Rules

Making new rulebooks 


Rules occurring at given times

When play begins 
        (consider the scene changing rules)
        (let current node be the chat node after no quip chosen; ...) [E1]
        (init library messages; ...) [E2]
        (seed the random-number generator with 23481) 
        (change the left hand status line to "[bold type][location of the player][roman type] Blood: [blood of the player]/[permanent blood of the player] Zeal: [zeal of the player]/[permanent zeal of the player] [excitement of the player]") 
        (change the right hand status line to "Circle: [level of the player]") 
        (repeat with the patient running through people begin; ...) 
        (repeat with the patient running through people begin; ...) 
        (repeat with the patient running through people begin; ...) 
        (choose row 1 in Table of Basic Help Options; ...) 
Every turn 
        when the player is in the forest   
        when a hostile alive monster is enclosed by the location   
        when no hostile alive monster is enclosed by the location   
        when a not summoned hostile alive monster is enclosed by the location   
        when a summoned alive monster is enclosed by the location   
        when the bomb is enclosed by the location   
        when the player is poisonous   
        when a killed onholder monster is enclosed by the location   
        when the player is in the prison cell   
        when the fat prison guard is in the location   
        when the player is enclosed by the Guard Room   
        when the player is in The Muddy Path   
        when the player is in On Top of the Ruined Chapel   
        when the player is enclosed by By the Waterfall   
        when the small green snake is killed   
        decide whether the action prevents undo rule [E3]
        (if the noun is a thing and the noun is ambiguously plural, notice the plurality of the noun; ...) [E4]
        (if no hostile monster is alive enclosed by the location, now deadlier combat boolean is false) 
        (repeat with burner running through on fire persons begin; ...) 
        (if no alive monster is in the Bat Cave and the location of the player is not in the Bat Cave and a random chance of 1 in 10 succeeds begin; ...) 
        (repeat with the patient running through alive regenerating monsters begin; ...) 
        (repeat with the potential stick running through broken sticks of illumination begin; ...) 
        (if Alex is killed and Alex was not killed and Alex is hostile begin; ...) 
        when no hostile alive monster is enclosed by the location and no indifferent monster is enclosed by the location   
        when no hostile alive monster is enclosed by the location   
        (repeat with current person running through gaseous persons enclosed by the location begin; ...) 
        when a hostile alive monster is enclosed by the location  global combat variables rule 
When play ends 

Rules taking place when scenes begin and end can be found in the Scenes index.


Rules governing actions

Before 
        going west in Lesson Four - Concentrating for the first time   
        going west in Lesson Five - Defending for the first time   
        going east in the Corridor Outside Your Cell for the first time   
        going north in the prison cell   
        going northwest in Edge of the Swamp   
        retreating in Lesson Six - Retreating for the first time   
        doing something in The Captain's Office   
        examining a determinable   
        examining a detailer   

Reaching inside 
        can't reach inside rooms rule
        can't reach inside closed containers rule
        outcome  allow access - a success
        outcome  deny access - a failure
Reaching outside 
        can't reach outside closed containers rule
        outcome  allow access - a success
        outcome  deny access - a failure
Visibility 
        can't act in the dark rule
        outcome  there is sufficient light - a failure
        outcome  there is insufficient light - a success

Instead of 
        going up in the Trapped Staircase when the dungeon blade boolean is true   
        going nowhere from By the Rotting Tree for the first time   
        going nowhere from By the Rotting Tree for the second time   
        going nowhere from By the Rotting Tree for the third time   
        going north in The Castle's Courtyard   
        going south in The Castle's Courtyard   
        going up in Beneath the Pine Tree   
        going north in Beneath the pine tree   
        going south in Beneath the Pine Tree   
        going east in Beneath the Pine Tree   
        going up in The Ruined Chapel   
        examining the far-off path in The Ruined Chapel   
        going south in By the Waterfall   
        going up in By the Waterfall   
        examining the far-off path in By the Waterfall   
        going north in the Cave Behind the Waterfall   
        going north in Cave behind the Waterfall   
        smelling a room in The Captain's Office   
        listening to a room in The Muddy Path   
        listening to a room in By the Waterfall   
        listening to a room in Cave Behind the Waterfall   
        smelling a room in the forest   
        listening to a room in the forest   
        smelling a room in the swamp   
        listening to a room in the swamp   
        examining the brown jug for the first time   
        examining the heap of refuse for the first time   
        searching the heap of refuse for the first time   
        searching the heap of refuse for the second time   
        searching the heap of refuse for the third time   
        climbing the forest trees when a hostile alive monster is enclosed by the location   
        going down when the player is on a supporter   
        smashing the thick iron door when the thick iron door is unlocked   
        smashing the thick iron door when the thick iron door is locked   
        going up when the player is enclosed by the palisade   
        attacking or smashing Alex when Alex is indifferent   
        smelling the location when the player is contained by the courtyard   
        sleeping in the prison cell   
        going in The Castle's Courtyard   
        jumping in The Muddy Path   
        jumping in On Top of the Ruined Chapel   
        swimming in By the Waterfall   
        inserting something into the brown jug   
        asking someone about something   
        telling someone about something   
        throwing the flask of acid at an alive monster   
        putting the sword on something   
        inserting the sword into something   
        putting the guard's sword on something   
        inserting the guard's sword into something   
        throwing a fire grenade at something   
        examining the bomb   
        listening to the bomb   
        examining the golden hair   
        dropping the sword   
        examining the Blood Poster   
        examining the Zeal Poster   
        examining the Excitement Poster   
        examining the Circle Poster   
        examining the Deadly Combat Poster   
        examining the prisoner   
        examining the prison walls   
        attacking the prison walls   
        examining the thick iron door   
        attacking the thick iron door   
        examining the filthy straw   
        entering the filthy straw   
        getting off the filthy straw   
        entering the soft bed   
        getting off the soft bed   
        examining Orlando Furioso   
        taking the stale water   
        drinking the stale water   
        tasting the stale water   
        examining the stale water   
        taking the good white wine   
        drinking the good white wine   
        examining the good white wine   
        tasting the good white wine   
        examining the head   
        examining the fists   
        examining the guard's sword   
        dropping the guard's sword   
        examining the strange contraption   
        examining the huge blade   
        taking the blade   
        examining the guards' table   
        examining Alex   
        examining the Captain's key   
        entering the Captain's chair   
        examining the leaves   
        searching the leaves   
        taking the leaves   
        examining the forest trees   
        climbing the forest trees   
        examining the rotting plants   
        taking the rotting plants   
        eating the rotting plants   
        smelling the rotting plants   
        tasting the rotting plants   
        examining the small insects   
        listening to the small insects   
        taking the small insects   
        examining the stagnant water   
        drinking the stagnant water   
        tasting the stagnant water   
        entering the stagnant water   
        examining the swamp vegetation   
        taking the swamp vegetation   
        eating the swamp vegetation   
        examining the fort   
        examining the pine tree   
        attacking the shadowy movement   
        climbing the pine tree   
        attacking the pine tree   
        examining the pool of water   
        drinking the pool of water   
        examining the mud   
        taking the mud   
        searching the mud   
        examining the tracks   
        examining the ruined building between the trees   
        examining the ruined temple   
        climbing the ruined temple   
        examining the temple_roof   
        climbing the temple_roof   
        examining the moss-covered chest   
        attacking the moss-covered chest   
        unlocking the moss-covered chest with   
        examining the moss   
        eating the moss   
        searching the moss   
        examining the mosaic   
        examining the walls_temple   
        examining the stones_temple   
        taking the stones_temple   
        searching the stones_temple   
        examining the shafts of sunlight   
        examining the drops of water   
        examining the streaming sunlight   
        climbing the waterfal_wall   
        examining the waterfal_wall   
        examining the spray   
        drinking the waterfal_water   
        examining the waterfal_water   
        examining the waterfall   
        entering the waterfall   
        examining the faded painting   
        attacking the faded painting   
        taking the painting   
        examining the behind_the_waterfall   
        entering the behind_the_waterfall   
        entering the smaller path   
        examining the smaller path   
        entering the larger path   
        examining the larger path   
        examining the lonely oak tree   
        examining the wasps' nest   
        examining the ending path   
        examining the pool of black water   
        drinking the pool of black water   
        entering the pool of black water   
        examining the wooden palisade   
        burning the wooden palisade   
        examining the wooden doors   
        climbing the wooden doors   
        burning the wooden doors   
        climbing the wooden palisade   
        examining the palisade   
        burning the palisade   
        eating the excrement   
        taking the excrement   
        smelling the excrement   
        examining the excrement   
        examining the wrecked furniture   
        taking the wrecked furniture   
        burning the wrecked furniture   
        examining the primitive tools   
        taking the primitive tools   
        smelling the heap of refuse   
        examining the heap of refuse   
        searching the heap of refuse   
        examining the flask of acid   
        climbing the palisade   
        getting off the palisade   
        examining the entrance   
        taking or attacking the moss   
        taking or drinking the drops of water   
        taking, pushing or pulling the bomb   
        taking or pushing or pulling the chest   
        climbing, taking, searching, entering, looking under, opening, closing, attacking, kissing, smelling, tasting, eating or drinking the ruined building between the trees   
        giving text for no quip chosen   [E1]
        learning a skill listed in the Table of Player Skills   
        giving link to c_silence   
        giving text for c_silence   
        finding responses to c_silence   
        giving text for c_determinable_1   
        finding responses to c_determinable_1   
        giving link to c_determinable_2   
        giving text for c_determinable_2   
        finding responses to c_determinable_2   
        giving link to c_determinable_3   
        giving text for c_determinable_3   
        finding responses to c_determinable_3   
        giving link to c_determinable_4   
        giving text for c_determinable_4   
        finding responses to c_determinable_4   
        examining the player   
        giving text for c_intro   
        finding responses to c_intro   
        giving link to c_intro_2   
        giving text for c_intro_2   
        finding responses to c_intro_2   
        giving link to c_intro_3   
        giving text for c_intro_3   
        finding responses to c_intro_3   
        giving link to c_intro_4   
        giving text for c_intro_4   
        finding responses to c_intro_4   
        giving link to c_intro_5   
        giving text for c_intro_5   
        finding responses to c_intro_5   
        giving link to c_intro_6   
        giving text for c_intro_6   
        finding responses to c_intro_6   
        giving link to c_intro_7   
        giving text for c_intro_7   
        finding responses to c_intro_7   
        giving link to c_intro_8   
        giving text for c_intro_8   
        finding responses to c_intro_8   
        giving link to c_intro_9   
        giving text for c_intro_9   
        giving link to c_intro_10   
        giving text for c_intro_10   
        giving text for c_prison_1   
        finding responses to c_prison_1   
        giving link to c_prison_2   
        giving text for c_prison_2   
        finding responses to c_prison_2   
        giving link to c_prison_3   
        giving text for c_prison_3   
        finding responses to c_prison_3   
        giving link to c_prison_4   
        giving text for c_prison_4   
        finding responses to c_prison_4   
        giving link to c_prison_5   
        giving text for c_prison_5   
        finding responses to c_prison_5   
        giving link to c_prison_6   
        giving text for c_prison_6   
        giving text for c_prison_jug_1   
        finding responses to c_prison_jug_1   
        giving link to c_prison_jug_2   
        giving text for c_prison_jug_2   
        finding responses to c_prison_jug_2   
        giving link to c_prison_jug_3   
        giving text for c_prison_jug_3   
        finding responses to c_prison_jug_3   
        giving link to c_prison_jug_4   
        giving text for c_prison_jug_4   
        finding responses to c_prison_jug_4   
        giving link to c_prison_jug_5   
        giving text for c_prison_jug_5   
        finding responses to c_prison_jug_5   
        giving text for c_prison_next_1   
        finding responses to c_prison_next_1   
        giving text for c_prison_next_2   
        finding responses to c_prison_next_2   
        giving link to c_prison_next_3   
        giving text for c_prison_next_3   
        finding responses to c_prison_next_3   
        giving link to c_prison_next_4   
        giving text for c_prison_next_4   
        finding responses to c_prison_next_4   
        giving link to c_prison_next_5   
        giving text for c_prison_next_5   
        finding responses to c_prison_next_5   
        giving link to c_prison_next_6   
        giving text for c_prison_next_6   
        finding responses to c_prison_next_6   
        giving link to c_prison_next_7   
        giving text for c_prison_next_7   
        finding responses to c_prison_next_7   
        giving link to c_prison_next_8   
        giving text for c_prison_next_8   
        finding responses to c_prison_next_8   
        giving link to c_prison_next_9   
        giving text for c_prison_next_9   
        finding responses to c_prison_next_9   
        giving text for c_prison_trap_1   
        finding responses to c_prison_trap_1   
        giving link to c_prison_trap_2   
        giving text for c_prison_trap_2   
        finding responses to c_prison_trap_2   
        giving link to c_prison_trap_3   
        giving text for c_prison_trap_3   
        finding responses to c_prison_trap_3   
        giving text for c_prison_trap_4   
        finding responses to c_prison_trap_4   
        giving link to c_prison_trap_5   
        giving text for c_prison_trap_5   
        finding responses to c_prison_trap_5   
        giving link to c_prison_trap_6   
        giving text for c_prison_trap_6   
        finding responses to c_prison_trap_6   
        giving link to c_prison_trap_7   
        giving text for c_prison_trap_7   
        finding responses to c_prison_trap_7   
        giving link to c_prison_trap_8   
        giving text for c_prison_trap_8   
        finding responses to c_prison_trap_8   
        giving link to c_prison_trap_9   
        giving text for c_prison_trap_9   
        finding responses to c_prison_trap_9   
        giving text for c_Alex_1   
        finding responses to c_Alex_1   
        giving link to c_Alex_2   
        giving text for c_Alex_2   
        finding responses to c_Alex_2   
        giving link to c_Alex_3   
        giving text for c_Alex_3   
        finding responses to c_Alex_3   
        giving link to c_Alex_4   
        giving text for c_Alex_4   
        finding responses to c_Alex_4   
        giving link to c_Alex_5   
        giving text for c_Alex_5   
        finding responses to c_Alex_5   
        giving link to c_Alex_6   
        giving text for c_Alex_6   
        finding responses to c_Alex_6   
        giving link to c_Alex_7   
        giving text for c_Alex_7   
        finding responses to c_Alex_7   
        giving link to c_Alex_8   
        giving text for c_Alex_8   
        finding responses to c_Alex_8   
        giving link to c_Alex_99   
        giving text for c_Alex_99   
        finding responses to c_Alex_99   
        giving text for c_Alex_100   
        finding responses to c_Alex_100   
        giving link to c_Alex_fatality_2   
        giving text for c_Alex_fatality_2   
        finding responses to c_Alex_fatality_2   
        giving link to c_Alex_fatality_3   
        giving text for c_Alex_fatality_3   
        finding responses to c_Alex_fatality_3   
        giving link to c_Alex_fatality_4   
        giving text for c_Alex_fatality_4   
        finding responses to c_Alex_fatality_4   
        giving text for c_Alex_defeated_1   
        finding responses to c_Alex_defeated_1   
        giving link to c_Alex_defeated_2   
        giving text for c_Alex_defeated_2   
        finding responses to c_Alex_defeated_2   
        giving link to c_Alex_defeated_3   
        giving text for c_Alex_defeated_3   
        finding responses to c_Alex_defeated_3   
        giving link to c_Alex_defeated_4   
        giving text for c_Alex_defeated_4   
        finding responses to c_Alex_defeated_4   
        giving link to c_Alex_defeated_5   
        giving text for c_Alex_defeated_5   
        finding responses to c_Alex_defeated_5   
        giving link to c_Alex_defeated_6   
        giving text for c_Alex_defeated_6   
        finding responses to c_Alex_defeated_6   
        giving link to c_Alex_defeated_7   
        giving text for c_Alex_defeated_7   
        finding responses to c_Alex_defeated_7   
        giving link to c_Alex_defeated_8   
        giving text for c_Alex_defeated_8   
        finding responses to c_Alex_defeated_8   
        giving link to c_Alex_defeated_9   
        giving text for c_Alex_defeated_9   
        finding responses to c_Alex_defeated_9   
        giving link to c_Alex_defeated_10   
        giving text for c_Alex_defeated_10   
        finding responses to c_Alex_defeated_10   
        giving text for c_Waterfall   
        finding responses to c_Waterfall   
        giving link to c_Waterfall_yes   
        giving text for c_Waterfall_yes   
        giving link to c_Waterfall_no   
        giving text for c_Waterfall_no   
        giving text for c_Palisade   
        finding responses to c_Palisade   
        giving link to c_Palisade_in   
        giving text for c_Palisade_in   
        giving link to c_Palisade_out   
        giving text for c_Palisade_out   
        listening to a killed monster   
        touching an alive monster   
        tasting an alive monster   
        listening to an alive wild boar   
        touching a killed wild boar   
        tasting a killed wild boar   
        listening to an alive dog   
        touching a killed dog   
        tasting a killed dog   
        listening to an alive snake   
        touching a killed snake   
        tasting a killed snake   
        listening to an alive mud crab   
        touching a killed mud crab   
        tasting a killed mud crab   
        listening to an alive water serpent   
        touching a killed water serpent   
        tasting a killed water serpent   
        listening to an alive giant mud crab   
        touching a killed giant mud crab   
        tasting a killed giant mud crab   
        listening to an alive troll   
        touching a killed troll   
        tasting a killed troll   
        listening to an alive young troll   
        touching a killed young troll   
        tasting a killed young troll   
        listening to an alive straw being   
        touching a killed straw being   
        tasting a killed straw being   
        examining a killed tarrasque   
        listening to an alive tarrasque   
        touching a killed tarrasque   
        tasting a killed tarrasque   
        examining a Groth Idol   
        examining an Elda Idol   
        examining a Duncan Idol   
        examining a Shliss Idol   
        examining a wild boar   
        smelling a wild boar   
        examining a doberman   
        examining a pit-bull   
        examining a terrier   
        examining a bouvier   
        examining a German shepherd   
        examining a Rhodesian Ridgeback   
        examining a dog   
        smelling a dog   
        examining a snake   
        smelling a snake   
        examining a mud crab   
        smelling a mud crab   
        examining a water serpent   
        smelling a water serpent   
        examining a giant mud crab   
        smelling a giant mud crab   
        examining a troll   
        smelling a troll   
        examining a young troll   
        smelling a young troll   
        examining a straw being   
        smelling a straw being   
        examining a tarrasque   
        smelling a tarrasque   
        examining a stick of guarding   
        attacking a stick of guarding   
        examining healing herbs   
        eating healing herbs   
        examining a fire grenade   
        throwing a fire grenade   
        examining a stick of illumination   
        attacking a stick of illumination   
        throwing something   
        going or retreating when an alive indifferent bouvier is enclosed by the location   
        going down, jumping or exiting when the player is enclosed by the palisade   
        attacking or smashing or opening or banging when the player is enclosed by the filthy straw   
        attacking or smashing or opening or banging when the player is enclosed by the soft bed   
        swimming   
        xyzzying   
        waking up   
        kissing   
        saying yes   
        saying no   
        waiting   
        waving hands   
        jumping   
        singing   
        sleeping   
        default outcome is failure

After 
        attacking in Lesson Three - Attacking for the first time   
        attacking in Lesson Three - Attacking for the second time   
        concentrating in Lesson Four - Concentrating for the first time   
        concentrating in Lesson Four - Concentrating for the second time   
        concentrating in Lesson Four - Concentrating for the third time   
        parrying in Lesson Five - Defending for the first time   
        parrying in Lesson Five - Defending for the second time   
        dodging in Lesson Five - Defending for the first time   
        dodging in Lesson Five - Defending for the second time   
        spinning the strange contraption to for the first time   
        entering the ruined temple for the first time   
        taking an idol for the first time   
        attacking in Lesson Four - Concentrating   
        entering the guards' table   
        getting off the guards' table   
        entering the waterfal_water   
        going   
        default outcome is success

Does the player mean 
        entering the ruined temple   
        taking something which is carried by the player  very unlikely to mean taking what's already carried rule
        attacking a hostile alive monster   
        smashing a hostile alive monster   
        attacking a killed monster   
        smashing a killed person   
        attacking a broken stick of illumination   
        outcome  it is very likely - a success
        outcome  it is likely - a success
        outcome  it is possible - a success
        outcome  it is unlikely - a success
        outcome  it is very unlikely - a success
Persuasion 
        outcome  persuasion succeeds - a success
        outcome  persuasion fails - a failure
Unsuccessful attempt by 
        default outcome is success

Rules for checking, carrying out and reporting on actions can be found in the Actions index. Summary of action rules 


Before, for and after activities

Printing the name 
    before     a room in a dungeon   
    before     a thing (called the item being printed)  make named things mentioned rule
    for         xyzzied tarrasque   
    for         stones_temple   
    for         behind_the_waterfall   
    for         player   [E2]
    for         standard name printing rule
        default outcome is success
    after       a killed monster while not grouping together   
    after       an alive monster while asking which do you mean   
    after       an ambiguously plural thing (called the suspect)   [E4]
    after       an on fire monster   
    after       something (called the target)   [E4]
Listing contents 
    for         standard contents listing rule
        default outcome is success
Grouping together 
Constructing the status line 
    for         while displaying  constructing status line while displaying rule [E5]
        default outcome is success
Listing nondescript items 
Deciding the scope 
Supplying a missing noun 
    for         while an actor smelling  ambient odour rule
    for         while an actor listening  ambient sound rule
    for         while going   [E2]
        default outcome is success
Supplying a missing second noun 
Reading a command 
    after       reset the prevent undo flag rule [E3]
Deciding whether all includes 
Printing the player's obituary 
    for         print obituary headline rule
    for         print final score rule
    for         display final status line rule
        default outcome is success
Amusing a victorious player 
Printing the banner text 
Printing the plural name 
    after       a killed monster while not grouping together   
Deciding the concealed possessions 
Printing a refusal to act in the dark 
Printing the announcement of darkness 
Printing the name of a dark room 
Printing the description of a dark room 
Printing room description details 
Printing a parser error 
Implicitly taking 
Starting the virtual machine 
Clarifying the parser's choice 
Asking which do you mean 
Writing a paragraph about 
Displaying [E5]
    for         basic menu contents rule [E5]
        default outcome is success
Deciding whether to allow undo [E3]
    for         (if the combat boolean is 1 begin; ...) 
        default outcome is success
Deciding whether the action prevents undo [E3]
Giving the await bonus 
    for         (say "[bold type](Remember: you now have your await bonus!)[roman type][paragraph break]"; ...) 
        default outcome is success
Taking away the await bonus 
    for         (now the await bonus is 0) 
        default outcome is success
Unprotecting 
    for         (say "The effect of the stick of guarding wears off."; ...) 
        default outcome is success

What are activities?  How to make new activities 


Procedural rules

Procedural 


Two internally-used rulebooks

Action-processing rules 
        before rules
        basic accessibility rule
        carrying requirements rule
        instead rules
        non-player character action rule
        action-specific rules
        (rule succeeds)
Turn sequence rules 
        (if acting fast, rule succeeds) 
        (consider the scene changing rules)
        (consider the every turn rules)
        scheduled events rule [E6]
        reset parser disambiguation rule
        timed events rule
        advance time rule
        update chronological records rule
        (consider the scene changing rules)
        adjust light rule
        note object acquisitions rule


[E1]. Defined in Simple Chat by Mark Tilford
[E2]. Defined in Custom Library Messages by David Fisher
[E3]. Defined in Conditional Undo by Jesse Mcgrew
[E4]. Defined in Plurality by Emily Short
[E5]. Defined in Menus by Emily Short
[E6]. Defined in Scheduled Activities by John Clemens