Rules

Making new rulebooks

Rules occurring at given times

When play begins
         start of rulebook (let current node be the chat node after no quip chosen; ...) [E1]
         the rule above was listed as 'first' so precedes this one, which wasn't (init library messages; ...) [E2]
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) (seed the random-number generator with 23481)
        (show the Rilke quote; ...)
Every turn
         start of rulebook when being-the-prisoner is happening
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) when the time since Meeting-the-Prisoner began is one minute
        when the time since Meeting-the-Prisoner began is three minutes
         the arrow points from a more specific rule to a more general one, as decided by Law II - When/while requirement in the Lake of Boiling Magma
        (if the noun is a thing and the noun is ambiguously plural, notice the plurality of the noun; ...) [E3]
When play ends

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

Rules governing actions

Before
start of rulebook doing anything except listening to, saying yes, saying no or saying maybe in In a Cage above the Magma
the arrow points from a more specific rule to a more general one, as decided by Law III.2.2 - Action/Where/Room Where Action Takes Place examining a detailer

Reaching inside
         start of rulebook can't reach inside rooms rule
         these rules were both listed as 'last' in this rulebook, and since each was made 'last' in turn, they appear in order of listing can't reach inside closed containers rule
        outcome  allow access - a success
        outcome  deny access - a failure
Reaching outside
         start of rulebook 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
         start of rulebook doing anything except saying yes, saying no or saying maybe when the Yes or No Boolean is true
         these rules were both listed as 'first' in this rulebook, and since each was made 'first' in turn, they appear in reverse order of listing doing anything except preparing, finding responses to, giving text for, giving link to, taking inventory, examining, looking, thinking, smelling, listening to, waiting when the player is yourself and the Yes or No Boolean is false
         the rule above was listed as 'first' so precedes this one, which wasn't examining the magma in In a cage above the Magma
         the arrow points from a more specific rule to a more general one, as decided by Law III.3.2 - Action/What/Thing Acted On examining the cage in In a cage above the Magma
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) attacking the cage in In a Cage above the Magma
         the arrow points from a more specific rule to a more general one, as decided by Law III.3.2 - Action/What/Thing Acted On looking in the Introduction for the first time
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) listening to in In a Cage above the Magma for the first time
         the arrow points from a more specific rule to a more general one, as decided by Law III.2.2 - Action/Where/Room Where Action Takes Place examining the magma
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) examining The Prisoner
        examining the prisoner
        smelling the prisoner
         the arrow points from a more specific rule to a more general one, as decided by Law III.3.2 - Action/What/Thing Acted On smelling the hot currents of air when the player is yourself
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) smelling the hot currents of air when the player is The Prisoner
         the arrow points from a more specific rule to a more general one, as decided by Law III.5.2 - Action/When/Circumstances examining the patterns
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) examining the cage
        examining hope
        examining the patterns
        examining the patterns
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) examining the patterns
        examining the patterns
         the arrow points from a more specific rule to a more general one, as decided by Law III.3.2 - Action/What/Thing Acted On giving link to c_Questions_6 when second chat node is c_Questions_5
        smelling a room
        thinking in the Introduction
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) thinking in the Lake of Boiling Magma
        smelling in the Lake of Boiling Magma
        jumping in In a Cage above the Magma
         the arrow points from a more specific rule to a more general one, as decided by Law III.4.1 - Action/How/What Happens smelling, tasting or listening to in the introduction
        examining here-backdrop
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) examining the Speaker
        examining Samael
         the arrow points from a more specific rule to a more general one, as decided by Law III.3.2 - Action/What/Thing Acted On examining yourself
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) smelling the magma
        listening to the magma
        examining the prisoner
         the arrow points from a more specific rule to a more general one, as decided by Law III.3.2 - Action/What/Thing Acted On examining the mountains
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) examining the hot currents of air
        listening to the Lake of Boiling Magma
        examining the bars
        attacking the bars
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) taking hope
        examining the whispered words
        listening to the whispered words
         the arrow points from a more specific rule to a more general one, as decided by Law III.3.2 - Action/What/Thing Acted On giving text for no quip chosen   [E1]
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) giving text for c_Helper_1
        finding responses to c_Helper_1
        giving link to c_Helper_2
        giving text for c_Helper_2
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) giving link to c_Helper_3
        giving text for c_Helper_3
        giving link to c_Helper_4
        giving text for c_Helper_4
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) giving text for c_Faces_1
        finding responses to c_Faces_1
        giving link to c_Faces_2
        giving text for c_Faces_2
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) finding responses to c_Faces_2
        giving link to c_Faces_3
        giving text for c_Faces_3
        finding responses to c_Faces_3
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) giving link to c_Faces_4
        giving text for c_Faces_4
        finding responses to c_Faces_4
        giving link to c_Faces_5
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) giving text for c_Faces_5
        finding responses to c_Faces_5
        giving link to c_Faces_6
        giving text for c_Faces_6
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) preparing c_Questions_5
        preparing c_Questions_6
        preparing c_Questions_9
        giving text for c_Questions_1
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) finding responses to c_Questions_1
        giving link to c_Questions_2
        giving text for c_Questions_2
        finding responses to c_Questions_2
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) giving link to c_Questions_3
        giving text for c_Questions_3
        finding responses to c_Questions_3
        giving link to c_Questions_4
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) giving text for c_Questions_4
        finding responses to c_Questions_4
        giving link to c_Questions_5
        giving text for c_Questions_5
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) finding responses to c_Questions_5
        giving link to c_Questions_6
        giving text for c_Questions_6
        finding responses to c_Questions_6
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) giving link to c_Questions_7
        giving text for c_Questions_7
        finding responses to c_Questions_7
        giving link to c_Questions_8
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) giving text for c_Questions_8
        finding responses to c_Questions_8
        giving link to c_Questions_9
        giving text for c_Questions_9
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) finding responses to c_Questions_9
        giving link to c_Questions_10
        giving text for c_Questions_10
        finding responses to c_Questions_10
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) giving link to c_Questions_11
        giving text for c_Questions_11
        finding responses to c_Questions_11
        giving link to c_Questions_12
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) giving text for c_Questions_12
        finding responses to c_Questions_12
        giving link to c_Questions_13
        giving text for c_Questions_13
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) finding responses to c_Questions_13
        giving link to c_Questions_14
        giving text for c_Questions_14
        finding responses to c_Questions_14
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) giving link to c_Questions_15
        giving text for c_Questions_15
        finding responses to c_Questions_15
        giving link to c_Questions_16
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) giving text for c_Questions_16
        finding responses to c_Questions_16
        giving link to c_Questions_17
        giving text for c_Questions_17
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) finding responses to c_Questions_17
        giving link to c_Questions_18
        giving text for c_Questions_18
        finding responses to c_Questions_18
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) giving link to c_Questions_19
        giving text for c_Questions_19
        finding responses to c_Questions_19
        giving link to c_Questions_20
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) giving text for c_Questions_20
        finding responses to c_Questions_20
        giving link to c_Questions_21
        giving text for c_Questions_21
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) finding responses to c_Questions_21
        preparing c_TakeControl_4
        giving link to c_TakeControl_2
        giving text for c_TakeControl_2
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) giving link to c_TakeControl_3
        giving text for c_TakeControl_3
        finding responses to c_TakeControl_3
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) giving link to c_TakeControl_4
        giving text for c_TakeControl_4
        finding responses to c_TakeControl_4
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) giving link to c_TakeControl_5
        giving text for c_TakeControl_5
        finding responses to c_TakeControl_5
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) giving link to c_TakeControl_6
        giving text for c_TakeControl_6
        finding responses to c_TakeControl_6
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) giving link to c_TakeControl_7
        giving text for c_TakeControl_7
        finding responses to c_TakeControl_7
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) giving link to c_TakeControl_8
        giving text for c_TakeControl_8
        giving link to c_TakeControl_9
        giving text for c_TakeControl_9
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) giving text for c_Samael_first_1
        finding responses to c_Samael_first_1
        giving link to c_Samael_first_2
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) giving text for c_Samael_first_2
        finding responses to c_Samael_first_2
        giving link to c_Samael_first_3
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) giving text for c_Samael_first_3
        finding responses to c_Samael_first_3
        giving link to c_Samael_first_4
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) giving text for c_Samael_first_4
        finding responses to c_Samael_first_4
        giving link to c_Samael_first_5
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) giving text for c_Samael_first_5
        finding responses to c_Samael_first_5
        giving link to c_Samael_first_6
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) giving text for c_Samael_first_6
        finding responses to c_Samael_first_6
        giving link to c_Samael_first_7
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) giving text for c_Samael_first_7
        giving link to c_Samael_first_8
        giving text for c_Samael_first_8
         the arrow points from a more specific rule to a more general one, as decided by Law III.3.2 - Action/What/Thing Acted On saying yes when the Yes or No Number is 1
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) saying no when the Yes or No Number is 1
        saying maybe when the Yes or No Number is 1
        taking inventory when the player is yourself
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) saying yes when the Yes or No Number is 2
        saying no when the Yes or No Number is 2
        saying maybe when the Yes or No Number is 2
        default outcome is failure

After
         start of rulebook looking in A Lake of Boiling Magma for the second time
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) looking in A Lake of Boiling Magma for the third time
        default outcome is success

Does the player mean
         start of rulebook taking something which is carried by the player  very unlikely to mean taking what's already carried rule
        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
     start of rulebook before     a thing (called the item being printed)  make named things mentioned rule
    for         player   [E2]
     the rule below was listed as 'last' so comes after the rule above, which wasn't for         standard name printing rule
        default outcome is success
     start of rulebook after       an ambiguously plural thing (called the suspect)   [E3]
     the arrow points from a more specific rule to a more general one, as decided by Law III.1 - Object To Which Rule Applies after       something (called the target)   [E3]
Printing the plural name
     start of rulebook for         something (called the item)  standard printing the plural name rule
        default outcome is success
Printing a number
    for         something (called the item)  standard printing a number of something rule
        default outcome is success
Printing room description details
Listing contents
     start of rulebook for         standard contents listing rule
        default outcome is success
Grouping together
Writing a paragraph about
Listing nondescript items
Printing the name of a dark room
Printing the description of a dark room
Printing the announcement of darkness
Printing the announcement of light
     start of rulebook for         look around once light available rule
        default outcome is success
Printing a refusal to act in the dark
Constructing the status line
    for         (if the player is yourself, fill status bar with Table of Yourself Status; ...)
        default outcome is success
Printing the banner text
     start of rulebook for         (if the player is in the Introduction, do nothing instead)
        default outcome is success
Reading a command
    before     (if gs_PlayerHelp_Stage is 10 begin; ...)
Deciding the scope
Deciding the concealed possessions
Deciding whether all includes
     start of rulebook for         scenery
     the arrow points from a more specific rule to a more general one, as decided by Law III.1 - Object To Which Rule Applies for         persons
        outcome  it does not - a failure
        outcome  it does - a success
        default outcome is success
Clarifying the parser's choice
Asking which do you mean
Printing a parser error
Supplying a missing noun
     start of rulebook for         while an actor smelling  ambient odour rule
     these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) for         while an actor listening  ambient sound rule
    for         while going   [E2]
        default outcome is success
Supplying a missing second noun
Implicitly taking
Starting the virtual machine
Amusing a victorious player
Printing the player's obituary
     start of rulebook for         print obituary headline rule
     these rules were both listed as 'last' in this rulebook, and since each was made 'last' in turn, they appear in order of listing for         print final score rule
    for         display final status line rule
        default outcome is success
Handling the final question
     start of rulebook before     print the final question rule
     these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) before     print the final prompt rule
     the rule below was listed as 'last' so comes after the rule above, which wasn't before     read the final answer rule
     start of rulebook for         standard respond to final question rule
        default outcome is success
Printing the locale description
    before     initialise locale description rule
     these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) before     find notable locale objects rule
     start of rulebook for         interesting locale paragraphs rule
    for         you-can-also-see rule
        default outcome is success
Choosing notable locale objects
    for         standard notable locale objects rule
        default outcome is success
Printing a locale paragraph about
     start of rulebook for         a thing (called the item)  don't mention player's supporter in room descriptions rule
     these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) for         a thing (called the item)  don't mention scenery in room descriptions rule
    for         a thing (called the item)  don't mention undescribed items in room descriptions rule
     these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) for         a thing (called the item)  set pronouns from items in room descriptions rule
    for         a thing (called the item)  offer items to writing a paragraph about rule
     these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) for         a thing (called the item)  use initial appearance in room descriptions rule
    for         a thing (called the item)  describe what's on scenery supporters in room descriptions rule
        default outcome is success
Making Samael appear
     start of rulebook for         (move Samael to In a Cage above the Magma; ...)
        default outcome is success
Samael talking
    for         (run a conversation from c_samael_first_1)
        default outcome is success
Samael examining the cage part one
     start of rulebook for         (say "Samael bends towards the metal bars, as if to carefully measure their thickness."; ...)
        default outcome is success
Samael examining the cage part two
    for         (say "Samael turns around and stands for a while, surveying the molten rock and the balustrade on which the only door into this hall opens."; ...)
        default outcome is success
Samael examining the cage part three
     start of rulebook for         (say "With his insubstantial body Samael half-simulates a jumping motion, as if to better gauge the distance between the cage and the platform."; ...)
        default outcome is success
Samael examining the cage part four
    for         (say "A new conversation starts now.")
        default outcome is success

What are activities? How to make new activities

Procedural rules

Procedural

Some internally-used rulebooks

Startup rules
         start of rulebook virtual machine startup rule
         these rules were both listed as 'first' in this rulebook, and since each was made 'first' in turn, they appear in reverse order of listing initialise memory rule
        seed random number generator rule
        update chronological records rule
        position player in model world rule
         these rules were both listed as 'first' in this rulebook, and since each was made 'first' in turn, they appear in reverse order of listing start in the correct scenes rule
         the rule above was listed as 'first' so precedes this one, which wasn't when play begins stage rule
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) fix baseline scoring rule
        display banner rule
        initial room description rule
Turn sequence rules
         start of rulebook parse command rule
         these rules were both listed as 'first' in this rulebook, and since each was made 'first' in turn, they appear in reverse order of listing generate action rule
        (consider the scene changing rules)
        every turn stage rule
         the rule above was listed as 'first' so precedes this one, which wasn't scheduled events rule [E4]
         the arrow points from a more specific rule to a more general one, as decided by Law III - Action requirement timed events rule
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) advance time rule
        update chronological records rule
         the rule below was listed as 'last' so comes after the rule above, which wasn't (consider the scene changing rules)
         these rules were both listed as 'last' in this rulebook, and since each was made 'last' in turn, they appear in order of listing adjust light rule
        note object acquisitions rule
        notify score changes rule
Shutdown rules
         start of rulebook when play ends stage rule
         the rule above was listed as 'first' so precedes this one, which wasn't print player's obituary rule
         the arrow points from a more specific rule to a more general one, as decided by Law III - Action requirement resurrect player if asked rule
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) ask the final question rule

Action-processing rules
         start of rulebook announce items from multiple object lists rule
         these rules were both listed as 'first' in this rulebook, and since each was made 'first' in turn, they appear in reverse order of listing set pronouns from items from multiple object lists rule
        before stage rule
         the rule above was listed as 'first' so precedes this one, which wasn't basic visibility rule
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) basic accessibility rule
        carrying requirements rule
         the rule below was listed as 'last' so comes after the rule above, which wasn't instead stage rule
         these rules were both listed as 'last' in this rulebook, and since each was made 'last' in turn, they appear in order of listing requested actions require persuasion rule
        carry out requested actions rule
        descend to specific action-processing rule
        end action-processing in success rule
Specific action-processing rules
         start of rulebook work out details of specific action rule
         the rule above was listed as 'first' so precedes this one, which wasn't investigate player's awareness before action rule
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) check stage rule
        carry out stage rule
        after stage rule
        investigate player's awareness after action rule
        report stage rule
         the rule below was listed as 'last' so comes after the rule above, which wasn't (rule succeeds)
Player's action awareness rules
         start of rulebook player aware of his own actions rule
         these rules are equally ranked, so their order is determined by which was defined first (or by explicit 'listed in' sentences) player aware of actions by visible actors rule
        player aware of actions on visible nouns rule
        player aware of actions on visible second nouns rule

[E1]. Defined in Simple Chat by Mark Tilford
[E2]. Defined in Custom Library Messages by David Fisher
[E3]. Defined in Plurality by Emily Short
[E4]. Defined in Scheduled Activities by John Clemens