Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- characters [2010/02/16 21:58] – Boettchers
+++ characters [2012/07/09 23:54] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-====== Characters **Under Construction** ======
+====== Characters ======
+Back to [[edit_cartridges|Tabs List]].
 {{:create_your_first_cartridge:characters_tab.jpg|}}
-Credit for the most content on this page goes to the [[http://wherigobuilder.wikispaces.com/Builder+Characters+and+Items|Wherigo Wiki]]
+Credit for most of the content on this page goes to the [[http://wherigobuilder.wikispaces.com/Builder+Characters+and+Items|Wherigo Wiki]]
+===== Characters in the Builder =====
+Characters are animate beings with whom the player interacts in the course of the game. For example, the player might talk to a character, give something to a character or take something from a character.  Characters can either help or impede the player, depending on how you design the game.
+To add or edit a character, begin by choosing Characters from the main tabs. This will display a list of existing characters or items. To the right of this list, there are links for properties, events and map. When you select one of these links, the sub-tab corresponding to your selection will be opened.
+When you add or edit an object, you will be asked to provide the following information.
+    * The name of the object. Required.
+    * A brief description. Optional.
+    * A piece of media (picture) to represent the object on its detail screen. Optional. If omitted, no picuture appears on the detail screen.
+    * An icon to represent the object in lists. Optional. If omitted, the builder provides a default icon.
+    * The initial visibility setting for the object. Remember that this interacts with the visibility settings for any zone which contains the object.
+    * The initial values for additional properties. For characters, gender and type.
+    * To set or change a location, choose the Zone drop down and select a zone from the list.
+You can also define commands for the object. You will see a green plus sign on the properties sub tab, which you can use to add, edit and delete commands.
-Characters are animate beings with whom the player interacts in the course of the game. For example, the player might talk to a character, give something to a character or take something from a character. Items are inanimate things. The player also interacts with items, but in a different way. For example, the player might have (or not have) an item. The player might unlock a box, open an envelope, or read a book. Both characters and items can either help or impede the player, depending on how you design the game.
-Although they have different roles in game play, Wherigo characters and items are mechanically very similar. So we'll discuss them together on this page.
-What Makes a Character or Item?
-Major visible characteristics include the following.
 ===== Name =====
@@ Line 19: / Line 38: @@
 An optional picture. This appears on the detail screen for the character or item. This is where the player interacts with the character or item.
+Media objects can contain other media files than pictures (for example a sound file) but these have currently no effect with characters. If you associate a sound media with a character in the hope that the sound will play every time you display the character this will not (yet?) work.
 ===== Icon =====
 An optional icon. This is a small symbol that represents the character or item in lists. If you do not provide an icon, the builder provides a dull, boring default.
-===== Container =====
-Both characters and items usually have a location. This is expressed as latitude and longitude (with optional altitude). Typically, the position is within a zone. When you create a character or item in the builder, you can assign an initial location within any zone. During game play, you can move the character or item to a different zone.
 ===== Visibility =====
@@ Line 33: / Line 51: @@
     * Each character or item has an individual visibility setting. An object is actually visible only if the zone allows it and the object itself is set to visible.
-===== Containment =====
+===== Container =====
+Both characters and items usually have a location. This is expressed as latitude and longitude (with optional altitude). Typically, the position is within a zone. When you create a character or item in the builder, you can assign an initial location within any zone. During game play, you can move the character or item to a different zone.
+==== Containment ====
 Characters and items can be contained by zones, the player, or other characters or items. A given character or item can only be directly contained by one thing at a time.
@@ Line 45: / Line 69: @@
 In script, you can check to see what contains a particular item. This test refers to the immediate container. For example, suppose that an envelope contains a letter and the envelope has been moved to a particular zone. A test to see if the letter is in the envelope will be true. A test to see if the envelope is in the zone will also be true. However, a test to see if the letter is in the zone will be false. The letter's location is within the zone, but it is directly contained by the envelope, not the zone.
-===== Commands =====
-Characters and items can have associated commands. Commands provide a way for the player to interact with the virtual world. For example, you might have a command to talk to a character. Or a command to open a box or an envelope. Or a command to have a character ride a bicycle or a horse. You can also attach script to a command. When the player chooses to perform the command, the script executes. This gives you the opportunity to make changes as a result of the command. For example, if the player chooses to "take" a coin, you can move the coin to the player's inventory. Or if the player chooses to have a character ride the bicycle, you can move the character and bike to a different zone.
 ===== Other Properties =====
-Both characters and items have a few additional properties. Each property has a value, which you can set and test during game play. In addition, the builder allows you to give these properties initial values. These properties, especially the ones for items, make it easy to track changes in the state of the virtual world as the game progresses.
+Characters have a few additional properties. Each property has a value, which you can set and test during game play. In addition, the builder allows you to give these properties initial values.
 ==== Characters have these additional properties. ====
@@ Line 58: / Line 80: @@
-==== Items have these additional properties ====
-Both of these attributes are frequently used in games. For example, a box might be locked or unlocked. An unlocked box might be open or closed. A book might be open or closed. In spite of the names, you can use these properties to track any two yes/no attributes of an item.
-    * Locked. This is a flag property, which may be either true or false.
+===== Commands =====
-    * Opened. This is a flag property, which may be either true of false.
-===== Characters and Items in the Builder =====
+Characters and items can have associated commands. Commands provide a way for the player to interact with the virtual world. For example, you might have a command to talk to a character. Or a command to open a box or an envelope. Or a command to have a character ride a bicycle or a horse. You can also attach script to a command. When the player chooses to perform the command, the script executes. This gives you the opportunity to make changes as a result of the command. For example, if the player chooses to "take" a coin, you can move the coin to the player's inventory. Or if the player chooses to have a character ride the bicycle, you can move the character and bike to a different zone.
-To add or edit a character or an item, begin by choosing Characters or Items from the main tabs. This will display a list of existing characters or items. To the right of this list, there are links for properties, events and map. When you select one of these links, the sub-tab corresponding to your selection will beopened.
-When you add or edit an object, you will be asked to provide the following information.
-    * The name of the object. Required.
-    * A brief description. Optional.
-    * A piece of media (picture) to represent the object on its detail screen. Optional. If omitted, no picuture appears on the detail screen.
-    * An icon to represent the object in lists. Optional. If omitted, the builder provides a default icon.
-    * The initial visibility setting for the object. Remember that this interacts with the visibility settings for any zone which contains the object.
-    * The initial values for additional properties. For characters, gender and type. For items, locked and opened.
-You can also define commands for the object. You will see a green plus sign on the properties sub tab, which you can use to add, edit and delete commands.
-Finally, you can set an initial location (zone) for the object.
-    * To set or change a location, choose the Zone drop down and select a zone from the list.