Pastelland Forum

Well, firstly, it answers the question "why doesn't the world notice the space-time rift torn up at the surface?" If there's this time bubble, it means the entire incident and plot barely takes second of regular time, eliminating all such issues. Also, it goes along well with time distortion inside the facility, which is a valuable puzzle element.

As for the conspiracy, we seem to agree that the backstory should be conveyed slowly and subtly.
I believe that if a player tries, looks hard and applies some solid reasoning, they should be able to figure most of it out. Not in too much detail, but to a decent extent.
Not certain where you stand in this, though. Could you clarify?

As far as the world is concerned, the base does not exist.
Obviously, the underworld and spy agencies may have an idea of what is going on.
I think the player is supposed to stabilise the field/bubble, right?
Then again, you are right. It does help the puzzle element.
However, if the government or agency does notice that something has gone wrong, they are going to have a field day trying to deny anything happened, especially if people all over the country heard a loud explosion

How does the collaboration of the player/computer amalgamation within the network thingy fit in? You know, your thingy.

Clarification?
I was just meaning that instead of straight facts on paper, we must treat this as the agency would. They aren't going to put damning facts on paper (like "Test Subject was treated to high levels of banned substance blah blah and died of illegal causes due to blah blah)
but they are going to have to record this information in a more, as you said, subtle manner.

I'm happy. I'm just concerned that the time aspect may not be vital.
And we have argued.

Anyway...

I'm not sure what you mean by "fit in". Other than the fact that controlling multiple entities with different kinds of proccessing units, ranging from semiconductor chips to the test subject's brain, increases the potency of distortion-based puzzle elements even farther, they neither conflict nor fit together. They don't have much to do with each other.

As for your test report example.... That's kind of exactly how I imagined information was to be conveyed. Except, of course, nothing about anything being banned or illegal. It's everyday stuff for these people, and they don't care. It works or it doesn't, and that's it. Also, it's all distorted of course. The accident dented every drive and computer in the facility, so generally, we're lucky if we find a half a page of concise information. I think I'll write an example to avoid further missunderstandings.

I think, in regards to the conspiracy, the scientists and people in control of the base wouldn't know they were working for the government.

That might be hard to convey. Showing a fragmented chat log hinting at the facility being gouvernment-driven is one thing, somehow hinting at this without implying the personel's awareness, confirming their lack of it, and explaining how they couldn't figure it out is another. Again, there's the ratio between the complexities of coveying information and it's value to the plot.

And once again, we stopped just as we might've been getting someone.

We indeed did.

Maybe we should try to carry on?

Indeed. I'm having a busy weekend, but I'll try to spare some time for this.


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That's one too many posts about the lack of posting, isn't it?

That might be hard to convey. Showing a fragmented chat log hinting at the facility being gouvernment-driven is one thing, somehow hinting at this without implying the personel's awareness, confirming their lack of it, and explaining how they couldn't figure it out is another. Again, there's the ratio between the complexities of coveying information and it's value to the plot.

yeah, I guess I agree. Scratch that idea then.