Combined CAD

Combined CADs are a combination of Character Analysis Devices and Canon Analysis Devices. These were originally quite rare, especially with the passing of Makes-Things, but are gradually becoming more common around HQ.

Past combined CADs include:

Example Readout:
 * The SIELU Two-in-One CAD, the original experimental model designed for single-agent work.

The newest combined model is the Combined Content Analysis Device, or C-CAD, which was designed by the Testing and Application Division to be more resiliant (or at least more inclined to die quietly instead of exploding), and to share most of the functions from the original CADs and the older combined models. Besides more in-depth and combined readouts, it features a tense stabilizer and the ability to detect reality decay rates and assess how badly a story is damaging local canon.
 * The DOGA CAD. Consisting of a standard CAD with a module bolted to the side, this unit features a number of new functions, such as two-way radio to HQ, suggestions on what to do with a Mary-Sue, and the ability to alter the tense of a story as it applies to agents. Reportedly, after their CAD shut itself down in the middle of a mission, Agents Dafydd Illian and Selene Windflower declared them to be "too much trouble" and pulled the modification units back off. There are still some around, however--notably the one belonging to Crispin Reed, which has developed sentience and is now able to carry on a conversation with the people around it.

Readouts follow the format of Name / Species and Gender / Role / Condition / Recommendation.

Increasing Popularity
Due to their similar functions, the Canon Analysis Device and Character Analysis Device were always good candidates for combining into a single instrument; but the fragile nature of both pieces of equipment tended to encourage the DoSAT to keep making the cheaper, easier-to-repair separate devices. However, due to the DOGA and SIELU doing extensive field-testing of Combined devices, the bugs are being gradually worked out and cheaper and smaller components are being found.

The benefits of combined CADs include only having to carry one piece of equipment in a crowded backpack, needing to train new agents on only one piece of equipment, and being able to abbreviate the device's name to "CAD" without worrying about the ambiguity of that abbreviation. Many Combined CADs also offer extra functions, such as the removal of tense shifts or script format.

However, combined CADs are more expensive, and DoSAT is very likely to revoke your permission to use one if you break it (or even force you to go back to Litmus Strips). Older Combined CADS are often designed to shut themselves off or refuse to take readings in situations where damage is highly likely, making their usefulness for distinguishing highly OOC characters and character replacements limited.

Use in the Field

 * Example of SIELU CAD in operation: Defile Finrod's Name and Die!, Agent Lambda
 * The DOGA CAD first appears in "Woodsprite of the North" by Huinesoron
 * Agent Brightbeard uses a salvaged DOGA CAD to revert his team to third person in "The Dark Side" by Barid, Neshomeh, and Tungsten Monk
 * The C-CAD is first introduced in the files of the T&A Division, on the advent of its design.