Messages

My idea was to have a simple symbol or character at the start of each line, then use that to identify when we start writing data into a new string in the array I am reading these lines into. Whichever way I decide to do it, I think it will be good practice for file handling and data transfer.

The project I am thinking of has about a hundred text files which need to be used in a varying order, so the plan is to have an array into which I read the file being used, then use the array until lines run out, then run the read function again on another file and voila!

Still not convinced by this strange man, you decide you will try and have more information of him.

"A man came before you, perhaps one of these 'others', and told me of your coming. He also said that the previous king wasted his gift. How? And how will I know when the time comes to use the gift?"



The strange man shifts ever-increasingly nervous:

"When and how to use the gift is up to you, and the only instruction I can give to you now is to only use it when the end is near. There is no right or wrong time, however, but each ruler who has used the gift has wished they hadn't, and each ruler who didn't use the gift has wished they had. Heed these words: when the time is dire and your kingdom is truly in peril, then you may call upon this gift, and in doing so you will evoke powers that can both help and harm."

The hooded man glances at your guards, then at the window, and shakes his head.



"My time here is at it's end."

He places the gift, a round object covered in black silk, on the floor before you, and turns to leave without a further word.

At first I looked at that code and was like .

Then I gave it a proper look over and it actually makes quite a bit of sense. Using that basic logic I might be able to alter it slightly to make it better suit my purposes.

Thanks for the help, Billbis!

Hello everyone!

Working on a small proof of concept text adventure thingamabob, and now I am a bit stumped with the ways AGS works.

I have a data file, which is basically a generated .csv file, which contains rows such as the following (note that each line of content is quite long for test purposes):

1;WHAM1;Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Proin eget magna lacus. Suspendisse pharetra non nisl quis tristique. Cras suscipit felis ante, et adipiscing libero aliquet non. Vestibulum luctus elit mi, sit amet viverra arcu rutrum mattis. Donec eget tellus sed mauris accumsan sagittis lacinia nec nisl. Nam rhoncus, nunc sit amet condimentum imperdiet, quam erat aliquam eros, ut tincidunt tellus dui vitae lorem.
2;WHAM2;Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Proin eget magna lacus. Suspendisse pharetra non nisl quis tristique. Cras suscipit felis ante, et adipiscing libero aliquet non. Vestibulum luctus elit mi, sit amet viverra arcu rutrum mattis. Donec eget tellus sed mauris accumsan sagittis lacinia nec nisl. Nam rhoncus, nunc sit amet condimentum imperdiet, quam erat aliquam eros, ut tincidunt tellus dui vitae lorem.

Next up I have the following bit of code set up to test reading the data for further processing:

Code: ags

String GetTextLine() {
  File *output = File.Open("b001.dat", eFileRead);
  if (output == null)
    Display("Error opening file.");
  else {
    String data = output.ReadRawLineBack();
    Display("%s", data);
    data = output.ReadRawLineBack();
    Display("%s", data);
    output.Close();
  }
}

As far as I can tell, this should return both of the above lines of text. However, instead it returns the following lines displayed:
"1;WHAM1;Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Proin eget magna lacus. Suspendisse pharetra non nisl quis tristique. Cras suscipit felis ante, et adipiscing libero aliquet non. Vesti"
and
"bulum luctus elit mi, sit amet viverra arcu rutrum mattis. Donec eget tellus sed mauris accumsan sagittis lacinia nec nisl. Nam rhoncus, nunc sit amet condimentum imperdiet, quam erat aliquam eros, u"


So it seems that the ReadRawLineBack(); -function is restricted to importing 199 characters or so.

1. Is this correct, or is there something wrong with my data file?
2. Is there a way around this issue?

Thanks in advance!

"Before I can accept your gift, I must know more of it. What does this 'gift' of yours do, precisely, and who are these 'others' who sent you to deliver this gift?"



The strange man shifts nervously, but anwers nonetheless:

"My King, the others are just that: others. Others in our order. The less you know of us, the better, for we do not seek to be widely known in your lands, only to observe and protect. As to what the gift does, simply uncover it and gaze into it, and the answer will be made clear to you. All I can say is, that this land is fraught with unspeakable peril, and each creature to ever lay claim to ruling over it has been handed a gift such as this by our order, so that these rulers might stand where mere mortals would fall. Our time is short, do you accept this gift or not?"

You sense urgency in the voice of the squeaky-voiced man.

Feeling threatened, you call out your guards in a low voice. The men step out of the shadows behind your throne and emerge to be closer to you for the time being.

"Next!" -you call out once more, and the shadow in the doorway begins to approach.



Whoever this person is, he or she is small in size, yet somehow foreboding. A gray hood covers the new arrivals face almost completely, and it seems that the audience -seekers covered hands are holding something spherical, wrapped in a black silk cloth.

"My King" -a squeaky male voice begins to emanate from beneath the hood, causing a slight chill to run down your spine.

"I am Razathul, a lowly messenger sent by the others to deliver this gift to you. I was instructed only to entrust it in your hands and to tell you this: 'as promised, the gift is here. Use it wisely, for only once will it serve thee'. Will you accept this gift?"

Just wanted to be sure you knew the unwritten rules.  Same went for previous game, and I can't exactly say we had a happy ending there, so let's hope we can get this kingdom a bit more upbeat one.

Just keep in mind that this is a one-shot game. No saves, no loads, no retries. If the King dies and does not have a heir of some sort, the game ends outright.

> Write a note reading: "I hate my life", give it to Jester and commit suicide.

> Commit suicide because of the fear of Travelling Artisan.

Is that a deathwish I sense there?

"Very well, Hirschel. I hereby appoint you the ROYAL GARDENER. You will have a quarter set up for you within the castle and you will have free reign over the roayl garden. I will have the garden segmented by fences to allow you to divide the area as needed and to ensure the ROYAL PRIZE COW does not hinder your work."



The old man bows as deep as his crooked back allows him.

"Thank you, Kind King. I will serve you 'till the end of my days, Gods willing."



You call for the JESTER to guide the new ROYAL GARDENER to some free quarters in the castle, and instruct him to relay your request for some fences in the royal garden to the head of the builder's guild; CONSTRUED.

The JESTER gladly obliges and is soon on his way.
The hooded silhouette of your next audience awaits at the door of the throne room

Can I quote you on that?

Waaaaait a minute, something's fishy about that quote.

"Next!" -you call out, having gotten used to the routine.

An old man, his head bald and his beard thick, approaches the throne. He wears a faded green traveller's robe and around his neck is a chain of links crafted of many metals.



"My King, I am HIRSCHEL, THE WIZENED the call me. For decades I have offered my services to those in need and to those who sought it, and in those years I have accumulated a wealth of knowledge in the matter of plants, herbs and minerals of the earth. Now I seek a place to spend the rest of my years, a place where I may settle down and still be of use. Would you offer me such a place? I ask for no pay, just that I have a place to sleep and work and eat."

http://ags-ssh.blogspot.com/2009/12/interview-part-8-dvd-dualnames-versus.html

Woooow. It's like the interviewer REALLy knows this guy!
Also Ghost needs to go back and finish Daemons in the Attic! Or rename it to "Ghosts in the Attic"!

Nobody's home.

You ponder for a moment, then decide that Robina and her Merry Men are exactly what you need.

"Robina the Ranger, I hereby hire you and your men to serve the crown for the price discussed. Your first assignment shall be to explore and map out the immediate surroundings of the castle town and to report back. A day's travel in the North, West, East and South will suffice for now."



Robina smiles and her men do a little song and dance.

"As you wish, My King, my men and I will serve you well!"

Robina leads her men out of the throne room and you can almost hear them singing as they go. Something about pants.

"Robina, is there more you can tell me of you and your companions? It seems one of your men is..." You pause. "...visually impaired." You suggest cautiously.
"What are your stories and experiences?"



Robina glances behind her, then gives a chuckle at your remark.

"Blind old Mark here is as good a man as any. He may not be the best marksman, but his hearing and acute sense of smell have kept us from many a trouble. Each of my Merry Men have a special talent that make them valuable to the group as a whole. We have worked as adventurers and archers for hire in the countryside, wandering the woods and farmlands, offering help in exchange for lodging, food and coin. We've chased off many a goblin tribe and even the occasionaly ettin, and the common folk seem to like us well enough considering we were offered free lodgings just outside of town.

We specialize in moving light and fast, scouting ahead and harrassing our foes. We can't exactly hold off a cavalry charge out in the open, but in the woods or behind secure walls we can make even the most heavily armoured knights think twice before charging."

I knew nothing of the Onceanspirit Dennis canon, but now that has been remedied! Huzzah!

Actually I'm serious about this in a non serious way. Well, what I mean is, WHAM is notorious for drawing the bestest dance scenes in forum games ever!

Refer here for old awesomeness (if I do say so myself, it was fun to draw at least): http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=44156.msg617019#msg617019

I can't shake off the feeling this kingdom is a pop-culture patchwork. Next thing we'll learn there are huge suits of armour around that can protect us even against the angels if we plug an angsty teenager in.
And that would be so awesome.

*makes a mental note*

You order the Jester to prepare a small feast for the evening, ensuring that BARON and the head of the trader's guild, as well as a few other key traders, are invited. The Jester agrees that this is a wonderful idea and begins the preparations as soon as he has sent in the next audience.



A band of men, headed by a redheaded woman, all clad in matching white & green outfits and unusually tight pants enter your throne room. The woman steps forward to greet you.

"Hail King! I am Robina the Ranger and these are my merry men. I have come to offer you the services of myself and my thirty experienced rangers for the yearly pay of 3 gold each year. We are most experienced in rough terrain and woodland areas, and our bows and arrows make us utterly lethal at range."

She makes her boasts of power in a relaxed and assured manner, but the fact that at least one of her followers seems to be utterly blind does make you wonder.