Scroll Thief — 89 of 138
Daniel M. Stelzer
Chapter 3.2 - Unsuccessful Attempts
The adventurer success flag is initially false. [This keeps the unsuccessful attempt rules from running when another rule already printed a response.]
First persuasion for asking the adventurer to try doing something: now the adventurer success flag is false; make no decision.
First unsuccessful attempt by the adventurer doing something when the adventurer success flag is true: rule succeeds.
To record the/-- adventurer's attempt as successful: now the adventurer success flag is true.
Table of Adventurer's Retorts
| cause | response |
| can't take other people rule | "'I don't think [the second noun] would appreciate that.'" |
| can't take component parts rule | "[The adventurer] shakes [their] head. 'I don't want to rip [the noun] out.'" |
| can't take people's possessions rule | "[The adventurer] looks disapproving. 'Whatever you may think, I am [i]not[/i] a thief.'" |
| can't take what you're inside rule | "'Notice where I am at the moment.'" |
| can't take what's already taken rule | "[already done]" |
| can't take scenery rule | "[The adventurer] examines [the noun] for a moment, then turns back to you. 'I don't think I'm strong enough to move it.'" |
| can't take what's fixed in place rule | "[The adventurer] examines [the noun] for a moment, then turns back to you. 'I don't think I'm strong enough to move it.'" |
| can't insert into closed containers rule | "[physical impossibility]" |
| can't go that way rule | "[The adventurer] looks at you dubiously, [if the noun is up or the noun is down]then looks [noun]. 'I don't see an easy way to do that.'[else]but goes over and pushes on the wall. It refuses to give.[end if]" |
| NPCs can't go to impassible rooms rule | "'I don't think I can go that way any more.'" |
| can't go through closed doors rule | "[The adventurer] pounds on the door, but it refuses to open." |
| can't enter closed containers rule | "[physical impossibility]" |
| can't exit closed containers rule | "[physical impossibility]" |
| can't drop yourself rule | "'We're inseparable, myself and me.'" |
| can't drop what's already dropped rule | "[already done]" |
| can't drop what's not held rule | "'I would need [the noun] first.'" |
| can't put something on itself rule | "[physical impossibility]" |
| [can't put onto something being carried rule | "'I'd like to, but I'm afraid it would fall off.'"] |
| can't put onto what's not a supporter rule | "'I don't think [the second noun] would support it.'" |
| can't wear what's not clothing rule | "[The adventurer] looks at you curiously. 'Is this some sort of magician's fashion?'" |
| can't wear what's already worn rule | "[already done]" |
| can't eat unless edible rule | "'I'm not sure [the noun] would agree with me.'" |
| can't take off what's not worn rule | "[already done]" |
| can't close what's already closed rule | "[already done]" |
| can't open what's already open rule | "[already done]" |
| can't switch off what's already off rule | "[already done]" |
| can't switch on what's already on rule | "[already done]" |
| can't unlock what's already unlocked rule | "[already done]" |
| can't lock what's already locked rule | "[already done]" |
| block thinking rule | "[The adventurer] looks slightly offended. 'I'm not a spellflinger like you, so you will need to actually explain what you want.'" |
| block kissing rule | "For some reason [the adventurer] bursts out laughing." |
| following people already followed rule | "'I will follow.'" |
To say already done:
say "'[one of]Isn't that a bit redundant?[/br][or]Already done.[/br][or]Hasn't that already been done?[/br][or]We've already done that.[/br][at random]'".
To say physical impossibility:
say "'[one of]I don't see any way to do that.[/br][or]Is there a way to do that?[/br][or]You're the magic-user. Is there something I'm missing?[/br][or]Sorry, I don't see how to do that without magic.[/br][or]Do you have a spell that can help with this? I don't see a way.[/br][at random]'".
Unsuccessful attempt by the obedient adventurer doing something:
if the adventurer success flag is true, rule succeeds;
let the failure be the current action;
change the actor part of the failure to the player;
say "You feel a slight mental nudge from your [i]serage[/i] spell, indicating that [the Adventurer] attempted to [failure fully conjugated in the infinitive with reflexive for the Adventurer] but was somehow unable to."
To say (idea - a stored action) fully conjugated in the (selection - narrative viewpoint) with reflexive for (subject - a person):
let the result be the idea fully conjugated in the selection;
replace the word "yourself" in the result with "you";
replace the word "[the subject]" in the result with "[regarding the subject][themselves]";
say the result.
Unsuccessful attempt by the suspicious adventurer doing something:
do nothing.
Unsuccessful attempt by the adventurer doing something:
if the player cannot see the adventurer, rule succeeds;
repeat through the Table of Adventurer's Retorts:
if the reason the action failed is the cause entry:
now the prior named object is the Adventurer;
say "[response entry][paragraph break]";
rule succeeds;
say "[The Adventurer] looks at you, puzzled. 'I don't see how I would do that.'"