The Reliques of Tolti-Aph — 8 of 57

Graham Nelson

Release 3

Section 1(f) - Saving rolls

Calculating saving roll modifiers of something is an activity.[1]

The to-save roll is a number that varies.

To modify to-save roll by (amount - a number) for (reason - text):

if the amount >= 0, say ", +[amount] for [reason]";

otherwise say ", [amount] for [reason]";

increase the to-save roll by the amount.

For calculating saving roll modifiers of the player:

modify to-save roll by the level of the player for "your level";[2]

continue the activity.

To decide whether a saving roll of (target - a number) by (savee - a person) to (task - a text) is made:

say "[if savee is the player]You need [otherwise][The savee] needs [end if]to make a saving roll of [target] or better on 1d20 to [task]: ";

now the to-save roll is a random number from 1 to 20;

say the to-save roll;

carry out the calculating saving roll modifiers activity with the savee;

if the to-save roll >= target:

say " - succeeded.";

decide yes;

say " - failed.";

decide no.

To decide whether a saving roll of (target - a number) by (savee - a person) to (task - a text) is lost:[3]

if a saving roll of target by the savee to task is made, decide no;

decide yes.

Notes

[1]. Saving rolls are dice rolls made when the player tries to do something difficult, or avoid some hazard - hence "saving". They tend to be influenced by the context of play: whether the player carries some lucky charm, is presently regarded with disfavour by some demigod, and so forth. Each such influence applies a modifier to the roll: -7 for having just broken a mirror, for instance. We need to calculate all of this without knowing what these influences will be - we need to set up a general framework, in fact, and so we take the unusual step of creating an "activity". These normally handle Inform's housekeeping tasks, but we're perfectly free to create new ones, and the W&W rules contain several.

[2]. See how useful it is to be a higher-level player? This produces text such as "+3 for your level" at the crucial moment.

[3]. Thus we could write, say, 'if a saving roll of 15 by the player to "swim the rapids" is lost'...