Creating Interactive Fiction with Inform 7

Notes on Chapter 05 - Making Things Happen

This chapter introduces the syntax required to:

Create rules and actions
Refer to the direct and indirect objects of an action using noun and second noun
Override all actions using doing anything
Adding exceptions using other than
Override rules that stop or continue using stop the action or continue the action
Classify a thing as on-stage or off-stage
Unlist a rule from the Standard Rules
Create use options
Include an adjective after a noun using which is syntax
Test ACTIONS
Test RULES

The keyword now placed in front of a condition makes it so
A rule is a thing that happens as a result of player actions or author instructions
A rulebook is a collection of rules
Every Inform game includes the Standard Rules which teach the story world basic concepts
Action rules change the way Inform responds to player commands
When dealing with actions, the special word noun means the direct object of the player’s most recent command
There is also a special word named second noun that becomes available in commands with an indirect object
An action out of world happens outside of the flow of gameplay (e.g., saving, restoring)
Each of Inform’s Actions comes with a set of six rulebooks that govern their behavior

There are three action default rulebooks and three action exception rulebooks.

Rulebook	Type	Description	Then...
Check	Default	“Let’s check to make sure that’s okay”	…go on unless the phrase contains instead
Carry out	Default	“Okay, let’s carry out the results.”	…go on
Report	Default	“Otherwise, report on what normally happens.”	…go on
Before	Exception	“Wait… in this case before you do that, do this!”	…go on
Instead	Exception	“Don’t do that in this case… instead do this.”	…stop
After	Exception	“In this case, this is what happens after.”	…stop