Descriptions
Hugo offers three types of descriptions in the standard library. These are long_desc, short_desc and initial_desc.
long_desc
The long_desc is a property that holds the description used when looking at or examining an object. When used on the room object, the long description is what appears when the the room is first visited (unless there’s an initial_desc defined). For other objects, this is used when the player examines the object.
object photograph "photograph"
{
long_desc
"It's an old, black and white photograph of your father, standing next to his prized banana tree."
}
short_desc
This is basically used for X is here
descriptions.
object photograph "photograph"
{
long_desc
"It's an old, black and white photograph of your father, standing next to his prized banana tree."
short_desc
"A black and white photograph is here."
}
when_open
and when_closed
Unhidden, openable
objects in the room can have
special descriptions, depending on whether they are
open or closed. In that case, the matching property
is called instead of short_desc
.
object treasurechest "treasure chest"
{
article "the"
adjective "treasure"
noun "chest"
is openable static container
long_desc
"<long description>"
when_open
"A treasure chest sits in the corner, doubloons practically spilling out."
when_closed
"A treasure chest sits in the corner, closed, keeping its contents a mystery."
}
initial_desc
If the object has not been moved
(or the room is not visited
) this
description is displayed instead of the long_desc
or short_desc
object photograph "photograph"
{
long_desc
"It's an old, black and white photograph of your father, standing next to his prized banana tree."
short_desc
"A black and white photograph is here."
initial_desc
"A piece of paper is on the floor near the desk."
}