Question 1

What is Diegetic Terminals?

Accepted Answer

Diegetic Terminals is a cloud-based, real-time platform for building interactive terminal props. Create terminals with custom themes, access controls, and multi-state buttons, then share them securely with others.

Question 2

Is this a diegetic interface?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The terminal itself is a diegetic prop: a control panel that exists inside your fiction rather than a menu sitting on top of it. Operators read, type, and click at an in-universe console instead of through an app UI. A Database extends that same idea into a diegetic reference library your operators can browse on their own during a session, and between sessions too if the host allows it.

Question 3

What can I use Diegetic Terminals for?

Accepted Answer

Diegetic Terminals works for any interactive experience. Common uses include tabletop role-playing games (Alien RPG, Mothership, Cyberpunk), escape rooms, story-driven experiences, and diegetic reference libraries your operators browse themselves. Customize buttons, themes, and behaviors to match your specific needs.

Question 4

Do I need an account to try it?

Accepted Answer

You can browse the site without an account. To create terminals and invite operators, you'll need at least a free account with verified email.

Question 5

Do I need to verify my email?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Email verification is required before accessing protected areas (e.g., Dashboard, terminal creation) to prevent abuse and ensure account recovery.

Question 6

Which browsers are supported?

Accepted Answer

We support the latest versions of Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari. For best performance, use a modern Chromium-based browser.

Question 7

Is there a free plan?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every new account starts with a free 14-day Pro trial, no credit card required, with up to 10 terminals, all button types, and 20 MB storage. Subscribe to Basic ($2.99/mo) or Pro ($5.99/mo) any time to keep your account active after the trial.

Question 8

What features are in each subscription tier?

Accepted Answer

Basic and Pro share the same terminal, sharing, and button limits (up to 10 terminals, joining up to 10 shared terminals, 20 buttons per column, all button types), plus multiple sound themes on every plan. They differ only in storage, theme editing, and TTRPG integration: Basic ($2.99/mo) gives 100 MB storage with no theme editor and no TTRPG integration; Pro ($5.99/mo) gives 250 MB storage, the theme editor, and TTRPG integration (Alien RPG today, more systems planned).

Question 9

Can I cancel anytime?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Cancel anytime from your account. Your account automatically moves to the Free tier with no further charges.

Question 10

What is the Desktop Edition?

Accepted Answer

The Desktop Edition is a one-time purchase that runs Diegetic Terminals locally on your Windows PC. You host sessions from your own machine — no monthly subscription, no cloud fees. Players still join from any browser. Your terminal data is stored on your computer.

Question 11

How is the Desktop Edition different from the Cloud Edition?

Accepted Answer

The Cloud Edition is hosted by us — nothing to install, always online, with monthly subscription plans. The Desktop Edition is a one-time purchase that runs on your own Windows PC. Both use the same account system. The Desktop Edition suits GMs who prefer local control and a one-time cost; the Cloud Edition is simpler to get started.

Question 12

Do I need an active subscription to use the Desktop Edition?

Accepted Answer

No. The Desktop Edition is a separate one-time purchase. Once purchased, no ongoing subscription is required. You will need a Diegetic Terminals account to sign in and activate your license, but no paid tier is needed.

Question 13

How do remote players connect to a Desktop Edition session?

Accepted Answer

Players on the same local network connect via the address shown in the app. For remote players, use port forwarding or a free tunneling tool like ngrok to create a public URL. See the Desktop Connection Guide for step-by-step instructions.

Question 14

What types of buttons and states are supported?

Accepted Answer

Buttons support audio, image galleries, information display, password protection, YouTube videos, toggle states, door locks, Google Docs/Sheets embedding, keypads, and maps. Button presses, modal open/close, and most state changes sync in real-time across all participants. Audio and YouTube play/pause also sync in Cloud Edition and Desktop LAN sessions.

Question 15

Is it real-time?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Button presses, toggle and door state, lock status, and shared modals sync in real-time to all participants. Audio and YouTube playback controls sync across connected clients in Cloud Edition and Desktop LAN sessions.

Question 16

How many users can interact with a terminal at once?

Accepted Answer

Sessions scale for typical tabletop/group use. Extremely large simultaneous participant counts may degrade performance.

Question 17

What happens if the owner closes their browser?

Accepted Answer

If configured by the owner, terminals automatically lock when the owner leaves or closes the browser, preventing further interaction until they return.

Question 18

Can I export or import terminal configurations?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Owners can export a terminal to JSON and later import it to another terminal or account. Unsupported pro features gracefully downgrade during import.

Question 19

What is the countdown timer?

Accepted Answer

The countdown timer lets the host run a synced on-screen clock for all connected operators. Open it from the stopwatch icon in the terminal header, set a duration and expiry action, then start. Everyone sees the same remaining time; the host can pause, add time, or stop from a small control dock. Press T (host only) to quick-start with your saved defaults.

Question 20

Can a macro start a countdown automatically?

Accepted Answer

Yes. When editing a macro in the Atmosphere panel, enable "Start countdown when macro fires" and set the duration and expiry action. Firing that macro runs the atmosphere scene and starts the timer in one step.

Question 21

What happens when a countdown reaches zero?

Accepted Answer

The host chooses the outcome when starting the timer: Shutdown (power-down animation), Break (glass shatter), or Explode (overload effect). Each plays a matching sound and cinematic, then the screen goes black briefly and the terminal locks for operators. The host can continue working while operators see the lock screen.

Question 22

What is the Atmosphere panel?

Accepted Answer

The Atmosphere panel (globe icon in the terminal header, host/operate only) controls live visual and audio mood: warning/critical states, glitches, signal degradation, CRT effects, and sounds. Quick scenes are one-click presets; Macros are named recipes you can save and fire during play, optionally with an attached countdown.

Question 23

Can I change the look of the terminal?

Accepted Answer

Yes, via Terminal Settings (palette icon in the header, host only). Choose from nine visual presets — Classic, Alien, Spaceship, Horror, Retro, Cyberpunk, Military, Synthwave, and Arctic — each bundling a color palette, font, door style, and sound theme. You can also enable CRT intensity, weather effects (Rain, Snow, Storm, Wind, or Fog rendered as a WebGL overlay), signal degradation, atmosphere mode, bezel styles, and a boot sequence animation. All settings save to the terminal and sync to every connected user. The same options are available on a Database under Database Settings.

Question 24

What are encrypted buttons?

Accepted Answer

Information, Image, Video, and Audio buttons can be marked encrypted from the button editor. Locked content is fully obscured and non-interactive — scrambled text, a blurred image, a paused video frame, or a silent waveform — until it's decrypted. If an Alien RPG game is active, operators decrypt it with a Wits + Comtech stat check; otherwise the host reveals it manually from a Solution panel. See the User Guide for full details.

Question 25

Does the terminal support Alien RPG mechanics?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Selecting Alien RPG (Core or Evolved) in Game Settings lets operators enter character stats and adds dice-pool skill checks to hacking (a Comtech check) and doors (a Force or Bypass check), plus a header button with nine standalone GM tools (Combat Tracker, NPC/Creature/Ship generators, and more). It's entirely optional — terminals work normally with no game selected. TTRPG integration is available on every plan except Basic.

Question 26

What is a Database?

Accepted Answer

A Database is a diegetic reference library: browsable content that exists inside your fiction rather than off to the side of it. Unlike a Terminal, where everyone shares one screen, every operator explores a Database independently on their own device, at their own pace. It suits character dossiers, star charts, cargo manifests, bestiaries, and any lore your table looks things up in during play. Create one from the Databases tab in your dashboard.

Question 27

What's the difference between a Terminal and a Database?

Accepted Answer

A Terminal is built around one shared screen: navigation and popups sync to everyone, driven by you or any operator you set to Can Operate, and you can gate content behind doors, hacking puzzles, keypads, passwords, and encryption, then fire countdowns and live atmosphere effects on cue. A Database is a reference library: each operator browses independently, can search by name, and none of the interactive layer applies. Doors, security protocols, encryption, countdowns, and live effects are all turned off in a Database, and the Can View access level does not exist there because there is no shared screen to watch. Both count toward the same plan limit.

Question 28

Can I convert a Terminal into a Database?

Accepted Answer

No. The type is chosen when you create it and cannot be changed afterwards. Pick the one that fits what you are building, and create a new one if you change your mind. Click the info icon beside the Terminals or Databases tab in your dashboard for a full comparison before you decide.

Question 29

How do Operators work in a Database?

Accepted Answer

Each operator browses a Database independently instead of sharing one screen, and they are never redirected or shown a "session moved" notice when you switch terminals. Media opens directly for them with no need for you to be present. Databases offer only Can Operate and Cannot Access, since there is no shared screen for a viewer to watch, plus a separate per-operator "Available Offline" tick that decides who can browse while you are away.

Question 30

Can operators use a Database when I am not online?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but it is off by default and granted per operator. Open the database, go to Manage Access, and tick "Available Offline" next to each operator who should be able to browse it between sessions. Anyone not ticked can only use it while you have it open. Locking the database from the terminal header still shuts everyone out, whatever is ticked.

Question 31

Can I give some operators offline access to a Database but not others?

Accepted Answer

Yes. "Available Offline" is a per-operator setting in Manage Access, so you can let a couple of trusted operators read the archive between sessions while everyone else can only browse when you are online.

Question 32

Do Databases count toward my plan limit?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Terminals and Databases share one limit, so a plan allowing 10 owned terminals allows 10 terminals and databases combined.

Question 33

Can I search a Database?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Databases have a search box above the columns that matches button names at any depth and jumps straight to the entry. It searches names rather than the text inside Information content, and it is local to each reader, so searching never moves anyone else screen. Terminals do not have search.

Question 34

How do operators and access work?

Accepted Answer

Invite operators from your dashboard Operators tab. Assign them to terminals and set Can Operate, Can View, or Cannot Access per terminal. Revoke access by removing an operator from your roster.

Question 35

How are terminals secured from unauthorized edits?

Accepted Answer

Terminals are secured at the account level. Only the account owner can create, edit, or delete terminals. Email verification, MFA support, and secure session handling protect your account, and by extension, all your terminals.

Question 36

Do you support MFA and security best practices?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can enable TOTP-based multi-factor authentication (MFA) for your account.

Question 37

What data do you store?

Accepted Answer

We store your terminal configurations and access control lists in Firebase. We do not store your payment details; Stripe handles payments securely.

Question 38

How is data and activity monitored?

Accepted Answer

We use Google Analytics 4 for aggregate usage, Sentry for error/performance (with privacy safeguards), and do not store card details—Stripe handles payments. reCAPTCHA & App Check help prevent automated abuse.

Question 39

How are videos and documents handled?

Accepted Answer

We store only metadata (link, type). Content itself is streamed or embedded from external providers (e.g., YouTube, Google Docs). Adjust sharing settings on external services for participant access.

Question 40

How do you handle abuse or spam?

Accepted Answer

We use rate limits, reCAPTCHA Enterprise, Firebase App Check, and server-side validation to prevent abuse. Report issues via the Contact form.

Question 41

Will there be maintenance or downtime?

Accepted Answer

Occasional maintenance may occur. Planned maintenance modes will limit portions of the app while keeping public pages available. Your data remains intact.

Question 42

How do I report a bug or request a feature?

Accepted Answer

Use the Contact form or join our Discord community to share bugs and feature requests. We value all feedback for continuous improvement.

Question 43

How do I get help?

Accepted Answer

Visit our Contact page or join our Discord community to get support and connect with other users.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's covered

Getting Started

Cloud Edition

Desktop Edition

Features

Diegetic Databases

Data & Privacy

Reliability & Support