State Descriptions and Stances - Extension of Game Physics

Currently Standing is the state of all characters.  The state should be a description of the stance, the basic actions / demeanor of the creature or any other special status.  Here is a tiered system to determine what a state description should be on a character.

TIER ONE - These should be possible on command by any creature, unless flagged (NOStand, NOSit, NOLAY)
Standing  -  command: stand  : "@actor stand@s up."
Sitting  - cmd: sit  : "@actor sit@s down." from stand, or tier two. "@actor sit@s up." from lay
Lying (Laying) - cmd: lie, lay : "@actor lie@s down." lay@s

*Note: sitting should make you easier to hit (half dex loss), laying should be much easier (75% dex loss)  Should be able to do some attacks / skills / spells in sitting or laying, but should be limited to give some way to defend, before a player is able to stand in combat when knocked over, etc.  interesting dynamics.


TIER TWO  -  these should be performable by anyone, but would be more or less useful to achieve success with specific skills.
                     (you can try to hide as a templar, but you probably wont be successful.)
Crouching - cmd: crouch : "@actor crouch@es."
Squatting - cmd: squat : "@actor squat@s."
Kneeling - cmd: kneel : "@actor kneel@s."
Hiding - cm: hide : "@actor hide@s in the shadows..."  depending on awareness of observer to display this string.
                 -- should add a hide status effect, similar to invis, but able to be searched out with search skill.

*Note:  movement from anything besides standing should be "crawl" unless something like a mount or special item is over-riding it.
            maybe add a "crawl" moveverb for NPCs if needed special crawl description.


TIER THREE - these have to do with special rooms (requiring specific status effects.  there should be magical status effects to be able to do these, as well as physical skills which would allow them to be done.)
Swimming -  state is changed when entered into a room with the proper flag (i.e. deep water)
Wading - state should be changed when entering into the room with the proper flag (i.e. shallow water)
Flying - state should be changed when buffed or using a fly skill (birds, pixies, dragons)
Hovering - state should be changed when buffed or using a hover skill (birds, bugs, ghosts)



TIER FOUR - these would have to do with combat stances, the description would be part of a system which would let you know how your character is balanced / reacting in combat, and for experienced users, let them now when best to strike with a specific skill or spell, etc..

-- hmm i don't know, needs to be researched with martial arts information.



TIER FIVE - these would be warning and effect state descriptions, mostly caused by status effects, combined with TIER ONE
                  (Drunk & Standing), (Hammered & Laying) or (Standing Drunk), (Laying [Down] Hammered) -- lol

Drunk - Degrees of drunkenness would be funny: 'Tipsy', 'Drunk', 'Hammered', 'Sloshed'
Feverish - You look like shit - do you have the flu?!
Dizzy - Could be part of a stun effect, or other.
Confused - Ill status effect, maybe you attack wrong targets if severe.
Upset - hehe
Sad - why not


TIER SIX - these are maybe added by effects or NPC flags, scripts, combined with TIER ONE
                   (Shivering While Standing)  but maybe just combine with TIER FIVE (Shivering & Standing)

Shivering - maybe you are very, very cold.
Raving - Extremely crazy, and loud
Patrolling - Guards do this.
Digging - ghouls and moles






Conclusion: such a system allows functionality as well as cosmetics to a player's image of what's going on in the game world.  creatures will be much, much more fluid and new puzzles, experimentation can be had.