Rules occurring at given times
When play begins
Every turn
When play ends
Rules taking place when scenes begin and end can be found in the Scenes index.
Rules governing actions
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
default outcome is failure
After
default outcome is success
Does the player mean
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
before a thing (called the item being printed) make named things mentioned rule
for standard name printing rule
default outcome is success
Printing the plural name
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
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
for look around once light available rule
default outcome is success
Printing a refusal to act in the dark
Constructing the status line
Printing the banner text
Reading a command
Deciding the scope
Deciding the concealed possessions
Deciding whether all includes
outcome it does not - a failure
outcome it does - a success
Clarifying the parser's choice
Asking which do you mean
Printing a parser error
Supplying a missing noun
for while an actor smelling ambient odour rule
for while an actor listening ambient sound rule
for while an actor going block vaguely going rule
default outcome is success
Supplying a missing second noun
Implicitly taking
Starting the virtual machine
Amusing a victorious player
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
Handling the final question
before print the final question rule
before print the final prompt rule
before read the final answer rule
for standard respond to final question rule
default outcome is success
Printing the locale description
before initialise locale description rule
before find notable locale objects rule
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
for a thing (called the item) don't mention player's supporter in room descriptions rule
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
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
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
What are activities? How to make new activities
Procedural rules
Some internally-used rulebooks
Startup rules
virtual machine startup rule
initialise memory rule
seed random number generator rule
update chronological records rule
position player in model world rule
start in the correct scenes rule
when play begins stage rule
fix baseline scoring rule
display banner rule
initial room description rule
Turn sequence rules
parse command rule
generate action rule
(consider the scene changing rules)
every turn stage rule
timed events rule
advance time rule
update chronological records rule
(consider the scene changing rules)
adjust light rule
note object acquisitions rule
notify score changes rule
Shutdown rules
when play ends stage rule
print player's obituary rule
resurrect player if asked rule
ask the final question rule
Action-processing rules
announce items from multiple object lists rule
set pronouns from items from multiple object lists rule
before stage rule
basic visibility rule
basic accessibility rule
carrying requirements rule
instead stage rule
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
work out details of specific action rule
investigate player's awareness before action rule
check stage rule
carry out stage rule
after stage rule
investigate player's awareness after action rule
report stage rule
(rule succeeds)
Player's action awareness rules
player aware of his own actions rule
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