What I want to do is a command something like this "break (any)"
So if the player typed in "break chair" or "break table" then the player would get a default message of "You would get in trouble if you did this". I might also have in the game something that the player can break such as "break sticks" so the default message would not be shown in this case.
What I'm aiming for is the player can type in break for any object in the game and get a default message.

The only way I know of is to add a "break" verb with a default message for every object in the game so I'm hoping tfor an easier solution.

What I'm aiming for is the player can type in break for any object in the game and get a default message.

All verbs have a default message, which is displayed for any object which doesn't have that verb.

The default message will initially be set to "You can't break {object.article}." but if you're on the desktop version, you can change it by selecting the verb in the object tree to the left.
)the article is so that it will say "You can't break it.", "You can't break them.", "You can't break him." etc as applicable for the object's gender)

Hi mrangel.

I'm trying to understand what you have written.
Do you mean select verbs in the object tree on the left of the screen and add the verb "break"?

Do you mean select verbs in the object tree on the left of the screen and add the verb "break"?

If any object has the verb, the verb should appear under "verbs" in the object tree.

You can select it there and change the default message, which will be displayed if the player uses the verb on any object which doesn't have that verb.

(I'm not entirely sure of the details, because this option isn't available on the web editor)

Thanks mrangel.
If you do have a spare moment an example or step by step guide would be very welcome.

Brian

Sorry, that's all I know. I'm on linux, so can't use the desktop version of Quest; and the web editor doesn't show verbs in the object tree.

So if I wanted to do something like that, I'd have to use a script to edit the verb once the game starts. Probably putting a line in the start script, something like:

break.defaultmessage = "You could get in trouble for that."

OK thanks anyway.

Brian