systemText

Every sentence the engine produces. The engine holds no prose of its own.

The engine emits a key and its facts. These decide the words, in any language. 200 keys, 54 of them fragments.

Two tiers, and why they differ

A fragment is a piece another message interpolates, such as the word that fills {outcome} in an attack line. Nothing sensible can stand in for a missing one and the sentence around it would render with a hole, so fragments are required in the document, and a world that omits one will not load. A message stands on its own and carries a default, so you write only what you want to change.

A value is a string, or a pool reference for weighted, condition gated variation.

"narrative": {
  "systemText": {
    "combat.died": "{name} falls.",
    "move.blocked": { "pool": "blocked_lines" }
  }
}

Placeholders below are the ones a message cannot lose. Dropping one stops the world loading. A new world already has every required fragment. Starting from an existing ruleset brings the rest across.

Key	Tier	Must keep	What it says	Default
`grammar.and`	fragment		Joins the last two items of a list.	`and`
`grammar.or`	fragment		Joins alternatives, as in a gate's unmet requirements.	`or`
`grammar.list.separator`	fragment		Between all but the last two items of a list.	`,`
`grammar.list.pair`	fragment	`{first}{last}{conjunction}`	A list of exactly two.	`{first} {conjunction} {last}`
`grammar.list.many`	fragment	`{head}{last}{conjunction}`	A list of three or more; `head` is already joined.	`{head} {conjunction} {last}`
`grammar.article.consonant`	fragment	`{noun}`	Indefinite article before a consonant.	`a {noun}`
`grammar.article.vowel`	fragment	`{noun}`	Indefinite article before a vowel.	`an {noun}`
`grammar.count`	fragment	`{number}{noun}`	A counted noun, as in "three hounds".	`{number} {noun}`
`grammar.plural`	fragment	`{noun}`	How a counted noun is made plural when the content declares no plural of its own.	`{noun}s`
`grammar.smallNumbers`	fragment		Number words from zero upward, space separated. Counts past the end of this ladder are written as digits.	`no one two three four five six seven eight nine ten`
`unit.round`	fragment		One round of combat, singular.	`round`
`unit.rounds`	fragment		Rounds of combat, plural.	`rounds`
`direction.north`	fragment		Bearing word, interpolated into `{direction}`.	`north`
`direction.south`	fragment		Bearing word.	`south`
`direction.east`	fragment		Bearing word.	`east`
`direction.west`	fragment		Bearing word.	`west`
`direction.northeast`	fragment		Bearing word.	`northeast`
`direction.northwest`	fragment		Bearing word.	`northwest`
`direction.southeast`	fragment		Bearing word.	`southeast`
`direction.southwest`	fragment		Bearing word.	`southwest`
`direction.here`	fragment		Bearing to the tile you are standing on.	`right here`
`direction.nearby`	fragment		Bearing too close or too diagonal to name.	`nearby`
`roll.line`	fragment	`{total}{parts}`	A roll shown as its arithmetic, so a player can learn the system.	`{total} ({parts}){versus}{swing}`
`roll.versus`	fragment	`{difficulty}`	The number a roll was measured against.	`vs {difficulty}`
`roll.swing`	fragment	`{swing}`	Advantage or disadvantage on a roll.	`[{swing}]`
`combat.outcome.critical`	fragment		How a critical reads in an attack line.	`a critical hit`
`combat.outcome.success`	fragment		How a success reads in an attack line.	`a hit`
`combat.outcome.failure`	fragment		How a failure reads in an attack line.	`a miss`
`combat.outcome.fumble`	fragment		How a fumble reads in an attack line.	`a fumble`
`combat.attack.unnamed`	fragment		Stands in when an attack names no ability.	`attacks`
`combat.check.unnamed`	fragment		Stands in when a check names neither skill nor attribute.	`check`
`combat.damaged.resisted`	fragment	`{raw}`	Appended when resistance or vulnerability changed the number.	`({raw} before resistance)`
`combat.attacked`	message	`{attacker}{target}{roll}{outcome}`	One attack, with its arithmetic.	`{attacker} — {ability} on {target}: {roll} — {outcome}.`
`combat.checked`	message	`{who}{roll}`	A skill or attribute check.	`{who} — {what}: {roll}.`
`combat.saved`	message	`{who}{roll}`	A saving throw.	`{who} — {save} save: {roll}.`
`combat.damaged`	message	`{who}{amount}`	Damage taken.	`{who} takes {amount}{type} damage{resisted}.`
`combat.healed`	message	`{who}{amount}`	A resource restored.	`{who} recovers {amount}.`
`combat.died`	message	`{who}`	A creature dies.	`{who} falls.`
`combat.conditionApplied`	message	`{who}{condition}`	A condition takes hold.	`{who} is {condition}.`
`combat.conditionExpired`	message	`{who}{condition}`	A condition runs out.	`{who} is no longer {condition}.`
`combat.conditionResisted`	message	`{who}{condition}`	A condition is saved against.	`{who} shrugs off {condition}.`
`combat.reacted`	message	`{who}`	A reaction fires.	`{who} reacts.`
`combat.started`	message	`{who}`	A fight starts, listing who is in it.	`Combat begins — {who}.`
`combat.ended.victory`	message		The party won.	`The fight is over.`
`combat.ended.fled`	message		The party escaped.	`You are not followed.`
`combat.ended.defeat`	message		The party lost.	`The party falls.`
`combat.round`	message	`{round}`	A new round begins.	`— round {round} —`
`combat.turn`	message	`{who}`	Whose turn it is.	`{who}'s turn.`
`move.blocked`	message	`{what}`	Something stopped a step: a wall, or somebody standing there.	`Blocked by {what}.`
`move.blocked.edge`	fragment		What stopped a step when it was the end of the map rather than any terrain.	`the edge of the world`
`item.taken`	message	`{items}`	Picked up.	`Taken: {items}.`
`item.lost`	message	`{items}`	Gone from the party's hands.	`Lost: {items}.`
`item.dropped`	message	`{who}{items}`	A body's spoils, named so they get picked up.	`{who} leaves {items} behind.`
`trade.bought`	message	`{items}{who}{price}`	A purchase.	`Bought {items} from {who} for {price}.`
`trade.sold`	message	`{items}{who}{price}`	A sale.	`Sold {items} to {who} for {price}.`
`currency.gained`	message	`{amount}`	Coin arriving any way other than a sale.	`You are {amount} the richer.`
`currency.lost`	message	`{amount}`	Coin leaving any way other than a purchase.	`You are {amount} the poorer.`
`trap.sprung`	message	`{who}{trap}`	A trap fires.	`{who} sets off {trap}!`
`trap.disarmed`	message	`{who}{trap}`	A trap is made safe.	`{who} disarms the {trap}.`
`discovered.trap`	message	`{what}`	A trap is noticed before it fires.	`You spot {what}.`
`discovered.place`	message	`{what}`	A hidden place is found.	`You find {what}.`
`progress.xp`	message	`{who}{amount}`	Experience awarded.	`{who} gains {amount} experience.`
`progress.level`	message	`{who}{level}`	A level gained.	`{who} reaches level {level}.`
`gate.opened.bypass`	fragment		Appended when a gate was forced rather than opened.	`— forced`
`gate.opened.ability`	fragment		Appended when an ability opened a gate.	`— by power`
`gate.blocked.missing`	fragment	`{what}`	Appended to a blocked gate, listing what would open it.	`You would need {what}.`
`gate.opened`	message	`{gate}`	A gate gives way.	`{gate} opens{how}.`
`gate.blocked`	message	`{gate}`	A gate holds.	`{gate} will not open.{missing}`
`requirement.item`	fragment	`{item}`	An item a requirement asks for.	`the {item}`
`requirement.skill`	fragment	`{skill}{rank}`	A skill rank a requirement asks for.	`{skill} {rank}`
`requirement.quest`	fragment	`{quest}{status}`	A quest state a requirement asks for.	`{quest} {status}`
`requirement.faction`	fragment	`{faction}`	Reputation a requirement asks for.	`standing with the {faction}`
`requirement.level`	fragment	`{level}`	A level a requirement asks for.	`level {level}`
`requirement.ability`	fragment	`{ability}`	An ability a requirement asks for.	`the {ability} ability`
`lore.learned`	message	`{lore}`	The party works something out. Nobody asked them to, so it is a note, not a quest.	`You note it down: {lore}`
`lore.learned.sourced`	message	`{lore}{source}`	The same, when the entry records where it came from.	`You note it down: {lore} ({source})`
`quest.offered`	message	`{who}{quest}`	Somebody offers a job.	`{who} has work for you: {quest}.`
`quest.started`	message	`{quest}{description}`	A job taken, with what it asks of you.	`New quest: {quest} — {description}`
`quest.started.plain`	message	`{quest}`	A job taken that has no description.	`New quest: {quest}.`
`quest.stage`	message	`{stage}`	A quest moves on, when the stage wrote no journal prose.	`{stage}`
`quest.stage.journal`	message	`{stage}{journal}`	A quest moves on, with the stage's own journal line.	`{stage} — {journal}`
`quest.objective`	message	`{objective}`	One objective done.	`Objective complete: {objective}`
`quest.completed`	message	`{quest}`	A job finished.	`Quest complete: {quest}.`
`quest.failed`	message	`{quest}{reason}`	A job lost.	`Quest failed: {quest} — {reason}.`
`quest.failed.abandoned`	fragment		Why a quest was lost: the party walked away from it.	`abandoned`
`quest.failed.conditions`	fragment		Why a quest was lost: its `failWhen` became true.	`conditions changed`
`quest.failed.timedOut`	fragment		Why a quest was lost: its deadline ran out.	`too much time passed`
`quest.failed.expired`	fragment		Why a quest was lost: its time ran out while you were elsewhere.	`time ran out`
`party.stance`	message	`{stance}`	The party changes how carefully it moves.	`You move at a {stance}.`
`party.following`	message		The party closes up.	`The others fall in behind you.`
`party.spread`	message		The party stops following.	`The party spreads out.`
`time.dayBroke`	message	`{day}`	A new day.	`Day {day} breaks.`
`reputation.improved`	fragment		Which way standing moved.	`improved`
`reputation.worsened`	fragment		Which way standing moved.	`worsened`
`reputation.changed`	message	`{faction}{direction}{delta}`	Standing with a faction moved.	`{faction}: {direction} ({delta}).`
`deed.witness`	fragment		One witness.	`witness`
`deed.witnesses`	fragment		Several witnesses.	`witnesses`
`deed.unseen`	message		A deed nobody witnessed.	`Nobody saw that.`
`deed.witnessed`	message	`{witnesses}`	A deed that was seen.	`{witnesses} to that.`
`game.victory`	message		The game is won.	`You have won.`
`game.defeat`	message		The game is lost.	`Your party is dead.`
`sense.nearness.faint`	fragment		How a weak or stale impression is introduced.	`Faintly`
`sense.nearness.close`	fragment		How a strong impression is introduced.	`Close by`
`sense.nearness.far`	fragment		How a middling impression is introduced.	`Somewhere`
`sense.unnamed`	fragment		Stands in when a sense declares no name.	`sense`
`perception.investigating`	message	`{who}`	A creature goes to look at what it noticed.	`{who} casts about, and starts toward something.`
`perception.lostInterest`	message	`{who}`	A creature gives up looking.	`{who} loses the thread of it.`
`sense.empty`	message		Using a sense that turns nothing up, when the sense has no name.	`You stop. Nothing reaches you.`
`sense.empty.named`	message	`{sense}`	Using a sense that turns nothing up. Always says something.	`You stop. Nothing reaches you by {sense}.`
`sense.impression`	message	`{nearness}{sense}`	Noticing something, when the sense wrote no phrasing of its own.	`{nearness}, something you can {sense}.`
`look.creatures`	message	`{what}`	Who else is here.	`You see {what}.`
`look.creature.plain`	message	`{name}`	Looking at a creature whose statblock wrote no description.	`{name}, and nothing more to be told from here.`
`look.item.plain`	message	`{name}`	Looking at an item that wrote no description.	`{name}. Nothing remarkable.`
`look.place.plain`	message	`{name}`	Looking at a place that wrote no description.	`{name}, from here.`
`look.unseen`	message	`{what}`	Looking at something that is not here.	`You cannot see {what} from here.`
`refused.actor.missing`	message		The action named somebody who is not in the game.	`no such character`
`refused.action.unknown`	message	`{action}`	An action this version does not recognise.	`"{action}" is not something you can do`
`refused.turn.other`	message	`{who}`	Acting out of turn.	`it is {who}'s turn`
`refused.select.notParty`	message		Selecting somebody who is not yours to command.	`not in the party`
`refused.move.noMap`	message		Moving while not on a tactical map.	`not on a map`
`refused.move.tooFar`	message		Moving further than one tile at a time.	`that is not one step away`
`refused.move.noMovement`	message		Out of movement in combat.	`no movement left this turn`
`refused.travel.noMap`	message		Walking with no map underfoot.	`nowhere to walk`
`refused.travel.noRoute`	message		No path to the destination.	`no way through`
`refused.travel.noRoad`	message		No connection between these two areas.	`there is no road that way`
`refused.travel.noWayUp`	message		No route out of a dungeon by that door.	`there is no way back up`
`refused.travel.notYet`	message	`{missing}`	The way on is gated, and this is what is missing.	`not yet — {missing}`
`refused.travel.notYet.plain`	message		The way on is gated, with nothing to say about why.	`not yet`
`refused.travel.unknownArea`	message	`{area}`	The module names no such area.	`no area "{area}"`
`refused.leave.noExitFound`	message		Leaving a dungeon before the exit is known.	`find the way out first`
`refused.leave.nowhere`	message		Leaving with nowhere to go.	`there is nowhere to go back to`
`refused.enter.noSuchPlace`	message	`{target}`	Entering something that is not here.	`there is no "{target}" here`
`refused.enter.unknownPlace`	message		The place exists in no collection.	`no such place`
`refused.enter.unknownDungeon`	message	`{dungeon}`	The module names no such dungeon.	`no dungeon "{dungeon}"`
`refused.attack.noWeapon`	message	`{who}`	Attacking with no ability and no weapon.	`{who} has nothing to attack with`
`refused.ability.unknown`	message	`{ability}`	The module names no such ability.	`no ability "{ability}"`
`refused.ability.notKnown`	message	`{who}{ability}`	Using an ability this creature has not got.	`{who} does not know {ability}`
`refused.ability.prevented`	message	`{who}`	A condition forbids the action type.	`{who} cannot take that action right now`
`refused.ability.requirements`	message	`{who}{ability}`	An ability is gated and the gate is shut.	`{who} does not meet the requirements for {ability}`
`refused.ability.unavailable`	message	`{ability}`	An ability's own condition says no.	`{ability} cannot be used now`
`refused.ability.cooldown`	message	`{ability}{rounds}`	An ability is still cooling down.	`{ability} is not ready for another {rounds}`
`refused.ability.noAction`	message		Out of actions in combat.	`no action left this turn`
`refused.cost.shortfall`	message	`{resource}`	An ability costs more than is left.	`not enough {resource}`
`refused.target.none`	message		An ability that needs a target found none.	`nothing to target`
`refused.target.missing`	message		No target was named.	`no target`
`refused.target.empty`	message		The named target is gone.	`nothing there`
`refused.target.elsewhere`	message		The target is on another map.	`not here`
`refused.target.outOfRange`	message		Beyond the ability's reach.	`out of range`
`refused.target.outOfReach`	message		Beyond arm's length.	`out of reach`
`refused.target.noSight`	message		Something solid is in the way.	`no line of sight`
`refused.target.covered`	message		Cover blocks the shot entirely.	`they are behind full cover`
`refused.flee.noCombat`	message		Fleeing outside a fight.	`nothing to flee from`
`refused.flee.noExit`	message		Fleeing with no way out.	`there is nowhere to run`
`refused.cast.silenced`	message	`{who}`	A verbal component with speech prevented.	`{who} cannot speak the words`
`refused.cast.bound`	message	`{who}`	A somatic component with gesture prevented.	`{who} cannot make the signs`
`refused.cast.noComponent`	message	`{who}{component}`	A material component the caster is not carrying.	`{who} has no {component}`
`refused.cast.notRitual`	message	`{spell}`	Casting as a ritual something that is not one.	`{spell} cannot be cast as a ritual`
`refused.cast.noSlot`	message	`{spell}`	Out of spell slots at that level.	`no slot left for {spell}`
`refused.item.unknown`	message	`{item}`	The module names no such item.	`no item "{item}"`
`refused.item.notCarried`	message		Acting on an item nobody holds.	`you are not carrying that`
`refused.take.nothingHere`	message		Nothing within reach to pick up.	`there is nothing here to take`
`refused.take.noSuchItem`	message	`{item}`	That particular thing is not here.	`there is no {item} here`
`refused.equip.notWearable`	message	`{item}`	Equipping something with no slot.	`{item} is not something you wear`
`refused.equip.notAllowed`	message	`{item}`	Equipping something this character may not use.	`{item} is not for you`
`refused.unequip.notWorn`	message		Taking off something not worn.	`you are not wearing that`
`refused.use.nothingHappens`	message	`{item}`	Using an item that declares no effect.	`nothing happens with the {item}`
`refused.use.spent`	message	`{item}`	Using an item whose charges are gone.	`the {item} is spent`
`refused.give.tooFar`	message		Handing something over from too far away.	`they are not close enough`
`refused.search.nothing`	message		A search that turned nothing up.	`you find nothing here`
`refused.disarm.nothingHere`	message		Disarming with no trap in reach.	`there is nothing here to disarm`
`refused.open.noSuchThing`	message	`{target}`	Opening something that is not here.	`nothing here called "{target}"`
`refused.open.unknownGate`	message	`{gate}`	The module names no such gate.	`no gate "{gate}"`
`refused.sense.unknown`	message		Using a sense the module does not declare.	`nothing here works like that`
`refused.stance.unknown`	message	`{stance}`	Setting a stance the module does not declare.	`there is no way of moving called "{stance}"`
`refused.follow.inCombat`	message		Setting follow while fighting.	`in a fight everyone acts on their own initiative`
`refused.rest.notHere`	message		This place does not allow that kind of rest.	`cannot rest like that here`
`refused.rest.inCombat`	message		Resting during a fight.	`not while fighting`
`refused.rest.interrupted`	message		A rest broken into.	`something came looking before you could settle`
`refused.talk.tooFar`	message		Talking from across the room.	`too far away to talk`
`refused.talk.nothingToSay`	message	`{who}`	This character has no dialogue.	`{who} has nothing to say`
`refused.talk.unknownDialogue`	message	`{dialogue}`	The module names no such dialogue.	`no dialogue "{dialogue}"`
`refused.reply.noConversation`	message		Replying with no conversation open.	`nobody is talking`
`refused.reply.unknown`	message		Choosing a reply that is not on offer.	`no such reply`
`refused.reply.locked`	message		A reply that is shown but not available, and wrote no hint of its own.	`you cannot say that`
`refused.buy.noStock`	message		This character keeps no shop.	`they have nothing to sell`
`refused.buy.noSuchItem`	message		Not in stock.	`they do not have that`
`refused.buy.tooExpensive`	message		Not enough coin.	`you cannot afford that`
`refused.sell.notBuying`	message		This shop does not buy.	`they are not buying`
`refused.sell.unwanted`	message		This shop will not take that.	`they have no use for that`
`refused.trade.barred`	message	`{missing}`	The shop is gated, and this is why.	`they will not deal with you — {missing}`
`refused.trade.barred.plain`	message		The shop is gated, with nothing to say about why.	`they will not deal with you`
`affordance.barred`	message	`{what}`	A way that is shut, and what would open it.	`barred — needs {what}`
`affordance.needs`	message	`{what}`	A shop that will not deal, and what would change that.	`needs {what}`
`refused.quest.unknown`	message	`{quest}`	The module names no such quest.	`no quest "{quest}"`
`refused.quest.unavailable`	message	`{quest}`	A quest whose requirements are unmet.	`{quest} is not available yet`
`refused.quest.notTaken`	message		Abandoning a quest nobody took.	`you are not on that job`
`refused.internal.unknownResource`	message	`{resource}`	Content named a resource the ruleset does not declare.	`no resource "{resource}"`
`refused.internal.unknownCondition`	message	`{condition}`	Content named a condition the ruleset does not declare.	`no condition "{condition}"`
`refused.internal.unknownFaction`	message	`{faction}`	Content named a faction the module does not declare.	`no faction "{faction}"`
`refused.internal.unknownOp`	message	`{op}`	An effect this build does not know.	`this engine does not implement "{op}"`