8. Constructing Believable Characters

One of the most beloved interactive fiction characters of all time is Floyd from Planetfall. This robot is so loved that ifMUD, an online hangout for interactive fiction enthusiasts, has a bot named Floyd as well as a group gameplay gathering called ClubFloyd. This chapter uses Floyd as a model for learning how to build a successful character—because, yes, there are steps you can take to ensure that people love your characters, too.

Floyd is a robot the player character encounters after crash landing on a distant planet. Floyd remains with the player character as he or she tries to help the inhabitants of the planet, who are all cryogenically frozen and awaiting a cure for the illness that is wiping out their ...

Get Writing Interactive Fiction with Twine now with the O’Reilly learning platform.

O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.