Hi. I need a script to run just once, the first time the player reads a book/scroll that is in their inventory by default when the game starts. Iv looked at other scripts, but while there is OnAdd to tell when the item is added to the players inventory, there does not seem to be anything that points to an OnRead type function.

Can this be done, and if so, what is the command/function that I need to use?

Cheers

MVK

It's either OnEquip or OnActivate that runs.

EDIT: where did the capitalization of OnActivate go...

Cheers Qazaaq. Now that you've said it, Id think it to be OnEquip, since OnActivate implies that it may have been disabled at some point, and equip suggests using it with the hands etc.

[EDIT] Eep! You're right, On Activate did get de-capitlaized! How odd!

Thanks, Ill give that a go

MVK

Scriptname MS11JournalScriptbegin OnActivate	if IsActionRef player == 1		activate		setstage MS11 70	endifend

That is straight from the construction set the Book it references is MS11GelebourneJournal. I hope that answers your question. Good luck.

Thanks Zornac, I hadn't even tried it yet! One thing though, how do I make this script run the first time the book/scroll is read, and ONLY the first time?

Cheers

MVK

You'll need a so-called "do-once" variable. You can compare it to a switch. It works like this:

Scriptname MS11JournalScriptshort dooncebegin onactivate    if doonce == 0    ;; make sure the switch isnt flipped yet        if IsActionRef player == 1            activate            set doonce to 1  ;; flip the switch            ;; do something special        endif     endifend

Thats excelelnt Qazaaq, thanks. I'm off to give things a go!

Cheers

MVK

Upon testing it appears that it is OnEquip that is needed. On_Activate does not seem to do anything, because I imagine, the book itself started as active and has not been deactivated.

In fact the script was a lot simpler than I imagined in the end:

ScriptName MVKQ01Marker01         short doonce           Begin OnEquip    if doonce == 0        set doonce to 1         setstage MVKPointerQ01 10    endif                  End

What I ended up doing is making a quest that would display the usual pointer on the map, directing you to the right place. That quest is then stopped as soon as you talk to the correct person in the building.

The aim had been to get the NPC's around town to give directions to the next person required. However, it seems that its a lot easier (not to mention less dialog intensive) to create small quests that are activated at the correct time, and thus give pointers on the map between quests, something that is not exactly required, but nice anyway, since the player character is the Magistrate of the city, and should know where everyone lives.

Anyway, things are working, so thanks for your input

MVK

Actually, On_Activate (I wonder why that won't stay capitalized) will work for books, but only if they are not in your inventory. The have to be on a shelf, table or other surface when you interact with them. So yes, OnEquip is what you want if it's to be used from your inventory.?