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
There are no rules in this rulebook.
unsuccessful attempt by ... Unsuccessful attempt by rulebook (0 rules)
unsuccessful attempt by ... Unsuccessful attempt by rulebook
There are no rules in this rulebook.
before ... Before rulebook (0 rules)
There are no rules in this rulebook.
instead ... Instead rulebook (0 rules)
There are no rules in this rulebook.
after ... After rulebook (0 rules)
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
There are no rules in this rulebook.
every turn ... Every turn rulebook (0 rules)
every turn ... Every turn rulebook
There are no rules in this rulebook.
when play ends ... When play ends rulebook (0 rules)
when play ends ... When play ends rulebook
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
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)
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deciding the scope ... activity (0 rules)
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deciding the concealed possessions ... activity (0 rules)
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deciding whether all includes ... activity (5 rules)
clarifying the parser's choice ... activity (0 rules)
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asking which do you mean ... activity (0 rules)
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printing a parser error ... activity (0 rules)
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supplying a missing noun ... activity (4 rules)
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for while an actor smelling ambient odour rule name unlist default outcome is success |
supplying a missing second noun ... activity (0 rules)
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implicitly taking ... activity (1 rule)
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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)
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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)
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for standard printing the plural name rule name unlist default outcome is success |
printing a number ... activity (1 rule)
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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)
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printing inventory details ... activity (0 rules)
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listing contents ... activity (1 rule)
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for standard contents listing rule name unlist default outcome is success |
grouping together ... activity (0 rules)
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writing a paragraph about ... activity (0 rules)
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listing nondescript items ... activity (0 rules)
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printing the locale description ... activity (4 rules)
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before initialise locale description rule name unlist for interesting locale paragraphs rule name unlist default outcome is success |
choosing notable locale objects ... activity (1 rule)
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for standard notable locale objects rule name unlist default outcome is success |
printing a locale paragraph about ... activity (9 rules)
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for a supporter (called the tabletop) initial appearance on supporters 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
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
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
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)
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printing the description of a dark room ... activity (0 rules)
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printing the announcement of darkness ... activity (0 rules)
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printing the announcement of light ... activity (1 rule)
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for look around once light available rule name unlist default outcome is success |
printing a refusal to act in the dark ... activity (0 rules)
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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
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)
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for final code startup rule name unlist default outcome is success |
printing the banner text ... activity (0 rules)
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turn sequence rules ... Turn sequence rulebook (12 rules)
turn sequence rules ... Turn sequence rulebook
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)
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shutdown rules ... Shutdown rulebook (4 rules)
shutdown rules ... Shutdown rulebook
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)
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printing the player's obituary ... activity (3 rules)
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for print obituary headline rule name unlist default outcome is success |
handling the final question ... activity (4 rules)
before print the final question 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
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
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
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)
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for standard issuing the response text rule name unlist default outcome is success |
Extras
Further rulebooks, from the source or extensionsAbout rulebooks About activities Moving or abolishing rules