#what is encryption

[morninkim]

As a show of good faith toward the remaining Decepticons at the beginning of a new, united Cybertron, newly appointed Senators Bumblebee and Soundwave allowed Shatter and Dropkick to enlist into Autobot City's Defense Team.

These two turned out to be... not the best choices.

The city may have fallen to Insurgent Decepticon occupation had it not been for young recruits Hot Rod and Arcee's accidental interception of Shatter's communication with the fugitive Starscream.

To replace the errant Defense Team members, Springer and Blurr were reassigned from Iacon to Autobot City in their stead.

[luminescentlama]

To all the folks enjoying the QSMP event rn

Don't see anything? Turn your brightness up.

IT'S A FACE

(discovered by @mossybee-exe while we were rambling)

[isat-script-project]

Your amazing work here has inspired me to want to try doing a script project for DQB2 and I was wondering if you had any advice for me?

I'm gonna assume that's some sorta dragon quest game?

Well, ISAT really is a blessing in this regard, because the game is not encrypted at all. Accessing files and all text via rpgmaker MV and VSC is incredibly easy.

okay this got really long i'm putting it under the cut.

But before you get started, there really are some things you need to ask yourself first:

How am I going to get the text from this game?

If your answer is "write it down by hand as I play" then already know that there HAS to be a better way. If you're choosing that method, get yourself emulation, save states, or endless patience, because hooh boy, I've done a little bit of that for a different project (no, I will not elaborate) but save scumming on original hardware to get different dialogue options is agony.

Is there a text dump for your game? Is there a file dump or decomp for your game? Do you have the technical know how to access it? If not, are you confident in your knowledge of the game to accurately identify where all dialogue may occur? If not, are you satisfied missing out on nothing lines and just focusing on the non-optional? Is your game linear enough to not need a closer look at the code to figure out what happens when, as isat does?

2. What's my scope?

Again, do you truly want every line from this game, or just what's "important"? I personally cannot rest until I've exhausted the fucking Menus (which is why there's a script page for those, too) because I'm a completionist with delusions of grandeur, but some people are satisfied transcribing the cutscenes and nothing else (MUCH TO MY ANNOYANCE WHEN I NEED THE OTHER STUFF.... nobody cares about the optional collectible npc dialogue BUT I CARE!!! I CARE!!!!!)

Anyways, what exactly your scope is is gonna significantly influence what your next step looks like.

3. How am I going to present this?

Making the isat script project an individual website mainly came down to how finicky the dialogue in isat is. There's conditionals stacked on conditionals and I wanted a space where I had total control over how to present these factors without influence.

For more linear games, like, say, that time I made all the fewiki scripts for Fire Emblem 6 from chapter 12 onward, it was easy enough to present the scripts on a wiki page just because the game is much more linear, there's less dialogue to begin with, and all conditional text could be nicely divided up into similar groups, like boss dialogue where the condition is just "fight boss with x character".

isat script project would not exist without my fire emblem fixation, fun fact. other fun facts include that as a child i attempted to novelize Mario Party DS by transcribing all story mode text into a booklet by hand, and I did not finish this for reasons that are hopefully obvious.

This is, as you may figure, way easier to do. There is significantly less burden on you to actually understand how a website works - I cannot stress enough that the current state of the script project is only possible thanks to Gold, and without them, we'd still be at all dialogue being formatted as <p><b>Siffrin:</b> Says some text.</p>

For a lot of older games, you can also find whole game scripts being put up into a single document. Tis common on gamefaqs, I've used those plenty. There I believe you're just working with plain ol txt.

The rule is always though look at examples and if they do something cool figure out whether you can copy it. i did not create the website layout myself, i used a base and fiddled with it for a whole weekend until it stopped exploding.

Again, like, using an existing structure like a wiki or gamefaqs or just google docs or a spreadsheet is a significantly eased burden. One of my favorite things ever is actually a text dump on github, of all places. For this one, the person putting it up chose to leave all text in as close to original state as possible, doing no trimming of things like character emotes and leaving in all original string titles of every line. This is also incredibly useful, even if it is more difficult to use for your average schmoe! (This has fucking saved me doing wiki stuff for engage. engage text dump i ADORE you)

Do you want to be as accurate to the code as possible, or as accurate to the game? Do you have the time, energy, and skills to make the visual presentation nice? Or do you want to keep it rudimentary to streamline your process?

If you ARE doing something like making your own website, it is crucial that you figure out your visuals early, lest you be like us, and be stuck in Reformatting Hell for several months, because someone figured out how to make a thing prettier and nicer to read, and now you need to update the 100+ pages you've already created.

Reformatting code like that takes just as long as making a page in the first place, by the by, because you're just not getting around copy-pasting everything line by agonizing line.

This stuff takes HOURS. If I went at it alone, I doubt I'd have finished by now, or within the next like, two years. This is a really time consuming hobby, and I love doing it a lot, it scratches my exact fixation itch, but if your game is huge, consider seeing if people would be interested in joining you? I will also say being autistic about your game of choice is also a bonus in the sustainability department.

Many a times there were just no updates (as they are now) cuz I am just. Distracted by something else. Like yes on one hand I'm going to uni now and have less time but it's not really less time if I can still put 17hrs into a new video game in three days.

Stuff like this is ALWAYS a long-term project and you WILL need to take time off from it or else you'll start seeing html in your dreams and get burnout.

STREAMLINE YOUR PROCESS!!! FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THIS WITH AS LITTLE EFFORT AS POSSIBLE!!!! Gold introduced me to Espanso, which is a program that lets you set up keyboard shortcuts to insert phrases, which was a MAAAAAASSIVE time saver in the html department, as it allowed me to just rapid fire paste in all the many html classes we stacked for the presentation of the site. even if you are doing a script on a wiki where everything does look like ['''Siffrin:''' says a thing] you will still be doing yourself a favor if you can shorten that '''Siffrin:''' to just typing :s .

As a side note, I also wanna say like. The popularity of isat script project is a complete outlier. Other game scripts may be used by a maniac like me to overanalyze the plot structure of Sonic 06, but you're very likely not going to see that recognition. I love doing this, because I want these resources to exist for myself. I don't do this for the good of the fandom, but because it is useful to me. I started this because I was writing isat fanfic, and got tired of looking up dialogue on youtube or booting up my own game.

Do I know if anyone found my FE6 scripts useful? No. Do I know if anyone is going through Veyle/Quotes and appreciating that I transcribed all the fucking battle voice clips? No. Do I know if someone appreciates me accurately labelling all voice lines from the ring polishing minigame in engage? Hell no. I don't know, I'm never going to get feedback on that. Those are wiki pages, anyone can edit them, they don't have viewcounts or comments I can look at, and the fandom just isn't as prone to taking screenshots and posting about them line by line as isat.

Isat blew the fuck up on tumblr. I'm not saying you'll get no recognition at all, but if you are relying on external motivators, you are probably going to peter out. There are pages I've worked on for other script things that I've genuienly not touched in two years because I just didn't feel like it, and that's also okay.

TLDR:

Figure out how to get the text you need with the least effort possible (and figure out whether doing that is even possible at all!), figure out what scope you're actually willing to put up with, and present it with the least effort possible, because everything else just isn't sustainable. Streamline streamline streamline. Be prepared to spend hours on this and maybe like find a new favorite podcast to just copy paste text to, because honestly, doing this is also pretty zen.

And most importantly, sparkle on, don't forget to have fun! Even if it seems big and intimidating, you can still make it just a fun side project, and slowly chip away at it over time. Rome wasn't built in a day, and with all the advantages going for isat script project (additional manpower, unencrypted files, easy tools for game examination) it still took over a year to complete.

(loop voice) Don't make the same mistakes I did, okay?

oh, yeah, one last thing, if you're not putting it on a wiki and ARE making your own website, ABSOLUTELY PUT IT ON GITHUB!!!! setting up so any changes to the main branch on github get reflected onto neocities is pretty easy and you only need to do it once, and what this allows is to just have random strangers show up and fix your problems for you. sometimes someone will just show up and fix five bajillion typos and then leave. or they'll stick around and help with more stuff and wowie you have a semblance of a team now.

if you're doing it on a wiki, find like, the wiki discord, if someone is interested in chipping in. if you're doing your own website, put it on github. do it. do it do it do it.

[ironicorange]

[tuttle-did-it]

STOP USING BIOMETRICS TO UNLOCK YOUR TECH BEFORE GOING TO A PROTEST, RALLY, OR ACCESSING BIRTH CONTROL OPTIONS

Encrypt your tech. If you are US based, or in a country that does not protect your rights when it comes to cops, please read these article. There are not currently laws stopping the police from using your thumb or face to unlock your phone without consent or a warrant. Especially if you are taking any part in any protests throughout America, or accessing birth control needs.

Or you're, you know, queer, disabled, a person of colour, a woman, or generally just know how horrible the cops and government can be. They can pull you over for no reason, unlock your phone, and look for something to charge you with later. They can and will and have.

Cops will do ANYTHING they want, and chances are, the courts will let them.

(this might be relevant for other countries, too-- the protest rights are completely fucked here in the UK, so please be careful out there!!)

Helpfully, there is also a cop-proof your phone article as well:

[totheactualschizos]

- …. . / .- .-. -.- / .- .-- .- .. - … .-.-.- - …. . / .- .-. -.- / .- .-- .- .. - … .-.-.- - …. . / .- .-. -.- / .- .-- .- .. - … .-.-.- - …. . / .- .-. -.- / .- .-- .- .. - … .-.-.- - …. . / .- .-. -.- / .- .-- .- .. - … .-.-.- - …. . / .- .-. -.- / .- .-- .- .. - … .-.-.- - …. . / .- .-. -.- / .- .-- .- .. - … .-.-.- - …. . / .- .-. -.- / .- .-- .- .. - … .-.-.- - …. . / .- .-. -.- / .- .-- .- .. - … .-.-.- - …. . / .- .-. -.- / .- .-- .- .. - … .-.-.- - …. . / .- .-. -.- / .- .-- .- .. - … .-.-.- - …. . / .- .-. -.- / .- .-- .- .. - … .-.-.- - …. . / .- .-. -.- / .- .-- .- .. - … .-.-.-

[violentclown555]

Wow, the trenches sure are beautiful today (completely normal and not-weird way to say I've been binge reading X-Men comics)

Tried to draw my two main xmen ocs in the (early) uncanny x-men comic style

(First guy is Danger, second guy is Murphy/Hazard, both he/him)

Danger was actually kinda fun to do, Murphy gave me some reaaal problems, but my Fiance made me feel better abt it cuz the second he saw it he went "Oh his artist was having a bad dayyy, the wonderous meguka..." (slightly paraphrased for clarity)

Erm, simplifying their designs to look more authentic to the style/era was actually pretty fun, and the concept of them as early comic characters is really interesting to think about

[rambling/doodles/stupidity under read more]

When my fiance said "[...] for the love of god don't get into xmen. Or if you do get into xmen stay the fuck away from the rest of marvel. 90% of being a comic fan is knowing how to pick and choose your battles" he had a really good point and I should have listened!!!

Anyways, heres some doodles of Murphy and Danger, for filler

I've been binge reading HARD, I think I got through like, 30-ish? issues of Uncanny X-Men, and 20-ish issues of the 1991 comics? (Yeah I'm jumping around, I have disorders, don't be mean) I used to be OBSESSED with comics as a kid, specifically Fantomen (The Phantom), so binging xmen is bringing back some memories.

accidentally posted this from my drafts with no tags or anything I dont even know when I did that, what ever, redid it, heres my slop ig

[hresvelged]

Its spine is worn; its cover encased in blacks and reds. Tucked away for the eyes of none is one of the only things she still has. Candlelit moons shadow the self. Sunrise moons rise the present.

XX69

There's a party for my birthday. I can't leave my room until I'm told. This dress was made for me. They braided my hair. Someone said it makes my eyes shine. Why? I have to be quiet. Nobody can see me yet. It's extra busy today. I can't hear what they're saying. Like always! What is it now? I think XXXXXX is stopping by to give me a gift. Another bear? I need a name for the first one! I won't ask anyone. It's my own! I request a good one. I'll be greeting all the noble families that stopped by soon. They'll give me well wishes again. (There is a childish doodle of a person with a crooked smile)

XXXX

(There are pages are ripped out)

XX79

It's a quiet birthday. They are more silent over the years. I'm content spending it in this room alone. The distant stars feel farther away the longer I stare at them. This entire space is ill befitting of me now. I'm thinking of my sisters and brothers on this day. Not me. (The writing becomes shakier) What am I celebrating? As I write this, I think of their faces. I want to document descriptions of them, but I can't. This is my third attempt. It's getting harder. They have a right to be mad at me. I'd feel the same. I fight with them and for them. I saw my father in the halls today. We exchanged greetings. He appeared upset. It's difficult to meet his gaze sometimes. A few others were also there. I knew they would be. I didn't engage in conversation with them. Their smiles aren't natural. I've been following this behavior closely. They will fail. For the fallen, and for me. This world must change. That is my greatest wish. (Her name is signed)

Undated

Garreg Mach is both the same and different than I expected it to be. The flowers on my desk are nice. My classmates have given me regards, as have others. I showed my gratitude. While there are some that extend it for obligatory reasons, it's different than past moons. I've made friends. I'm discovering parts of me I didn't know existed anymore. It is nice to have people who speak with me plainly. I am learning more about myself than I thought I would. Here, of all places. I still think of them. I never followed up on my promise to write descriptors. I can't anymore. Attempt XXXX failed. (The letters trail off in a smudge) There's people I can count on. People who count on me. I have heard it. I have witnessed it. I hope this never changes. If I wanted one thing for my birthday, it would be that. I see care in the eyes of those who match me. I can't afford to hold onto false hope. But I do want to believe in them. Wholly. For those who lend me their strength, I will match that tenfold. Some call it selfish. I call it ambition.

XX83

(The journal is bookmarked to an empty page)

[kindahoping4forever]

So.

[gothteddiesdotcom]

not to brag about being good at my job but I’ve now developed two separate tools for debugging entirely on my own within my company entirely from scratch without help and A. it makes my job so much fucking easier and B. my boss is thinks im incredible just because im too lazy to want to write the same bits of code over and over just for debugging purposes

[impishtubist]

It's just so phenomenally stupid to be sitting here trying to do everyday shit and planning for the work week ahead when it doesn't even matter anymore. Laundry groceries meal prep cleaning who the fuck cares. The lucky ones with the means to do so will get to escape the country and the rest get to deal with everything becoming too exorbitantly expensive to be able to live and also having no healthcare. Plus vaccines being outlawed (it just happened in Idaho!) and a brewing H5N1 pandemic everyone is going to ignore oh yeah and also Trump executing everyone who doesn't agree with him. Why the fuck am I having to do emails and spreadsheets at a time like this??

[horsegirlalexkralie]

i'm very intrigued by whatever your severance brian has going on. what's up with that guy

:}

i havent entirely decided but hes definitely also severed and innie!brian has the privilege the others dont of seeing the ins and outs of management but also knowing definitively hes also disposable like they are. hes terrified of whatever man on the outside would knowingly (to his knowledge) doom another human side of himself to a fully aware hell.

they treat him like milchick mostly. he answers to a floor manager who answers to the board but theyre probably a lot more flippant around him because he's severed- who is he going to tell. he takes out his frustration and disempowerment on the innies below him, like any good middle manager.

outie!brian thinks he signed up for a cushy corporate job and would be genuinely horrified to know hes torturing people down there. maybe he'd have a little ohh innies arent reallyy people~ about it but he thinks lumon makes deodorant. when jay starts going through his trash hes only freaked out bc it doesnt make any sense.

[aromantic-ghost-menace]

So... I think I've just finished writing a 7.7 or 7.8K words long chapter in 2-3 days.

What the fuck possessed me? Did I finally manage to build up a working writing routine for me?

Did suffering the fanfic writer curse in advance really payout and work?

Anyways, am currently editing my current stp truth lies AU chapter "The drowned Cage" there. Will archive locked post it then. Maybe put up a publically encrypted/enciphered version of the fic once I got Maddening Shackles fully written down and posted.

But breakfast first! Food.

[goldensunset]

bro….

[merge-conflict]

I am once again mad about the Blackwall.

[starrynyxa]

whenever fob does something i go on an internet piracy arc except im actually not good at it so it doesnt even work