Quill Cabinet: Cipher School, a Radio Word Game

About Quill Cabinet: Cipher School

KQLC is a small art-deco radio station out on the prairie, its mast blinking red over the wheat. On storm nights the whole county listens, and every word counts: a breeze is not a gale, and a calm voice keeps people safe. The station’s night school teaches new announcers how to choose.

A night on the air is three programmes, from the six o’clock forecast to the warning bulletin. Each lesson card teaches one rule of the exact word (the forecast scale, the on-air voice, the calm voice, the exact report, the sound picture or the plain warning) and ranks every word of a worked example, with the reason. Then you go on air: a bulletin of five lines, each with a gap and four near-synonyms on the console’s chrome preset keys. Press the one that fits best. The VU needle swings to every word’s fit, and exact words in a row multiply your points.

Read a clear bulletin, an average fit of 75, without calling the producer and the programme is mastered: the storm wall lifts, gold light pours over the wheat and a double rainbow arcs across the sky. The producer can rule out two words on a line, but a programme read with help comes round again on a later night. There is no clock. A night takes about five to ten minutes, and your progress stays on this device.

How to play

Read the lesson card: it names the rule and ranks every word of a worked example, with the reason.
On air, each line of the bulletin has a gap and four near-synonyms on preset keys. Press the one that fits best, or press 1 to 4.
The VU needle and the keys then show how well every word fits, out of 100, with notes. Exact words in a row multiply your points.
A bulletin of five lines that averages 75 or more is clear. Read it clear without the producer to master the programme.
The producer (H) rules out two words on a line. A night is three programmes; the ones not yet mastered air first.
Press Escape or Start to pause. There is no clock.

Controls

Press a preset key, or 1 to 4 — read that word on air
Arrow keys or D-pad — move between keys; Enter or Ⓐ — read, then next line
H or Ⓧ — call the producer (two words ruled out; not mastered)
C or Ⓨ — fold the cue strip
Escape or Start — pause

Frequently asked questions

How are the words scored?

Each word has its own fit for that line, out of 100. The exact word scores in full; close ones score part of it. After each word the VU needle and the keys show every word’s fit, with a short note on why.

What does mastering a programme mean?

Reading its bulletin of five lines clear, an average fit of 75 or more, without calling the producer. A programme read with help, or fuzzy, airs again on a later night.

What does the producer do?

Once a line, the producer rules out the two weakest words, leaving the two closest. The programme can still be clear, but it is then read with help rather than mastered.

Is there a clock?

No. Take your time. Tonight’s daily schedule is the same three programmes for everyone.