Level

3.5.1   Plain text

Displays text verbatim, optionally with an underline.

For example, the following status lines:

* text:       "Capture Vulpecula Beta"
* text:       " and Gamma"
  underline:  true

will display unconditionally as:

Capture Vulpecula Beta
 and Gamma

3.5.2   Conditional text

If the condition numbered condition has triggered, displays the true string, otherwise the false string. In either case, the text is preceded by prefix, followed by suffix, and optionally underlined.

condition must not reference a persistent condition. Any of true, false, prefix, or suffix may be null. If null, they are assumed to be empty.

For example, the following status line watches condition 0:

* prefix:     "Battleship destroyed: "
  condition:  0
  true:       "Y"
  false:      "N"

Before condition 0 triggers, it displays as:

Battleship destroyed: N

After condition 0 triggers, it displays as:

Battleship destroyed: Y

3.5.3   Counters

Displays a player’s numbered counter. The text is preceded by prefix, followed by suffix, and optionally underlined.

If fixed is true, divides the counter by 256 and displays it as a fractional value. If minuend is non-null, subtracts the counter from the minuend before displaying it.

For example, the following status lines watch the counters of the two players:

* prefix:   "Player 1: "
  minuend:  3
  counter:  {player: 1, which: 0}
  suffix:   " lives"
* prefix:   "Player 2: "
  minuend:  3
  counter:  {player: 0, which: 0}
  suffix:   " lives"

If the counters count each player’s kills, and the first player has two kills and the second none, this displays as:

Player 1: 3 lives
Player 2: 1 lives

4.1.1   players

In a solo level, the first player must be type: "human" and all other players must be type: "cpu".

name is used in messages about changes of ownership.

race determines the ships available to the player, as described in the documentation for initials’ base and build fields.

If hue is non-null, ships owned by the player will be recolored accordingly. This makes it possible to distinguish two players if they have the same race.

earning_power is a multiplier on the earning values of initials that a player owns, as well as the money paid out to all players at the start of the level (normally ¤25). If null, the player earns no cash.

Example solo player

4.1.2   par

The mission debriefing from Assassin.

For being 22 seconds (19%) over the par, 40 points (50 - 19%) are awarded. For losses being under half par, 60 points (the maximum) are awarded. For being 3 kills (30%) over par, 26 points (20 + 30%) are awarded.

The total score is 40 + 60 + 26 = 126 points.

Sets target values for completing a level well. At the end of the level, 100 points are awarded to players that meet par, and points may be doubled for even better performance. Points for par are awarded as in the following proportions:

• 50 points for time
• 20 points for kills
• 30 points for losses

For time and losses, additional points may be awarded if under par, up to 2× for ½ par, and points may be deducted if over, down to 0 points for 2× par.

For kills, additional points may be awarded if over par, up to 2× for 2× par, and points may be deducted if under, down to 0 points for ½ par.

Example par

4.1.3   skip

If provided, the player may press ESC during the game and skip the level. The level named skip will be unlocked, and play will continue with that level. Mainly used for tutorials, where victory is not important, and the player may want to skip to a real level.

4.1.4   no_ships

If a human player loses all of their ships, they lose the level. This is the message that will be displayed if that happens.

4.1.5   prologue, epilogue

The prologue from Moons for Goons.

A text crawl that will be displayed before playing the level (prologue) or after winning the level (epilogue). There are special codes supported for controlling formatting and displaying images:

Example prologue

4.2.1   players

In a net level, at least two players must be type: "human". Additional players may be type: "cpu".

race lists the races that a player may select in the level. The races will be offered in the given order, with the first option selected by default.

earning_power is a multiplier on the earning values of initials that a player owns. If null, the player earns no cash.

Net players have names and possibly hues, but these are determined by the players. Players choose their own names freely, and, if multiple players choose the same race, their hues as well.

Example net player

4.2.2   description

A description of the level, used during level selection in a net game.

4.2.3   own_no_ships, foe_no_ships

If a human player loses all of their ships, they lose the level. These are the messages that will be displayed if that happens to them (own_no_ships) or their opponent (foe_no_ships).

4.3.1   players

The same fields as solo players are used, minus type, as demo players are always cpu players.