![]() | Chapter 8: Change | ![]() ![]() |
8.11. Now... |
"Now" has already appeared several times in this chapter, being used like a Swiss army knife to change values of all kinds:
now the score is 100;
In fact, "now" is by far the most flexible phrase known to Inform.
now (a condition)
This phrase makes the condition become true. Examples:
now the score is 100;
Inform issues a problem message if the condition asks to do the impossible ("now 3 is an even number") or is vague ("now the duck is not in the Lily Pond") or not in the present tense ("now the front door had been open").
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We've now seen all three things which can be done with a condition S which describes the world:
S. - The relation holds at the start of play.
if S, ...; - Does the relation hold right now?
now S; - Make the relation hold from now on.
For instance,
The apple is in the basket.
if the apple is in the basket, ...;
now the apple is in the basket;
| ![]() A maze with directions between rooms randomized at the start of play. |
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| ![]() ![]() It's tempting to use "now..." to distribute items randomly at the start of play, but we need to be a little cautious about how we do that. |
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| ![]() ![]() ![]() A ray gun which destroys objects, leaving their component parts behind. |
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