Command-Only Conversation by Ross Angle

Command-Only Conversation

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The Command Tower is a room. "Tall cabinets with flashing lights line the walls, separated by the occasional sleek black displays.[one of]

[example help][or][stopping]"

The displays are scenery in the Command Tower. The description is "Colorful splines gyrate on each display." Understand "display" and "spline" and "splines" as the displays.

The drafting table is scenery in the Command Tower. The description is "Charts and drawing implements are on the table, but you don't make heads or tails of them." Understand "chart" and "charts" and "drawing" and "drawings" and "implement" and "implements" and "draft" and "drafts" as the drafting table.

The Architect is a woman in the Command Tower. "The Architect sits at the drafting table, drafting her drafts." The description is "Her outfit is in greens and browns, like her hair. She writes fluidly, rarely breaking eye contact with the charts on the table." Understand "outfit" and "hair" as the Architect.

To say example help:
    say "[italic type](This game is an experiment in verb sets. You can type 'HAIL ARCHITECT' to choose the person you're talking to, and then you can say 'PLEASE [bracket]command[close bracket]' to speak to them. One of the commands you can suggest to them is 'CONSIDER [bracket]topic[close bracket]'. The abbreviations H, P, and C are also provided.)[roman type]"

Instead of asking:
    say "[example help]".

Instead of telling:
    say "[example help]".

A person has an object called the hailed object.

Understand "hail [thing]" or "h [thing]" as hailing. Hailing is an action applying to one visible thing.

Carry out hailing:
    now the hailed object of the actor is the noun;
    say "'Hello, [the noun].'"

Understand "consider [thing]" or "c [thing]" as considering. Considering is an action applying to one visible thing.

Carry out considering:
    say "You're not sure how [the noun] is relevant right now."

After reading a command:
    let the updated text be indexed text;
    let the updated text be "[the player's command]";
    replace the regular expression "^\s*(p|please)\b" in the updated text with "[hailed object of the player],";
    change the text of the player's command to the updated text.

Understand "please [text]" or "p [text]" as please-asking. Please-asking is an action applying to one topic.

Instead of please-asking:
    say "You haven't hailed anybody to listen to your request."

A persuasion rule:
    Persuasion succeeds.

Carry out the Architect considering the Architect:
    say "'Who are you?'

She gestures broadly at the splines. 'I like rabbits when the moon shines.'"

Carry out considering the Architect:
    say "The Architect seems very busy, but you can ask any questions you like." instead.

The block jumping rule is not listed in any rulebook.

The block answering rule is not listed in any rulebook.

Report jumping:
    try the standing order;
    say "You jump on the spot."

Report the Architect jumping:
    say "The architect jumps. 'Whee!'" instead.

To say asking asking refusal:
    say "That could get out of hand."

Report answering the Architect that:
    say "The topic understood was [the topic understood]." instead.

[
Before asking someone to try asking:
    say "Hmm.".

Instead of asking someone to try asking:
    say "[asking asking refusal]";
    the rule succeeds.
]

Include Editable Stored Actions by Ron Newcomb.

The standing order is a stored action that varies. The standing order is the action of asking the architect to try jumping.

Instead of asking someone to try please-asking:
    say "[asking asking refusal]";
    try asking the Architect to try jumping;
    the rule succeeds.