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Dec-29-2009 20:15

I'm sorry if this question is answered some place obvious but for some reason I just can't find it!

Can anyone tell me if there is a way to make Italics when you're writing a Featured Mystery? Also, if you can, could you please tell me if you need to add the "quotation marks" when you're asking a suspect a question or does the website do it for you?

Thanks in advance for your time!

Dec-29-2009 20:27

To make italics in an intro, twist or ending, simply surround the text that you wish to make italicized with the following: <i>text here</i>

No, you do not need quotation marks on questions, it will be done for you, but you will have to do it in your suspect and witness responses.

Good luck!

Dec-30-2009 04:22

And in case you haven't heard, you can use [DetectiveName] in intro and ending (only) and the player's name will appear in its stead.

For the questions, the online editor will automatically add:
Ask " (your question) " to whatever you write, and as Heim has correctly put, there is no quotation marks in the suspect / witness responses, so that you are free to add actions or comments to their replies if you want. Some writers keep it pure and only have the suspect / witness answer the question without additional information, whereas some writers prefer otherwise. It's simply a matter of style.

Dec-30-2009 14:54

Thanks, guys! That [DetectiveName] thing is also really useful. I've been just having everybody refer to the player as "Detective".

Dec-30-2009 16:52

I need to ask another quick question --

Are you allowed to have multiple ways to Unlock a question or another type of event?

Dec-30-2009 17:04

Absolutely, but be aware that the triggers operate like fuses rather than seals. What does this mean?

Example-
Twist 9 is unlocked by the following:

Question 34
Twist 6

This means that when the player asks question 34 OR views twist 6, twist 9 will unlock.

There is no way to make it so that both events must have occurred before the player may view twist 9 except to make twist 6 unlocked by question 34 or vice versa.

Scripted Mysteries follow a very linear progression, but the best authors know how to weave quite a web of diverging and converging storylines. Hope this helps!

Dec-30-2009 17:57

Oh, I understand. My idea was to give players multiple ways to unlock a event so if they mess up and get a clam they won't get stuck. So if they asked question 34 or viewed twist 6, then twist 9 would occur, but if they asked question 34, found twist 9, and then later on viewed twist 6, twist 9 wouldn't appear again and confuse them.

Dec-30-2009 19:25

<b>And thank you for your answer. It was a big help!</b>

Dec-31-2009 05:39

If it's just a case of you wanting people to be able to solve the mystery without getting stuck then you could just alter the percentage chances for tough/charming and also the amount of the questions they will answer before they first clam. It is possible to make a SM playable without the detective clamming once but then you have to bare in mind would it be too easy and therefore not interesting.

Most detectives around here do like an SM to be challenging so you just need to make sure you have a balanced approach :)

On a side note, it's nice to see you taking the time to ask all these questions and finding out how the mystery editor works :)

Dec-31-2009 18:27

Thanks!

So if I have two different ways to unlock the same question, it can only be unlocked once, right? My worry was that if I had two different ways to unlock a twist or something, the player might find the first way, unlock the twist, then later on find the second way and make the twist appear again.

Dec-31-2009 18:38

And while I'm here (Sorry for the double post!) I wanted to ask about other crimes.

I read somewhere else that you can thefts and other non-violent crimes. In that case, is there a way to make it so that either there is no "victim" (as in a human victim) or make it so that the victim is one of the suspects?