A R C H I P E L A G O

BUILDER'S FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND GUIDEBOOK
This guide explains the Archipelago on-line creation editors for objects, mobs, and zones. Most commands, listed on the wizhelp, will be explained, and building tips will be offered.

Table of Contents:



I. General building commands:
Usually, you can abbreviate the first few letters. Anything in < > is required. Anything in [ ] is optional. The | symbol means OR. Anything in capitals has to be typed in or abbreviated.

AT
remote execution of a command. e.g., at postmaster receive.
BRB
be right back!, puts an (away) flag in your title.
BUILDING
building tips, standards.
GOTO [ name | roomnum ]
go to someone, or to a room number.
FORCE
force a mob or person to do something. useful in equiping mobs before zsaving them, and useful for roleplaying purposes.
HANDBOOK
immortal rules of conduct.
HOLYLIGHT
toggle this command to see dark rooms.
INVIS [level]
the first command the new builder inevitably uses :)
LOAD < MOB | OBJ > <vnum>
load a mob or object.
MCLONE <vnum>
clone an existing mob into your own zone.
MCREATE
create a new mob prototype.
MEDIT <vnum>
edit an existing mob.
NOHASSLE
toggle this command to prevent aggr mobs from bothering you.
NOWIZ
toggle this command to tune out of the wiz channel.
OCLONE <vnum>
clone an existing object into your own zone.
OCREATE
create a new object prototype.
OEDIT <vnum>
edit an existing object.
POOFIN, POOFOUT
set your "entrance" and "exit" when you enter and exit via the 'go' command.
PURGE [name]
purge with a name attached will purge that obj/mob. purge, without arguments, will purge the entire room. purge on players will kick a player, sans eq., out of the game and into the main menu.
RCLONE <roomnum>
clone an existing room into your own zone.
RCREATE
create a new room.
REDIT <roomnum>
edit an existing room.
ROOMFLAG
toggle this command to see room flags in addition to room numbers.
SAVEOBJ, SAVEMOB, SAVEROOM, SAVEZONE
these commands save your objs, mobs, rooms, zones. Use the 'save' command to autosave everything automatically.
SHOW [infotype]
type this alone to see what info type is available to you.
SHOW < MOB | OBJ | ROOM | ZONE > <zonenum>
show the mob, objects, rooms, zone commands of the specified zone.
STAT [ MOB | OBJ ] <name>
stat a mob, object, or player that is in the game. this command defaults to stating a mob or player, unless you specifically use 'stat o' for objects.
SWITCHZONE
Bodhisattva+ level command. toggle this to edit another zone if you have one.
TRANSFER <name>
transfer a mob/person to you.
VNUM < MOB | OBJ > <name>
find the vnum of a mob or object. NOTE: you can specify two keywords to describe what you are trying to find, e.g., vn m black sheep.
VSTAT <vnum>
stat a mob or object prototype not currently loaded in the game.
WHERE [name]
this is not listed as a wizhelp command, but it is a immortal command nonetheless. The command tells you where things and people are located. typing this command alone, will show you the location of all active players in the game.
WIZNET, or ;
the immortal's talk channel.
ZSAVE < MOB | OBJ | DOOR > <name|dir>
save the mob, object, or door to the zone file. For doors, you must specify the door's direction. NOTE: the mob, obj, door has to be typed in fully as mob, obj or door, otherwise it will not work. this is unlike the other commands where you can just use M for mobs, and O for objects.
ZSET <resetnumber> <howmany> [ IF ]
zone commands execute every reset, and will execute a specific command until the max number specified is reached. This max number is world dependent, not zone, i.e., if a zone command says two dragons are to be loaded, and on next reset the game finds two dragons already loaded in the world, the game will not load another. The "if" option is rarely used, what it does is to execute this zone command only if the previous zone command was executed.
ZPURGE <resetnumber>
purge a command from the zone file. note: if you zpurge something with inventory, then that inventory disappears also.


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II. Building objects,
The guide to the object editor. use the OEDIT command.

(T)ext:
(N)ame: the keywords used to reference the object. See notes on keywords below for additional details.
(S)hortdescr: the object's name.
(D)escription: the object's description if its on a floor.
(A)ction description: The action description is used for FOOD type items when eaten, for the SCABBARD, and WEAPON type objects when the draw and sheathe commands are used, for the CANTRIP type objects when they are recited, and for the FOUNTAIN type objects when it they are in a room.
(F)lags:
(W)orn: the slots where the object can be worn, wielded, and held.
(A)pply: what this object is affected with. also, see notes on building magic items, below.
(E)xtra flags: extra bits affecting an object.
(S)tats:
(T)ype: the object's type. note: set the object's type before you edit anything else.
(W)eight: the object's weight (the unit you enter here is 10*lb, fractions are acceptable, e.g., 1lb = 10units, 66lb = 660units, 0.2lb = 2units).
(V)alue: its real value (the unit you enter here is 10*money).
(C)ost: the rent cost (the unit you enter here is 10*money).
(I)llumination:
this number affects the object's influence on light levels. If its a positive number, the object gives off light, if its a negative number, the object absorbs light. To make a permanent light (or dark) object, set the illumination number, and set the object's extra bit to GLOW and MAGIC.
(V)alues: the object's values depending on type.
(D)am state: set the obj's damage.
si(Z)e: set the object's physical size.
item (L)imit: set the item's absolute limit. The object will not load past this number. Set this to zero if there is no limit.
(A)ffections: optionally apply up to four extra values for an object.
(E)xtra: extra descriptions of an object used when you 'look' at the object. it is highly recommended that some sort of extra description is added to the object to further enrich Archipelago's world.
(Q)uit: quit object editor.


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III. Notes on building certain object types,

An obj flag marked with an asterisk means the flag has either not been implemented, or is reserved for internal use. please do not use it.

Notes on the use of keywords.
It is recommended that the first keyword to an object is its primary noun, e.g., 'vase' in 'a black glass vase'. See notes on building LIQUID CONTAINER types below for an exception.

Notes on god_flagging of items.
to be mortal usuable, all items must not have a god_flag on them. To avoid this, the item cannot exceed 125 creation_points. For items costing 20 creation_points or more, the item must have a cash value of at least 100*creation_pts., and a rent value of at least 10*creation_pts. For items costing less than 20 creation_points, the item does not need a cash or rent value. See WEAPON and CONTAINER types below for additional restraints.

Notes on building FOOD type objects.
You can add an (A)ction desc on food items to describe what the food tastes like if eaten.

Notes on building SCABBARD type objects.
When you choose (V)alues, you can either specify a weapon that belongs to that scabbard. If you choose 0, you can then choose the general type of weapon that will fit inside the scabbard, e.g., dagger, sword, etc.

The action description for weapons and scabbard are used in conjunction with the draw and sheath commands. The action description is shown to everyone in the room except you.

Use the following $ codes in the action desc: $n to show the name of person with the object, $p to show the object name, $s for the pronoun (his, her, it), $m for the pronoun (him, her, it), $e for the pronoun (he, she, it).

e.g., a glowing white saber of light (weapon), and a wide belt (scabbard).
- Action desc on the WEAPON: $n turns off $p with a flick of a switch.
when the weapon is SHEATHED, everyone will see this:
     Zanth turns off a glowing saber of light with a flick of a switch.
     Zanth slips a glowing white saber of light into a wide belt.
- Action desc on the SCABBARD: $n fingers something hooked to $p.
when the weapon is DRAWN, everyone will see this:
     Zanth fingers something hooked to a wide belt.
     Zanth slides a glowing white saber of light from a wide belt.
     Zanth wields a glowing white saber of light.

Notes on building WEAPON type items.
There are rules in building weapons that will be usuable for mortals. The weapon may not exceed 40 points of damage points, it may not have more than a total of 7 to their hit and dam rolls, and the weapon must weigh 0.7 * max_damage_pts_of_weap. The rules of god_flagging apply here also.

Notes on building CONTAINER type items.
There are two numbers that must be considered in building a container, the container's weight, shown in the (S)tats menu, and the number listed in (V)alues menu. The container's weight can be anything. The number shown in the (V)alues menu is the container's weight AND the carrying capacity totalled together. e.g., If a bag weights one lb (10units), and you want the bag to carry 10lb of stuff (100units), then the number you enter into the (V)alues menu is 10units + 100units = 110units.

Note: a container cannot have a carrying capacity of greater than 400lb (4000units), otherwise, it will be god_flagged, unless the initial weight of the container is 10000lb or more.

To create an enterable container, set the room number and maximum capacity in (V)alues, and how small the entrance is in si(Z)es.

Notes on building LIQUID CONTAINER type items.
In the list of keywords, make sure the first keyword reflects the initial liquid that is contained in the container, e.g., if you have a wine skin containing wine, then the first keyword is wine. When the liquid container empties out, the mud code will automatically remove the first keyword and will replace it with another when the container is filled.

Notes on building PULLABLE type items.
Multiple mobs can be hitched to one cart. You must type 'zsave obj <cart>' in order to save the cart and mobs hitched to it into the zone file.

Notes on building KEY type objects.
An object doesn't have to have the KEY type set to be used as a key. As long as the vnum of the key object matches the door lock, it will work, e.g., a crowbar (which is a weapon type object, but doubles as a key).

Notes on building CANTRIP type objects.
You can add an (A)ction desc on cantrip items to describe (to everyone in the room, except you) what happens when the cantrip is recited, e.g., the action desc on the cantrip of returning: $p bursts in to flames and vanishes with a *POP*!

Notes on building magic items.
There are several types of magic items currently available,
CANTRIPS are items that can be used once by reciting them.
PHILTRES are weak potions, they are used once by quaffing them.
ELIXIRS are the strongest type of potions you can have. Note: they are not yet implemented.
RODS are another name for wands, and are used as such. They can contain one to many charges before they are rendered useless.
STAVES are the strongest type of wands you can have. Note: they are not yet implemented.
VIS items are to be used with the 'invoke' command. They boost spells, and once consumed, they disappear.
"rechargable" items are wand-like objects that can used once, and recharged to be reused again and again. These items can be any object type, but the important thing is to set the object's (A)pply bit, which determines what powers it has. For every hour of effect, the rechargable has to have at least double the time of recharge.

Notes on building permanent light (and dark) objects.
These objects permanently provide, or absorb light. Set the object's (I)llumination, and the object's GLOW and MAGIC extra bits.

Notes on creating room invisible objects.
To hide an object in a room, toggle the DARK extra bit on the object, and remove its floor description. note: The DARK extra bit has nothing to do with illumination.

Notes on the 2-HANDED extra bit.
This flag can be applied on weapons, on shields, and holdable objects. The ability to use 2-handed objects depends on the size of the object, and the size of the person handling it, e.g., small 2-handed weapons can be wielded single-handedly by large sized people; and large single-handed weapons can only be handled with two hands by smaller folk. One disadvantage with this flag involves its use in shields. Mobs and people cannot hit back if wearing a 2-handed shield.


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IV. Building mobs,
The guide to the mob editor. use the MEDIT command.

(T)ext:
(N)ame: the keywords used to look at the mob.
(S)hortdescr: the mob's name.
(L)ongdescr: the mob's description when its in the room.
(D)escription: the mob's full description, when it is looked at. it is highly recommended that some sort of description is added to the mob to further enrich Archipelago's world.
(M)ob flags: toggle the mob's limitations here.
Affect (F)lags: toggle whatever spell effects, and special abilities here.
(P)layer stats: individually set the mob stats.
(A)rmor class:
(A)rmor: set the mob's armor class. numbers range from -100 to 100, where -100 is the best armour.
(S)topping: set the mob's stopping class (the number that is first deducted from an enemy blow, before armor class calculations).
(T)hrows: set the mob's saving throws.
(S)tats:
(1) set the mob's align, level, bonus hitroll, height (in centimeters), weight (the unit you enter here is 10*lb)
(2) set the mob's hitpoints, damage and bonus damroll, and hitting type.
(3) set the mob's current and default position, and gender.
(4) toggle 'yes' if the mob has gold, and set its fame value.
(5) set the mob's class type.
(Q)uit: quit mob editor.


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V. Notes on building mobs.

How to equip a basic mob and to save into the zone file: load up a mob, and give it some eq. Force the mob to wear the eq, and when everything is in order, type zsave mob . Type show zone, and adjust the max number of mobs and eq you want to exist at any one time in the world with the zset command. If a mob can't wear some eq, make sure the eq fits, if not, change either the size of the eq or the size of the mob (be sure to change it back once you zsaved the mob).

You can also force mobs to wear items in a wrong body slot. All you have to do is to change the object's (W)orn flag to something else after it is worn by the mob and zsaved. Then you have to wait until the zone resets to see your results, or use zreset if you have it.
General notes:
A mob flag marked with an asterisk means the flag has either not been implemented, or is reserved for internal use. please do not use it.

A mob can't be tamed if its INT > 10, and/or it can speak.

Hitpoints are computed in the nds+p format where p is the base hp, n and s are dice rolls to add an extra amount to "randomize" the mob. nds, means n die of s type, e.g., 4d5 mean 4 dies each with 5 outcomes.

Damage is computed in the nds format without a base damage. The p, in the mob editor simply is the bonus damroll, see below. So a mob with 4d5 damage will do 4-20 points of damage, (with an average of 12).

The bonus hitroll and damroll simply makes a mob more or less tough than average. The bonus hitroll simply increases a mob's ability to hit a target, e.g., a mob with a 15 hitroll is able to hit a target more times than a mob with less. The bonus damroll is a small multiplier to a mob's basic damage. The higher the damroll the more its nds damage will be multiplied.

Mob experience, and gold (if it has any), are automatically calculated by the game engine. They are dependant on the mobile's stats, hp, and damage.

Notes on mobs helping CITIZENS.
If ANY of the following is true, then there is a 1 in 4 chance per combat round that a mob will assist.
  1. if both mobs are flagged as citizen and within 200 align pts.
  2. if mob is flagged as a helper.
  3. if mob has int > 10 and within 200 align pts.

Notes on the HAS MOOD mob flag.
If this flag is set, the mob will be affected by moods. If a mob's mood reaches -1000, it will have a random chance of attacking anyone.

Notes on the FREE ACTION mob affect flag.
Set this flag and WATER BREATH for mobs who dwell underwater.

Notes on the mob class type.
Most mobs of the same race have features unique to them. Please refer to the appendix at the end of this guide for more details.


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VI. Building rooms,
The guide to the room editor. use the REDIT command.

(T)ext:
(T)itle: the room name.
(D)esc: the room's full description.
te(L)eport:
(T)o room: set the teleport's destination.
(D)elay: set the teleport's delay.
(1) Message to char: what the char sees when teleport activates.
(2) Message to room: what the room sees when teleport activates.
(3) Message to destination: what the next room sees when teleport activates.
note: $codes, such as $n to represent the player's name, can be used inside teleport messages.
(R)oom flags: set any room flags.
se(C)tor flag: set the room's sector type.
(N)orth, (E)ast, (S)outh, (W)est, (U)p, (D)own:
(T)o room: what room number this room is connected to.
(D)esc: the desc that is shown when one looks in this direction. A desc can also be placed on a null exit (exit without a room link), in which case, the desc will only be shown when one looks, or moves into the null exit.
(K)eywords: the keywords used to reference a door, if set.
(E)xit bits: set extra bits, as well as creating a door for this exit.
Ke(Y): the vnum of the object used as the "key". note: the key doesn't have to be a KEY obj type, just as long as the object vnum matches the door's lock.
(P)urge exit: purge this exit, can be used to create one-way exits.
e(X)tra desc:
note: if you already have a room extra desc, and want to (C)reate another, you must first create it, then immediately type (Q), then reenter to edit the (now null) extra desc. If, instead, you (C)reate a new extra, and immediately edit the desc, you will be, in actuality, editing a previous extra desc, and will destroy it. this is a bug.
(Q)uit: quit room editor.


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VII. Notes on building rooms,

Notes on building petshops and stables.
To set up a petshop, you must have a shopkeeper mob, and an empty and unaccessible storage room containing the mobs the shopkeeper will sell. A coder will then be able to set the shopkeeper to sell whatever mobs are loading in that storage room. You can, at anytime, alter what mobs the shopkeeper will sell by changing what mobs load in that storage room. e.g., in room 11173, Drinth sells horses, the mounts load in room 11348.

Notes on room illumination.
"Parts of room descriptions can be made dependant on the light level in the room" -dc. In front of the text you wish to be light sensitive, add a '%#' code, and end the text with '%', e.g., "%2A dusty trapdoor can barely be seen on the floor.%". Valid #'s range from 0 to 4. %0 sentences will show up in "quite dark" light conditions, %1 in "gloomy", %2 in normal light, %3 in "bright", and %4 in "very bright" light. For additional examples, stat these rooms 1880, 2001.

Notes on room teleports.
Teleports can teleport into the same room. This will create a "room echo" that can liven up a room, e.g., A fire crackles in the fireplace.


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VIII. Miscellaneous building tips:

Use cut and paste if and where possible, and try to build offline if you are comfortable with that idea. Building offline has it advantages,
- 1. you can employ a spell checker to check for errors,
- 2. you can build unmolested from distractions in the game,
- 3. you have a copy of the work on your hard drive to peruse and edit.

If you are without cut and paste abilities, try the ascii protocol option on your terminal program. ascii protocol uploads text in the same manner as typing in stuff on your keyboard and seeing it on your screen, but only faster (like cut and paste). note, if you have problems with extra carriage returns, or missing text, you may need to speed, or slow down the upload by a few tenths of a second, or use tintin or similar client to help buffer input into the mud.

The KEY obj type is not necessary, you can make keys out of any object, just as long as the key object matches the door's lock.

Cursed items can be gotten rid of by placing the item in a bag and junking it, if you cannot 'eat' the item in the first place.

Where are all the boards located?
the IMMORTAL BOARD in 1204 (no mortal can read this board).
the MORTAL BOARD in 1205.
the BUILDER'S BOARD in 1207.
the BUG BOARD in 1208 (please put all game crash bugs on the imm board).
the BUILDER'S PROPOSAL BOARD in 1220.
the MEETING/MISCELLANEOUS BOARD in 1221.
the UPDATE BOARD in 1222 (notices on code changes, and updates).

What's a useful prompt?
I use this prompt: '%iR:%R> '. It tells me my wizinvis and roomnum.

See the Archipelago faq for game features.
See Magnifico's Archipelago Web Jump Page for additional builder resources and style guides.
Here's a page about MU*S and some articles on designing and building areas.


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IX. Appendix:

Sizes:
(6) TINY < 100 cm
(5) VERY SMALL < 135 cm
(4) SMALL < 170 cm
(3) NORMAL < 190 cm
(2) LARGE < 220 cm
(1) HUGE >=220 cm

Poison levels:
Mild 1-12 pts per tick
Mild 6-24 pts per tick
Moderate 12-48 pts per tick
Strong 24-96 pts per tick
V Strong 48-192 pts per tick
Deadly 200-500 pts per tick

Mob class type:
Undead - produce a pile of dust instead of a corpse when killed. undead are also affected by the skill 'turn undead'.
Other
Humanoid
Animal
Dragon - breath only when the spell_caster mob flag is set, and a special -- post on the board to request a special -- is assigned. The types of breath the dragon can breath are fire, frost, gas, lightning, and halitosis.
Giant
Plant
Equine
Ichthyoid
Arthopod



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© Copyright 1995-1996 by Robert K. Chin. All rights reserved.
Last revised June 6, 1996.