Geas Home | Play the Game

2.3.1.1 The base object class, /std/object.c

This is the all purpose object class. ALL objects in the game must inherit this object somewhere along the line if they are to be 'physically' present somewhere. Using any kind of standard object usually insures that this one is inherited as well, since they already make use of it.

The standard object defines the following conventions:

@bullet{inventory}

An object can contain other objects. In reality that is nothing but a list of objects that are said to be held inside the object owning the list. However, it is very easy to visualize this as the inside of a bag, inside a room, inside a box etc.

@bullet{environment}

The object that surrounds the object that is being used as reference. In other words the reference object exists in the inventory of the environment object. An object can have a multitude of objects in its own inventory, but it can only have one environment object. All objects start out with no environment.

@bullet{command set}

A list of catch-phrases linked to functions that the object makes available to other so called living objects in the game either in the environment or inventory of itself. These living objects can issue such a catch-phrase and the command-giving object will execute the linked function.

@bullet{properties}

Properties are a pure mudlib convenience. They really is nothing but a mapping with certain reserved names indexed to object variables that affect certain generally accessible states. Typical properties are weight, value and light-level, but also more abstract concepts like the ability to be dropped, taken or sold. The applicable set of properties vary from object type to object type.

Wizards may add their own properties if they wish, but they must then be careful to define names that won't mistakenly be used by other wizards for other purposes, or advertise the names so that people won't use them by mistake.

@bullet{light}

An object has a certain light level. Usually it's just as any kind of object - not affecting the environment at all, but it's possible to have both light- and darkness-sources.

@bullet{weight/volume}

These values determine how much an object weight and how much room they take. For 'hollow' objects like bags it also determines how much they can hold.

@bullet{visibility}

Some objects may be easier to find than others.

@bullet{names and descriptions}

What the object is called and how a player will see it in the game.