If I could have one staff power...

[Asmoth]

I would walk around and see who's dropping shit all over the game, and rub their noses in it while forcing them to read help junk.

I'm not talking about foraging crap or random critter parts from critter on critter violence either.  I'm talking about outright littering.

*Waves his hippy sign about the ecosystem*

[JackGibbons]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTH8htzsrX4

[RogueGunslinger]

I don't care if people littler. But have the decency to arrange it with an ldesc.

Code Select Expand


Arrange
(Items)
This command will cause your character to arrange the named item, changing the temporary long description for the object. The object must be in the room at the time. Please be realistic in what you can and can't alter about an object.

Syntax:
arrange <object> <ldesc>
arrange (preHow) <object> [postHow] <ldesc>
Example(s):
> arrange sword buried halfway into the sand.

> arrange head Flies buzzing around it, ~ is stuck on a stake here.

> arrange sword (shoving the hilt) buried to the hilt in the sand.

> arrange head (tilting it) Hanging askew, ~ is stuck on a stake here.
Notes:
If you want the short description to appear anywhere in the long description, or just want to get rid of the 'is here' that the default automatically adds, put a '~' where you want the short description

[Asmoth]

I don't care if people littler. But have the decency to arrange it with an ldesc.

Well that would be creative, this is just lazy.

[nauta]

Protip:

Code Select Expand


drop bone (tossing it over ^me shoulder) ~ lies here, discarded in the sand.


[lostinspace]

I'd just want access to all the character creation options, although having the goto command or the ability to spawn items/npcs could be pretty broken.

[JackGibbons]

I'd just want access to all the character creation options, although having the goto command or the ability to spawn items/npcs could be pretty broken.

"Great, lostinspace loaded the Gaj with club-tailed kryl again"

[hopeandsorrow]

I'd just want to add more rooms and more secret stuff.

Like really, new crack in a canyon that leads down a new path.

A new cave carved by desert winds.

A forgotten village or town, uncovered by the weather.

Made load in some old world artifacts, metal stuff from ancient times.

I'm an explorer though, I love exploring especially knowing some of those rooms out there are close to two decades old.  The stuff that has lived on when player/builder/and staff alike have long since moved on.  Armageddon has that... uniqueness to it, that instead of greedily indulging myself in it, I've over time savored stuff. 

A large portion of the northlands is unknown to me for that specific purpose, I'm savoring my chance to explore it.   The only thing that makes me sad is the stuff I missed cause it changed.

[nauta]

I'd bring back halflings.  Bio-wizard halflings with flying whale ships.

[hopeandsorrow]

I'd bring back halflings.  Bio-wizard halflings with flying whale ships.

I swear I just  heard Rathustra scream.

It carried over the Atlantic like a terrible hot wind.

[Vwest]

The ability to anonymously make snap judgments and assumptions on people's actions without ever being required to inquire with them for clarification, knowing it will remain on 'record' even if later shown to be in error due to vindictiveness or a simple misunderstanding.

That'd be pretty sweet.

[nauta]

I'd bring back halflings.  Bio-wizard halflings with flying whale ships.

I swear I just  heard Rathustra scream.

It carried over the Atlantic like a terrible hot wind.

And I'd have them kill all the gith!

[Bushranger]

I'd bring back halflings.  Bio-wizard halflings with flying whale ships.

I'd also bring back halflings. Silt skimmer piloting halflings who live on an island deep in the silt sea and swarm up to the coast on little skimmers like the jet-ski pirates from water world. They would catch and eat unfortunate spice sifters. Sometimes they would sneak into Red Storm and lurk in the alleys, waiting to kidnap a passing child.

[Kol]

I'd be staff for maybe five minutes....

[Lizzie]

It'd be to fix typos and other text errors. I'd want authority to fix any and all, including typos on PCs, NPCs, fix inconsistencies such as: The green-eyed girl is here. (look girl returns:) She has hair, skin, teeth, nose, mouth, arms, legs, tall, thin, nice feet, but absolutely no reference at all to her eyes. And I'd fix that. I'd change her sdesc, OR I'd add a sentence to her mdesc to include some kind of green eyes.

[fourTwenty]

The ability to karmacly ass pound people who twink out and don't RP.

[RogueGunslinger]

Room echos.

The ability to just jump into any NPC.

[RogueGunslinger]

The ability to delete double posts when I quote instead of modify.

[LauraMars]

If I had one staff power it would be

two-handed (master)

[Majikal]

Room echoes. Just bringing things alive around people is awesome.

A couple of staffers followed around a random wednesday night byn adventure and simple animated raptors in the distance with room echoes and the sandstorm shaking our tent and krath's touch. It was awesome and I want to do that for people.

[Asanadas]

Immortality. 

[Molten Heart]

I'd take ability to approve special and regular applications so I wouldn't have to wait (and my apps would always be approved.)

[Asmoth]

It'd be to fix typos and other text errors. I'd want authority to fix any and all, including typos on PCs, NPCs, fix inconsistencies such as: The green-eyed girl is here. (look girl returns:) She has hair, skin, teeth, nose, mouth, arms, legs, tall, thin, nice feet, but absolutely no reference at all to her eyes. And I'd fix that. I'd change her sdesc, OR I'd add a sentence to her mdesc to include some kind of green eyes.

I would make a wand that when pointed at duplicate npcs it would destroy one.

[The Silence of the Erdlus]

I'd make tons of low-end and low middle items like food, clothing, cloaks, jewelry in new, worn and complete shit worn versions. We need some really crappy ale.

[AdamBlue]

I'd, for ten whole minutes, turn off the gravity in Zalanthas for five minutes and give everyone the ability to fly.
Then, after ten minutes, turn it back on and remove the ability to fly.
EZ P-wipe, yo.

[Lizzie]

It'd be to fix typos and other text errors. I'd want authority to fix any and all, including typos on PCs, NPCs, fix inconsistencies such as: The green-eyed girl is here. (look girl returns:) She has hair, skin, teeth, nose, mouth, arms, legs, tall, thin, nice feet, but absolutely no reference at all to her eyes. And I'd fix that. I'd change her sdesc, OR I'd add a sentence to her mdesc to include some kind of green eyes.

I would make a wand that when pointed at duplicate npcs it would destroy one.

+1

[Chettaman]

I would drive small - exciting plots.

[Asmoth]

It'd be to fix typos and other text errors. I'd want authority to fix any and all, including typos on PCs, NPCs, fix inconsistencies such as: The green-eyed girl is here. (look girl returns:) She has hair, skin, teeth, nose, mouth, arms, legs, tall, thin, nice feet, but absolutely no reference at all to her eyes. And I'd fix that. I'd change her sdesc, OR I'd add a sentence to her mdesc to include some kind of green eyes.

I would make a wand that when pointed at duplicate npcs it would destroy one.

+1

A long time ago I think Sanvean said to typo dups, so if you look at my typos they are probably 98% duplicate npcs

[Jave]

I'd like to be able to code java script.
Then I could stop asking Nergal to do it for me.

[Hauwke]

Jave you already have staff things to some degree dont you? But I do agree with the sentiment of: I would do it all by myself if I could and be even more productive than the current Jave. (Which is already friggen productive)

[Fujikoma]

Add the Byn latrine poop-splash code, randomly triggered, to the Gaj.

[Armaddict]

This changed from staff powers to random tiny code wants thread that we had that time.

Where did that thread go? It had tons of cool little ideas in it.

[Culinary Critic]

Animate Muk Utep.  Have Tuluk to myself!!!

Animate Tektolnes.  Make spice legal (though heavily taxed, thus very expensive) in the city.  Elevate that damn beggar to Red Robe and put him in charge of...oh, I don't know, My Arm.

[Fujikoma]

Animate Muk Utep.  Have Tuluk to myself!!!

Animate Tektolnes.  Make spice legal (though heavily taxed, thus very expensive) in the city.  Elevate that damn beggar to Red Robe and put him in charge of...oh, I don't know, My Arm.

Bonus points if te beggar keeps his old scripts.

[IAmJacksOpinion]

Where does Arm use JavaScript? I figured it was C / C++.

[Knight of Knives]

It doesn't matter what power it is.

I would revel in it.

[Lizzie]

Animate Muk Utep.  Have Tuluk to myself!!!

Animate Tektolnes.  Make spice legal (though heavily taxed, thus very expensive) in the city.  Elevate that damn beggar to Red Robe and put him in charge of...oh, I don't know, My Arm.

Bonus points if te beggar keeps his old scripts.

I used to travel the world! Isahn the Red once stumbled over me!

[RogueGunslinger]

This changed from staff powers to random tiny code wants thread that we had that time.

Where did that thread go? It had tons of cool little ideas in it.

It was locked and deleted. I don't remember why, but I considered it to be a very dumb reason at the time.

[Eurynomos]

Where does Arm use JavaScript? I figured it was C / C++.

We primarily use Javascript, now.

[Asmoth]

Where does Arm use JavaScript? I figured it was C / C++.

We primarily use Javascript, now.

I would have figured by the way nessalin does the code updates that most of the functions of staff are handled by tools and builder scripts.


What new programming is actually needed?  With the exception of new spells and skills.

[JackGibbons]

I doubt they've re-implemented DIKU in JS run on Node or something, but it may be that the main development push is all the web tool editors. Or they got really ambitions and integrated a JS interpreter into the C/C++ engine. But I'd be surprised.

[nessalin]

Or they got really ambitions and integrated a JS interpreter into the C/C++ engine. But I'd be surprised.

Since the late 90s, actually.

[JackGibbons]

Or they got really ambitions and integrated a JS interpreter into the C/C++ engine. But I'd be surprised.

Since the late 90s, actually.

Well, then. Nice job, guys. SOI was still trundling along on their own built-in language, but with further extensions. It's what the builders are use to. JS would be far more functional.

[Armaddict]

Or they got really ambitions and integrated a JS interpreter into the C/C++ engine. But I'd be surprised.

Since the late 90s, actually.

Purely out of curiosity as an up-and-coming programmer...what prompted the change over from C to JS?  Was it due to code knowledge, or was there a specific utilitarian reason?

[hopeandsorrow]

Or they got really ambitions and integrated a JS interpreter into the C/C++ engine. But I'd be surprised.

Since the late 90s, actually.

Purely out of curiosity as an up-and-coming programmer...what prompted the change over from C to JS?  Was it due to code knowledge, or was there a specific utilitarian reason?

If I were to take a stab, C is structured programming while JS is Object Oriented.  Especially 80's/90's era C.

But I'm not a programmer, I'm an EDI analyst.

[Armaddict]

Huh.  I did not know that, I'd used it in very limited doses and thought it was still procedural.  Thanks!

/derail

[Desertman]

I would just shit on everyone.

Just absolutely shit on them.

I would make their mounts shit on them. (Happened to me more than a few times. I would be in good company in staff land.)
I would make other people's mounts shit on them. (See above. Also happened to me more than once. Not even my mount. Twice.)
I would make shit randomly fall from above and land on them. (Also happened to me. Not even joking.)
I would hit them with storms made out of shit...yes..literal shitstorms. (More than a few people were there for this.)
I would make random people puke on them too, which isn't shit, but is kind of on par. (Also happened to me twice.)

All of this with the same PC.

When I say staff shit on me. I don't mean they intentionally knocked me down. I mean they literally took multiple shits on me in multiple situations.

Shit....shit everywhere....shit all the fuck over me...

Get shit on Desertman. Literally. Dookie in your hair motherfucker.

Look at your inventory.

A coil of slimy fucking shit.

That's right. They didn't just do the echoe. They actually gave you pieces of shit to deal with on a coded level.

GET FUCKING SHIT ON



tldr: I would use my staff powers to poo on people and add it to the thread I'm sure they have in staff land devoted specifically to recording their poo related antics.

[JackGibbons]

derail/

Or they got really ambitions and integrated a JS interpreter into the C/C++ engine. But I'd be surprised.

Since the late 90s, actually.

Purely out of curiosity as an up-and-coming programmer...what prompted the change over from C to JS?  Was it due to code knowledge, or was there a specific utilitarian reason?

I think the most useful feature is that it's interpreted, so you can just have the game re-load the scripts from file when you want to make changes, instead of having to force everyone to endure a reboot.

/derail

[nessalin]

To be clear, the game engine is in C.

In the late 90s Tenebrius put hooks into the C code to allow javascripts to run.  This involved giving javascript knowledge of game structures (characters, rooms, objects) and their properties, as well as creating functions in javascript that could pass instructions off to the game (move this object here, send this message to that character, load this object up, decrease this character's hit points by 20, etc...).

At the time we had had two home-brew programming languages, already.  DMPL (Dan's Mud Programming Language) which, to the author's credit, still runs parts of the game.  The other was HASL, Hal's Armageddon Scripting Language, which didn't hit critical mass, but was used briefly.

Later Xygax joined staff and made improvements to the JS implementation.  Better error handling, memory management, and giving feedback to people on their scripts which improved their quality and the ability of the people contributing.

For the most part if you can program in javascript, you can write code for (preferably smallish) things on Armageddon.  We try to limit it from getting out of hand.  Generally if a javascript is getting a lot of action (say, getting attached to every NPC in the game), we'll move that over to the C code for reasons like speed and so every NPC created doesn't need the script attached.  In this area javascript is great for working out the logic, details, gotchas without requiring reboot after reboot.

The other reason we try to limit it's use for things that are 'too large' is that control of how the game operates can quickly escape the grasp of the majority of staff.  A script could, easily, simulate a bank, or two banks, or 15 banks.  At which point you end up with 15 banks, each having their own command syntax, methods of storing your balance, with all of them pissing in each other's jello. A script could be written to simulate a new guild, without there actually being a new guild, controlling skills and branching - but working at odds with the game code, which would be trying to adjust skills in a different way.

While Javascript does run a large portion of the game, it is not the game's core engine, which is what handles combat, magick (although plenty of spells rely on javascripts that make the objects, rooms, and characters affected by the spell do this or that), shops, movement and other things that are universal behavior.  In places where these act differently (such as a door that seems different from all other doors in the game), chances are a javascript is running it.

[LauraMars]

^^ Really interesting post. Thanks!

[nessalin]

Or they got really ambitions and integrated a JS interpreter into the C/C++ engine. But I'd be surprised.

Since the late 90s, actually.

Purely out of curiosity as an up-and-coming programmer...what prompted the change over from C to JS?  Was it due to code knowledge, or was there a specific utilitarian reason?

The change was not so much from C to JS as it was a project Tenebrius was interested in giving a spin, and it caught on.  What made it succeed probably had a lot to do with the ability to google "javascript tutorial" and apply that knowledge to what was being done on Armageddon.  The previous attempt at in-game scripting languages didn't have a lot of documentation and the people who created them didn't have much desire (understandably) to create any.

The only technical requirement were that changes be usable without rebooting the game, otherwise the gain would have been minimal.

[JackGibbons]

To be clear, the game engine is in C.

In the late 90s Tenebrius put hooks into the C code to allow javascripts to run.  This involved giving javascript knowledge of game structures (characters, rooms, objects) and their properties, as well as creating functions in javascript that could pass instructions off to the game (move this object here, send this message to that character, load this object up, decrease this character's hit points by 20, etc...).

At the time we had had two home-brew programming languages, already.  DMPL (Dan's Mud Programming Language) which, to the author's credit, still runs parts of the game.  The other was HASL, Hal's Armageddon Scripting Language, which didn't hit critical mass, but was used briefly.

Later Xygax joined staff and made improvements to the JS implementation.  Better error handling, memory management, and giving feedback to people on their scripts which improved their quality and the ability of the people contributing.

For the most part if you can program in javascript, you can write code for (preferably smallish) things on Armageddon.  We try to limit it from getting out of hand.  Generally if a javascript is getting a lot of action (say, getting attached to every NPC in the game), we'll move that over to the C code for reasons like speed and so every NPC created doesn't need the script attached.  In this area javascript is great for working out the logic, details, gotchas without requiring reboot after reboot.

The other reason we try to limit it's use for things that are 'too large' is that control of how the game operates can quickly escape the grasp of the majority of staff.  A script could, easily, simulate a bank, or two banks, or 15 banks.  At which point you end up with 15 banks, each having their own command syntax, methods of storing your balance, with all of them pissing in each other's jello. A script could be written to simulate a new guild, without there actually being a new guild, controlling skills and branching - but working at odds with the game code, which would be trying to adjust skills in a different way.

While Javascript does run a large portion of the game, it is not the game's core engine, which is what handles combat, magick (although plenty of spells rely on javascripts that make the objects, rooms, and characters affected by the spell do this or that), shops, movement and other things that are universal behavior.  In places where these act differently (such as a door that seems different from all other doors in the game), chances are a javascript is running it.

Agree with LauraMars. Very interesting. Javascript was hot shit back then, too, so I can see why they'd pick it. Today we might have tried Python or Lua. Obviously JS is still alive and kicking today.

[evilcabbage]

turn you all into cabbage.

the only staff power that matters.

[Gunnerblaster]

I'd like to be able to jump into any NPC, critter or humanoid, and animate them for as long as I want, whilst adjusting stats/skills, as needed - then jump to other NPC's when I feel like it.

That one guy who solo emotes with the NPC guard in front of the Byn compound? Yeah - I'd give him a show.

That solo hunter twinking the Hell out and spam-farming Chaltons? Yeah, one of those chaltons are getting a stat buff and a bash skill boost.

Animate random merchants and have them obnoxiously advertise their goods.

[WanderingOoze]

Id change up the code on  vennant, and have him specifically ignore any orders made from the actual bar from elves/breeds/gemmed.
You want a drink? Learn ya place first.

[Lizzie]

Id change up the code on  vennant, and have him specifically ignore any orders made from the actual bar from elves/breeds/gemmed.
You want a drink? Learn ya place first.

Easily overcome:

s
>You're in teh gaj, standing.
open pack;get coins pack;buy #1
Bartender gives you a bottle.
put coins pack;close pack
sit bar
You take a seat at the bar after getting your drink.

I'd change the code handling of sitting at bars. So - you'd see:

>Teh gaj [n e s]
A room with a bar and tables and NPCs.
Also here:
A bright-eyed gemmer is at the rune-carved end of the bar.
An elven gemmer is at the rune-carved end of the bar.
A rinthi gemmer is at the rune-carved end of the bar.
A pig-tailed breed is at the filthiest end of the bar.
A rinthi elf is at the filthiest end of the bar.
A generic Bynner is at the bar.
A generic hunter is at the bar.
A Kadian low-ranking hunter is at the bar.

sit bar

You, being a rinthi elven gemmer, attempt to sit at the bar. There's no room for you on the rune-carved end of the bar. You're not invited to sit anywhere else at the bar.

sit ledge
listen on

[The Silence of the Erdlus]

Staff had Vennant order the murder of some human chick after she spent a good number of RL days pestering all the undesirables so much that they kept leaving the Gaj.

She tried to bribe him. But he said it couldn't cure the amount of money he lost in sales because of her.

[Jihelu]

Staff had Vennant order the murder of some human chick after she spent a good number of RL days pestering all the undesirables so much that they kept leaving the Gaj.

She tried to bribe him. But he said it couldn't cure the amount of money he lost in sales because of her.

It makes sense.

[Mordiggian]

There is, unfortunately, no staff power to automatically disable your clan monitor once you alt-tab back to your mud client and see a tidal wave of really out-there mudsex.

[Jihelu]

There is, unfortunately, no staff power to automatically disable your clan monitor once you alt-tab back to your mud client and see a tidal wave of really out-there mudsex.

You know that email I have connected to my account.
Yeah.
Send me that shit.
I wanna read /all of it/