D'niWeb

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The content of this page is a "work-in-progress" and is subject to change. Do not place undue reliance on the completeness or accuracy of the material presented here!

Purpose

The KI is a good communication tool, but it is not made for all types of content. Specifically, it is not made for automated messages, webpages, or forums. Similarly, internet browsers are good communication tools. However, many people don't know about Uru opportunities online, or don't spend much free time online to look at all the forums and information. It is especially difficult to do so while in the game itself. D'niWeb would be an in-game "internet browser" allowing a completely logical connection to several useful sites and materials.

Explanation (IC, with some OOC description)

The basic explanation for D'niWeb is that the DRC or some other entity has installed some servers in the cavern for local internet connection. Explorers are given a laptop bag (a special item of clothing, or perhaps one that can be turned on and off for certain clothing options), and bring their laptops to the Ages (however, the internet connection only works in Ae'gura and maybe the 'hoods).

Components of D'niWeb

Laptop

Every explorer has a laptop (we can't have anybody supplying everyone with laptops, because nobody has the IC funds to do so). They bring it along with them by selecting the Laptop bag (example [1])over their clothing (not all clothing would allow it, as it would be sort of ridiculous to wear it outside of a maintainer suit or something). The laptop can be brought up similarly to the way that KIs or Relto books are brought up. When this is done, the avatar sits down and goes through an animation of pulling out and opening up the generic laptop. In first person mode, the laptop "screen" fills the entire screen.

Interface

The Interface would be some generic computer interface. There would not be many programs on the computer.

Internet

On opening the "internet browser", the player would arrive at a local connection (obviously it is too costly to sink internet cables into the depth of the earth simply to bring internet connection to a bunch of explorers). This would host (either the way they are now, or special versions optimized for D'niWeb viewing) the DRC site, Guild sites, etc. As noted before, internet connection would only work in certain areas of the D'ni caverns.

Cavern Alert System

This would be an in-game information conduit. Registered people (anyone who the shard admins let through, just to keep out bots or trolls) would be able to write up short pieces of information. "Bahro seen in Negilahn." "Guild of Writer's party in the GoW Bevin, Tuesday 5-8" "New Age found!" etc.

Blogs

All explorers would be allowed a blog or personal website. They could post journal entries, talk about their stats, whatever, all in character. This would allow people to get to know everyone else, and share their stories.

Quests

Another website you could visit would be a sort of quest log. You would have an "offline" quest editor (so you could edit quests in the Ages instead of having to remember everything and go back to the cavern each time) to make your own "quests" or "journeys". The interface is simple. You can add or remove any amount of "steps". Inside each step, you can put text and maybe pictures. These can be instructions "now find three cones", "open the door and go to the next Age", or statements "You have seen the Least, but have you seen the Proud? They are coming.", "I like this spot, it is a useful place to take pictures of people - nice lighting", or anything you want. You then "upload" this quest (once you get back to the cavern) to the main site. People can search this site (on their in-game laptops) and "download" quests. They can then open the quest with another "program". Each step is covered (like spoiler tags, or how hints are shown in many cases) until they click on it. They progress through the quest step by step at whatever speed they want. When they are done, they can click "completed". On the website for the quests, you can see who completed what quests (they can do the steps out of order, or just click completed, or go straight for the reward [telling them about some cool place you found, inviting them to discussions or lessons at certain times, etc.] - however, they will be embarrassed if anyone asks them about something they said they finished but never looked at ["oh hi. I'll show you the new hidden T-shirt I found, but first, what did you think of the Watcher's quote I told you to look at after you went through Ahnonay?"]) IC explanation - Some explorer got bored and wrote the program for fun (as a game - he'd(she'd) make quests and challenge his friends to them). The DRC might have found it useful to keep their workers up to date (it would give a step-by-step instruction on what tasks needed to be done, and the completed logs would tell the worker if the task had been done yet). More explorers started using it because it was fun, or because they want to do something, or whatever.

CD's/DVD's

Another way to get stuff for your laptop would be CD's and DVD's that could be scattered around. These could include videos, pictures, "desktop backgrounds", text documents, or music files. They could be used as clues for Ages or journeys, or as rewards. See Cleft 2.0 (scroll down to Idea 3: DVD Player) for one place this could be used.