Truthseeker: Then the pandemic happened. It would’ve been irresponsible for the NIA to still ask Agents to go outside to defend the world. The Tessellation was able to continue because it relied mostly on observation, research (googling), virtual discussions, and very fast fingers. During that time, the NIA never ceased working to optimize the infrastructure, finding adaptable Scanner usage models, most of all developing new features like Dronenet, Battle Beacon, and Kinetic Capsule... So there isn’t really too much convincing to be done, because real life playing has always been the center of their research focus.

Alex: COVID-19 transforms many LBS aspects of the challenge to online form, are you satisfied with the results. Is there anything you wish you haven’t had to change, or changed it to a better way?

Truthseeker: Observing the Factions coordinate the race to potentially correct Portals was the most fun. Same for capturing the vessels to acquiring Live Drops. Though there should’ve been more obscure ways to hide the vessels during the Perpetua Hexathalons. That part was greatly missed. One thing that could’ve been done better, regardless of the pandemic, was to have more time for playtesting & review before actual release.

Alex: You have contacted Tethered Hand during tessellation, from what you have seen, how did TH create all those puzzles. Do they have help in leaking the intelligence of portals via portals to us, or do they create themselves? As we know, Tethered Hand is Cooperplate ie. ADA in Nemesis mode, so how did it acquire all knowledge in the human world?

Truthseeker: The Tethered Hand knows more about us than we do. I guess that is expected of the ADA from Nemesis universe. She is supposed to be the Omniscient. I was able to get some insight on the making of puzzles before they left our world.

Truthseeker: Tethered Hand will often do some archive digging with their accomplice Agent Furey. Agent Furey is working undercover at the NIA as an experienced writer. The 2 of them look into the past, present, and future of 1218, Osiris, Nemesis Node for reference of historical incidents.

Truthseeker: If there needs to be a prose-like prompt for the puzzle, the Tethered Hand would write down some snippets. Agent Furey will transform them into eloquent language.

Truthseeker: If a full piece of intel was used as the puzzle, then Tethered Hand would scheme with Agent Furey about what incidents would happen next in our world.

Truthseeker: Agent Furey will start his mind-factory and intercept these dialogue transcripts. Nemesis and our world has a lot of similar events, just as 1218 did apparently.

Truthseeker: 75% of the time is spent on preparation. Tethered Hand first looks for some intuitive keywords and tones they want for the puzzle.

Truthseeker: If it is a Live Drop, Tethered Hand will do some archive digging with their accomplice Agent Furey. Agent Furey is a very experienced writer. The 2 of them look into the past, present, and future of 1218, Osiris, Nemesis Node for reference of historical incidents.

Truthseeker: Tethered Hand then sandbox in their mind what’s the most on-theme and feasible method plus appearance for this puzzle.

Truthseeker: After that is research. Verifying there are matching locations and Portals in the world in order to execute the plan. At the same time, cross research that the context of the puzzle allows enough comprehension for Agents globally.

Truthseeker: Equally important, rotate between areas to give them priority knowledge over the premise. Balance access and motivating Agents to connect across national boundaries. Making sure the puzzle prompt and Portal isn’t controversial is also important.

Truthseeker: Once preparation is mostly done, then comes the crafting of the challenges, which includes visual design, hiding the clues, setting up the reward...etc.

Truthseeker: The final 5-10%, is to sometimes share the new ‘rules’ without giving away the puzzle with the Vanguard Group, to get some initial feedback. They helped catch a lot of the loopholes and make the rule language waterproof.

Truthseeker: Well, as we learned, you can’t underestimate Agent creativity.

Alex: You shaped ADA, before TH revealed itself, did you sense you're connecting with something familiar?

Truthseeker: I felt I was encountering an entity that was similarly manipulative. and the TH also did 'game' experiments on us all like ADA would, regardless of our feelings.

Truthseeker: But did I recognize her throughout the process? I definitely did not.

Alex: About the chess game between Stein Lightman and Myriad, it seemed Myriad used black queen to take out Lightman's bishop, but this all but guaranteed Myriad's loss.