[Dark Eras Contagion] Vectors in historical times

[wyrdhamster]

So we have first preview on Vectors in Contagion Chronicle. As I plan to use it in Dark Eras settings ( for now, in Byzantine Empire ) I found that even if Authority Vector is cool on general - it's previewed power of *Survillance on first dot is not really working with historical settings. Because what can give you 'automatic password omission' in Western Roman or Byzantine Empire, where those security measures were scarce ( if not existing )? Even more, HOW can historical characters turn off 'specific camera, microphone, computer, or other node in the network' ( from Beasts and Deviants Edge )?

If there is no good answers on those questions - What alternative powers you would advise in place of *Survillance of Authority Vector?

[Nicolas Milioni]

Humm,a fascinating question
How about a "Language of Kings" power?
One that let's you automatically know all the right words to say,giving you a social bonus?

[Mateus]

well the theme is that knowledge is power. so how about still calling it surveillance but applying it to a social group/society and being able to know what they know/see what why see/make them doubt or forget it?

[BigDamnHero]

The term for Caesar Cipher originated in Roman times, naturally. Other fun encryption techniques included things like wrapping a leather strap around a rod, writing a message along one length and gibberish along others, then wearing the strap as a belt or what-not, then decrypting it with the key rod at a destination as a way of covertly transporting messages. Then there are smoke signals, speaking in code, carrier pigeons...the practice of encryption, spies, and generally sneakily transferring information around is an ancient one.

[Second Chances]

The term for Caesar Cipher originated in Roman times, naturally. Other fun encryption techniques included things like wrapping a leather strap around a rod, writing a message along one length and gibberish along others, then wearing the strap as a belt or what-not, then decrypting it with the key rod at a destination as a way of covertly transporting messages. Then there are smoke signals, speaking in code, carrier pigeons...the practice of encryption, spies, and generally sneakily transferring information around is an ancient one.

All of this... but also remember that the God-Machine doesn't exactly care about a minor thing like "historical period" or "linear time" when building Infrastructure. It could easily have something like CCTV cameras to be hacked in historical eras.

[Florin]

I would take a more abstract approach to the wording. Surveillance would allow you to read the entire conversation carried out over a series of letters between two monarchs, if you had access to one letter or maybe even the courier's horse. The Beast/Deviant edge would allow you to create blind spots in a guard's patrol or make sure no one looked up at that balcony you're hiding in to spy on the court.

[wyrdhamster]

Florin solution to • Survillance seems to be easy and working for historical settings.

Now I read more Vectors, I have a more questions/problems in using them in Dark Eras settings.

The one I see is with Authority's Vector ••••• The Big Lie. Even in 19th century, newspapers had problem with coming in 24 cycles, not too mention media in earlier ages. I wonder if the duration of The Big Lie should in previous times be something like twice 72 hours cycles, where it's assumed it's more a rumor passed between people than 'mass media attack'. ( Two 72 hours cycles would make it a 6 days power to start circling, in the end. )

[Florin]

I think stretching the news cycle makes sense. Or, you limit it to a smaller geographic area. As they are fond of saying on Letterkenny, "Bad gas travels fast, in a small town." So, I could see keeping the 24 hour cycle but limit it to South London or something.

[ArcaneArts]

Yeah, town criers, gossip, and letter deliverers are still a system of news, so I'd reduce the geographical scale and increase the time scale as measure of how much more potent those telling you the information could be in those days.