<!-- MHonArc v2.4.4 --> <!--X-Subject: [MUD-Dev] Re: MUD Design doc (long) --> <!--X-From-R13: [vx Qynexr <zvxpyexNvoz.arg> --> <!--X-Date: Sat, 9 Jan 1999 13:28:15 -0800 --> <!--X-Message-Id: 3697D963.901A5506#ibm,net --> <!--X-Content-Type: text/plain --> <!--X-Reference: Pine.GSO.3.96.990108113116.584B-100000@uhunix2 --> <!--X-Head-End--> <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 3.2//EN"> <html> <head> <title>MUD-Dev message, [MUD-Dev] Re: MUD Design doc (long)</title> <!-- meta name="robots" content="noindex,nofollow" --> <link rev="made" href="mailto:mikclrk#ibm,net"> </head> <body background="/backgrounds/paperback.gif" bgcolor="#ffffff" text="#000000" link="#0000FF" alink="#FF0000" vlink="#006000"> <font size="+4" color="#804040"> <strong><em>MUD-Dev<br>mailing list archive</em></strong> </font> <br> [ <a href="../">Other Periods</a> | <a href="../../">Other mailing lists</a> | <a href="/search.php3">Search</a> ] <br clear=all><hr> <!--X-Body-Begin--> <!--X-User-Header--> <!--X-User-Header-End--> <!--X-TopPNI--> Date: [ <a href="msg00099.html">Previous</a> | <a href="msg00101.html">Next</a> ] Thread: [ <a href="msg00095.html">Previous</a> | <a href="msg00102.html">Next</a> ] Index: [ <A HREF="author.html#00100">Author</A> | <A HREF="#00100">Date</A> | <A HREF="thread.html#00100">Thread</A> ] <!--X-TopPNI-End--> <!--X-MsgBody--> <!--X-Subject-Header-Begin--> <H1>[MUD-Dev] Re: MUD Design doc (long)</H1> <HR> <!--X-Subject-Header-End--> <!--X-Head-of-Message--> <UL> <LI><em>To</em>: <A HREF="mailto:mud-dev#kanga,nu">mud-dev#kanga,nu</A></LI> <LI><em>Subject</em>: [MUD-Dev] Re: MUD Design doc (long)</LI> <LI><em>From</em>: Mik Clarke <<A HREF="mailto:mikclrk#ibm,net">mikclrk#ibm,net</A>></LI> <LI><em>Date</em>: Sat, 09 Jan 1999 22:34:11 +0000</LI> <LI><em>Reply-To</em>: <A HREF="mailto:mud-dev#kanga,nu">mud-dev#kanga,nu</A></LI> </UL> <!--X-Head-of-Message-End--> <!--X-Head-Body-Sep-Begin--> <HR> <!--X-Head-Body-Sep-End--> <!--X-Body-of-Message--> <PRE> Nathan F Yospe wrote: > > On Fri, 8 Jan 1999, Mik Clarke wrote: > > :Nathan F Yospe wrote: > > :> On Fri, 18 Dec 1998, Mik Clarke wrote: > :> :This can be done by adding 'smellable' objects to rooms in the same > :> :fashion as 'examinable' objects are added. Diku/ROM uses extra > > :> This *should* be done by making the root object explicitely "scentless", > :> and deriving doors and such from them, and by actually having props when > > :Yes and no. Props take more resources (and more builder time) than 2 or > :3 line extra descriptions tagged onto a room. Using the descriptions > :you can make a detailed (and explorable) description for a room or an > :area that is much more efficient than one that has 5 or 6 props standing > :around in each room just to add background flavour. I tend to use props > :only for game significant items. > > Like I said, props are all that can be done with my design. I've implemented the detailed descriptions as chains of keywords, conditions and descriptions attached to rooms and objects. (Extending the Diku/ROM Extra Descriptions). It makes the search for the target of a look/examine command a bit more complicated, but lets me play tricks with conditional descriptions and lets me record the fact that someone has seen a particular description. An example might be a mage examining a sword: >examine sword A fine blade of polished steel. It looks quite sharp. ...and a warrior examining the same blade... >examine sword A fine blade of polished steel. It has a razor honed edge and is undoubtably the work of the weapon smiths of FooBar. This is a rare and valuable blade. ...likewise other characters may be able to see other things. This helps create a need for teamwork, as few characters will have all of the skills to perceive all of the clues. Recording that someone has seen a particular description is usful for subsequently modifying the world - completing quest stages or making secret exits usable. Consider someone entering a temple... >north Temple of Empark (indoors) You are standing in the main chamber of the Temple of Empark. A pool of swirling green fluid sits in the center of the floor, before the statue of the majestic Empark. >examine statue It stands 60' tall and portrays a sensative young man reclining on an elegant throne. The gods face looks very peaceful and serene. >examine pool A 30' wide pool containing a swirling green flid. As you watch the ripples form strange, abstract patterns. The innkeeper told you that the locals send young girls into the pool where they journey to the side of Lord Empark to aid him as he looks over the town. ...and a while later they are in the lair of an evil wizard... >examine crystal ball A solid sphere of rock crystal. There is a swirl of smoke in its center. Looking into the crystal ball you see the hideous visage of Toumar, the god of evil and destruction. ...if they later return to the first temple... >examine pool A 30' wide pool containing a swirling green flid. As you watch the ripples form strange, abstract patterns. Suddenly the visage of evil Toumar becomes apparent amongst the swirling ripples! As you keep watching the image fades and then returns! The innkeeper told you that the locals send young girls into the pool where they journey to the side of Lord Empark to aid him as he looks over the town. This is a somewhat more subtle role-playing effect than most Diku derivatives aspire to, but I quite like it. > On the other > hand, comparing the sizes of a (mostly inherited) prop and a description > from a DIKU (probably unfair, as any other codebase would probably use a > text compression scheme), I don't see a lot of difference... and any use > of a previously defined prop is going to use up one 64 bit long, until a > player alters the prop... and even then, there will be a cost of at most > 64 bits per alteration. Hmmm. So your entire world looks like it was furnished by Habitat? The same pine tables and wooden chairs everywhere? Now Diku (or at least my Rom->Sunder based derivative) has a restriction that you can only repop objects from the same area. So let's see what I need if I want to model an old house - carpets (3 or 4), several different tables (5), dinner chairs (2x6), sideboards (2), a stove (1), a sink (1), a double bed (1), single beds (3), wardrobes (2), chests of draws (4) - that's somewhere around 25 objects, most of which are used only one or two times and which don't play any significant game role. As soon as I want one to do something useful (like having a clue carved or woven into it) I have to create another object. I suspect the overhead works out at something more than just 64 bits per prop instance. Mik -- <A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Cafe/2260">http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Cafe/2260</A> </PRE> <!--X-Body-of-Message-End--> <!--X-MsgBody-End--> <!--X-Follow-Ups--> <HR> <ul compact><li><strong>Follow-Ups</strong>: <ul> <li><strong><A NAME="00112" HREF="msg00112.html">[MUD-Dev] Re: MUD Design doc (long)</A></strong> <ul compact><li><em>From:</em> J C Lawrence <claw#under,engr.sgi.com></li></ul> <li><strong><A NAME="00104" HREF="msg00104.html">[MUD-Dev] Re: MUD Design doc (long)</A></strong> <ul compact><li><em>From:</em> Adam Wiggins <adam#angel,com></li></ul> <li><strong><A NAME="00102" HREF="msg00102.html">[MUD-Dev] Re: MUD Design doc (long)</A></strong> <ul compact><li><em>From:</em> Nathan F Yospe <yospe#uhunix1,its.Hawaii.Edu></li></ul> </UL></LI></UL> <!--X-Follow-Ups-End--> <!--X-References--> <UL><LI><STRONG>References</STRONG>: <UL> <LI><STRONG><A NAME="00095" HREF="msg00095.html">[MUD-Dev] Re: MUD Design doc (long)</A></STRONG> <UL><LI><EM>From:</EM> Nathan F Yospe <yospe#hawaii,edu></LI></UL></LI> </UL></LI></UL> <!--X-References-End--> <!--X-BotPNI--> <UL> <LI>Prev by Date: <STRONG><A HREF="msg00099.html">[MUD-Dev] Re: Intelligent WebGlimpse archive searching at Kanga.Nu</A></STRONG> </LI> <LI>Next by Date: <STRONG><A HREF="msg00101.html">[MUD-Dev] Re: Intelligent WebGlimpse archive searching at Kanga.Nu</A></STRONG> </LI> <LI>Prev by thread: <STRONG><A HREF="msg00095.html">[MUD-Dev] Re: MUD Design doc (long)</A></STRONG> </LI> <LI>Next by thread: <STRONG><A HREF="msg00102.html">[MUD-Dev] Re: MUD Design doc (long)</A></STRONG> </LI> <LI>Index(es): <UL> <LI><A HREF="index.html#00100"><STRONG>Date</STRONG></A></LI> <LI><A HREF="thread.html#00100"><STRONG>Thread</STRONG></A></LI> </UL> </LI> </UL> <!--X-BotPNI-End--> <!--X-User-Footer--> <!--X-User-Footer-End--> <ul><li>Thread context: <BLOCKQUOTE><UL> <LI><STRONG>[MUD-Dev] Re: MUD Design doc (long)</STRONG>, <EM>(continued)</EM> <ul compact> <ul compact> <LI><strong><A NAME="00043" HREF="msg00043.html">[MUD-Dev] Re: MUD Design doc (long)</A></strong>, Caliban Tiresias Darklock <a href="mailto:caliban#darklock,com">caliban#darklock,com</a>, Tue 05 Jan 1999, 04:32 GMT </LI> </ul> <LI><strong><A NAME="00044" HREF="msg00044.html">[MUD-Dev] Re: MUD Design doc (long)</A></strong>, Koster, Raph <a href="mailto:rkoster#origin,ea.com">rkoster#origin,ea.com</a>, Tue 05 Jan 1999, 17:54 GMT </LI> <LI><strong><A NAME="00090" HREF="msg00090.html">[MUD-Dev] Re: MUD Design doc (long)</A></strong>, Mik Clarke <a href="mailto:mikclrk#ibm,net">mikclrk#ibm,net</a>, Fri 08 Jan 1999, 20:16 GMT <UL> <LI><strong><A NAME="00095" HREF="msg00095.html">[MUD-Dev] Re: MUD Design doc (long)</A></strong>, Nathan F Yospe <a href="mailto:yospe#hawaii,edu">yospe#hawaii,edu</a>, Fri 08 Jan 1999, 22:15 GMT <UL> <LI><strong><A NAME="00100" HREF="msg00100.html">[MUD-Dev] Re: MUD Design doc (long)</A></strong>, Mik Clarke <a href="mailto:mikclrk#ibm,net">mikclrk#ibm,net</a>, Sat 09 Jan 1999, 21:28 GMT <UL> <LI><strong><A NAME="00102" HREF="msg00102.html">[MUD-Dev] Re: MUD Design doc (long)</A></strong>, Nathan F Yospe <a href="mailto:yospe#uhunix1,its.Hawaii.Edu">yospe#uhunix1,its.Hawaii.Edu</a>, Sun 10 Jan 1999, 01:31 GMT <UL> <LI><strong><A NAME="00103" HREF="msg00103.html">[MUD-Dev] Re: MUD Design doc (long)</A></strong>, Mik Clarke <a href="mailto:mikclrk#ibm,net">mikclrk#ibm,net</a>, Sun 10 Jan 1999, 20:28 GMT </LI> </UL> </LI> <LI><strong><A NAME="00104" HREF="msg00104.html">[MUD-Dev] Re: MUD Design doc (long)</A></strong>, Adam Wiggins <a href="mailto:adam#angel,com">adam#angel,com</a>, Sun 10 Jan 1999, 21:57 GMT </LI> <LI><strong><A NAME="00112" HREF="msg00112.html">[MUD-Dev] Re: MUD Design doc (long)</A></strong>, J C Lawrence <a href="mailto:claw#under,engr.sgi.com">claw#under,engr.sgi.com</a>, Tue 12 Jan 1999, 06:49 GMT </LI> </UL> </LI> </UL> </LI> </UL> </LI> </ul> </LI> </UL></BLOCKQUOTE> </ul> <hr> <center> [ <a href="../">Other Periods</a> | <a href="../../">Other mailing lists</a> | <a href="/search.php3">Search</a> ] </center> <hr> </body> </html>