Trouble with NPCs performing actions

Having trouble with making NPC actions have the intended effect. Inform tells me that this code results in Joe popping the balloon, but my report rule isn’t firing, and the balloon doesn’t actually acquire the “popped” property.

"test"

A thing can be popped. A thing is usually not popped. 

lab is a room. 

joe is a person in lab.

balloon is a thing in lab.

popping is an action applying to one thing. Understand "pop [something]" as popping. 

carry out popping: 
	now the noun is popped. 
	
report popping:
	say "[the actor] pops the balloon."
		
every turn when the location is the lab:
	if the balloon is not popped:
		try joe popping the balloon.

Results:

lab
You can see joe and balloon here.

>actions
Actions listing on.

>z
[waiting]
Time passes.
[waiting - succeeded]

[joe popping balloon]
[joe popping balloon - succeeded]

>showme balloon
balloon - thing
location: in lab
unlit, inedible, portable; singular-named, proper-named
description: none
initial appearance: none
printed name: "balloon"
printed plural name: none
indefinite article: none
list grouping key: none

Any insight is appreciated!

3 Likes

“Report popping” is actually shorthand for “report the player popping”. “Report someone popping” is similarly shorthand for “report someone who is not the player popping”.

The general case is “report an actor popping”.

7 Likes

Ahh that explains it, thank you!!

1 Like