Drop an Object

It is fairly easy to get an object, but not as easy to drop an object. First, it must only be dropped in an actual zone. Second, it should (usually) be dropped in Player's current zone. One way that works is detailed in the instructions below. This way of dropping objects assumes that no zones overlap. Handling overlapping zones is left as an exercise for the reader.

Typographical Conventions:

• In the instructions below, “L>” at the beginning of a line is a shortcut that indicates a “Lua Statement” or “Lua Expression”, depending on context. Some of these things can only be done with Lua statements.
• Indentation is shown in the examples for increased readability but is not required.

• Create expression Is_Player_In_Zone.
• Call Item_Event_Availability for every zone's Enter/Exit event.
• Call Item_Drop for item's Drop event.
• Call Item_Get for item's Get event.

First you will need to create the following expression:

• Is_Player_In_Zone

L> #Player.InsideOfZones > 0

You want to make it so that you can only drop items in a zone. Remember, this only works for non-overlapping zones. You will want to call this function for Enter and Exit events for every zone where an item may be dropped. Enabling/disabling the Get event is left as an exercise to the reader, except as show below.

• Item_Event_Availability

L> for key,value in pairs(Player.Inventory) do
L>   if value.Commands["Drop"] then
L>     value.Commands["Drop"].Enabled = (#Player.InsideOfZones > 0)
L>   end
L> end

My cartridge calls Zone_Enter when every zone is entered, and Zone_Exit when every zone is exited. These functions take care of other accounting which may need to be done when entering a zone, so I need to check to see if this zone is a zone where an object can be dropped.

• Item_Event_Availability

L> for key,value in pairs(Player.Inventory) do
L>   if value.Commands["Drop"] then
       if Is_Player_In_Zone_Next_To_Bridge
L>       value.Commands["Drop"].Enabled = (#Player.InsideOfZones > 0)
       else
       endif
L>   end
L> end

The implementation of the expression Is_Player_In_Zone_Next_To_Bridge is unimportant for this example so it is not shown. You will need to create an expression appropriate for your cartridge anyway.

This is the function that actually drops the item into the current (non-overlapping) zone. You will need to set the parameter name to item. This uses the expression Is_Player_In_Zone created above. It also enables the Get event for the object just dropped. How to call this function will be show below.

• Item_Drop

if Is_Player_In_Zone
  L> item:MoveTo(Player.InsideOfZones[1])
  L> item.Commands["Drop"].Enabled = false
  L> item.Commands["Get"].Enabled = true
else
endif

All of this could be implemented in the item's Drop event. However, since that would nearly duplicate this same code in every event, it is easier to implement it once and call this function.

In order to use use this function it must be called from the Drop event with the item being dropped, as follows:

Call_function Item_Drop (item=Item:Fox)

Fox is an item in my cartridge, but will be different for your cartridge. You may implement other effects of dropping an object either in Item_Drop (if it applies to most/all items) or in each individual item's Drop event.

While implementing Get is fairly easy, adding Drop slightly complicates it. You will need to set the parameter name to item. It also enables the Drop event for the object just dropped, and disables Get event. How to call this function will be show below.

• Item_Get

Move_an_element Item:item => Player
L> item.Commands["Get"].Enabled = false
L> item.Commands["Drop"].Enabled = true

All of this could be implemented in the item's Drop event. However, since that would nearly duplicate this same code in every event, it is easier to implement it once and call this function.

And as above, in my cartridge I only want items able to be dropped if in certain zones:

Move_an_element Item:item => Player
L> item.Commands["Get"].Enabled = false
if Is_Player_In_Zone_Next_To_Bridge
L>   item.Commands["Drop"].Enabled = true
else
endif

In order to use use this function it must be called from the Get event with the item being gotten, as follows:

Call_function Item_Get (item=Item:Fox)

Fox is an item in my cartridge, but will be different for your cartridge. You may implement other effects of getting an object either in Item_Get (if it applies to most/all items) or in each individual item's Get event.