Scroll Thief — 49 of 138

Book S - Properties of Objects

A thing can be substantial or insubstantial. A thing is usually substantial.

Definition: a room is substantial rather than insubstantial: yes. [Need to define the adjective here too, since a room is not a thing.]

Definition: a direction is substantial rather than insubstantial: no.

Precondition (this is the cannot touch insubstantial things rule):

let the item be nothing;

if the noun is insubstantial and the action requires a touchable noun, let the item be the noun;

if the second noun is insubstantial and the action requires a touchable second noun, let the item be the second noun;

if the item is not nothing:

say "[The item] [are] not solid enough.";

stop the action.

Check casting a spell at when the second noun is insubstantial (this is the can't cast at insubstantial things rule):

if the second noun is a direction:

let the block be the door (second noun) from the location;

if the block is a door:

say "([the block])[ccb]";

try casting the spell understood at the block instead;

say "[The second noun] [don't] have enough substance to be the target of a spell." instead.

A room can be passable or impassible. A room is usually passable.

Instead of going to an impassible room (this is the can't go to impassible rooms rule): say "You can't go that way any more."

Instead of someone going to an impassible room (this is the NPCs can't go to impassible rooms rule): stop the action.

Check an actor throwing something at to an impassible room (this is the can't throw to impassible rooms rule):

if the actor is the player, say "There's nowhere for [the noun] to go in that direction.";

stop the action.

A thing can be light or heavy. A thing is usually heavy.

A thing can be distant or non-distant. A thing is usually non-distant.

Precondition (this is the can't touch distant things rule):

let the item be nothing;

if the noun is distant and the action requires a touchable noun, let the item be the noun;

if the second noun is distant and the action requires a touchable second noun, let the item be the second noun;

if the item is not nothing:

say "[The item] [are] too far away.";

stop the action.

Check casting a spell at a distant thing (this is the cannot cast at distant things rule):

say "[The second noun] [are] too far away to enchant." instead.