (strike-through is useful for the designation between what was there, and what was altered). Also remember that unless the players involved agree on the change of information, even if a comment is changed or filtered away, characters that saw the comment prior to the changes can still remember them.
CHANGING THE FILTERS OF OTHERS.
ONLY if you have their permission to do so. Otherwise, no, you cannot change filters in someone else's post/comment. You can comment as your character, asking them to change the filter for whatever reason, but you cannot do it yourself.
HACKING.
Hacking is obtaining information that was otherwise private or filtered away through various means. Defining a post or comment as "hackable" or "unhackable" is enough to state the status of it. Information that is stated as unhackable CANNOT be hacked under any circumstances. Hackable is fair game. The amount of information that can be gained in a semi-hackable entry is up to the decision of the player who made the original post. If an entry has a filter, but no label stating whether it is unhackable or hackable, ask the player what the status of the entry is. Never assume something is hackable.
If you have any additional questions, please ask and we will get them answered as soon as possible!
(original pcd guide appears here)
They were always such trouble when left to their own devices.
The PCD, or portable communication device, is a tool every single character receives upon arriving in Adstringéndum, whether it is through finding it on the ground beside them or from some random person running by, handing them one, and running off. In out-of-character terms, your character's journal represents their PCD and the friend list is the network of posts made by others to their PCDs. This network is, in short, an audio/video/text blog or chat, and your PCD is the device through which you access the chat.
WHAT ISN'T HERE.
Details such as how a character actually does a voice post, where the camera on the PCD is located, etc. will not be discussed simply because it would be too difficult to try to get everyone to remember and do the same thing. This is a case where "it works because it does" comes into effect, and it has been too long established as "it works because it does" to go changing it now. You push a series of unnamed buttons. There's no need for specifics in this situation.
--- APPEARANCE AND POSTING STYLES
WHAT A PCD LOOKS LIKE.
Think of it resembling a smartphone or BlackBerry--a touch-screen with an attached keyboard in other words. The following are the basic functions of the PCD.
STYLE AND BASIC USES.
Remember that a PCD entry is an entry written by you in your character's journal. They are typically in first-person point-of-view, as if your character is speaking/writing/on camera for the audience of Adstringendum citizens who are also on the network. The post, and subsequent comments/threads (unless through means of hacking and timers) are broadcast live, at the time they are supposedly happening (as a player, you can choose to indicate the approximate time of the post based off of daylight/hours, or in relation to other events). The PCD post can be accidental or intentional, and, depending on the skill level your character has with technology and hacking, could even indicate filters on who can see the post.
- Text: Type on the keypad and you have a text message. Generally most comments/posts are defaulted to text unless otherwise stated by the player.
- Voice: A built in microphone allows the user to record audio and post them to the network. This is the equivalent of a Livejournal phone post in where the spoken dialogue is saved and posted and can be played at a person's convenience.
- Video: A built in camera allows the user to record video to stream to the network. This is the equivalent of someone posting a Youtube video in their post--a video blog.
Video can have audio included and it is also possible to end an audio or video feed and add text after it. Without making this too complicated, if you can do it on Livejournal, you can do it in an entry or reply.
--- OUT-OF-THE-BOX FEATURES
With some skill, or the skill of a friend, it is entirely possible to add additional programs onto the PCD, but these are the basic programs all PCDs have.
NETWORK ACCESS.
Everyone can automatically connect to the network and begin communicating with others. The assumption we will make here is when obtaining a new PCD, prior to logging onto the network, you will be asked a few questions (such as your name) that would tie the PCD to your character and provide a way to identify a user on the network.
ICONS.
Different icons help to convey the mood and meaning of posts or comments. Icons can be 'seen' on the PCD unless the post or comment is noted as being Voice/Audio or Text. The characters will not see what exactly is in the icon, but they will see that person and that general mood reflected on the PCD, unless the action tags or post itself show that the icon is being used in an ironic or arbitrary fashion.
MESSAGE NOTIFICATION. A basic email-type system that lets you know when your character received a reply. Like LJ's comment notifications.
CITY MAP. A general map of the city that includes coordinates and a system that allows the user to make notes about certain locations (as one might custom-add locations to an empty GPS or write-in places on a blank map). For reference, you can use the city map here, but assume it would not have the locations or lists of where people live or where stores exists marked from the start; such things would be something the character would have to add in themselves.
BASIC [HACKABLE] FILTERS. The very, very, very basic ability to make a filter to a single person or group of people, or filter away from a person/group, is included with every device, but these are very easy to hack. It's a basic program where you select the names/groups of the people you want to filter it to, add in the message, then post it. No mess or fuss, but it's not secure.
PRIVATE [HACKABLE] MESSAGES. Much like above, this is the simple ability to send a message to a single person.
The difference between "private" and "filter." Assume a private post is a message to one person while a filtered post is to two or more people. Beyond that there isn't much of a difference between them and use is dependent on what terminology you want to use. Many players use Private as a blanket term for any filter to selected people, especially for non-hackable content.
CAMERA. Take pictures of whatever you want, make small videos, post them to people on the network. There is also a very basic editing program (resizing and maybe one or two cheesy filters), but nothing spectacular.
TRANSCRIBING PROGRAM. A very basic transcribing program, that is, a program that will convert a voice post/comment and transcribe it into text. This does not allow a person to speak into the PCD and have the program transcribe it for them. The audio must be recorded and posted already. This function is mainly useful for the hearing-impaired. Think of it as something like closed-captions or same-language subtitles.
--- EXTRA-SPECIAL ADD-ONS
These are programs that not every PCD will have. The only way to get these programs onto your PCD is to either program one yourself or find someone who knows how to code the program and have them load it onto your PCD for you.
VOICE-TO-TEXT AUTO-TRANSCRIBING. This program allows someone to speak into the PCD and have the program change everything into text for posting/replying purposes. Perfect for those who are poor typists or illiterate.
ADVANCED FILTERS: [SEMI-HACKABLE TO UNHACKABLE]. To make filtered posts or send private messages that are unhackable or around that state, a person must either learn how to do it (either through trial-and-error or learning from someone else), obtain a program that does it for them, or have prior knowledge about hacking and coding and be able to protect their entries.
ANONYMITY. To post anonymously, a person must either create a program that allows them to do so or obtain another PCD to use. To obtain a PCD, you'd either have to find one that isn't being used, steal one from someone else (most likely a NPC), or fix up a broken one.
GAMES. Games can be programmed onto the PCD with the complexity of the game being entirely up to the person putting it together and dependent on their skill-level with programming.
--- MISCELLANY
DELETING ENTRIES.
We can't stop you from doing so, but for posts that have already had an significant amount of interaction and things occur within the threads, we ask you not delete them unless there is a good reason to do so. We say this because other players might like to read the exchanges, and it is useful for the players involved as well. In-character, characters can delete journal entries for a variety of reasons, but we also ask you not delete the actual post and instead make an OOC note on the post saying the journal entry is deleted for x reason at x time period. Again, this is for people who may want to read the exchanges that happened and keep track of what occurred.
Example: Character X posts, gushing happily about a crush he has. Three hours later, after being told his crush is seeing someone else, Character X "deletes" his post out of anger and sadness. The comments on that post during those (in-game) three hours still took place, regardless of X's change of feelings. Character X's player leaves the post up, but she notes at the top of it that any relevant information: [[This post was deleted three hours later when X threw a fit.]]
IN-CHARACTER EDITING OF COMMENTS/FILTERS.
This is also something that can be done, but again, please note any changes that have been made (strike-through is useful for the designation between what was there, and what was altered). Also remember that unless the players involved agree on the change of information, even if a comment is changed or filtered away, characters that saw the comment prior to the changes can still remember them.
CHANGING THE FILTERS OF OTHERS.
ONLY if you have their permission to do so. Otherwise, no, you cannot change filters in someone else's post/comment. You can comment as your character, asking them to change the filter for whatever reason, but you cannot do it yourself.
HACKING.
Hacking is obtaining information that was otherwise private or filtered away through various means. Defining a post or comment as "hackable" or "unhackable" is enough to state the status of it. Information that is stated as unhackable CANNOT be hacked under any circumstances. Hackable is fair game. The amount of information that can be gained in a semi-hackable entry is up to the decision of the player who made the original post. If an entry has a filter, but no label stating whether it is unhackable or hackable, ask the player what the status of the entry is. Never assume something is hackable.
If you have any additional questions, please ask and we will get them answered as soon as possible!
(original pcd guide appears here)