inherit STD_ROOM_OB;
void create()
{
   ::create();
   set_short("Elven workshop");
   set_long("An elven workshop.\n\n"+
     "An elf blacksmith looks up at you from his work and smiles at you.  "+
     "Next to him, on the table, is a suit of armor he's working on.");

   add_exit("east", __DIR__+"villagesquare");
}

void reset()
{
   ::reset();
   if(!present("blacksmith"))
     new("/wizards/grey/mon/blacksmith")->move(this_object());
}

OK, in the above example, I haven't introduced anything new you haven't already seen. So what's wrong with this room? Three things, really.

1. What if somebody kills the elf? The next time somebody looks at the room's description, it'll still say "An elf blacksmith looks up at you....".
2. Can we type "look at table"?
3. Can we type "look at armor"?

Here's how we can fix the above problems!

simpleroom3.c

inherit STD_ROOM_OB;
void create()
{
   ::create();
   set_short("Elven workshop");
   set_long("An elven workshop.\n\n"+
     "An elf blacksmith looks up at you from his work and smiles at you.  "+
     "Next to him, on the table, is a suit of armor he's working on.");

   set_slaughter("blacksmith",
     "A bloody elven workshop.\n\n"+
     "An elf blacksmith used to work here, but now the workshop is in "+
     "disarray.  A murder has recently been committed here!  Blood stains "+
     "cover the table.");

   add_item("table","The table is a simple workbench used for polishing "+
     "weapons and armor.  A suit of armor is on the table.");
   add_item("armor","A suit of armor occupies the blacksmith's table.  "+
     "An inscription has been written on the suit.");
   add_item("inscription", "The inscription on the suit says:\n\n"+
     "  %^RED%^To my son, Feanor, on his 120th birthday.%^RESET%^");
   add_exit("east", __DIR__+"villagesquare");
}

void reset()
{
   ::reset();
   if(!present("blacksmith"))
     new("/wizards/grey/mon/blacksmith")->move(this_object());
}

Let's examine the two new function calls I've added:

set_slaughter("blacksmith","A bloody elven workshop...");
The set_slaughter function is used to create an alternate long description for the room. This alternate description is used when the named creature is not present. It works just like set_long(), except that it requires two "arguments" (things separated by commas) instead of just one. The first "argument" (also called a "parameter") is the monster's name. The second is the alternate long description. Pretty slick, eh? :)

add_item("armor","A suit of armor occupies...");
This defines a "virtual item" to be included in the room. This is NOT a "real" object which could be picked up by a player. The first argument is the item's name. The second argument is what the player sees when "look at {named item}" is typed.

Well-written areas always make extensive use of these two functions. The set_item function exists on most lpmud/MudOS style MUDs, so many experienced players expect to be able to "look at" items mentioned in the room's description. The set_slaughter function was custom-written for Coastal Legends and Core 26**.

In our next lesson, we'll have fun with secret doors, locked doors, and doors guarded by monsters!