Rules

Standards Extras

Standards

From the Standard Rules
About rulebooks About activities Moving or abolishing rules

Rules governing actions

These rules are the ones which tell Inform how actions work, and which affect how they happen in particular cases.

 persuasion ... Persuasion rulebook (0 rules)

persuasion ... Persuasion rulebook

 name

There are no rules in this rulebook.

 unsuccessful attempt by ... Unsuccessful attempt by rulebook (0 rules)

unsuccessful attempt by ... Unsuccessful attempt by rulebook

 name

There are no rules in this rulebook.

 before ... Before rulebook (0 rules)

before ... Before rulebook

 name

There are no rules in this rulebook.

 instead ... Instead rulebook (0 rules)

instead ... Instead rulebook

 name

There are no rules in this rulebook.

 after ... After rulebook (0 rules)

after ... After rulebook

 name

There are no rules in this rulebook.

Rules added to the sequence of play

These rulebooks are the best places to put rules timed to happen at the start, at the end, or once each turn. (Each is run through at a carefully chosen moment in the relevant top-level rulebook.) It is also possible to have rules take effect at specific times of day or when certain events happen. Those are listed in the Scenes index, alongside rules taking place when scenes begin or end.

 when play begins ... When play begins rulebook (0 rules)

when play begins ... When play begins rulebook

 name

There are no rules in this rulebook.

 every turn ... Every turn rulebook (0 rules)

every turn ... Every turn rulebook

 name

There are no rules in this rulebook.

 when play ends ... When play ends rulebook (0 rules)

when play ends ... When play ends rulebook

 name

There are no rules in this rulebook.

How commands are understood

'Understanding' here means turning a typed command, like GET FISH, into one or more actions, like taking the red herring. This is all handled by a single large rule (the parse command rule), but that rule makes use of the following activities and rulebooks in its work.

does the player mean ... does the player mean rulebook (2 rules)

does the player mean ... does the player mean rulebook

 name

    taking something which is carried by the player  very unlikely to mean taking what's already carried rule   name  unlist
    taking off something worn  

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

 reading a command ... activity (0 rules)

reading a command ... activity

b f a

 deciding the scope ... activity (0 rules)

deciding the scope ... activity

b f a

 deciding the concealed possessions ... activity (0 rules)

deciding the concealed possessions ... activity

b f a

deciding whether all includes ... activity (5 rules)

deciding whether all includes ... activity

b f a

for    a person while dropping or throwing or inserting or putting  exclude people from drop all rule   name  unlist
for    scenery while taking or taking off or removing  exclude scenery from take all rule   name  unlist
for    fixed in place things while taking or taking off or removing  exclude fixed in place things from take all rule   name  unlist
for    people while taking or taking off or removing  exclude people from take all rule   name  unlist
for    things enclosed by the person reaching while taking or taking off  exclude indirect possessions from take all rule   name  unlist

outcome  it does not - a failure

outcome  it does - a success

default outcome is success

 clarifying the parser's choice ... activity (0 rules)

clarifying the parser's choice ... activity

b f a

 asking which do you mean ... activity (0 rules)

asking which do you mean ... activity

b f a

 printing a parser error ... activity (0 rules)

printing a parser error ... activity

b f a

supplying a missing noun ... activity (4 rules)

supplying a missing noun ... activity

b f a

for    while an actor smelling  ambient odour rule   name  unlist
for    while an actor listening  ambient sound rule   name  unlist
for    while an actor going  block vaguely going rule   name  unlist
for    while entering  find what to enter rule   name  unlist

default outcome is success

 supplying a missing second noun ... activity (0 rules)

supplying a missing second noun ... activity

b f a

implicitly taking ... activity (1 rule)

implicitly taking ... activity

b f a

for    standard implicit taking rule   name  unlist

default outcome is success

How things are described

These activities control what is printed when naming rooms or things, and their descriptions.

printing the name ... activity (2 rules)

printing the name ... activity

b f a

before    a thing (called the item being printed)  make named things mentioned rule   name  unlist

for    standard name printing rule   name  unlist

default outcome is success

printing the plural name ... activity (1 rule)

printing the plural name ... activity

b f a

for    standard printing the plural name rule   name  unlist

default outcome is success

printing a number ... activity (1 rule)

printing a number ... activity

b f a

for    something (called the item)  standard printing a number of something rule   name  unlist

default outcome is success

 printing room description details ... activity (0 rules)

printing room description details ... activity

b f a

 printing inventory details ... activity (0 rules)

printing inventory details ... activity

b f a

listing contents ... activity (1 rule)

listing contents ... activity

b f a

for    standard contents listing rule   name  unlist

default outcome is success

 grouping together ... activity (0 rules)

grouping together ... activity

b f a

 writing a paragraph about ... activity (0 rules)

writing a paragraph about ... activity

b f a

 listing nondescript items ... activity (0 rules)

listing nondescript items ... activity

b f a

printing the locale description ... activity (4 rules)

printing the locale description ... activity

b f a

before    initialise locale description rule   name  unlist
before    find notable locale objects rule   name  unlist

for    interesting locale paragraphs rule   name  unlist
for    you-can-also-see rule   name  unlist

default outcome is success

choosing notable locale objects ... activity (1 rule)

choosing notable locale objects ... activity

b f a

for    standard notable locale objects rule   name  unlist

default outcome is success

printing a locale paragraph about ... activity (9 rules)

printing a locale paragraph about ... activity

b f a

for    a supporter (called the tabletop)  initial appearance on supporters rule   name  unlist
for    a thing (called the item)  don't mention player's supporter in room descriptions rule   name  unlist
for    a thing (called the item)  don't mention scenery in room descriptions rule   name  unlist
for    a thing (called the item)  don't mention undescribed items in room descriptions rule   name  unlist
for    a thing (called the item)  set pronouns from items in room descriptions rule   name  unlist
for    a thing (called the item)  offer items to writing a paragraph about rule   name  unlist
for    a thing (called the item)  use initial appearance in room descriptions rule   name  unlist
for    a thing (called the item)  describe what's on scenery supporters in room descriptions rule   name  unlist
for    a thing (called the item)  describe what's on mentioned supporters in room descriptions rule   name  unlist

default outcome is success

How accessibility is judged

These rulebooks are used when deciding who can reach what, and who can see what.

reaching inside ... Reaching inside rulebook (2 rules)

reaching inside ... Reaching inside rulebook

 name

    can't reach inside rooms rule   name  unlist
    can't reach inside closed containers rule   name  unlist

outcome  allow access - a success

outcome  deny access - a failure

reaching outside ... Reaching outside rulebook (1 rule)

reaching outside ... Reaching outside rulebook

 name

    can't reach outside closed containers rule   name  unlist

outcome  allow access - a success

outcome  deny access - a failure

visibility ... Visibility rulebook (1 rule)

visibility ... Visibility rulebook

 name

    can't act in the dark rule   name  unlist

outcome  there is sufficient light - a failure

outcome  there is insufficient light - a success

Light and darkness

These activities control how we describe darkness.

 printing the name of a dark room ... activity (0 rules)

printing the name of a dark room ... activity

b f a

 printing the description of a dark room ... activity (0 rules)

printing the description of a dark room ... activity

b f a

 printing the announcement of darkness ... activity (0 rules)

printing the announcement of darkness ... activity

b f a

printing the announcement of light ... activity (1 rule)

printing the announcement of light ... activity

b f a

for    look around once light available rule   name  unlist

default outcome is success

 printing a refusal to act in the dark ... activity (0 rules)

printing a refusal to act in the dark ... activity

b f a

The top level

An Inform story file spends its whole time working through these three master rulebooks. They can be altered, just as all rulebooks can, but it's generally better to leave them alone.

 startup rules ... Startup rulebook (11 rules)

startup rules ... Startup rulebook

 name

    initialise memory rule   name  unlist
    virtual machine startup rule   name  unlist
    seed random number generator rule   name  unlist
    update chronological records rule   name  unlist
    declare everything initially unmentioned rule   name  unlist
    position player in model world rule   name  unlist
    start in the correct scenes rule   name  unlist
    when play begins stage rule   name  unlist
    fix baseline scoring rule   name  unlist
    display banner rule   name  unlist
    initial room description rule   name  unlist

outcome  allow startup - a success

outcome  deny startup - a failure

starting the virtual machine ... activity (1 rule)

starting the virtual machine ... activity

b f a

for    final code startup rule   name  unlist

default outcome is success

 printing the banner text ... activity (0 rules)

printing the banner text ... activity

b f a

 turn sequence rules ... Turn sequence rulebook (12 rules)

turn sequence rules ... Turn sequence rulebook

 name

    parse command rule   name  unlist
    declare everything initially unmentioned rule   name  unlist
    generate action rule   name  unlist
    (follow the scene changing rules)
    every turn stage rule   name  unlist
    timed events rule   name  unlist
    advance time rule   name  unlist
    update chronological records rule   name  unlist
    (follow the scene changing rules)
    adjust light rule   name  unlist
    note object acquisitions rule   name  unlist
    notify score changes rule   name  unlist

 constructing the status line ... activity (0 rules)

constructing the status line ... activity

b f a

 shutdown rules ... Shutdown rulebook (4 rules)

shutdown rules ... Shutdown rulebook

 name

    when play ends stage rule   name  unlist
    resurrect player if asked rule   name  unlist
    print player's obituary rule   name  unlist
    ask the final question rule   name  unlist

 amusing a victorious player ... activity (0 rules)

amusing a victorious player ... activity

b f a

printing the player's obituary ... activity (3 rules)

printing the player's obituary ... activity

b f a

for    print obituary headline rule   name  unlist
for    print final score rule   name  unlist
for    display final status line rule   name  unlist

default outcome is success

 handling the final question ... activity (4 rules)

handling the final question ... activity

b f a

before    print the final question rule   name  unlist
before    print the final prompt rule   name  unlist
before    read the final answer rule   name  unlist

for    standard respond to final question rule   name  unlist

default outcome is success

How actions are processed

These form the technical machinery for dealing with actions, and are called on at least once every turn. They seldom need to be changed.

 action-processing rules ... Action-processing rulebook (11 rules)

action-processing rules ... Action-processing rulebook

 name

    announce items from multiple object lists rule   name  unlist
    set pronouns from items from multiple object lists rule   name  unlist
    before stage rule   name  unlist
    basic visibility rule   name  unlist
    basic accessibility rule   name  unlist
    carrying requirements rule   name  unlist
    instead stage rule   name  unlist
    requested actions require persuasion rule   name  unlist
    carry out requested actions rule   name  unlist
    descend to specific action-processing rule   name  unlist
    end action-processing in success rule   name  unlist

 specific action-processing rules ... specific action-processing rulebook (8 rules)

specific action-processing rules ... specific action-processing rulebook

 name

    work out details of specific action rule   name  unlist
    investigate player's awareness before action rule   name  unlist
    check stage rule   name  unlist
    carry out stage rule   name  unlist
    after stage rule   name  unlist
    investigate player's awareness after action rule   name  unlist
    report stage rule   name  unlist
    (rule succeeds)

 player's action awareness rules ... player's action awareness rulebook (4 rules)

player's action awareness rules ... player's action awareness rulebook

 name

    player aware of his own actions rule   name  unlist
    player aware of actions by visible actors rule   name  unlist
    player aware of actions on visible nouns rule   name  unlist
    player aware of actions on visible second nouns rule   name  unlist

How responses are printed

The Standard Rules, and some extensions, reply to the player's commands with messages which are able to be modified.

issuing the response text ... activity (1 rule)

issuing the response text ... activity

b f a

for    standard issuing the response text rule   name  unlist

default outcome is success


Extras

Further rulebooks, from the source or extensions
About rulebooks About activities Moving or abolishing rules