Making a topic to discuss the writing of text that appears in game.
I've started writing descriptions of items to appear in message strings when you pick them up. When it comes to the Blue Candle (Blue Lantern in my case), what is the best way to inform the player that it only works once per screen? I'd like to write something with logic that doesn't break the fourth wall.
If you say it can only be used "once in a while" that doesn't explain once per screen, neither does "once per area". How do you say "once per screen" without using the word "screen"? ("Room" works, but only in dungeons.) "This item's use is limited" or "It can only be used infrequently" doesn't really tell you very much.
Another thing is why would it only be usable once per screen? Is it a broken lantern? Does it have a very small oil reserve (or wick)? Does it leak oil? Is it a cursed item? Is it a "tiny" lantern?
Perhaps "You got the Small Lantern. It can only hold a small amount of oil before it must be refilled" or "It has limited oil reserves." Followed by "You got the Big Lantern" (or Magic Lantern) "Now it can be used all the time." or "This lantern holds much more oil", or something like that. With the Small Lantern idea, perhaps some text that says "It refills itself over time"? Or maybe "Its short wick burns out quickly."?
Edited by Cukeman, 29 July 2017 - 12:53 AM.