Command Checklist

This page contains IF commands for various contexts, intended as a checklist for game authors. Note that not every command is appropriate for every game; the fact that something is implemented can actually function as a red herring if it is not relevant to the rest of the game.

Animals

• pat/pet/scratch animal
• play with animal, tickle animal, hug animal
• feed animal, give/show food to animal
• hit/kick animal
• catch/capture/chase animal
• throw ball/stick [for animal]
• pick up animal
• throw animal at/over/onto something, throw animal direction
• get on/off animal, ride/mount animal, dismount [from] animal
• talk to animal, calm animal
• animal, stay/heel/fetch
• animal, stop/woah; animal, go / giddy up

Related objects: body parts (ears, mane, tail, paws ...), leash/chain/collar, saddle/blanket, horse shoes.

Attachment and Detachment

tie/attach/connect something to something untie/detach/disconnect something [from something] glue/stick/fix/affix something to something [with glue] press something on/against something (if one of the objects has glue on it or is sticky) pin/staple/clip something to something pull/tear/rip out/off something [from/out of something], remove something [from something]

Digging

All of the following can include a digging instrument as well: "with shovel/hands".

It is easiest to disallow more than one hole in the same location.

See also the Digging IFWiki page.

• dig [hole] [in something]
• dig under something (if something could be buried under it)
• dig through something (eg. clay wall)
• fill [in] hole
• bury something [in hole], put something in hole
• dig up something

Related objects: hole, [pile of] dirt.

Doors

A door might be lockable/unlockable without a key, or only from one side.

See also the Doors, locked IFWiki page.

• enter door, go in/through door
• open/lock/unlock door [with key]
• close door
• pick lock with hairpin
• bolt/bar door
• knock/bang/hammer on door [with something]
• listen to/at door, put ear on/against door
• ring/push/press doorbell
• pull/turn handle
• push/pull door
• look through keyhole
• put/poke something in/into/through keyhole
• break down/through door, knock down door
• pry/prise/prize door [open] with something
• look/feel under door
• put/slide something under door (eg. key)
• look through door
• use/try door/handle

Related objects: keyhole (key hole), [door] handle, doorbell (door bell, bell, button), knocker, hinges.

Electronics

• push/press button
• swipe card [through slot], put card in/into slot
• put/hold card near sensor, hold up card
• open/unlock door with card
• type/enter password/"text"
• touch pad, put hand/thumb on pad
• put something in front of/over camera, block camera [with something]
• select/choose something
• flip switch
• switch/turn something on/off
• activate/deactivate something
• attach/connect something to something
• plug in something
• put/plug/insert something in/into socket
• detach/disconnect/unplug something [from socket]
• pull something from | out of/from socket

Related objects: (components, eg. screen (readable), keyboard, controls, plug, cords, wiring).

Recording and Playback

• play tape, press/push play/record/pause/rewind/fast forward [button]
• rewind/fast forward tape
• put/insert tape in/into player, take/remove tape from/out of player
• take photo of something
• point camera at something

Fire

Players might use the name of the burning object or just the word "fire", eg. "put out curtain"; "put out fire".

See also the Fire IFWiki page.

• light something [with something]
• burn something, set fire to something
• extinguish/douse something, put/blow something out
• stamp on something, put blanket on/over something, cover something with blanket (to put it out)
• put something in/into fire, pour/empty/throw something on/onto/into/in/over fire
• cook something [on/in/over/with fire]
• hold something over/near fire
• blow on fire, fan flames [with something]

Related objects: fire/flame[s], smoke, ash, coals, embers, [burning] stick/log.

Food, Drink and Liquids

Players might refer to a container or its contents, eg. "pour bucket" or "pour water".

Some substances such as sand behave like liquids.

See also the Liquid IFWiki page.

• eat/swallow/taste/bite/lick/suck food
• drink/swallow/taste/sip liquid, drink from something
• put something in/into liquid
• mix something into/with something, add something to something
• stir liquid
• pour/empty [out] liquid [in/into/on/onto/over something]
• fill container with liquid, put liquid in container

Related objects: food (as a collective noun).

Rope

Rope is a potentially tricky object to implement; for example, different sections could be in different rooms. See this thread for some other issues in implementing a rope.

Rope-like objects include string, chains and vines.

See also the Rope IFWiki page.

• tie rope to something, tie rope around waist/me
• untie rope [from something]
• climb rope
• lasso something with rope
• hit/whip something with rope
• cut rope with something
• pull rope [up], pull on rope
• pull something direction (after a rope is tied to it)
• tie knot in rope
• tie someone up, tie/bind someone's hands/legs [together] [to something]