dexdavican

[dexdavican]

Homestuck Classes, 2019 edition

I’ve been a Homestuck since day one, and I’ve done a lot of thinking about Classes and Aspects while writing my Homestuck fangame. I started off with the assumption that every Class had an operative verb (e.g. “steal”) that could be done to, with, and through the player’s Aspect. Shortly afterward, I came to the conclusion that the Class pairs have opposite/complementary roles and operative verbs. But… nothing I came up with quiiiite matched. I could find things to support my claims but they all felt a little forced.

My process for figuring the more likely system out would take too long to explain for the purposes of this post, so I’ll just say that I eventually realized that each Class pair explores a two-word phrase that has some importance in network integrity.

Or, to put in a tl;dr way, the Classes are all network security gijinka.

Let me explain:

BURGLAR CLASSES [Thief and Rogue] (Operative phrase: “ACCESS CONTROL”)

Access Control is the determination of who can access a network or not, and how they do so. It’s also a phrase that can be read literally: a burglar is someone who accesses, controls, accesses control and/or controls access.

So a Thief (an Active Class) might have an active interpretation of these things. Active access = exploit8ion and acquisition (the word “exploit” shows up repeatedly in reference to Vriska). Active control = domin8ion and micromanagement. Actively-controlled access = gatekeeping and privilege. Actively accessing control = gaining power. Etc.

A Rogue will have a more passive interpretation. Passive access = receiving and sharing. Passive control = sway and influence. Passively-controlled access = sphinx-like riddling. Passively accessing control = benefiting from or accepting someone else’s privilege. Etc.

Note that there are active and passive forms of access control. Google it.

COURTIER CLASSES [Prince and Bard] (Operative phrase: “NOISE REMOVAL”)

In the context of data transmission, noise is what interferes with a transmission. Active noise removal overpowers (a word Dirk uses to describe himself) noise by with powered counter-signals, while passive noise removal cancels (a word Gamzee dramatically uses in the Epilogues), frustrates, and blunts (I mean, come on) noise without need for a power source.

We can also separate the words. In a computing context, “active removal” would mean both deletion and overwriting (a word Dirk specifically uses in the Epilogues). Passive removal would mean more corruption and degradation. Active noise constitutes active interference, while passive noise is confusion and distraction. Gamzee also references noise constantly, and can’t stop himself from honking even when it’s going to end badly for him.

MAGICAL GIRL CLASSES [Witch and Sylph] (Operative phrase: “BACKUP RELAY”)

A relay is a term for an active switch in electronics, which attempts to complete or interrupt a circuit.  A relay might also mean a satellite, which orbits and broadcasts, or even a modem.

Active backup (Witch) can mean a few things: support, creating spares, and preservation. An active relay delivers, and in the context of data transmission, a relay also isolates and broadcasts important signals.

Passive backup (Sylph) is more on the restoration and reintegration side of things. A passive relay carries, or perhaps more accurately, ferries a signal.

SCION CLASSES [Maid and Heir] (Operative phrase: “TRUSTED CLIENT”)

A trusted client is a device or program controlled by the user, but with restrictions placed on its use by the vendor. It’s meant to be more secure, but in practice once an exploit is found, that exploit can be reliably repeated.

An active client (Maid) is one that’s seeking or demanding from the server, and it’s also one that rejects or distrusts unwelcome data or commands they receive. An active trust is an inheritance that the inheritor is expected to manage. In the context of mail, an active client would be outgoing.

A passive client (Heir) is one that waits and responds to the server. They have incoming mail, and they always answer the call. A passive trust doesn’t have expectations placed upon it–it’s simply something you receive and take care of.

VASSAL CLASSES [Knight and Page] (Operative Phrase: “SECURE SERVER”)

A secure server ideally holds data and provides for the client.

An active server (Knight) responds quickly, but and active security verifies the user, requiring a lot of effort to prove (see John’s convo with Jake about Bat Man) anything. One might also interpret this role as the one of defensive responses.

A passive server (Page) defers and delays, and passive security usually believes or ignores the user. Any tests are pretty rudimentary, requiring little effort to bypass.

Note also how many times these Classes just… can’t help responding to someone else’s statement, or following someone else’s orders.

WIZARD CLASSES [Mage and Seer] (Operative Phrase: “FAULT DETECTION”)

Fault detection is how you determine if a hardware or software error has stopped transmission.

Active detection involves monitoring and displaying the error. But in the context of computers and networks, fault detection often involves testing and even breaking the system yourself (see: Sollux and Doom, Disciple and Heart), and “fault” is a verb that can mean blame. In a storytelling context, the Mage shows, rather than telling.

Passive detection involves perception, analysis, interpretation, and waiting for an alarm. A passive fault might indicate failure or a fatal flaw. In the context of a network, many errors are due to missing pieces. In a storytelling context, the Seer tells, rather than showing. Getting less symbolic… it’d be hard for a fault-detector to see the good in things.

MASTER CLASSES [Lord and Muse] (Operative Phrase: “CREATIVE CONSUMER”)

The creative consumer is a person who adds to a creative work even as they take it in. They are an end-user who also contributes to the product. Homestuck is, obviously, partially about what happens as the creative consumers become more important than the original creator. They are the uroboros, the snake that eats its own tail.

The Lord (active) demands and dominates the original work, until they eventually overtake it completely. They deplete the creator’s energy, resist and also discourage (aka “jeer”) others from participation.

The Muse (passive) absorbs and inspires the original work, and when it ends, they keep it alive. They energize the creator, enable and encourage (aka “cheer”) other participants.

…

That’s it.

[dexdavican]

Homestuck Classes, 2019 edition

I’ve been a Homestuck since day one, and I’ve done a lot of thinking about Classes and Aspects while writing my Homestuck fangame. I started off with the assumption that every Class had an operative verb (e.g. “steal”) that could be done to, with, and through the player’s Aspect. Shortly afterward, I came to the conclusion that the Class pairs have opposite/complementary roles and operative verbs. But... nothing I came up with quiiiite matched. I could find things to support my claims but they all felt a little forced.

My process for figuring the more likely system out would take too long to explain for the purposes of this post, so I’ll just say that I eventually realized that each Class pair explores a two-word phrase that has some importance in network integrity.

Or, to put in a tl;dr way, the Classes are all network security gijinka.

Let me explain:

BURGLAR CLASSES [Thief and Rogue] (Operative phrase: “ACCESS CONTROL”)

Access Control is the determination of who can access a network or not, and how they do so. It’s also a phrase that can be read literally: a burglar is someone who accesses, controls, accesses control and/or controls access.

So a Thief (an Active Class) might have an active interpretation of these things. Active access = exploit8ion and acquisition (the word “exploit” shows up repeatedly in reference to Vriska). Active control = domin8ion and micromanagement. Actively-controlled access = gatekeeping and privilege. Actively accessing control = gaining power. Etc.

A Rogue will have a more passive interpretation. Passive access = receiving and sharing. Passive control = sway and influence. Passively-controlled access = sphinx-like riddling. Passively accessing control = benefiting from or accepting someone else’s privilege. Etc.

Note that there are active and passive forms of access control. Google it.

COURTIER CLASSES [Prince and Bard] (Operative phrase: “NOISE REMOVAL”)

In the context of data transmission, noise is what interferes with a transmission. Active noise removal overpowers (a word Dirk uses to describe himself) noise by with powered counter-signals, while passive noise removal cancels (a word Gamzee dramatically uses in the Epilogues), frustrates, and blunts (I mean, come on) noise without need for a power source.

We can also separate the words. In a computing context, “active removal” would mean both deletion and overwriting (a word Dirk specifically uses in the Epilogues). Passive removal would mean more corruption and degradation. Active noise constitutes active interference, while passive noise is confusion and distraction. Gamzee also references noise constantly, and can’t stop himself from honking even when it’s going to end badly for him.

MAGICAL GIRL CLASSES [Witch and Sylph] (Operative phrase: “BACKUP RELAY”)

A relay is a term for an active switch in electronics, which attempts to complete or interrupt a circuit.  A relay might also mean a satellite, which orbits and broadcasts, or even a modem.

Active backup (Witch) can mean a few things: support, creating spares, and preservation. An active relay delivers, and in the context of data transmission, a relay also isolates and broadcasts important signals.

Passive backup (Sylph) is more on the restoration and reintegration side of things. A passive relay carries, or perhaps more accurately, ferries a signal.

SCION CLASSES [Maid and Heir] (Operative phrase: “TRUSTED CLIENT”)

A trusted client is a device or program controlled by the user, but with restrictions placed on its use by the vendor. It’s meant to be more secure, but in practice once an exploit is found, that exploit can be reliably repeated.

An active client (Maid) is one that’s seeking or demanding from the server, and it’s also one that rejects or distrusts unwelcome data or commands they receive. An active trust is an inheritance that the inheritor is expected to manage. In the context of mail, an active client would be outgoing.

A passive client (Heir) is one that waits and responds to the server. They have incoming mail, and they always answer the call. A passive trust doesn’t have expectations placed upon it--it’s simply something you receive and take care of.

VASSAL CLASSES [Knight and Page] (Operative Phrase: “SECURE SERVER”)

A secure server ideally holds data and provides for the client.

An active server (Knight) responds quickly, but and active security verifies the user, requiring a lot of effort to prove (see John’s convo with Jake about Bat Man) anything. One might also interpret this role as the one of defensive responses.

A passive server (Page) defers and delays, and passive security usually believes or ignores the user. Any tests are pretty rudimentary, requiring little effort to bypass.

Note also how many times these Classes just... can’t help responding to someone else’s statement, or following someone else’s orders.

WIZARD CLASSES [Mage and Seer] (Operative Phrase: “FAULT DETECTION”)

Fault detection is how you determine if a hardware or software error has stopped transmission.

Active detection involves monitoring and displaying the error. But in the context of computers and networks, fault detection often involves testing and even breaking the system yourself (see: Sollux and Doom, Disciple and Heart), and “fault” is a verb that can mean blame. In a storytelling context, the Mage shows, rather than telling.

Passive detection involves perception, analysis, interpretation, and waiting for an alarm. A passive fault might indicate failure or a fatal flaw. In the context of a network, many errors are due to missing pieces. In a storytelling context, the Seer tells, rather than showing. Getting less symbolic... it’d be hard for a fault-detector to see the good in things.

MASTER CLASSES [Lord and Muse] (Operative Phrase: “CREATIVE CONSUMER”)

The creative consumer is a person who adds to a creative work even as they take it in. They are an end-user who also contributes to the product. Homestuck is, obviously, partially about what happens as the creative consumers become more important than the original creator. They are the uroboros, the snake that eats its own tail.

The Lord (active) demands and dominates the original work, until they eventually overtake it completely. They deplete the creator’s energy, resist and also discourage (aka “jeer”) others from participation.

The Muse (passive) absorbs and inspires the original work, and when it ends, they keep it alive. They energize the creator, enable and encourage (aka “cheer”) other participants.

...

That’s it.