Programs

[Keroth]

Sorry, for posting this twice, I posted it in the wrong section before. Pardon.

Hi everybody,

I had an idea for a multiple choice story, like you can write at chyoo or other sites. But I thought it would be even more interesting if there were a way that the storyline isn't completly predetermined. I'm looking for something for program like a random generator,can you imagine what I mean? For example the author writes three different outcomes and the program tells the further story by chance. It could be very simple. I would really appreciate if somebody helps me. Thanks in advance.

Besides I'm very interested in all kind of softwares for authors. Everything which makes writing more exciting. Please, tell me if you know interesting programs or sites.

 

[Weird Harold]

In the Story Index Section, Lit has a Random Story picker. Perhaps that can be adapted for what you're proposing.

Randomly picking a story here at Lit is fairly simple because the stories are indexed numerically; as long as your alternate endings are chosen numerically, the random function of almost any programming language makes the process a simple real-number arithmetic function: Integer(Random() * n) +1.5) -- produces a random integer from 1 to n rounded to the neareest whole integer instead of truncated by the integer function.

 

[Keroth]

Thank you very much. This already helps me and I think about creating such a story with C++. But I'm not very good in programming and not sure if it is worth to invest so much time.
I just thought it would be great if there is an easy way to write something like an interactive story. After each short chapter you can choose between some options. That is nothing new so far, there are enough sites where it is possible to write such a story. But my aim is that the options don't have determinated outcomes instead the reader gets a percentage how likely the option ends in a positive sequel of the story.
For example:
The main character "Liz" and her friend "Susan are attacked by some evil men. Now the reader can choose if Liz should
- run away 90% (Most likely she can escape but looses her friend to the men)
- She tries to get help by screaming 60%
- try to fight against them 30% (Probably both girls get captured, but there is a chance to rescue both)

Please axcusemy broken english, but do you understand what I mean. Probably it wouldn't be difficult for a programmer to write these program, but I would have a lot of problems,..

 

[Weird Harold]

Thank you very much. This already helps me and I think about creating such a story with C++. But I'm not very good in programming and not sure if it is worth to invest so much time.

It would not be worth while to write such a program in C++, but you don't need write an entire program, just a simple function in a "scripting" language like java script (yes I know it's one word, but it's also a banned word here at Lit.)

For what youwant, you don't really need a full "program" like http://www.literotica.com/stories/story_spinner.php

I just thought it would be great if there is an easy way to write something like an interactive story. After each short chapter you can choose between some options. That is nothing new so far, there are enough sites where it is possible to write such a story. But my aim is that the options don't have determinated outcomes instead the reader gets a percentage how likely the option ends in a positive sequel of the story.

It sounds to me that what you want to do is replace the multiple choices with a single "NEXT" link that randomly determines the course of the story -- or add a "Surprise Me" link to the options that chooses for the reader.

Lit and other story sites do something similar with the links into categories and/or author listings by randomly selecting a letter of the alphabet or page number so that the front of the alphabet doesn't get all of the hits from casual surfers.

The link to the erotic couplings category is: ... stories_by_category.php?category=2&page=136

but when you refresh the page, it changes to ...stories_by_category.php?category=2&page=180

The page number doesn't change every time your refresh the page, but it is a random selection whenit does change.

Adding a random chapter function to a script-based story database system like Lit's or StoriesOnline's isn't a major programming challenge.

Writing an entire story database system like Lit's or SOL's just to get a random chapter function is more work than is necessary.

Please axcusemy broken english, but do you understand what I mean. Probably it wouldn't be difficult for a programmer to write these program, but I would have a lot of problems,..

Since CHYOO has the basic "choose your own adventure" capability, it shouldn't be difficult to to add a "Surprise Me" link to the existing multple choice option -- you just need to PM Manu and request that it be added with the next upgrade to the CHYOO software.