Adding a chapter in between

Discussion in 'CHYOA General' started by Escritor, Mar 5, 2024.

  1. Escritor

    Escritor Virgin

    I haven't found it possible to do so, but I'll still ask because maybe I missed something.

    I have written several chapters of a story, and have come up now with an idea to split one of the chapters and have branches in between. Thing is, that chapter already has a lot of further chapters and brances.

    So, is it possible to do so in a simple way? Or is the only way to copy/paste and overwrite what's already written and add the chapters at the end?

    The second thing would be a pain in the ass because I have a lot of variables that I just can't copy and paste
     
  2. Gatsha

    Gatsha Really Experienced

    It might be necessary to break out more precisely what you're hoping to do. There might be some clever ways, but I'm not sure exactly what you mean.

    If you're saying you currently have a story with chapters A > B > C > D > E, and you're hoping to replace C with a branching series of chapters that eventually lead back to D... It's not pretty, but maybe you could lock chapter C by giving it a variable condition the player can't meet, change its name to [Old route, unused] or something. Then, you can begin writing your new series of chapters as a branch (or branches) from B. Then, at the end of those branches, you can link them back to D with Link Chapters.
     
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  3. Escritor

    Escritor Virgin

    I'll try to explain it better with an example.

    I have Chapter A that branches to Chapter B and C.

    I want to divide Chapter A into two chapters: Chapter A1 would brach out to Chapter D and E and eventually they would lead back to Chapter A2 (the latter paragraphs of the original Chapter A) that would branch to Chapter B and C, as per the original.

    I hope to have been more clear this time.

    Thank you!
     
  4. Gatsha

    Gatsha Really Experienced

    Thanks, I believe that does help clarify what you're looking for. Unfortunately I don't believe there's a way to pluck out chapters for splitting, and I do think the neatest way would be to use copy and paste to transform A, B, and C to be A1, D, and E, then create your new A2, B, and C from there.



    This is a messy second option, but if you for whatever reason were staunchly opposed to copy paste, it's an option:

    1. modify the text in chapter A so that the text of chapter A1 is tied to an if statement (for the demonstration, let's call it "check"). If check=1, the text for A1 displays. If check=2, A2 displays.

    2. make it so chapters B and C are only viewable if check=2.

    3. create branches D and E. have them both only viewable if check=1. have each of them link back to chapter A, and have them set check=2 when they link.

    Disadvantages of that option:
    1. Main disadvantage is it'll be janky if you don't have a chapter title that works for both A1 or A2 viewing.
    2. Your text will probably look weird if player isn't in game mode (you can, however, set up alternate text to display out of game mode).
     
  5. gene.sis

    gene.sis CHYOA Guru

    To be exact here, D and E should each have a child chapter that links back to A.

    Another possibility would be to work with inaccessible chapters.
    (For this, it might be better to deactivate the Story Option "Show inaccessible chapters" to avoid confusing the readers.)

    To explain, I added the chapter 0, the parent chapter of A. (Assuming that A isn't the introduction.)
    Code:
    0 - A - B
         `- C
    The current A would then become the chapter A2.
    Chapter A1 would be another Child Chapter of 0, as seen in this structure.
    Code:
    0 - A2 - B
          `- C
      - A1 - D - link A2
          `- E - link A2
    Conditions for A2: value > 100000

    Due to the condition in A2, it is only possible to access it by a chapter link. Direct access from chapter 0 is not possible and if the mentioned story option is deactivated, the chapter won't be shown to the reader in the list of Chapter Options. (Given that the reader has started the game.)


    If it isn't a Game Mode story, the only way would be to ask Friedman.
     
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  6. Friedman

    Friedman Administrator

    If you need me, just message me. :)
     
  7. Escritor

    Escritor Virgin

    Thank you @gene.sis , I hadn't seen your solution for some reason, and I believe it could be done the way you describe. Thank you so much!
     
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