character

Files (7)

• CARD.yml
• CHARACTER.yml
• ETHICS.md
• GLANCE.yml
• README.md
• SKILL.md
• skill-snitch-report.md

SKILL.md (first lines)

# Character

> *"File is identity. Location is presence. Relationships are memory."*

Ethics: [ETHICS.md](ETHICS.md) · [soul/ETHICS.md](../soul/ETHICS.md) · [mind/ETHICS.md](../mind/ETHICS.md) · [representation-ethics](../representation-ethics/)

Characters are entities that exist in the world. Players, NPCs, companions, cats — all are characters.

## The Prototype Character

[`CHARACTER.yml`](CHARACTER.yml) in this skill is the prototype character. Every
`CHARACTER.yml` inherits it as its implied parent, so a character states only what makes it
itself: name, description, home, location, and whatever differs.

| From the prototype | Value |
|---|---|
| `type` | `character` |
| `inventory`, `buffs` | empty |
| `relationships` | empty |
| `sims` | Sims 1 person_data defaults: traits 5, skills 0, needs 50, unemployed |
| `mind_mirror` | empty; an absent property is neutral (4) |
| `methods` | STATUS, MOVE, TAKE, DROP, WEAR, REMOVE-PERSONA, RELATE, SNIFF, LICK, GREET, CUDDLE |

A map the character states replaces the prototype's whole: a character with `sims:` of its
own does not get the prototype's needs filled in by lookup. A character that extends another
(a private layer over a public one) says `inherits: [path/to/public/]`; lookup reads the
character, then that parent, then the prototype.

A character's own `GLANCE.yml` keeps at least `name`, `description` and `location`.

### Facts, not verdicts

A character file records what is true of the character and leaves judgments to whoever
judges. `lighting:` belongs to a room and the grue decides whether it hunts there; a
character carries a lamp, not a `grue_safe: true`. The same goes for trust, danger and
taste: store the observation, let the observer's rules decide.

## Home vs Location

**The critical distinction:**

```yaml
# characters/don-hopkins/CHARACTER.yml
home: characters/don-hopkins/   # Where FILE lives (never moves)
location: pub/                  # Where CHARACTER is (changes)
```

| Concept | Purpose | Changes? |
|---------|---------|----------|
| **home** | Physical file path | NEVER |
| **location** | Current position in world | Runtime |

**Why:** Stability, safety, git-friendly diffs.

## Character State Ownership (CANONICAL vs MIRROR)

**Characters own their own state.** The CHARACTER.yml file is CANONICAL for:

| State | Stored In | Notes |
|-------|-----------|-------|
| `location` | CHARACTER.yml | Where the character is in the world |
| `inventory` | CHARACTER.yml | What the character carries |
| `gold` | CHARACTER.yml | Character's resources |
| `sims` | CHARACTER.yml | Sims 1 traits, skills, needs |
| `mind_mirror` | CHARACTER.yml | Personality (Leary-style) |
| `relationships` | CHARACTER.yml | Who they know and feel about |
| `memories` | CHARACTER.yml | What they remember |

**ADVENTURE.yml (or other world state files) may MIRROR some state for convenience**, but CHARACTER.yml is always the source of truth.

```yaml
# CHARACTER.yml (CANONICAL — edit this first)
location: coatroom/  # CANONICAL — character owns their location
inventory: [lamp]    # CANONICAL — character owns their inventory

# ADVENTURE.yml (MIRROR — optional convenience copy)
player:
  location: coatroom/  # Mirror of CHARACTER.yml
```

**When updating state:**
1. Edit CHARACTER.yml first (canonical)
2. Optionally update ADVENTURE.yml mirror for convenience
3. If conflict, CHARACTER.yml wins

**Why this matters:**
- Characters can be used across multiple adventures
- Character state persists independent of adventure state
- Clear ownership prevents conflicts

## Directory Structure

### Players (Need Junk Storage)

```
characters/
  don-hopkins/           # Directory name = character ID
    CHARACTER.yml        # The character file
    CARD.yml             # Optional: makes character a playable card
    QUOTES.yml           # Optional: notable quotes (standard pattern)
    cookie-1.yml         # Dispensed items
    notes.yml            # Personal stuff
```

### Sidecar Cards

Any character directory can have a `CARD.yml` sidecar to make the character card-playable:

```yaml
# characters/don-hopkins/CARD.yml — a view of the character directory
subject*: ..       # the character; slots this card lacks come from there
format*: card
type: hero-story
tradition: "Pie menus, SimCity, constructionism"

advertisements:
  SUMMON:
    description: "Activate Don's design traditions"
```

From SimHacker/moollm, MIT.

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