Jatopian
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It has recently come to our attention that certain player roles are illiterate, which means that when trying to read a scroll all letters are replaced by periods. I think this is silly. If the architect wants to simulate illiteracy, all the architect needs to do is have scrolls contain a variable.
And the assignment of literacy is somewhat arbitrary. I mean, maybe I want my rock golems to be smarter in the Iceworks levels since their brains are silicon. Maybe I'm playing a mutant spider.

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calamarain
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Perhaps you could invent a false language? That your character can't read until he/she has passed a certain point. It could be something as simple as ROT13 (or ROT-N), or something more complex.

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Znirk
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calamarain wrote:
Perhaps you could invent a false language? That your character can't read until he/she has passed a certain point.

Well, that's what he's saying:

Jatopian wrote:
If the architect wants to simulate illiteracy, all the architect needs to do is have scrolls contain a variable.

The problem isn't to make literate characters illiterate, but that currently some characters are illiterate and there's nothing you can do about it. Jatopian is requesting for all characters to be literate, and that if architects want illiteracy it's up to them to script it.

Tahnan
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Or set it with a simple variable: "Imperative Set Illiteracy On/Off".

Kevin_P86
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Tahnan wrote:
Or set it with a simple variable: "Imperative Set Illiteracy On/Off".

In which case, I think it would be MUCH less confusing to have "Imperative Set Literacy On/Off", rather than Illiteracy.

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Briareos
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Kevin_P86 wrote:
In which case, I think it would be MUCH less confusing to have "Imperative Set Literacy On/Off", rather than Illiteracy.

My vote goes to "Imperative Set Literacy On/..."

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trick
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This can sort of already be done by basing a custom char off either a literate (eg goblin) or illiterate (eg roach) character. You can't use Caravel gfx for that (not without asking, at least), but that just means more consistency. If playing as a regular Caravel roach you might never go to a scroll out of the way because you "know" roaches can't read it anyway (unless the story specifies the roach's literacy, but that might not always be desired). If you're playing a custom-gfx roach-like creature, you know something's up.

Jatopian
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trick wrote:
This can sort of already be done by basing a custom char off either a literate (eg goblin) or illiterate (eg roach) character. You can't use Caravel gfx for that (not without asking, at least), but that just means more consistency.

I daresay the presence of an awkward workaround doesn't diminish the need for a fix. Frankly I am still mystified that someone would even bother to hard-code that.

I'm concerned a variable would grant too much abuse potential ("bethro gots hit on the heds onoez cant red for tin minutes"), and I honestly just can't think of a good use for this functionality. I think if an architect wants to be obnoxious to the player we should make 'em work at it.

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[Last edited by Jatopian at 07-17-2007 07:52 PM]

MeckMeck GRE
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IMO every character should be literate. No Imperatives and no simulated illiteracy. Honestly, I think it's one of the most worthless features of Drod that you can't read a scroll as a roach or as a wubba. My vote for "literacy for everyone"!

mrimer
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MeckMeck GRE wrote:
IMO every character should be literate. No Imperatives and no simulated illiteracy. Honestly, I think it's one of the most worthless features of Drod that you can't read a scroll as a roach or as a wubba. My vote for "literacy for everyone"!

Eehhh...sure. Let's change this behavior for 3.1. It was one of the earlier features I was trying out for alternate player roles before the ability to change the text on scrolls was implemented (iirc). So I'll say every role can be literate, and if the architect doesn't want it that way for specific instances, they can design their hold that way.