Questions about creating a text adventure story

Both examples should work.
Just a short note, that the well-arranged formatting here should be modified slightly if used inside chapters.
Otherwise, you may produce additional linebreaks. (the first example 5 to 10 additional linebreaks, the second example 1 additional linebreak)

Within a chapter, you could break after "if", "elseif" and before the closing "}"

Code:

{if Charisma Skill < 60
   }{if Combat Skill < 60
      }{if Gambling Skill < 60
         }{if Sex Skill < 60
            }{if Stealth Skill < 60}Monika is a jack of all trades.{endif
            }{endif
         }{endif
      }{endif
   }{endif
}

Code:

{if Charisma Skill > 59
}{elseif Combat Skill > 59
}{elseif Gambling Skill > 59
}{elseif Sex Skill > 59
}{elseif Stealth Skill > 59
}{else
}Monika is a jack of all trades.{endif
}

 

Dings & Flauros, thank you! It worked like a charm.

 

Yes, I have figured that out, after an hour or so of trying to get it to look right.

 

Is there a way to increase (or decrease) a variable by different sums because of different conditions within a single chapter?

For example:
* The reader selects the chapter "Monika trains in combat skills."
* If Monika's Combat Skill is under 39% that variable will increase by +5%.
* If it is between 40 and 79 it will go up by +3%
* If it is between 80 to 100 it will go up by +1%

I understand I can make this work if I provide three different options, and only the correct one will function based on Monika's current Combat Skill. However, can I make it happen with only one option and the math is handled within a single chapter?

Also, what happens when a percentage variable is added to which is current at 100%? (Ex: 100% + 1%) Does it simply stay at 100%, does it go to 101%, or does it break the internet and end life as we know it?

 

No. This is currently not possible.

There will be also a difference, if you want to increase 5 points or 5 percent of the current value.
You could increase by 5 points like you described with 3 chapters.

To do this with one chapter or adding 10% to a value (increase 50 by 10% -> 55) would need another score change functionality. (e.g. spreadsheet like math parser)

if it is a progress variable, each result above 100 will result in 100.

 

Hey guys, I hope I am not tiring you with all my questions, but I have hit a major problem. Currently, I am writing and scripting the first part of the story and I was planning on having all the different threads re-converge to one chapter.

For example:
1) Monika meets with the contract giver and there are various options on how they interact while negotiating the job.
2) Monika's gold, skills, and in-game variables will change depending on how the reader plays her.
3) No matter the choices, all these threads will eventually be linked to one chapter called "the adventure begins."

The problem is the variables do not go with a "link to another chapter" command, but are changed to that main thread's choices. We got around this in character creation by creating one chapter with a lot of nested conditions, however, this will not work with such a long story arc.

So again, how can I use the link function and take the current variables with it?

If not, I will have to forgo the use of the "link" command which is a major hindrance for what I have envisioned.

Thank you.

 

Hey porneia,

what you describe shouldn't be a problem in my opinion,
and in my experience the link chapter just works like any other regarding the variables / conditions.

If that is not the case for you, i can think of the following problems:
* If you have recently edited the chapters while the game was active, then try to hit the Reset button.
* Verify that you are not actually setting the unwanted variable changes the way you describe "on accident", i.e with the link itself, or on the linked chapter.
* It happened to me, that i actually linked a chapter to another, that was already deleted, but was named the same way. So if you should happen to have a similar case, try checking the link.

Now if that is all not it, i could offer to take a look at the situation (via editor rights, if that is possible?).

Greetings

 

That is a huge relief, thank you. Yeah, I have frequently forgotten to hit the "reset button" and wondered what was wrong.

 

If I could seek the chyoa oracles advice once again. I want to make sure I am scripting the following event in the most efficient and elegant manner possible.

For example: Monika has the choice to respond to a NPC using her Charisma Skill or not. There would be three different options:

1) Simply talk to the NPC. (Ignore the use of Charisma Skill.)
2) A general use of Charm. (Available regardless of skill.)
3) A high level use of Charm. (Only available to those with a Charisma Skill above 55%.)

To this I want to add an experience increase using the following formula:
* If the skill is below 75% then +3% increase.
* If above 74% then it increases by +1%.

In order to do this I would have to provide 5 different options, right? They would be:

1) Monika simply talks to the NPC.
(No requirements to be displayed. No skill change).

2) Monika tries to be generally charming.
(Requires Charisma Skill < 75% to be displayed. Adds +3% to Charisma Skill.)

3) Monika tries to be generally charming.
(Requires Charisma Skill > 74% to be displayed. Adds +1% to Charisma Skill.)

4) Monika tries to be very charming.
(Requires Charisma Skill > 54% AND Charisma Skill < 75% then +3% to Charisma Skill.)

5) Monika tries to be very charming.
(Requires Charisma Skill > 54% AND Charisma Skill >74% then +1% to Charisma Skill.)

The texts for options 2 & 3 and 4 & 5 are the same, they just different in Skill point increase, so they have to be listed twice. Is there a better way of doing this? Or do I have to list all 5 options, with some being whited out to the reader depending on Monika's skill level.

As always, thank you.

 

Currently, there is no elegant way to solve this.

A possible workaround would be:

1) Monika simply talks to the NPC.
(No requirements to be displayed. No skill change).

2) Monika tries to be generally charming.
(Requires Charisma Skill < 75% to be displayed. Adds +2% to Charisma Skill.)
LINKS TO 3

3) Monika tries to be generally charming.
(Requires Charisma Skill > 74% to be displayed. Adds +1% to Charisma Skill.)

4) Monika tries to be very charming.
(Requires Charisma Skill > 54% AND Charisma Skill < 75% then +2% to Charisma Skill.)
LINKS TO 5

5) Monika tries to be very charming.
(Requires Charisma Skill > 54% AND Charisma Skill >74% then +1% to Charisma Skill.)

This way it would add 2% when accessing the link and additional 1% when reaching the destination.
Please note, that this could be used for cheating if the reader goes back to the link-chapter.

 

Right, I was assuming 2 & 3 and 4 & 5 would soon converge. But it is as I thought, there has to be 5 options. Thank you.

 

Quick question: Is there a way to end the game with in a chapter? (For example, if Monika fails.)

 

Technically, there is never really a way to end a story here. The only option is to write "The End" under it. If you write "The End" into the "what's next?" line, then it's a sign even for moderated or open stories that this is meant to be the end.

So, I guess your problem is in this case that you want to combine a chapter where you offer different options AND at the same time end the chapter. Which rules out the possibility of just writing "The End" (as it would look funny if there are still options below). I would probably solve this with different options, and one of those is the ending. So, if Monica fails, you only have the option to click on the chapter that represents the last chapter.

I would, in general advise against trying to pack as much as possible into one chapter, because of the way how readers here on CHYOA measure attractiveness of stories. A lot of people will assume that a story with more chapters is more worth reading, as it has more material. If you pack the content of 10 chapters into one, you are underselling yourself. You also make yourself less visible, as every new published chapter gets you a few minutes or hours of visibility on the front page. This should obviously not lead you into writing "clickbaiting" short, quick chapters en masse (which will probably also not be appreciated), but if you can solve something with a nice, new chapter, I don't see any reason why you would want to pack the content into the last one.

 

Javalar,

Thank you for the answer and I agree with much of what you said. Since my new story has overt game elements in it, there will be chapters that end Monika's tale and I was curious if there was a way to stop the game function, which apparently there is not, which is fine, for it is a minor thing.

As for chapter length I have changed my mind on this over the years. I use to strive for very long chapters, but now I try to keep them short, under 400 words. The tread of our culture, especially for men (which I assume are the vast majority of chyoa users - hmm are there actually any real women on chyao?) is to have a shorter reading span. I completely agree that "clickbaiting" stories are terrible. However, I have found that writing shorter chapters has improved the quality of my writing, because it focuses me on being clear and to the point.

My all time favorite work of interactive erotica isn't on chyoa, but is on literotica.com. The chapters are short, but the story is actually complete, something I have never seen on chyoa. http://www.literotica.com/storyxs/stories2/tasker_inter/agentschool001.shtml

A style question for you: Do you like pictures in chapters or are they a distraction? For example: https://chyoa.com/chapter/RM1-–-The-Bronze-Bitch-Breaker.267937

 

Hello guys, I am curious of your opinion. I am writing a chapter where Monika gets into a wager over a coin toss. In your opinion which is the best way to present this contest:

1) Simple list the two chapters: a) Monika wins. b) Monika loses.
2) Label the chapters with "???" introducing a random element to the reader. (At least for the first read through.)
3) Some other method? (I can't think of how any of the current scripting devices would help, until a random number generator is added.)

 

You could use a former unimportant decision to set the result of the coin toss (as hidden variable). This way it could appear as random. I don't think, that there currently is another way to do that.

Maybe you could describe the toss in two different ways (flight path (high, low), speed of rotation, ...)

If the protagonist does the coin toss, you could give two ways of doing that.

 

Good idea, however, I just finished playing the Witcher 3, and I am quite upset with its terrible ending based on trivial earlier choices.

I like this idea!

 

yeah, had the same feeling about this. I tried to be encouraging earlier what lead Ciri to feel worthless...

 

Just finished it yesterday and got the worse possible ending = Ciri goes into the multiverse to die in a snowstorm (?) and Geralt attempts suicide (?!)
I love the game, but the ending was just terrible. I researched the reason behind such a silly ending, and the reasons . . .
1) I didn't play in the snow with Ciri.
2) I asked for money from the emperor, as per the Witcher's code.
3) And I told Ciri she didn't have to be good at everything.
I didn't even get to meet up with Triss who I romanced exclusively.
Just wtf!

I have better hopes for "Blood & Wine" and there is always gwent!

 

I finished it some months ago, so I don't know exactly, which ending I got, but it wasn't a good one ^^
I think there are 5 decisions affecting the ending...

Well... I should start Blood & Wine somewhen... I bought (or preordered?) it months ago