Re: Gameplay theory: leaving object behind..


Wed, 13 Sep 1995 15:12:01 BST

dgcarlyl@opus.freenet.vancouver.bc.ca (Dennis Carlyle) wrote:

> The hero can "Think about (object / (location) / actor)" -- thus trying
> to access her store of knowledge and memory -- not only about things and
> places from the past, but also about subjects she has trained in / read
> about.

The Infocom-style "What is...?" 'verb' seems a good way to implement this,
especially as it can be expanded to work with other NPCs ("Bob, what is the
meaning of life?"), with everyone including the player having a knowledge-
base.

[Christminster spoiler]

In Christminster, for example, you are given the task of finding out
Malcolm's surname, so that you can look him up in the list. I had to talk to
the Master to get this, but my character - Malcolm's sister - would be
rather stupid if she didn't know this already. "Who is Malcolm?" should have
told me as well, I think.

I don't think you should _need_ to ask yourself what things are very
often though.

BCNU, AjC