Telephone network (no ontology)
From Mazeworld
The telephone network of Mazeworld is one of the most popular forms of telecommunications, alongside television and radio. It is mainly used to call other denizens of the Mazes, as well as services of varying nature; ranging from food orders to emergency calls.
Mobile phones
The network is almost exclusively a mobile phone network (the only exceptions being in the form of office standards and automated interactive services), with coverage in the entirety of the Mazes thanks to relay devices and beacons inconspicuously located in every room and in outside areas. This ensures any inhabitant of the Mazes may use the network at any given time from anywhere they desire, so long as their phone possesses enough battery power. Batteries can be found for sale in a workshop, in the crafting ingredient category.
Mobile phones are key items, but despite that, multiple ones can be owned. Whichever phone (and corresponding phone number) that is set as the key item is the one the Contestant will use for calling. Any additional phones past the first are treated as regular items, and each extra phone weighs 1 unit. Batteries are also regular items and may be kept and collected separately. Each separate battery weighs 0.1 unit.
Acquiring and calling contacts
More information: Contact call
Phone number structure
All phone numbers are built around the following model: XX-YYY-ZZZZ.
- The first set of digits (XX) is a calling type prefix, which divides phone numbers into major categories.
- The first X is 0 for most phone numbers, 9 for emergency services.
- The second X is a reserved code number ; 0 in most cases, and 1 in certain specific cases.
- The second set of digits (YYY) is an area code number,
- Every town has a distinct area code number.
- A mobile phone's area code depends on its real owner's town of residence. Certain mobile phones have a 000 area code, which denotes the owner of the phone either does not have a permanent residence, does not live in any one of the towns in the Mazes, or is otherwise exempt from using an area code for any other specific reason.
- The final set of digits (ZZZZ) is the telephone's unique number, in hexadecimal, rendering telephones in the Mazes unique. The range of unique numbers goes from 0000 to FFFF, which corresponds to 65 536 possible unique numbers for a given prefix and area code.
Phone numbers
Regular numbers
- Marcus McBride: 00-015-D103, obtained after completing M12.
Emergency
- The emergency services' number is 9. A further choice; 1 for Police, 2 for Medical assistance, will then be offered. It is also possible to directly dial 91 or 92 to access the relevant services without the choice meny.
The only exceptions to the 8-digit system, emergency numbers are 2-digit and begin with the 9 prefix, making those numbers easy to remember and dial quickly.
- Police line: 91
- Calling 91 leads the caller to a standard, which will ask for the reason of their call as well as the room number in which the caller is located. A team of two Maze Guards, armed with random weapons, will then be dispatched towards the calling room.
- The dispatched Guards will take 1d6+2 turns to arrive, and will react appropriately to any threat or illegal activity ongoing into this room.
- Medical assistance: 92
- Calling 92 leads the caller to a standard, which will ask for the reason of their call as well as the room number in which the caller is located. A nurse will then be dispatched there, or indicate the location of the closest hospital.
- The dispatched nurse will take 1d6+2 turns to arrive, and will attempt to heal the caller, or whoever needs the requested medical assistance. If the nurse is unable to heal sufficiently, they will give the location of the closest hospital.
- Any meds used by the nurse to treat patients will be marked up 150% of their value after checkout, to cover displacement costs.
Trivia
- The second X number in telephone numbers is in fact a reference code ; numbers with a 1 as their second prefix number denotes an unique phone number, which is associated to an unique character. This helps differentiating important numbers from less important ones.
