[Suggestion] Story Variables and Conditional Branches

Discussion in 'Site Feedback' started by Semeny Licket, Sep 1, 2014.

  1. Trugbild

    Trugbild Really Experienced

    If I play a game, I do it, because I want the challenge of beating it or reaching difficult goals.
    After cheating (the possibility of cheating leads to cheating) I get desinterested very fast, because there is no more goal to achieve.
     
  2. Ovipositivity

    Ovipositivity Virgin

    Any hint on ETA on this?
     
  3. audax

    audax Virgin

    Then don't look at the story map. That's totally fine.

    Other people don't play games for enjoyment the same way you do. That's totally fine too.
     
  4. Ovipositivity

    Ovipositivity Virgin

    Is this still coming? Sorry to be a bother.
     
  5. Friedman

    Friedman Administrator

    We are a little behind schedule but it will come. Expected this month.
     
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  6. Lake_Nine

    Lake_Nine Really Experienced

    I heaven't read everything here but it sounds like you want two types of new story a pure T/F bool type story and an array/value based story. Consider this, when a user submits something to a story like this they must fill in the assigned variable field before submitting it. This value could then be changed by the author like normal text. I normally get hit when I suggest global values so you might just want the stored values to be passed off, then again I have zero fucking clue how this site is coded.
     
  7. gene.sis

    gene.sis CHYOA Guru

    It works like an interpreter.

    The writer has to use a special syntax inside the thread, which allows him to manipulate the values and the output of the text.

    Furthermore there have to be an additional field for defining the requirements to choose an option. If the requirements are not given, the following thread will be unavailable (grayed out or not visible)

    The values can either be "stored" within the output and/or on the server. I suppose, bookmarking is meant for storing the values over sessions.
     
  8. Friedman

    Friedman Administrator

    We have a date. Conditional Branches is coming on Wednesday, April 6.

    Edit: Plus 1-3 days. Sorry!
     
    Last edited: Apr 7, 2016
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  9. Kobe

    Kobe Experienced

    [HYPE INTENSIFIES]
     
  10. Friedman

    Friedman Administrator

    Tada, Conditional Branches is finally online!

    How can I use the Conditional Branches feature as an author?
    First you have to enable it for your story. Click on "Edit Story" in your "My Stories"-list and make sure that "Chapters can have conditions" is checked. After that you can (or should) define the conditions and score changes for each chapter via "Edit chapter". Conditions are requirements which readers must have in order to view a specific chapter. Score changes are changes applied to a reader's score when viewing a specific chapter. You can define conditions and score changes for normal chapters and linked chapters.

    How does the Conditional Branches feature work for readers?
    We distinguish between normal mode and game mode. In normal mode a reader can view all chapters without conditions or score changes. To switch to game mode click on "Start Game" in the sidebar (the new "Score"-tab). You will then immediately be redirected to the beginning of the story and can start playing. You see your score in the sidebar, along with the game controls "Reset Game" and "End Game".

    This is the first version which will be extended in the near future if successful.

    I hope you have fun, and happy reading and writing!
     
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  11. Mr.B.

    Mr.B. Moderator

    [​IMG]
     
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  12. moonblack

    moonblack CHYOA Guru

    Awesome!

    I've been experimenting with a Draft story (with no real text) and noticed a few oddities (at least when using Firefox):
    - apparently there are only two types of conditions - yes/no and %. The latter looks really weird when used to track things such as money or days (especially since it can't go over 100). Is there no way to add absolute values? Or is that something planned but not yet added?
    - also, if you look at the attached screnshot, you'll notice that the Changes tot he Score option is not selected, yet the conditions shpw up. If I select "changes to the score" the conditions disappear. This happens only when adding a new chapter. If I edit an existing chapter things work as expected. Could it be because I am using a Draft story and Draft chapters instead of published ones?
    - It seems we can't use any of the story variables when writing conditions. For example, if you have a story variable {mother} used to name the character's mother and write a condition "Relationship with {mother}", the text on the right side, under Score, will show {mother} instead of the chosen name
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Apr 12, 2016
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  13. dirtytyke

    dirtytyke Experienced

    I'm just trying to get used to the new conditions system but have some problems.
    First, 'game mode' doesn't seem to work with links.
    Also, as I'm only testing with a 'draft story' I can't check, but are chapters visible if they're not unlocked?

    It's a bit weird that all the conditions get displayed to the reader when they are set. Is there any way to stop them being shown?
     
    Friedman likes this.
  14. Friedman

    Friedman Administrator

    Thanks for your feedback!

    I'll add numerical conditions and fix the issues above within the next days.

    @dirtytyke: Only the current score is displayed in the sidebar. The reader can't see the conditions. Not accessible chapters are greyed out, so the reader knows there is more.
     
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  15. Kobe

    Kobe Experienced

    Okay so I made up an actual test story (needs to be approved, but I've been fiddling around with it)

    So, how does the whole "Conditional Branching" thing work? What do I put into the "Condition" box? Anything? Donuts? I'm a bit lost as to how this entire thing works -- but I love it! As soon as I get it down I can finally stop relying on the honor system for my games.
     
  16. moonblack

    moonblack CHYOA Guru

    I believe "Condition" is for the text name of the variable. For example, if you have a game where you track the main character's relationship with a girl named Nana you will put "Relationship with Nana" (or something like that) in the condition box. Every time you want to change that relationship you put the same text there.
     
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  17. Friedman

    Friedman Administrator

    I've added the variable type "number" (range from -100,000 to 100,000) and immersion to conditional branches.

    @Kobe: Perhaps the recent name change makes things clearer. But @moonblack has it right.
     
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  18. Kobe

    Kobe Experienced

    The variable type doesn't seem to work for me. Every time I try to change it to AMP Total and then I put a total -- it doesn't even save and I'm SOL.

    However the condition and percentages seem to be working well.
     
  19. sepia

    sepia Virgin

    New here and just browsing the forum, and sorry for bumping a thread this old but has anyone here been to chooseyourstory.com? They don't allow adult stories but I was just having a look at the variable system they have built in there and thinking something like that would be useful to the story I'm writing here. If something similar is being added here (or has already been added? I'm still learning my way around) then that would be wonderful.
     
  20. Friedman

    Friedman Administrator

    Thanks for your suggestion! Can you give me/us a short summary of their system?