Official creature design guidelines

Messaging template

Standard messaging

At a minimum, you need messaging for:

• Do Nothing: 3 "idle" messages that the creature does when not attacking or moving from room to room. More is better
• Run: Messaging when a creature: 1 is the minimum, possible to have more. This is three messages, one for each of the following:

Leaves a room (messages the room)

Arrives in a room (messages the room)

Tries to leave a room, but fails (messages the room)

• Die: message when the creatures dies. 1 is the minimum, possible to have more
• IsDead: message when the creature decays away after being searched. 1 is the minimum, possible to have more

The following are suggested, but not "required":

• Sleep: message when the creature is unconscious. 1 is the minimum, possible to have more
• Immobile: message when the creature is immobile for some reason. 1 is the minimum, possible to have more
• Stunned: message when the creature is stunned for some reason. 1 is the minimum, possible to have more (Do not need if the creature is unstunable)
• Webbed: message when the creature is webbed for some reason. 1 is the minimum, possible to have more.
• Noattack: when the creature is hypnotized for some reason. 1 is the minimum, possible to have more.
• Run: messaging when the creature tries to flee the room for some reason. 1 is the minimum, possible to have more. This is three messages, one for each of the following:

Leaves a room (messages the room)

Arrives in a room (messages the room)

Tries to leave a room, but fails (messages the room)

• Swimmove: messaging when the creature is in a water room and tries to leave the room. 1 is the minimum, possible to have more. This is three messages, one for each of the following:

Leaves a room (messages the room)

Arrives in a room (messages the room)

Tries to leave a room, but fails (messages the room)

• Swimrun: messaging when the creature is in a water room and tries to flee the room. 1 is the minimum, possible to have more. This is three messages, one for each of the following:

Leaves a room (messages the room)

Arrives in a room (messages the room)

Tries to leave a room, but fails (messages the room)

• Losearm: messaging when the creature loses an arm (if they have them) for whatever reason. 1 is the minimum, possible to have more.
• Fall: messaging when the creature falls to the ground (Knockdown) for whatever reason (if the creature can). 1 is the minimum, possible to have more.
• Safehaven: messaging when the creature is in a safehaven room for whatever reason. 1 is the minimum, possible to have more.
• Stand: messaging when the creature tries to stand up. 1 is the minimum, possible to have more. This is three messages, one for each of the following:

Tries to stand and does well (messages the room)

Tries to stand and just barely makes it (messages the room)

Tries to stand, but fails (messages the room)

The next ones are allowed, but not often used:

• Messaging for when the creature searches the room
• Messaging when the creature is stalked
• Messaging when the creature chases/pursues someone
• Messaging when the creature spots someone in the room
• Messaging when the creature is attacked
• Messaging when the creature is thrown at
• Messaging when the creature is aimed at
• Messaging when the creature is fired at
• Messaging when the creature has a spell cast at it
• Messaging when the creature has an area effect spell cast at it

Attack messaging

• If the creature has "natural attacks" like claws, bites, charges, you need messaging for that also.
• Messaging for when it's advancing or retreating
• What creatures/players/classes/etc the creature hates

Creation of creature

You need the following also:

• A description message, including what they look like when dead.
• Bardic recall messaging, at least one, but more is better.
• Messaging when the creature is created/genned.
• Any special equipment the creature has.
• Whether the creature is undead, and if so, what type
• Whether the creature is a construct