Chapter 2 (Simple Rules)

Section 1 (Default Responses)

[I changed A LOT of standard report and parser error messages. Once for each playable character :(. You can find these things by searching the index and/or the standard rules.]

The parser nothing error internal rule response (B) is "[if the player is the entropist]This isn't so interesting a place that you need to refer to an 'all' of anything.[otherwise]If you're using 'all' in your commands, you've really overestimated the amount of things to do around here."

the parser error internal rule response (A) is "[if the player is the entropist]What is this nonsense?[otherwise]You aren't making sense. Should I be worried, or is this just one of your everyday failures to make sense?"

The parser error internal rule response (B) is "[if the player is the entropist]Your bungled request specified a noun, but I don't understand direct objects when attempting to  [otherwise]Since I can only understand your command as a transitive verb, do not specify an object when attempting to "

The parser error internal rule response (C) is "[if the player is the entropist]Perhaps the awe that you feel in my presence has led you to believe that your command will result in a successful attempt to [otherwise]That's no way to get me to [end if]"

the parser error internal rule response (D) is "[if the player is the entropist]I'm a demon, not a numerologist, but I think you will need to name a valid number before I can respond.[otherwise]I seldom have occasion to deal with numbers or math. [bk][it]Unless dealing with footnotes, naturally. [em]PS[cb]."

the parser error internal rule response (E) is "[if the player is the entropist]That is either elsewhere, beneath my notice, or non-extant.[otherwise]Let's focus on what we can see here, now. That is, I hope that you don't think it is here with us."

the parser error internal rule response (H) is "[if the player is the entropist]Even though I am capable of dividing my attention between multiple tasks, I'm worried that doing so might overtask your little primeoid brain. For your own sake, focus on one thing at a time.[otherwise]You aren't cycling, are you? There's no need to perform that task on multiple objects simultaneously."

The parser error internal rule response (I) is "[if the player is the entropist]Slow down, before your primeoid consciousness overheats. You are trying to act upon too many objects in too many ways.[otherwise]We haven't missed a day of lithium in months. Why this word salad, all of a sudden? Your request involves too many nouns in too many ways, all at once."

The parser error internal rule response (J) is "[if the player is the entropist]Your vague use of ['][pronoun i6 dictionary word]['] only serves to waste my time.[otherwise]This thing, that thing, ['][pronoun i6 dictionary word][']. Even though we are the same person, I have no idea what you mean. Be more specific."

The parser error internal rule response (K) is "[if the player is the entropist]['][Pronoun i6 dictionary word]['] ([the noun]) is not visible, and I do currently detect any invisible objects or entities.[otherwise]The ['][pronoun i6 dictionary word]['] ([the noun]) is not visible at the moment, and we are too mentally stable to trouble ourselves with the invisible world."

The parser error internal rule response (L) is "[if the player is the entropist]I had no intention of bothering with that in the first place.[otherwise]Why did you think I would have wanted to do that to ['][pronoun i6 dictionary word]['] ([the noun]) in the first place?"

the parser error internal rule response (M) is "[if the player is the entropist]Even though I am a stranger in this reality, I don't believe that your proposed action is actionable.[otherwise]Let's not be weird. Stop being weird."

the parser error internal rule response (N) is "[if the player is the entropist]I concede that while your request might[em][it]might[rt], not [it]is[rt][em]be legitimate, it is not a verb that I presently honor.[otherwise]I am not always able to understand your requests, even when they are well-intended."

the parser error internal rule response (T) is "[if the player is the entropist]The charm of your whimsical punctuation is lost on me, primeoid.[otherwise]A bachelor's in English and we're starting sentences with commas?"

the parser error internal rule response (V) is "[if the player is the entropist]Is there a sentient [noun] on this plane of existence? I think not.[otherwise]This is how it all starts. Talking to nothing, talking to objects."

the parser error internal rule response (W) is "[if the player is the entropist]I consider primeoids to be poor conversants, but the correct way to enter conversation is via the command *TALK TO 'someone'*.[otherwise]It's a waste of time trying to converse with people, but you can make the attempt by entering *TALK TO 'someone'* at the command prompt."

the parser error internal rule response (X) is "[if the player is the entropist]Stop mumbling, primeoid.[otherwise]Come on, now. Use your words."

the parser command internal rule response (A) is "Some mistakes can't be corrected. Just try again."

the parser command internal rule response (D) is  "[if the player is the entropist]I can't repeat that. Start over from the beginning.[otherwise]You can't repeat that. It's a shame that this principle is not more broadly applicable to our lives."

can't take people's possessions rule response (A) is "[if the player is the entropist]Carrying things is for primeoids.[otherwise if the player is the poet]Come on, now. We're not going to snatch other people's stuff before crazy o'clock.".

can't take scenery rule response (A) is "[if the player is the ENTROPIST]Carrying things is for primeoids.[otherwise]We don't do a lot of carrying stuff around, unless it's regret or resentment. If you know what I mean. And I know that you know what I mean.".

can't open unless openable rule response (A) is "Not everything can be opened, and only a smaller subset of those objects are worth opening.".

can't close unless openable rule response (A) is "How closed-minded of you.".

can't push what's fixed in place rule response (A) is "[if the player is the entropist]While it is undoubtedly within my power to move the [noun], I don't feel compelled to do so.[otherwise]Sadly, we cannot make up for our deficiencies in strength and motivation with determination and heart. We rely heavily upon entropic magic to solve problems that others would solve physically.".

can't push scenery rule response (A) is "[if the player is the entropist]While it is undoubtedly within my power to move the [noun], I don't feel compelled to do so.[otherwise]Sadly, we cannot make up for our deficiencies in strength and motivation with determination and heart. We rely heavily upon entropic magic to solve problems that others would solve physically.".

can't pull what's fixed in place rule response (A) is "[if the player is the entropist]While it is undoubtedly within my power to move the [noun], I don't feel compelled to do so.[otherwise]Sadly, we cannot make up for your deficiencies in strength and motivation with determination and heart. We rely heavily upon entropic magic to solve problems that others would solve physically.".

The block showing rule response (A) is "[if the player is the entropist]I'm not here to educate these primeoids.[otherwise]You seem to be feeling especially gregarious today. Cut it out."

can't pull scenery rule response (A) is "[if the player is the entropist]While it is undoubtedly within my power to move the [noun], I don't feel compelled to do so.[otherwise]Sadly, we cannot make up for our deficiencies in strength and motivation with determination and heart. We rely heavily upon entropic magic to solve problems that others would solve physically.".

report touching things rule response (A) is "[if the player is the entropist]My senses are sufficiently honed that touching is unnecessary at this time.[otherwise]We aren't much of a thing-toucher these days, and I really think that's for the best. If something has an interesting texture, I'll mention it when we EXAMINE it.".

kissing yourself rule response (A) is "[if the player is the entropist]I have no time for the sentimental antics of primeoids.[otherwise]You talk as if we love you.".

block kissing rule response (A) is "[if the player is the entropist]I have no time for the sentimental antics of primeoids.[otherwise]We aren't kissers, and people don't like kissing us. If you feel embarrassingly emotive, we might brave a HUG under the right circumstances. [italic type]Might[roman type].".

report touching yourself rule response (A) is "[if the player is the entropist]While I do find this primeoid shell appealing aesthetically, I have no outsized attachment to it.[otherwise]I suppose you think you're clever, ordering me about like this. You're only embarrassing yourself.".

 The standard looking under rule response (A) is "Technically, everything has something underneath it, but looking under the [noun] is not a path to progress."

 The can't take yourself rule response (A) is "[if the player is the entropist]The attractive and convincing primeoid shell encasing me isn't going anywhere.[otherwise]No. I literally and figuratively can't take you."

The block vaguely going rule response (A) is "[if the player is the entropist]One moves by specifying a direction.[otherwise]You need not ask that we go nowhere. Just let it happen."

The can't take other people rule response (A) is "[if the player is the entropist]While primeoids are curious and occasionally entertaining creatures, I'm not going to carry one off.[otherwise]While some living things are easier to take than others, we either can't or won't physically carry [noun]."

 The can't drop yourself rule response (A) is "[if the player is the entropist]I exhausted considerable resources constructing this primeoid-like shell. It's functional, well-dressed, and[unicode 8212]dare I say it[unicode 8212]attractive. I'm not leaving it here.[otherwise]If only we could."

 The can't eat unless edible rule response (A) is "[if the player is the entropist]We entropists don't eat. We don't even have a digestive apparatus.[otherwise]We just don't feel like eating most of the time.".

The block throwing at rule response (A) is "[if the player is the entropist]I didn't come all this way just to pick up primeoid junk and throw it around.[otherwise]While we do have a documented history of stomping and screaming and throwing things around, the lithium has cleared most of that up."

The block attacking rule response (A) is "[if the player is the entropist]If I wanted, I could just blow the whole house up, but that would get me in trouble. Trouble is boring.[otherwise]We've lost our taste for violence and violent displays of the physical sort, thank god.[paragraph break]So far as magically-derived violence goes, we remain a work in progress.[end if]".

The block answering rule response (A) is "[bk][it]The construction *PERSON, 'text'* is handled by Inform 7 as if  *ANSWER*[it] were entered at the prompt. In [it]RTE[rt] the *TALK TO* command is implemented (though seldom used) for addressing other characters. [em]Pauline Searcy[rt][cb][if the player is the entropist][pb]I don't answer to primeoids.[otherwise][pb]As if you'll ever answer for your crimes![rt]"

The block climbing rule response (A) is "[if the player is the entropist]I may wear a primeoid shell, but I am not a primeoid. If I need to get on top of something, I'll just fly there like a civilized extra-dimensional entity.[otherwise]Are you kidding? Remember last year when we climbed on top of the Flying J? I'm done with climbing, and you should be, too."

The block sleeping rule response (A) is "[if the player is the entropist]I am not a primeoid and have no primeoid physiology. Entropists don't sleep.[otherwise]We have to take trazedone to sleep, and we shouldn't waste it on napping."

The report jumping rule response (A) is "[if the player is the entropist]The first time I inhabited a primeoid shell, I jumped and did all other sorts of primeoid things. That was thousands of years ago. [otherwise]I thought we were through with that kind of behavior."

The block swinging rule response (A) is "[if the player is the entropist]I accomplish my goals with magic, not by waving primeoid junk around.[otherwise]We were more given to 'swinging' during those heady, carefree, and utterly suicidal days of chemically enhanced mania. I'm not going back."

The standard report waiting rule response (A) is "[if the player is the entropist]Waiting is boring, and I refuse to be bored.[otherwise]We fidget nervously for a moment."

The block burning rule response (A) is "[if the player is the entropist]I could set something on fire by INVESTing it with a thermal bleed of some sort, but what does that have to do with anything?[otherwise]Not this shit again."

The block waking up rule response (A) is "[if the player is the entropist]Since I do not depend on primeoid squishy bits for my existence, I neither sleep nor wake.[otherwise]We are awake, unfortunately. We're at our best when asleep."

The block cutting rule response (A) is "[if the player is the entropist]I have no need for uncivilized primeoid tools or unrefined destruction. If I want to damage something, I'll INVEST it with the appropriate magic.[otherwise]I'm not letting you fiddle with sharp objects. Period."

The block drinking rule response (A) is "[If the player is the entropist]I do not have a primeoid physiology and have no need for hydration.[otherwise]After all the messes you've made, we can't be careless about drinking."

The block saying sorry rule response (A) is "[if the player is the entropist]What does that mean?[otherwise]I'm sure you are. What does that fix?"

The can't go that way rule response (A) is "If you are seeing this response, then the can't go that way message is missing or busted."

can't rub another person rule response (A) is "[if the player is the entropist]While the physicality of Primeoids is a curious thing, I'm not here to investigate that.[otherwise]We no longer have the unwarranted confidence of manic types and won't be rubbing people[em]strangers or otherwise[em]today."

report rubbing rule response (A) is "[if the player is the entropist]Primeoids take a curious interest in where their primitive objects are placed, and additionally rub surfaces with various solvents. It has never looked like fun, so I'm not really interested in trying it.[otherwise]As much as I wish otherwise, you are not[unicode 8212]nor have you ever been[unicode 8212]concerned with cleanliness."

report tasting rule response (A) is "[if the player is the entropist]I did not build this primeoid shell with a capacity for taste. I could remedy this easily, but tasting has nothing to do with why I'm here.[otherwise]I'm not going to help you lick random things. Stop being a weirdo."

can't search unless container or supporter rule response (A) is "[if the player is the entropist]I'm not the type of inter-dimensional being that rifles through a primeoid's belongings.[otherwise]While it makes sense to search certain types of things, generally it is more productive to EXAMINE or DIAGNOSE objects.".

report touching other people rule response (A) is "[if the player is the entropist]There is no need to collect that kind of sensory data from primeoids.[otherwise]We're already quite weird. Let's not get that kind of weird.".

The can't pull people rule response (A) is "[if the player is the entropist]There is no need to collect that kind of sensory data from primeoids.[otherwise]We're already quite weird. Let's not get that kind of weird."

The can't push people rule response (A) is "[if the player is the entropist]There is no need to collect that kind of sensory data from primeoids.[otherwise]We're already quite weird. Let's not get that kind of weird."

The can't turn people rule response (A) is "[if the player is the entropist]There is no need to collect that kind of sensory data from primeoids[otherwise]We're already quite weird. Let's not get that kind of weird."

The block saying yes rule response (A) is "[if the player is the entropist]That's what I like to hear. Know your place, primeoid.[otherwise]We aren't usually the kind to say 'yes,' whether to ourselves, to others, or to life generally.".

The block saying no rule response (A) is "[if the player is the entropist]Who are you to say 'no' to me?[otherwise]That's right. Whatever the question, the answer is likely 'no.'".

The carry out requested actions rule response (A) is "[if the player is the entropist]While commanding primeoids is well within my power (and therefore my rights), Who cares what primeoids do? I mean really. Who cares?[otherwise]The only entity that you get to boss around is me, and you hardly deserve that privilege.".