HAPPY WACKY FUN TIME

[Scarab]

We decide on a Key (256 character lenght, randomly generated), give it via PM to everyone active and on our side.
Whenever we post anything about the cabal, copy-paste to encode it and post the encoded version. ^^
Simple process. High level paranoia.

I have NO IDEA what any of that means, but it sounds easier than all this, can we try it?

[Qara-Xuan Zenith]

To be fair, these guys aren't exactly dummies. They will probably figure it out eventually. But yeah, for now, this seems like a good plan.

It's only meant to be a temporary measure anyhow. All we needed was to buy a little time for the moment.

Yare Yare... You people...
The way this thread is so far means it could be called "How to stab 101" and they would find nothing of use.
If you really want to go paranoid. Let's use a lesson we learned some time ago: Vigenere Cipher!

We decide on a Key (256 character lenght, randomly generated), give it via PM to everyone active and on our side.
Whenever we post anything about them, copy-paste to encode it and post the encoded version. ^^
Simple process. High level paranoia.

Good idea. But doesn't the key length only need to be the length of the alphabet itself?
Also, Pixel, please edit the sensitive terms out of your post. Our covertness doesn't help if they're doing a search for the name and find us here.

[Pixelmage]

an'j rka ruom zuih, wjrhoeds. Ayoa fnjx lbv xwi mcsg shu ckb'pr uhgx ks cv!

[Qara-Xuan Zenith]

an'j rka ruom zuih, wjrhoeds. Ayoa fnjx lbv xwi mcsg shu ckb'pr uhgx ks cv!

?
??
???
????
?????

[Pixelmage]

an'j rka ruom zuih, wjrhoeds. Ayoa fnjx lbv xwi mcsg shu ckb'pr uhgx ks cv!

?
??
???
????
?????

That's the whole point.
PM'd scarab the pass for that one.
But the key can be any lenght we want it to be. But it's best to have a random generate one. So there's no way to guess it.
Also, no need to worry about removing allegories from the text. While they make it crackeable, it'll still take way too long to crack a full discussion... and we can change keys by pm without warning.

[Scarab]

an'j rka ruom zuih, wjrhoeds. Ayoa fnjx lbv xwi mcsg shu ckb'pr uhgx ks cv!

?
??
???
????
?????

That's the whole point.
PM'd scarab the pass for that one.
But the key can be any lenght we want it to be. But it's best to have a random generate one. So there's no way to guess it.
Also, no need to worry about removing allegories from the text. While they make it crackeable, it'll still take way too long to crack a full discussion... and we can change keys by pm without warning.

Ohhh this is going to be fun with dyscalculia... gimme a sec I'll try and figure this thing out.

Edit.... No, it's one thirty am and I have no bloody clue what I'm doing, guys, help?

[Scarab]

Ohhh wait, no, I was pressing encode when I should've pressed DEcode. I got it now.

Okay that actually seems really simple... although I have no idea how to MAKE the key
Edit: yes I do. gain, embarrassingly simple.

[Pixelmage]

Ohhh wait, no, I was pressing encode when I should've pressed DEcode. I got it now.

Okay that actually seems really simple... although I have no idea how to MAKE the key

If we decide to go this route, I can generate one in seconds. ^^

[Pixelmage]

But before adopting that we shoud wait for some sort of general agreement... three of us (and sicon, complexity addiction draws complexity addiction!) alone won't really make it work. If most people are not willing to play that route we'll be hindering comunication.

[Scarab]

But before adopting that we shoud wait for some sort of general agreement... three of us (and sicon, complexity addiction draws complexity addiction!) alone won't really make it work. If most people are not willing to play that route we'll be hindering comunication.

Makes sense, everybody has to be using the same technique, and then there's the question of getting the codes to everyone...
We are just... like each other's complexity black holes, or something.

it's not that hard, actually. Just have the tab open and you're good to go!

[Pixelmage]

But before adopting that we shoud wait for some sort of general agreement... three of us (and sicon, complexity addiction draws complexity addiction!) alone won't really make it work. If most people are not willing to play that route we'll be hindering comunication.

Makes sense, everybody has to be using the same technique, and then there's the question of getting the codes to everyone...
We are just... like each other's complexity black holes, or something.

it's not that hard, actually. Just have the tab open and you're good to go!

Well. PM chains will get the job done quickly enough. But only for the people working on it. Not PMing every single registered user with it. Why give the key to a Spambot?!

Also, not EVERYTHING needs to be encoded. Only the planning and tweaking of the plan.
If you're going to say "ok, I agree", there's no point encoding it.

[Scarab]

Well. PM chains will get the job done quickly enough. But only for the people working on it. Not PMing every single registered user with it. Why give the key to a Spambot?!

Also, not EVERYTHING needs to be encoded. Only the planning and tweaking of the plan.
If you're going to say "ok, I agree", there's no point encoding it.

How's about a PM tree? Everyone sends to one specific person, until they reach the end of the list, then that last person gets whoeveer joins the forum next? It'd be like a phone tree, only not.

Urgh, there's gotta be an easier way to hide a code.

[Pixelmage]

Well. PM chains will get the job done quickly enough. But only for the people working on it. Not PMing every single registered user with it. Why give the key to a Spambot?!

Also, not EVERYTHING needs to be encoded. Only the planning and tweaking of the plan.
If you're going to say "ok, I agree", there's no point encoding it.

How's about a PM tree? Everyone sends to one specific person, until they reach the end of the list, then that last person gets whoeveer joins the forum next? It'd be like a phone tree, only not.

Urgh, there's gotta be an easier way to hide a code.

There is. Easier to use. Harder and way more complex to implement.

[Qara-Xuan Zenith]

Well. PM chains will get the job done quickly enough. But only for the people working on it. Not PMing every single registered user with it. Why give the key to a Spambot?!

Also, not EVERYTHING needs to be encoded. Only the planning and tweaking of the plan.
If you're going to say "ok, I agree", there's no point encoding it.

How's about a PM tree? Everyone sends to one specific person, until they reach the end of the list, then that last person gets whoeveer joins the forum next? It'd be like a phone tree, only not.

Urgh, there's gotta be an easier way to hide a code.

Problem with a PM tree is not everyone's checking regularly, which means all the people assigned to them don't get the memo.
Better idea: How about we just PM the code to anyone posting in this thread, or in whichever thread's discussion we want to continue more privately here?
And then we'll determine that on a case-by-case basis (but everyone who's been in the discussion up till now automatically gets on the list).

[Scarab]

There is. Easier to use. Harder and way more complex to implement.

What're you thinking?

roblem with a PM tree is not everyone's checking regularly, which means all the people assigned to them don't get the memo.
Better idea: How about we just PM the code to anyone posting in this thread, or in whichever thread's discussion we want to continue more privately here?

That SEEMS to make sense to me... still a lot of PMs though once word gets around.

[Qara-Xuan Zenith]

Not really, when you think about it:
Scenario: One of us wants to say something, so PMs everyone here plus the thread in question (you can PM everyone at once just by clicking on all their names in the "Select Member" part of the PM options).
We use that code for a day or two, then either the conversation dies, or one person sends out a new PM with a new code.

We'll just have to keep on top of our PMs.

[Pixelmage]

Problem with a PM tree is not everyone's checking regularly, which means all the people assigned to them don't get the memo.
Better idea: How about we just PM the code to anyone posting in this thread, or in whichever thread's discussion we want to continue more privately here?
And then we'll determine that on a case-by-case basis (but everyone who's been in the discussion up till now automatically gets on the list).

Better way. We determine a few Key Keepers. In the first post of whatever thread we'll use the code on.
Whoever wants in PMs a Keeper. Of course, we'll automatically PM all the more active people.

What're you thinking?

Set up another network. Manual autorization required to join. In short, make our own pheeble. Easier to use. It's techinically beyond what we can do without some serious resources. (and people to code and manage it)

[Pixelmage]

Not really, when you think about it:
Scenario: One of us wants to say something, so PMs everyone here plus the thread in question (you can PM everyone at once just by clicking on all their names in the "Select Member" part of the PM options).
We use that code for a day or two, then either the conversation dies, or one person sends out a new PM with a new code.

We'll just have to keep on top of our PMs.

with a big enough random key we DON'T need to switch it at all.

[Qara-Xuan Zenith]

Problem with a PM tree is not everyone's checking regularly, which means all the people assigned to them don't get the memo.
Better idea: How about we just PM the code to anyone posting in this thread, or in whichever thread's discussion we want to continue more privately here?
And then we'll determine that on a case-by-case basis (but everyone who's been in the discussion up till now automatically gets on the list).

Better way. We determine a few Key Keepers. In the first post of whatever thread we'll use the code on.
Whoever wants in PMs a Keeper. Of course, we'll automatically PM all the more active people.

What're you thinking?

Set up another network. Manual autorization required to join. In short, make our own pheeble. Easier to use. It's techinically beyond what we can do without some serious resources. (and people to code and manage it)

Please not our own pheeble. I've got enough sites to keep track of already.
The Key Keepers is a good idea. Simple suggestion: Those of us already here-- Sicon, Pixel, Scarab, me (did I miss anyone? These are the ones most active in the conversation thus far) become the Key Keepers. Anytime encoded conversation starts, one of us is responsible for generating a cipher, PMing it to each other and everyone active in the conversation, sharing with anyone who PMs to join, and deciding when one cipher's been in circulation too long and has to be changed.

[Scarab]

set up another network. Manual autorization required to join. In short, make our own pheeble. Easier to use. It's techinically beyond what we can do without some serious resources. (and people to code and manage it

Ah. Yes, that would be problematic.

Please not our own pheeble. I've got enough sites to keep track of already.
The Key Keepers is a good idea. Simple suggestion: Those of us already here-- Sicon, Pixel, Scarab, me (did I miss anyone? These are the ones most active in the conversation thus far) become the Key Keepers. Anytime encoded conversation starts, one of us is responsible for generating a cipher, PMing it to each other and everyone active in the conversation, sharing with anyone who PMs to join, and deciding when one cipher's been in circulation too long and has to be changed.

As fond as I've been of obsessively complex plans lately, I see problems with this, not least of which being doesn't it run the risk of excluding some newcomers? I'm not sure how it would do this, but I just feel if we start speaking in code and making people go to other people in order to get information to TRANSLATE said code... It just feels a little excluding, is all.

Also it runs the risk of some people missing the boat and getting horribly confused.

Might it be better if we could set up some place where we can upload a code... and then send a single ONE OFF PM to everyone in the forum (or get everyone who wants in to message one of the keykeepers) containing the link to that place, and then upload the codes there, whenever they're changed? Then people can just... check at their will?

[Pixelmage]

Please not our own pheeble. I've got enough sites to keep track of already.
The Key Keepers is a good idea. Simple suggestion: Those of us already here-- Sicon, Pixel, Scarab, me (did I miss anyone? These are the ones most active in the conversation thus far) become the Key Keepers. Anytime encoded conversation starts, one of us is responsible for generating a cipher, PMing it to each other and everyone active in the conversation, sharing with anyone who PMs to join, and deciding when one cipher's been in circulation too long and has to be changed.

So in short, you propose that each thread have it's own key? I don't believe that is necessary. If we get a 256-lenght random key, we could reasonably use it for all discussions regarding the topic without risk of a manual break at all.

Hell I could generate a 3k lenght key, meaning each single character in a Non-Mimsy-RPG will have it's own unique substitution rule. Making it near impossible to crack, even with text allegories such as punctuation and spaces. This is the best way, because we DON'T want to change the key, so as to make previous posts still readable.

[Pixelmage]

I repeat. We must not change the key. We need to keep previous discussions open to all who want to read.
One single gigantic key is all we need to send as an One Off PM. No more work necessary.

[Sicon112]

*sigh* You people... I would have done this, but I was way too lazy. Whatever. I'm good with mucking about with the cypher if you are...

[Greyscale]

Is this really necessary to playing an ARG? I honestly don't think the PM's will punish us for stuff we write on the forums. But okay. If you really want to encode and decode ciphers all day, I guess that's cool with me.

[Pixelmage]

*sigh* You people... I would have done this, but I was way too lazy. Whatever. I'm good with mucking about with the cypher if you are...

Well, everyone was asking for it... I had to deliver something, right?