Wacky idea... sharing secrets in game

[Bael'Zharon]

So this board is a good resource to share secrets, but I've often been in a situation where it would be really great to become someones secret friend right on the spot. So I started to think about a way this could be done if both of you knew "the protocol". Here's my proposal. I'd love to hear feedback or simplifications.

Step one: "Inquire" You're standing at a cog building (or anywhere) and want to advertise that you want to share a secret. You'll send a set of sentences that would not normally be used. I propose this set of 3:

Sorry, I'm busy fighting cogs.
Sorry, I'm busy getting jellybeans.
Sorry, I'm busy completing a toon task.

Step two: "Response" The persons near you recognize the "inquire" string, and respond with the same set of sentences. That indicates they recognized the code, they want to learn your secret, and they will start writing down what you say next :)

Step three: "Transmit" Since the codes are alphabetical, we'll come up with a substitute alphabet. In this case, we'll use a grid where you'll look up the letter associated with a set of two sentences.

My thought is to use a 5x5 grid giving 25 letters, and a specal response for Z. The axes of the grid are the numbers 1-5 and you send pairs of sentences where the number of words in the sentence correspond to the top numbers and then the side numbers.

I want to have words that are all in the same speed chat group, for ease of use, but really any sentence could be used since you're just counting the number of words.

The grid is as follows:

  1 2 3 4 5
1 a b c d e
2 f g h i j
3 k l m n o
4 p q r s t
5 u v w x y

You'll also need a spacing mechanism to indicate when one pair of codes is done, and the next one starts. This also allows you a shorthand. If only one sentence appears between spacing mechanisms, you would assume it meant the same number repeated twice.

The word I propose for numbers all appear in the "Friendly" speed chat menu:

1 Thanks!
2 No problem.
3 No thank you.
4 Please be my friend.
5 Would you like some help?

The letter Z would be represented with:
I think this is too risky for you.

And the spacer would be the smily
:-)

Step 4: "Acknowledge" Now the people listening have the opportunity to either acknowledge, or ask you to repeat.

If they say "Thanks" when you're done, you know they got it. If they say "I can't understand you" then you should repeat the sequence.

Example: Ok, the above was pretty "technical" to show what I was thinking, so here's an example of how it would work.

You: (broadcasting you'd like to share secrets)
Sorry, I'm busy fighting cogs.
Sorry, I'm busy getting jellybeans.
Sorry, I'm busy completing a toon task.

Other: (ready to get your secret)
Sorry, I'm busy fighting cogs.
Sorry, I'm busy getting jellybeans.
Sorry, I'm busy completing a toon task.

You: (secret is AEZ WXG, or on the grid 11 51 Z 35 45 22 )
:-)
Thanks!
:-)
Would you like some help?
Thanks!
:-)
I think this is too risky for you.
:-)
No thank you.
Would you like some help?
:-)
Please be my friend.
Would you like some help?
:-)
No problem.
:-)

Other: (They didn't get it)
I can't understand you.

So you repeat the above sequence! Or they said "Thanks!" and you'll have a new secret friend.

The nice thing is, all you need to do is keep the grid near you (it's easy to construct too!) and a pad of paper to decode. It's a little cumbersome, but it would be fast and then you'd be able to talk.

Did any of this make sense?

[Mac]

WOW!

thats it

WOW!

[-rcv-]

Problem is that this will only work with someone who knows the code. Not gonna work for anyone who doesn't come here anyway.

The Morse Code trick that I used with Dribble has a chance with anyone, since it is easy to search for a conversion table for Morse Code, one you get the idea through to the Toon what you're trying to do.

The "Ultimate" method that I hinted at would work with anyone. It would require quite a few Toons to make it work, though. About 100 would do it. :)

Basically, most of the Toons arrange themselves in an open area (Dreamland quilt would probably be best) in such a way as to spell out this web site. With enough Toons, you could spell out the whole "http://www/toontowncentral.com". If everyone used Small Toons, it would be a bit easier. :S

The other conspirators in this plot would cruise around looking for un-informed toons, Friending them & asking them to "Follow Me" and "Teleport to Me". Then, they would teleport to a Toon left as anchor in a good viewing position in Dreamland.

If that didn't get the message through, nothing would. Of course, it would take quite a bit of preparation.

[Bael'Zharon]

Agreed, I mentioned this would only work if the other party new the protocol. The idea was for people here to be able to trade secrets in game without having to come back to the boards If nothing else, a good thing to do here would be to come up with a query and response that were fairly unique to indicate that you would leave your name and secret on the boards for someone elsel.

The morse code idea is interesting as well. Do you have a link to that post?

[steffycat]

Very interesting idea altho I would have to say YOU HAVE TOO MUCH TIME ON YOUR HANDS lol!!!
I have a hard time trying to organise my time so I can get in to play the GAME on a given day, I couldnt imagine comming up with such a well thought out code, or trying to figure it out as an uninitiated toon trying to figure out what u wanted from me with all the speed chat.
If you actually get someone to understand it, I'd gladly call u my god lol

[Xen]

I believe secrets can include numbers and not just letters?

To be honest.. if someone knows ENQ/ACK pairs they probably already know about TTC and can just exchange secrets here thru private message

Your idea does appeal to my nature though <g>

[Scrat]

Secrets can include numbers which adds to the table. The morse code trick so far sounds like the most workable for non ttc enlightened toons.

The old beta trick was so easy, too bad its history.

[TTFKASS]

I like the idea.... But, I drink alot of big people soda, and umm, Yikes. I'm scared. That would work my brain to fast.

I would like to just click over to my TTC.COM window and post a secret.

And a "BIG" WOW from me too. Very interesting. I like. It's a little hardcore.

[Bael'Zharon]

Argh, I originally planned for numbers, and got rid of them when I spewed a few test secrets and they were all letters. Well, I'll post my number version soon

All in all, this was just an experiment, and not necessarily practical. It didn't take that much time, I've written several network protocols, and this is really just a simple version of that.

[Sidestep]

some people get paintings 4 there estate and spell the code out. i used like...11 paintings. its really effective suprisingly, i got like 3 sfs from that, but it cost a lot of jb. u could use rugs too, but it will be much much harder.

[LadyZippyBoingenpretzel]

what was the old beta trick and why is it history?

I got my first sf this way -

he was already my friend. we went to his house. He said please be my friend then some secret chat.
* said follow me.
* started saying some speedchat phrases.

It took me a few tries to figure this out. At first I had no clue what he was doing. He was very patient with me lol Each phrase started with a letter of the code. Once I realized there was a space it was easy

I heard later that if there is a number in the code you could jump that many times.

You can just keep getting new codes till you find one with the right letters in it.

Someone please explain the picture trick to me. I have heard of it but can not picture it (no pun intended lol)

[Super Fireball Bumblehopper]

My first SF was created zippy's way by multilple chat phrases (each begining with the letter of the phrase) she also started by saying ... Please be my friend, and then say something in sf that to me looked like meow meow Then she asked me to follow her and began the chat pharse connection, also including jumps inbetween for numbers . This took a bit to recognize but alot of people are picking up on that one now.

The picture one i had a few problems with though. I once had a toon trying to arrange his pictures on the wall to resemble the letters/numbers and for some reason it just kept looking real jumpy to me and maybe he didn't have enough pics to complete the letters so i ended up having him follow me and do it the first way

P.S. the cheaper version for the picture way is to use the little rugs. Seen that a few times too

[The Prankster]

Originally Posted by Super Fireball Bumblehopper

My first SF was created zippy's way by multilple chat phrases (each begining with the letter of the phrase) she also started by saying ... Please be my friend, and then say something in sf that to me looked like meow meow Then she asked me to follow her and began the chat pharse connection, also including jumps inbetween for numbers . This took a bit to recognize but alot of people are picking up on that one now.

The picture one i had a few problems with though. I once had a toon trying to arrange his pictures on the wall to resemble the letters/numbers and for some reason it just kept looking real jumpy to me and maybe he didn't have enough pics to complete the letters so i ended up having him follow me and do it the first way

P.S. the cheaper version for the picture way is to use the little rugs. Seen that a few times too

This is what I did on my Black Cat Toon. I looked for people that have MAXXED other Toons by asking if they've been here before. If they say yes, they probably have SF's, and know the tricks of the trade for code transfering, so I then give them the code with the *jump for numbers, use first letter for letters* trick. I got one or two SF's this way.

[Super Thundercrash]

Originally Posted by The Prankster

This is what I did on my Black Cat Toon. I looked for people that have MAXXED other Toons by asking if they've been here before. If they say yes, they probably have SF's, and know the tricks of the trade for code transfering, so I then give them the code with the *jump for numbers, use first letter for letters* trick. I got one or two SF's this way.

That is what always works the best for me as well, that is if I don't have enough pictures on my wall at the old estate.

[Kayteee]

Its a great idea...but very confusing. I just think using codes with only letters and using the speedchat is easiest, i have used it many times.