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BattleMaster => Case Archives => Questions & Answers => Topic started by: megs on September 16, 2012, 04:47:56 PM

Title: Message language
Post by: megs on September 16, 2012, 04:47:56 PM
Can we use other than English languages in OCC messages?
(of course to people who also speak that language)
Title: Re: Message language
Post by: Lefanis on September 16, 2012, 05:04:20 PM
I don't believe it'll be a problem, so long as you are doing it in personal messages, and not to exclude people who don't happen to speak the language.
Title: Re: Message language
Post by: Draco Tanos on September 16, 2012, 06:35:05 PM
I have an issue with it as a former judge.  I should not have to go to google translate and pray it converts it to English well enough to find out what my torture subject is saying.

OOC messages?  Sure.  IC messages?  Shouldn't be allowed.
Title: Re: Message language
Post by: Tom on September 16, 2012, 07:22:50 PM
The official language in BM is english, and you should stick to it. I don't think anyone minds if you insert a sentence or two in your native language to a friend, but that should be about it. Even private messages can be accessed in torture report, or can be reported to the Magistrates or for some other reason have other people read it.

Title: Re: Message language
Post by: Vellos on September 16, 2012, 07:26:15 PM
Quote from: Tom on September 16, 2012, 07:22:50 PM
The official language in BM is english, and you should stick to it. I don't think anyone minds if you insert a sentence or two in your native language to a friend, but that should be about it. Even private messages can be accessed in torture report, or can be reported to the Magistrates or for some other reason have other people read it.



+1

Please stick with English. There have been instances in the past of players using shared languages to try and gain game advantage,  IIRC.
Title: Re: Message language
Post by: egamma on September 17, 2012, 05:54:28 AM
What if a couple of players used Pig Latin or some other language?

What if a couple of players (or a whole realm) used some sort of primitive cipher system, based on (for example) the first letter of each line of the rulers' bulletin?

I can see AES-256 or SHA-128 being way out of bounds, but if there was a code that players could do by hand, IC...
Title: Re: Message language
Post by: Perth on September 17, 2012, 07:24:28 AM
This sounds like such an Aurvandil thing to do. Have their own in game language that is superior to everyone else's.
Title: Re: Message language
Post by: vonGenf on September 17, 2012, 08:54:54 AM
Quote from: egamma on September 17, 2012, 05:54:28 AM
What if a couple of players used Pig Latin or some other language?

What if a couple of players (or a whole realm) used some sort of primitive cipher system, based on (for example) the first letter of each line of the rulers' bulletin?

I can see AES-256 or SHA-128 being way out of bounds, but if there was a code that players could do by hand, IC...

If the language is invented in-game, through in-game means, among people who have an in-game reason to do such a thing, then I don't see why it would be a problem.

The problem with speaking languages such as French or Old AEnglisc or AES-256 encrypted english is that you know these languages because of something you, the player, knows - it has nothing to do with the character.
Title: Re: Message language
Post by: Tom on September 17, 2012, 11:24:57 AM
Quote from: egamma on September 17, 2012, 05:54:28 AM
What if a couple of players used Pig Latin or some other language?

What if a couple of players (or a whole realm) used some sort of primitive cipher system, based on (for example) the first letter of each line of the rulers' bulletin?

I can see AES-256 or SHA-128 being way out of bounds, but if there was a code that players could do by hand, IC...

No. That goes way beyond what a casual game should require of you. Also, we can assume that letters are already en-/decrypted by the scribes. Which is why there is no in-game option to capture messengers and intercept letters.
Plus all that is not something that the noble characters should bother with.

Title: Re: Message language
Post by: megs on September 17, 2012, 01:59:22 PM
Quote from: Tom on September 17, 2012, 11:24:57 AM
No. That goes way beyond what a casual game should require of you. Also, we can assume that letters are already en-/decrypted by the scribes. Which is why there is no in-game option to capture messengers and intercept letters.
Plus all that is not something that the noble characters should bother with.



I totally agree with Tom in this.
You should also consider that if you are tortured, you will confess to any cipher you are using as well.
And, as mentioned, Nobles would never decode letters themselves. Scribes would do it, so the information is out there for a spy to get.
Title: Re: Message language
Post by: Chenier on September 18, 2012, 09:47:04 PM
Quote from: megs on September 17, 2012, 01:59:22 PM
I totally agree with Tom in this.
You should also consider that if you are tortured, you will confess to any cipher you are using as well.
And, as mentioned, Nobles would never decode letters themselves. Scribes would do it, so the information is out there for a spy to get.

I agree with this, but I will point out that simply using OOG communication is much easier for those wishing to avoid torture leaks than using obscure cyphers or languages.
Title: Re: Message language
Post by: DamnTaffer on September 19, 2012, 08:26:13 AM
Quote from: Tom on September 17, 2012, 11:24:57 AM
No. That goes way beyond what a casual game should require of you. Also, we can assume that letters are already en-/decrypted by the scribes. Which is why there is no in-game option to capture messengers and intercept letters.
Plus all that is not something that the noble characters should bother with.

You'd let your scribe have the cipher for your secret comunications? I'd have though that was the one thing the nobles WOULD keep to themselves
Title: Re: Message language
Post by: Tom on September 19, 2012, 09:01:29 AM
Quote from: DamnTaffer on September 19, 2012, 08:26:13 AM
You'd let your scribe have the cipher for your secret comunications? I'd have though that was the one thing the nobles WOULD keep to themselves

Nobles who often could neither read nor write ?
Title: Re: Message language
Post by: Geronus on September 19, 2012, 02:14:44 PM
Well then they certainly wouldn't know a cypher  :)
Title: Re: Message language
Post by: Draco Tanos on September 19, 2012, 07:32:32 PM
But their scribes would and they'd be the ones writing the letters.