Specifying targets
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Specifying Targets
Many of the commands you will use in the game involve specifying a thing or set of things, starting with the simplest of common commands, wield <weapon>, [wear]] <armour>, and look at <thing>. This is straightforward enough, up until the point where you have two swords and want to wield the second one, or you're trying to look at something in your environment but using its name shows you an item in your inventory instead. Then you need to know about the ways of specifying your intended target that Lost Souls provides for you.
One important thing to realize is that some commands, like wield and examine, operate on only one thing at a time, while others, like wear and drop, can target a group of things. Options specific to multiple-target commands will not work with single-target commands.
Common Targeting Options
These options work with both single-target and multiple-target commands.
Specifying a Thing by Number
You can specify a thing by number using the syntax '<thing> <N>', where N is a number in digital format (2, 3, 4, etc) or '<position> <thing>', where position is second, third, fourth, etc.
Examples: wield sword 2
drop second ring
Specifying an Item in Your Inventory
You can specify that you mean an item in your inventory using the syntax 'my <item>'. This can be combined with other options.
Examples: exa my sword
touch my third ring
Specifying a Thing in Your Environment
You can specify that you mean a thing in your environment using the syntax '<item> here'. This can be combined with other options.
Examples: exa sword here
touch third ring here
Specifying Yourself
You can specify yourself, when appropriate, as 'me' or 'myself'. Some commands may require you to use 'myself' in order to prevent accidental targeting.
Examples: exa me
treat myself
Specifying Your Opponent
You can specify, when appropriate, the opponent you are currently fighting as 'my opponent' or 'opponent'.
Examples: exa opponent 2
say Have at thee! to my opponent
Specifying Your Friend
You can specify, when appropriate, the first of any friends who could be affected by the command as 'my friend' or 'friend'.
Examples: exa friend 3
Specifying Any Item
You can use the word 'item' to address any ordinary inanimate object.
Examples: exa item
drop item 5
Specifying One of Your Belongings
You can use the word 'belonging' to address any ordinary inanimate object that you have kept or equipped.
Examples: exa belonging
drop belonging 5
Specifying Any Creature
You can use the word 'creature' to address any apparently living or animate creature.
Examples: exa creature
pet creature 2
Specifying Any Person
You can use the word 'person' to address any being you recognize as a person, generally meaning you understand them to be sentient and capable of communication.
Examples: exa person
say Hello! to person
Multiple-Target Options
These options are usable only with commands that can handle operating on more than one target at a time. This will generally be indicated in command help, but if none is available or it isn't clear whether multiple-target functionality is available, you can simply try one of these options and see if it works.
Specifying All Things of a Type
You can specify all things of a type using the syntax '<things>' or 'all <things>'. Sometimes it's necessary to use the 'all <things>' syntax when grammatical issues make it unclear whether you're talking about one thing or many.
Examples: drop swords
sell all boots
Specifying Several Things of a Type
You can specify a specific number of things of a type using the syntax '<N> <things>', where N is a number in verbal (two, three, four, etc.) or digital (2, 3, 4, etc.) format.
Examples: drop three swords
sell five pairs of boots
Specifying Several Things of Any Kind
You can specify a specific number of things of any type using the syntax '<N> of anything', '<N> of any', '<N> of all', '<N> anything', '<N> any', or '<N> all', where N is a number in verbal (two, three, four, etc.) or digital (2, 3, 4, etc.) format.
Examples: drop five any
sell twenty of anything
Specifying Everything Relevant
You can specify all of the things relevant to your command with the syntax 'all'.
Examples: attack all
sell all
Specifying Your Opponents
You can specify all of the opponents who are currently attacking you using the syntax 'my opponents' or 'opponents'.
Examples: stop trusting my opponents
start following my opponents
Specifying Your Friends
You can specify all of your friends among those the command could affect using the syntax 'my friends' or 'friends'.
Examples: succor friends
start following my friends
Specifying Any Items
You can use the word 'items' to address any ordinary inanimate objects.
Examples: for items do sacrifice each
drop two items
Specifying Your Belongings
You can use the word 'belongings' to address any ordinary inanimate objects that you
have kept or equipped.
Examples: for items except belongings do sacrifice each
put belongings in backpack
Specifying Any Creatures
You can use the word 'creatures' to address any apparently living or animate creatures.
Examples: for creatures do exa each
attack creatures
Specifying Any People
You can use the word 'people' to address any beings you recognize as people, generally meaning you understand them to be sentient and capable of communication.
Examples: for people do exa each
start befriending people
Specifying an Exception
You can specify things that you do not want to target, modifying another option, with the syntax '<things> except <things>'. You can apply this multiple times in order to exclude multiple things or groups of things.
Examples: drop all swords except longswords
sell fifty of anything except three daggers
get all except rocks except all remains
Specifying Multiple Groups
You can specify multiple groups of things using the syntax '<things>, <things>', '<things> and <things>', and so on. Please note that these 'and' groups are handled before any other modifiers, which means that you cannot use and clauses as part of an except clause. The second example below will drop fifty of anything, except three daggers, AS WELL AS all shields.
Examples: sell swords, shields, and wands
drop fifty of anything except three daggers and all shields
