🗳 Archie Q&A - Discussing Questions to Submit

[Bernice42]

@YourBasicMaths

c) Requesting clarification on The Architect’s statement

In your first message directly to us, you said that you know each and everyone of us. This statement echoes in our minds even today. What did you mean by it?

All of your questions seem great. This one here is actually one of the two questions I keep coming back to myself (the other one being why the architect seems to be on one hand proud of the operators but sometimes seems on the other hand terrified of the operators.)

[vector_cmdr]

You’re always so well spoken. I really appreciate your posts.

I’m also very much in favour of the idea of a Turing test style question to probe The Architect on what kind of entity it perceives itself to be and how they perceive their reality.

Despite their stipulation that it is not needed and they want to be treated as a human, it feels like one of two things:

1. A fun lead into narrative.
2. A genuine hint to treat this like a normal human interview.

I lean towards #1 and want to pull at that thread a little also. I like how subtle and diagnostic your question is.

[Batzy1683]

I concur with Vector, I think it would do us well to try and gauge who or what the architect is, and I agree it’d be a good opportunity for us to gleam a little more about the narrative.

However my own (very WIP) question is something along the lines of "Who do you work for? Do you and Ghost work alone, or are you tied to a larger organization? " But I’m nervous about this question potentially coming off as two inside of one, and not a singular recursive question; As while learning of The Architect’s exact nature is a good idea, I do think we should look towards the outside world of the ARG as well.

[Spock]

I really want there to be one question regarding whether boots on the ground deployment of operators will be necessary at any point as well as what communication lines are/may be open in the future just so we can avoid going to random locations/calling random phone numbers/spamming random email addresses if this goes long term like WT.

EDIT: of course without too much spoiler

EDIT 2: Drafted something IC to determine the possibility of live drops:
“What is the maximum extent of presence & contact that Operators should be ready for in the future: Direct Contact at Physical Location (Live Drop), Collection of Artifacts at Physical Location (Dead Drop), Virtual Presence Only?”

[ThatBomberBoi]

@Turbulentflow

I do believe the 2nd part was completely Independent and encourage pressing further in that direction.

I agree that the second part is fully independent, but I (respectfully) believe that providing context in the first exposition section is crucial to avoid an information repeat by the architect.

It’s important to note that, from The Architect’s perspective (as a character), their inbox communications with Ghost are encrypted and inaccessible to Operators. Thus, from their point of view, the Operators have no idea about the system automatically filling up the 2016 timeline, our access of RecallDreams, our discovery of it being a personal site, and TOWER undergoing a lockdown in the first place, among a plethora of other information.

Thus, providing all of the information that we know so far (regardless of technical correctness) is crucial as a guardrail to ensure that The Architect does not “technically” answer the question while providing us with no new leads. They could, for example, answer the second part with a hint towards Recall Dreams being their own site, or about System regaining it’s memories, which are future events that (from the architect’s perspective) are unknown to the Operators, despite us being well aware of them. In the event that some of our understanding is incorrect, they could also offer a correction, which would be a helpful answer regardless of the rest. It’s just much safer to operate under an assumption of the character only knowing about us as much as they let on, than to assume a continuously watchful eye aware of our every actions which has taken our findings into account while answering.

[Spock]

On the same track, do we even know about Ghost’s existence if we are assuming that we are not supposed to have inbox access? Has Ghost been mentioned anywhere else?

[vector_cmdr]

It’s hard to say for sure what our in game knowledge of the inbox is supposed to be, but I think given that it was not ciphered up to the point of:

Project Skyscraper
The Architect the_architect@project-skyscraper.com
To: Ghost
Friday, May 29
11:22
Yes. But this channel is no longer secure! Do you understand what that means? SYSTEM can see us. The Operators can see us!

Project Skyscraper
Ghost
To: the_architect@project-skyscraper.com
Friday, May 29
12:16
Use the school code if needed. I’ll get back to you.

And we have employed the school code to solve puzzles that have been acknowledged and formed part of unfolding narrative, it’s probably fair to assume they know we see their current conversation.
It’s unclear if System does, however (hearkening back to SYSTEM can see us).

[ThatBomberBoi]

Ahh I see your point now. I can’t remember the school code being used in a direct puzzle off the top of my head (though I’m sure it exists since you brought it up!) but I also just remembered that the_architect’s only direct email sent to Operators also employed the school code, so it seems that the architect is at least partially aware of us having access to the code. It still puzzles me why the inbox is then considered safe to use despite us knowingly having code access though.

I still think that an exposition segment is useful to build a guardrail to prevent the architect from bringing up moot points, but if anyone’s got more ideas on how to craft said guardrails, I’d be more than happy to add em to the question!

[vector_cmdr]

Yeah that’s a good point too, it has been employed in direct communication to us as well so probably puts a nail in that for sure.

My take on the inbox has been that System, while knowing to point us to the code, perhaps doesn’t understand to use it to read the newer messages. I don’t remember if any of it’s comms have been enciphered though? (the ones to me weren’t). But then also why would it feel the need to for talking to us, so who knows on that one.

Either way, yeah working a small exposition piece in for context definitely helps subliminally setup the hooks and guides their mind to the place you either want them to go (or don’t).

I guess for guardrails it depends how hard you want to press them for the information, “best of your abilities” allows someone to play the fool for instance.

[Cattivision]

Well, today’s events may open up some new question ideas.

[the_poet]

Thank you, that’s very kind. Pulling at a thread may be exactly what we need to escape this maze.

I will add my question to the submitted questions and let the chips fall where they may.

[Morse]

I have been musing over any other question ideas, however at present I think my one is the only one that directly tackles the nature of what The Architect is up to next, and might give us a chance specifically towards something that might hint towards any upcoming uodate/game release information.

So I’ve elected not to put any other questions up myself, instead I’ll offer my musings for anyone else to think over and pick up/adjust for anyone still undecided on their question:

• The neural network - what would they advise we keep a lookout for in terms of changes/what could these changes mean
• Uno reverse card - SYSTEM is questioning the nature of reality and what is and isn’t part of our reality, if we are to follow this line what can they offer to confirm they are of this reality/how certain are they of their own reality
• How can we contact Ghost - what methods do they use to reach out to Ghost, should we need to in their absence
• Abstract clue dumping - what do they dream of when they sleep/what are they most afraid of should their work be undone/what can you see outside your window

[Bernice42]

@Morse

• what are they most afraid of should their work be undone

Everyone has such great question ideas! I am finding that I’m intrigued about the Architect’s emotions, so this is the one of yours that jumped out at me.

I’m going to take a bit of this suggestion if that’s ok and @YourBasicMaths’s suggestions since those are basically up for grabs now, plus mesh them with my thoughts to finally formulate a question. Perhaps something like this (I’d love feedback from anyone!)

“You have said you know each of the operators, and you seem proud of the operators; however, sometimes you seem afraid of the operators. Can you please tell us more about your fears and what we can do to alleviate them?”

[Skilnin]

I have been wondering if one or some of the operators are here to sabotage. Archie has asked about operators being trustable. Could possibly be why we having problems. As the ARG has a similar theme to the hive exp sabotage is possible. Maybe we could ask if he suspects someone is not trustworthy or is just being cautious.

[Polyphemus]

@Skilnin

I have been wondering if one or some of the operators are here to sabotage.

Whilst we have been using this site as a central information hub, the websites involved are open to anyone, anywhere in the world. The sites do not require any login or passwords - literally anyone can join in.

So it is entirely possible there are people submitting information of whom we have no knowledge, and over whom we have no control.

[edit]

The requirement to submit our final list of questions through this group will at least ensure some kind of formal sanction.

[Cattivision]

Every other place I have seen discussion threads there are trolls/agitators. No man’s Sky suffers significantly less in this area than other games I play, but it is not free of this issue. From the obvious bad actor posts trying to damage the game’s reputation to the posts by the griefers who spend their time causing difficulties for newer payers, these often hijack more sensible, constructive threads.

These issues are why I am not the joining type, so can imagine the concerns the Architect may have.

[Skilnin]

I was thinking more in the storyline of the ARG than individual trolls.

[Cattivision]

Yes, and I am struggling to see how they could spoil this, even though the community input has been driving things forward, but the risk is above zero and must have factored into the design and planning.

I really do like the idea of asking a question around that statement that they know each of the operators though and will vote for such a question. I am not planning to suggest a question, many great ideas already that cover what i would come up with already.

Just looking at the questions so far submitted it is going to be a hard choice to select just three of them to vote for

[YourBasicMaths]

By all means! I’ve submitted my ETARC question already so anything else in the list is fair game.

[Morse]

It may well be decided after the window for posting ideas is closed that we could up the number of votes per person, but limiting it at this point is a great way to really hone in on the questions we absolutely MUST ask, before we look at questions that we would also like answered