Zugg Software :: View topic

Newbie Joined: 06 Sep 2004 Posts: 5

Hello...

So, school just started back up, and I've found myself with little to know time to actually play my MUD. My time goes to school and homework. When I have freetime, I'm usually burnt out, and I can't stand to sit and type for the hours I need to level normal.

I decided I'd try to figure out how to script. All I need is a simple script that'll kill and search all of a certain critter in a room. When the room is empty, I pick up my loot and go to the next room. If there's any critters there, the script goes through until they're dead.

Well, I've found that the help files for zMUD and the tutorials on the website are put in no coherent order. Everything is separated from one another, and the examples are so poorly explained that it takes a little bit to figure out what in the heck they're talking about.

I tried looking at some other hunting scripts in the Completed Scripts board, but I have no idea how to use them! (zMUD is not my client of origin) When I think I figured it out, I kept getting syntax errors. I also have no idea how to test the script!

What I hope the more experience of you out there can help me with is to set me on the right track. Such as, letting me know which commands I need to look up and learn to create my described script, and how I actually put the script into zMUD once I think I'm done with it in wordpad.

All help would be appreciated. I've no experience in any programming at all, though I've been wanting to learn for the longest time. I'm a quick learner when the information is presented to me in a clear form.

Just in case it's needed, here's a little more detailed description of the script I need. (I'm not asking for someone to make it for me. It's not right, plus I'll never learn that way.) A list of commands I need to learn about would be extremely helpful(even more helpful if you could explain them clearly yourselves Wink

). I mean, I can read all about #TRIGGER in the help files all I want, but it does no good if I don't know how to apply it useflly. :

Type A:
I move myself. I look in the room. If there's the target critter in the room, I attack it. Then I wait for the round time of my weapon. If the target isn't dead, I attack again. Repeat until critter is dead. Then I search the critter. Next, I check the room again. If there's the target creature in the room, I procede to give it the good ol' bashing. Once the room is clear of the target creature, I move to another room, and the process begins again. This way I'm still active, but I don't have to worry about all the extra typing for everything else.

Type B:
Like Type A, except for it moves me in a pretermined path. Such as, it moves me to a room. Checks for the target critter. If it's there, it attacks. If not, it goes to the next step in the path. Once I'm back to my original spot, the script ends, and I have to reactivate it. This would save me a lot more time, as I could watch my MUD screen while I work on something else.

This is the thread with the script I've mainly been dissecting. http://forums.zuggsoft.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=13019&highlight=hunt

It's the one the gave me syntax errors(probably because I don't know how to enter the script into zMUD). This script is like Type B, but I've not idea how the #BUTTON command works, especially how it's used there. The help file didn't help me at all.

Any and all help would be appreciated! I hope I'm not violating any rules or anything! Very Happy

Phwew! I'm longwinded!

Wanderer Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 98 Location: OK, USA

1) Consult your MUD's Rules and Regulations to verify the legality of Triggers, Botting, and AFK. Most MUDs disallow botting and promise punishment up to nuking Shocked

2) Search the General Forum for autokill, kill, bot, etc. for several examples.

3) The examples in the Help Files are indexed in alphabetical order. If you aren't sure how to find something in the index or if you aren't sure what to look for, then try the Help Files's Search feature.

For example, you'll want to match your MUD output for certain mob names (a pattern) and then send a command or function or MUD action in response. Search each of those words. You'll get several hits for each word. If you find the "Introduction to ..." files a bit overwhelming, then I suggest reading the more specific files #ALIAS, #VARIABLE, #TRIGGER, and pattern matching for the "meat and potatoes" of your scripting.
It's all good, though!

4) The commands and functions written in most posts and in the Help files are for command line entry, i.e. you either type them directly in the command line and press <Enter>, or you copy and paste them into the command line and press <Enter>. Examples,

#TRIGGER {Zugg says, "Hi"} {say Hi, Zugg!}
This trigger will match the pattern Zugg says, "Hi"
Each time you receive it, the trigger will send
say Hi, Zugg! to your MUD

#ALIAS hf {hug Zugg}
This creates an alias named hf
When you type hf, the string
hug Zugg is sent to your MUD

#VARIABLE Friends {Zugg}
This assigns the value Zugg to the the variable Friends

You can combine these in many ways. Example,

#ALIAS hf {hug @Friends}
#TRIGGER {Zugg says, "Hi"} {
say Hi, Zugg!
emote bugs Zugg for a hug
#ALARM +2 {hf}}

When the pattern Zugg says, "Hi" is received
the string say Hi, Zugg! is sent to the MUD,
an emote is sent to the MUD,
and a temporary, one-time 2 second Alarm is created.
After 2 seconds, the alias hf is entered,
the value of @Friends is expanded,
and the string hug Zugg is sent to the MUD.

Just a few introductory examples for you. Several more are available in the Help files. Also, look through past threads for a plethora of examples, and when you see unfamiliar Commands and Functions look them up in the Help Files. Smile

Newbie Joined: 06 Sep 2004 Posts: 5

As far as I know, my MUD allows scripts(I know they alllow aliases and even show how to set them up), so long as you're at the computer and doing it.

Perhaps you could help me with the #BUTTON thing that was shown in the example I linked to. I understand that the end part is your path, and that #step moves you to the next spot in that path if there's nothing to hunt in the current room, but I'm not sure as to how the #step command knows to go to the #BUTTON command for the path. Nor am I sure about the part before the path. Here:

Newbie Joined: 06 Sep 2004 Posts: 5

Ok. Here's what I have so far, but I don't think some stuff is right, because I still don't know what some means. I'm just posting this now so you can see what I'm doing wrong/way I'm thinking when/if you try to explain the stuff in the above post.

Wanderer Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 98 Location: OK, USA

Ya know, I'm at work but still took the time to type out a nice response explaining the trigger and the variable and also provide a few examples. Then the forum timed me out and lost my response. That's what I get for not copying it or typing it up in Wordpad, or something. ::sigh::

Okay, a little shorter this time,

Wanderer Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 98 Location: OK, USA

Newbie Joined: 06 Sep 2004 Posts: 5

Alright. The help files aren't set up that great at all. They seem to assume you already understand all the lingo. Honestly, I learned more from the script I've been quoting than the help files.

Thanks for the help :D

BTW, I did type Help Rules, and Help laws, and help scripting. There's nothing mentioned there at all, or on the site, but I heard one of the GMs mention once that it's ok if you're not doing it AFK.

Well, I think I've got what I need, anyway. I made a simple script that just keeps attacking the critter I specify, then shuts off when it's done. Saves me the trouble of trying to time my attacks and constantly typing, even if I'm using aliases.

I thought I did search for "autokill" or maybe I just searching "hunting". I don't know. I'll check eventually.

SubAdmin Joined: 18 Nov 2001 Posts: 5182

I have heard many new users say that the help files weren't actually helpful. I want to know what would make them helpful. They actually haven't even been rewritten, they just sort of grew over the years as zMud's features grew. Rewriting them would be a monumental task that I don't have time for, and Zugg likely wouldn't approve of anyway.

Last major changes to the help were done a year ago when the contents got vastly expanded, the index was toned up to cover every topic (I could still probably add 1000 keywords here), and topic crosslinking plus related buttons were added to all the reference section.

What needs to be done to make the help good? Does it need a series of "how to" sections covering common questions? Does half the online FAQ have to be included directly in it? Do you really want to download an extra 100Kb everytime zMud is updated?

As it stands right now there are over 1500 pages in the help totalling 850Kb of text. I am in no way saying it is complete or can't be improved upon. All I am saying is that without some good idea of where it is weak I can't think of how to make it better. My perspective as an experienced user just doesn't really help me to see what a new user needs most.

Newbie Joined: 06 Sep 2004 Posts: 5

Oh. I'll gladly explain. I'm just thinking that perhaps the help files should be a little more like a textbook. They ARE helpful, if you know what you're doing, and if you've got a little experience, but just connecting the stuff together, I dunno.

Ok. I'll examine "Introduction to Aliases" I already knew about these, but it's still an example of why I found the other intros difficult.

The first paragraph is fine. Tells the person if this is the thing they're looking for.

Apprentice Joined: 12 Apr 2004 Posts: 134 Location: USA

Ok well sence im part of the reason this posted script is messed up ( I did not clear any of it out.) I will go over what the script is all about. (In my next post that is.

Apprentice Joined: 12 Apr 2004 Posts: 134 Location: USA

This is an explanation. DO NOT COPY PASTE THIS IN. This is Falcnor Script I DID NOT MAKE IT! I just changed a few of the things on it that did not work for any of the muds I played on.

#CLASS {Autokill}
Name of the script

#ALIAS Hunt {#t+ MatchEnemy;#VAR mobEnemy {} {_nodef} {Autokill};#pause;l;#wait 1000;#if (@mobEnemy) {x @mobEnemy} {ChangeRoom}}
OK this line basicly checks to see if the mob from your mob list is in the room. If not it moves to the next room. If so, then it Starts combat (x for me is the same as kill whatever) Edit that to your taste.

#ALIAS ChangeRoom {#step;#pause;#wait 2000;hunt}
As a part of the Hunt Alias, this directs the bot on how to move when the room is empty, or an incorrect mob is there.

#VAR mobEnemy {}
This stores the mob that will be killed from the mobEnemyList.

#VAR mobEnemyList {magical|enchanted|undead|Zombie|rotting}
This is my list of mobs. MUST MATCH WHAT YOU SEE IN THE ROOM WHEN YOU LOOK.

#PATH ToFallen {3ej2n3e3n2e3ne3nw3n2e2nhw16n4e4s2w}
#PATH Fallen {4n2w3ew3n}
#PATH {recall syntax} {;.(recall )}
#PATH ToTree {3ej2n3e3n2e2n3w2kw2n4w4h3w5sws3wk6se4s3w2se7s3esw2se4sw2s4e3nw2n;.(enter black)}
#PATH Tree {wnuesuwnuesuwnuesu3s3nwnue3n4suwn3w3eues3e4wnu2e;.(recall )}
These are all my paths notice I recall at the end of the paths, to restart the bot. You can enter any path here, it realy matters little.

#TRIGGER {%1 is KILLED!!} {hunt}
#TRIGGER {They aren't here.} {sac all;hunt}
#TRIGGER {No *({@mobEnemyList})* here!} {hunt}
#TRIGGER {Target is not present.} {hunt}
These are all reasons to make the bot recheck the room then move. (unless the mob is there. Then there is an issue I ran into a few times with the mobs name looking like something its not. Example The skeleton archers (is what you see when you look at the room, but you have to attack some other name like Ugether.) I never came up with a way around that so I just skipped them.

#BUTTON 1 {Tree} {#t- hunt;#slow ToTree;#wait 24000;#t+ hunt;#class Autokill 1;#slow Tree;hunt} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} "" {} {} {} {2}

#BUTTON 6 {Fallen} {;#class Autokill 1;#slow Fallen;hunt} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} "" {} {} {} {2}
#CLASS 0
This is modified so that I speed walk to the location from my recall, then slow hunt the area once I’m there.

Anyway that is a basic rundown if the script (working like a charm for me) With what I learned from this script and a few others I was able to add things like health checkers and xp/gold tracks auto deposits, and loot checkers. I guess my ending point is you must REALY play with it and learn the scrip piece by piece for it to help you. Once you know it change it so that it works on your mud, the way you want it to. I look at all the scripts/Ideas on these forums as great ideas that I can work with. I cant learn by reading the help files. I must play with something. I really think that is the best way. And in response to Vijilantes question about the help files. I think the best way to update them is to add working examples of how the scripts work. There is not a lot of advance concepts in the help files, just jumping from point a to point j (once you get to the forums.) That’s my 2 cents. Hope this post helped you.[/size][/size]

Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2004 8:35 pm

Hey, complex, I'm trying to use the hunt alias that you have, and I cut and paste everything you had:
#ALIAS Hunt {#t+ MatchEnemy;#VAR mobEnemy {} {_nodef} {Autokill};#pause;l;#wait 1000;#if (@mobEnemy) {a @mobEnemy} {ChangeRoom}}
and changed the 'x' to an 'a' for my board. When I look under my aliases, I'm getting the following error:
#if () {a } {ChangeRoom}
^ syntax error
It's like they @mobEnemy gets left out of the statement or something. I'll type hunt, and I have a "wyvern" in my mobEnemyList, but when I go to a room with one in it, it just keeps doing the 'l' to look and doesn't attack.

A couple of other questions if you'll bear with me.
In the Hunt alias, where is "MatchEnemy" defined? I discovered that it created a new class after I typed in Hunt on my command line, but it has nothing in it. What is it for?
In the two statements:
#VAR mobEnemy {}
and
#VAR mobEnemyList {magical|enchanted|undead|Zombie|rotting}
I can understand the 2nd one looking for any of those monsters, but I don't see how the first statement interacts with the 2nd.
Sorry to inundate you with questions. I'm new to scripting as well. I'm pretty good with C++ and Java, but this stuff hurts my head.
Thanks in advance for any help!
Foos.

Apprentice Joined: 12 Apr 2004 Posts: 134 Location: USA

Well I said not to copy paste that one but it looks like a few things are missing

Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2004 3:43 am

I got nada. I have a different path than yours, so I just used that one instead of Fallen and made sure it was in the autokill class. I click on the button and it executes the first direction in the path, does a 'l', and then just sits there. Once again, I looked at the Hunt alias value box, and again, the @mobEnemyList is missing.
I've been trying to get just the hunt to work for 12 hours now, and I'm about ready to smash my monitor with my keyboard. I was wondering if I should just use a database of monsters instead of defining them in a variable, but I'm not sure how to do that either.
Hope you can help.
Foos

Wanderer Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 98 Location: OK, USA

Did you copy/paste complex's MatchEnemy subclass too?

Apprentice Joined: 12 Apr 2004 Posts: 134 Location: USA

Ok when i first started this script I had a problem where it would not walk, but keep looking in the area, in the same room, Is that the problem, or does it look once then never look again IE shut off. It could be a problem with the mob names, or your pathing. make sure the hunt is on befor you walk the path you want to hunt. (my buttons fast walk to the area that im hunting, then start to hunt. ect. Other then that im not maby you missed something, I know it works tons of ppl have barrowed it from me. So something must be missing.

Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2004 7:04 pm

Yeah, I copied the MatchEnemy class. Weird thing, though. zMud created a _nodef class somehow. Also, when I try to run the script, all it does is type a couple of 'l's and then, after a little bit, it sends "a _nodef" to the screen. This is buggin me like you wouldn't believe. I just want to be able to script a simple area and kill monsters. Nothing fancy, but I can't get it to work for the life of me.
Also, instead of using the @mobEnemyList, couldn't you just pull out of an Enemy database?
I really just wish I knew what each line of code was doing. Then I could figure it out for myself.
Sorry to be a pain.

Wizard Joined: 15 Jan 2002 Posts: 1644 Location: USA

Novice Joined: 30 Sep 2004 Posts: 47 Location: Arkansas

I have a script I want to make and have a good example codewise.

But where in the world am I suppose to put it? Sure I know how to make triggers, aliases, even did some variable work so I have health meters. But a full script where do I place the code for that?

Here is the script I'm going to be using for my base.

Wizard Joined: 15 Jan 2002 Posts: 1644 Location: USA

1. Yes the DB has to exist first Here is a great overview http://www.silverbridge.org/~varmel/zmud/tutorials/zmuddb.htm

2. Paste all that in the command line and hit enter

3. A script is a single/collection of zmud triggers, alias, functions, etc. Most scripts on this Forum are written for command line entry. This means you just paste everything into the comman line (the bar wher you send mud commands) and hit enter. Scripts wriiten for command line entry can also be saved to a .txt or .zsc file and imported into zmud. A class is just a folder for organizing parts of a script. In review a script would be a single trigger, and a script would also be a lot of trigs and aliases jumbled together.

Novice Joined: 30 Sep 2004 Posts: 47 Location: Arkansas

That last post was very helpful.

I tried exactly what the link said. It worked but not quite what I was expecting it to do. I think the link was just as an overview like you said. Everything worked like it should but why would the link talk about making a equipment database and then when saving the identified equipment it doesn't actually post it to that database. It saves it as a variable.

Question

Is there an easy way to save a variable into the equipment database?
Question

When I identify something if there is a variable named 'item' already it replaces that. What would be a simply solution to that?

Wizard Joined: 15 Jan 2002 Posts: 1644 Location: USA

The overview adds it to the DB please read
#HELP NEW

First you store All your Identified object into a record variable then you add it to the Database using #new @item, This should take care of your second questions since its in the DB why keep the variable around

*breakdown of this line from overiew*
#IF (%find( @item.name) = "") {#new "" @item}

#IF (look for item name in DB if it = nothing return true) {true - Then Add the contents of @item to the current view in DB}

The DB has to be open! and also the DB has to be loaded

Novice Joined: 30 Sep 2004 Posts: 47 Location: Arkansas

I erased all my work last night at started fresh and it worked out great. What I was having a problem with earlier was patience. It seems to take a few seconds for it to post to the db. At least if its not open when the ID was done. And each new item is stored. Awesome.

So since I got it working. I've started to make triggers to store the right information from the mud I play on. The only problem I'm having here is that I have lines come out like this.

Novice Joined: 30 Sep 2004 Posts: 47 Location: Arkansas

After looking at this, I still haven't figured that last post out, but I was wondering if I need to be using the #ADDKEY command or newrecord? I've looked at the help files but still don't quite understand what they do.

Making a trigger for the wear slots on my mud has stumped me a little also. The mud I play on (phoenixmud) uses one line to show all wear slots (single slot or dual slot) I'm not sure what I want to do exactly. I'd like for it to show dual wear slots if the item is capable but if I was to do a sort where would it go? Would I have to create another field called 'slot2'?
Here are a few examples of some identifies I've come up with. Just to give you a variety. At the moment I can't think of an item that would have a 3rd wear slot, but I wouldn't doubt it.
Item can be worn on your head.
Item can be worn as a weapon and in your hand.
Item can be worn as a weapon.
Item can be worn around your waist and as a weapon.
Item can be worn on your legs and on your arms.

Any ideas on this post or the last post?

Wizard Joined: 15 Jan 2002 Posts: 1644 Location: USA

#Addkey adds to a data record #New adds a variable (a data record is a type of variable) to the DB.

And since I just noticed this instead of hijacking someone elses post please create a new topic for any additional help. And Also note that "Im a newbie when it comes to scripting" is not a very descriptive Subject, Wouldn't "I need help understanding how to use the database" be a little better.