GETTING STARTED IN TADS 3 (version 3.1) A Beginner's Guide By ERIC EVE 2 CONTENTS CONTENTS ............................................................................................................................................ 2 PREFACE ............................................................................................................................................... 4 CHAPTER ONE - INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................. 5 1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 5 2. CREATING YOUR FIRST TADS 3 PROJECT ........................................................................................ 7 a. Installing the TADS 3 Author’s Kit ............................................................................................. 7 b. Creating the new project ............................................................................................................. 7 c. Running your game ................................................................................................................... 10 3. PROGRAMMING PROLEGOMENA ..................................................................................................... 11 a. Overview of Basic Concepts ...................................................................................................... 11 b. Objects ...................................................................................................................................... 11 c. Assignment Statements .............................................................................................................. 13 d. Referring to Methods and Properties ........................................................................................ 15 e. Functions and Methods ............................................................................................................. 16 f. Conditions - If Statements ......................................................................................................... 17 g. The Switch Statement ................................................................................................................ 19 h. Properties Containing Objects and Lists .................................................................................. 20 i. Nested Objects ........................................................................................................................... 21 4. FURTHER PROGRAMMING CONCEPTS AND CONSTRUCTS ................................................................ 22 a. Comments, Identifiers and Scope .............................................................................................. 22 b. Loops ......................................................................................................................................... 24 c. Inheritance ................................................................................................................................ 29 d. Afterword .................................................................................................................................. 35 CHAPTER TWO - A SAMPLE GAME ............................................................................................. 36 1. A VERY SIMPLE GAME ................................................................................................................... 36 2. ADDING ITEMS TO THE GAME ......................................................................................................... 39 3. MAKING THE ITEMS DO SOMETHING .............................................................................................. 40 CHAPTER THREE - STARTING OUT AGAIN - DEFINING ROOMS AND OBJECTS .......... 43 1. STARTING A NEW GAME ................................................................................................................. 43 2. DEFINING OUR FIRST ROOM ............................................................................................................ 44 3. ADDING AN OBJECT TO THE ROOM ................................................................................................. 47 4. TYING UP SOME LOOSE STRINGS ................................................................................................... 49 CHAPTER FOUR - MOVING AROUND ......................................................................................... 53 1. BASIC TRAVEL ................................................................................................................................ 53 2. CLIMBING THE TREE – REMAPPING BEHAVIOUR ............................................................................ 55 3. MAKING LIFE MORE PROBLEMATIC ............................................................................................... 56 4. REWARDING THE EFFORT ............................................................................................................... 61 5. CONTROLLING THE ACTION ............................................................................................................ 70 a. Verify() ...................................................................................................................................... 72 b. Check() ...................................................................................................................................... 75 c. Action()...................................................................................................................................... 77 d. PreCond() ................................................................................................................................. 78 e. Remap() ..................................................................................................................................... 79 f. Messages .................................................................................................................................... 82 g. Other Responses to Actions ....................................................................................................... 86 6. SUMMARY AND RECAPITULATION .................................................................................................. 89 a. Connectors ................................................................................................................................ 89 b. Rooms........................................................................................................................................ 90 c. Object Types & Properties ........................................................................................................ 90 3 d. Dealing with Actions ................................................................................................................. 90 e. Miscellaneous ............................................................................................................................ 91 CHAPTER FIVE - CHARACTER BUILDING ................................................................................ 92 1. SETTING THE SCENE ....................................................................................................................... 92 2. A BASIC BURNER............................................................................................................................ 94 3. ENDING THE GAME ......................................................................................................................... 96 4. THE ART OF CONVERSATION .......................................................................................................... 98 5. WHAT'S IN A NAME? ..................................................................................................................... 106 CHAPTER SIX - EXPANDING THE HORIZONS ........................................................................ 110 1. DOORS AND WINDOWS ................................................................................................................. 110 2. CROSSING THE STREAM ................................................................................................................ 113 3. BURYING THE BOOTS .................................................................................................................... 117 4. CALLING A SPADE A SPADE .......................................................................................................... 122 5. QUICK SUMMARY ......................................................................................................................... 125 CHAPTER SEVEN - PUSHING THE BOAT OUT ........................................................................ 127 1. LET THERE BE LIGHT .................................................................................................................... 127 2. ROW MY BOAT ............................................................................................................................. 133 3. GOING SHOPPING .......................................................................................................................... 135 4. HANDLING CASH TRANSACTIONS ................................................................................................. 142 a. Providing Goods and Money ................................................................................................... 142 b. Making the Sale......................................................................................................................