Writing a Tutorial Mode in Inform 7

[StJohnLimbo]

@bkirwi

In case anyone’s interested in a long read, there’s interesting thread about designing a tutorial mode here: Can we make a better parser tutorial?

I was about to link to the long thread; since Ben thankfully already did so, I just want to mention two things from there:

1. Ryan Veeder’s tutorial game could be helpful: So, You've Never Played a Text Adventure Before, Huh?

2. I’d like to quote Juhana Leinonen’s post at length for emphasis.

@Juhana

This is the basic pattern of commands understood by a parser:

• Move around using compass directions (NORTH, SOUTH, SOUTHWEST…) and IN, OUT, UP, DOWN, ENTER, EXIT
• Interact with the world using commands with only a verb (JUMP, LISTEN), with one noun (TAKE KEY, OPEN DOOR, PUSH BUTTON) or with two nouns (PUT CAT IN BOX, UNLOCK DOOR WITH KEY)
• Type INVENTORY to see what you’re carrying, LOOK to see the room description again and remember to EXAMINE things

That’s it. The rest are minor details (abbreviations, pronouns, UNDO, saving/restoring) and story-specific things (custom verbs, conversation system, commanding NPCs). Does anyone here actually remember having to struggle with learning the verb-noun[-preposition-noun] pattern when first playing IF? Did anyone really, after reading or being told how to play, still try to command >WHAT’S INSIDE THE BOX YOU MENTIONED?

[…]

Ideally you’d have a short segment that makes the immediate goals always crystal clear, reaching them is trivial, and the game holds the player’s hand all the way through.

You are a brave adventurer on your way to save the kingdom and the world and blah blah. Now you only need to get properly dressed for the journey.

You’re in your house. There’s a closet here. The door out leads north.

(Type OPEN CLOSET to find your adventuring clothes.)

OPEN CLOSET
In the closet you see your cape.

(Type TAKE CAPE FROM CLOSET to pick up your cape.)

TAKE CAPE FROM CLOSET
Taken.

(Type EXAMINE CAPE to take a closer look at it.)

EXAMINE CAPE
It’s a worn traveller’s cape.

(Type WEAR CAPE to put it on.)

WEAR CAPE
You put the cape on.

(We’re ready to go. The exit was to the north, so type NORTH to leave the room. You can type INVENTORY at any time to see what you’re carrying.)

NORTH
Outside
You’re outside your house that’s surrounded by a moat. The drawbridge is raised. Next to the drawbridge is a lever. A path leads west.

(This ends the tutorial. If you get stuck, type HELP for more detailed playing instructions or HINT for clues.)

If the player still types >I WOULD LIKE TO PULL THE LEVER PLEASE after all this, I’m not sure that a more detailed tutorial would be of any more help. In fact if you do something like this:

(Type OPEN CLOSET to find your adventuring clothes.)

LOL WUT
(I didn’t recognize that command. Type OPEN CLOSET to continue or HELP for more information on how to play.)

…and the player doesn’t get how the game is supposed to be played, I’m pretty sure that they don’t want to play the game in the first place.

After this the following puzzles should be in the order of difficulty, starting with a very simple non-puzzle (a door is locked and the key is on the table in the same room) and gradually getting harder.