[MUD-Dev] Re: Role-playing [was Re: several messages]

[clawrenc at cup.hp.com]

In <Pine.SOL.3.95.970516102326.442C-100000 at sun-cc203>, on 05/16/97 
   at 06:48 PM, Ling <K.L.Lo-94 at student.lut.ac.uk> said:

>I like to think of the characters running around as having the
>intelligence of a dog.  The command run won't make them run into a
>wall, like some old adventure games:

>	> e
>	You walk into a wall and hurt yourself.
>	Energy: 80%
>	> w
>	You walk into a wall and hurt yourself.
>	Energy: 75%

>So, I think I will have to make a U turn and represent intelligence
>in the game internally.  Perception, at least, anyhow.

Funny.  I'd tend to like to see them run into the wall and get hurt if
need be.  Points where I would like this sort of autonomous reaction
are at the physical instinctual level:

  > l
  There is a fire here.
  > put hand in fire
  Your hand approaches the fire.  Ouch!  You whip your hand back 
    into safety.

With of course the ability to overide:

  > l
  There is a fire here.
  > put hand in fire!
  Your hand approaches the fire.  Ouch!  You grit your teech 
    and keep your hand in the flames.  

No actual intelligence involved, just automatic nervous/muscular
action ala jumping up after sitting on a thumb tack or closing one's
eyes when something goes near them which can be selectively and (most
important) knowingly overriden in advance by the player.

--
J C Lawrence                           Internet: claw at null.net
(Contractor)                           Internet: coder at ibm.net
---------------(*)               Internet: clawrenc at cup.hp.com
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