if-mapper-markdown-file

YOUR STORY: ___ | YOUR NAME: _____ | DATE: ___ |

INTERACTIVE FICTION MAPPING SHEET

• A helpful markdown template for mapping interactive fiction or textadventure or infocom games in my text editor
• Use this sheet in your favourite text editor, with this settings:
  • Check that your text editor has fixed width font
  • Wordwrap Off (VIM example: ":set nowrap")
  • Overwrite mode (VIM example: "R" for Replace-mode)
• Works for mobile too! (Suggestion for Android: "DroidEdit" App with Drive Sync)
• This is basically a modified version of the ifm config file (http://ifm.readthedocs.io/)
• Works for me - maybe not for you - Works great with smaller IF with a clear and static map structure.
• Have fun!

THIS IS A MAP EXAMPLE (5-LETTER-ROOM-NAME)

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.     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .
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.     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .
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.     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .
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.     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .
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.     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .
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.     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .
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.     .     .     .     .     .     .     .ROOM2.     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .
.............................................|...............................................................
.     .     .     .     .     .     .     .ROOM1.     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .
.............................................|...............................................................
.     .     .     .     .     .     .     .START-ROOM3.     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .
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.     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .
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ROOM-DESCRIPTION AND ITEMS

• *** START ROOM: ____

TODOS-LIST

• ---

LOG OF SOLUTION-STEPS

• ---

HELP SECTION

RULES FOR MAPPING

It is a grid of spaces surrounded by periods initially.

• Spaces are grid squares where a room can be.
• The periods are places for room connectors.
• All rooms should be connected somehow.
• Rules for lines:
  • - = connect rooms west-east
  • | = connect rooms north-south
  • ** = connect rooms northwest-southeast
  • / = connect rooms northeast-southwest
  • X = connect two pairs of rooms nw-se and ne-sw
  • ^ = connect two rooms in-out, laid out north-south
  • V = connect two rooms out-in, laid out south-north
  • < = connect two rooms in-out, laid out west-east
  • > = connect two rooms out-in, laid out east-west

EXAMPLE IF COMMANDS

(Each game has differences, but these commands are the most common):

• FIRST COMMANDS AFTER EXERY STARTUP: 1. Help, 2. X self, 3. Inventory
• FILE commands: Save, Restore, Quit, About, Info, Help, Undo
• Directions: N/E/S/W/NE/SE/NW/SW: GO
• Most used cmd with Shortcuts: (L)ook, e(X)amine, (I)nventory, (Z):wait, a(G)ain
• Also most used commands: TAKE or GET it, PUSH it, PULL it, TURN it, FEEL DROP it, OPEN it, PUT it IN something, EAT it, CLIMB it, WAVE it, WEAR it, TAKE it OFF, TURN it ON, DIG IN it, ENTER it, SEARCH it, DRINKit, FILL it, SMELL it, LISTEN TO it, BREAK it, BURN it, LOOK UNDER it, UNLOCK it WITH something,
• Or: LISTEN, SLEEP, WAKE UP, JUMP, PRAY, CURSE, SING
• NPC-Interaction: TALK TO name, ASK name ABOUT something, TELL name ABOUT something, GIVE something TO name, SHOW something TO name

ALTERNATIVE MAP LAYOUT TEMPLATES

• (TO USE: JUST COPY & PASTE, PASTE, PASTE,....):
• VIM Example: 1. go to beginning of first line of map 2. copy 2 lines = "2yy" 3. Paste 15x with "15P"

DEFAULT MAP LAYOUT: 5-LETTER-ROOM LAYOUT

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.     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .
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ALTERNATIVE MAP LAYOUT: 4-LETTER-ROOM LAYOUT

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.    .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .
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ALTERNATIVE MAP LAYOUT: 3 LETTER ROOMS

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.   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .
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ALTERNATIVE MAP LAYOUT: 3 LETTER ROOMS, DOUBLE LENGTH

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.   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .
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.     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .
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ALTERNATIVE MAP LAYOUT: 6-LETTER-ROOM LAYOUT

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.      .      .      .      .      .      .      .      .      .      .      .      .      .      .      .      .      .      .
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