Alter Ego Vignette Script format

Each line in the file is normally displayed as a block of text. The maximum length for a line is 240 characters. For a longer block of text, the line is split in two and put the caret character on the end of the first line:

This text is ^
split over two lines.

There are various symbols that have special meaning when they are the first/only character on a line.

Clear the screen of text:

,

Show warning about sexy content (with option to wuss out):

*

Check the age (in years) of the Alter Ego is within a range, and if not show a message that you are too young/old and exit (in this case, the Ego must be no younger than 14 years old and no older than 15):

)14,15

End of vignette:

/

You are dead, game over:

.

Set a temporary screen title:

>TEMPORARY TITLE

Clear temporary screen title:

>>

Modify variables (in this case: increase INtelligence by 5 points, decrease SoCial skills by 3 points, and set MoNey to zero dollars):

;IN+5,SC-3,MN=0

Create a position label here with the given name:

:LABEL

Jump to a position label:

&LABEL

Conditional jump (in this case: if INtelligence is less than fifty points, jump to position label "COND.T", otherwise jump to "COND.F"):

=COND,IN<50
:COND.T
Your intelligence is less than fifty points.
/
:COND.F
Your intelligence is at least fifty points.
/

You can also include the first part of a piece of text before the condition, like this:

Your intelligence is =COND,IN<50
:COND.T
less than fifty points.
/
:COND.F
at least fifty points.
/

Jump to a random position label:

?A3
:A1
You flip a coin and get heads.
/
:A2
You flip a coin and get tails.
/
:A3
You flip a coin but the dog swallows it.
/

There are several kinds of menus. in each case the options that the player can choose from are terminated with an empty line

Choose how to feel (choosing feeling #1 jumps to position label "X1", feeling #2 to "X2", etc.):

#X
vague sense of dread
curious optimism

:X1
You stare with intense melancholy into the middle distance.
/
:X2
Yes! Everything's going to be great.
/

Choose how to act (choosing action #1 jumps to position label "Y1", action #2 to "Y2", etc.):

!Y
make a sandwich
eat nothing

:Y1
The sandwich is delicious.
/
:Y2
Your stomach rumbles.
/

Choose both how to feel & act (choosing feeling #1 & action #1 jumps to position label "Z11", feeling #1 & action #2 "Z12" etc. If a particular combination does not have a corresponding position label, tell the player this combination is inappropriate and ask again):

%Z
happy
sad

frown
smile

:Z12
You smile happily.
/
:Z21
You frown sadly.
/