🚀 go-pugleaf

On the topic of what our whimps and wishes for Ultima9, here is
something new:

In Ultima 7 we have a party of, what, 8 peoples? There is some limited
ability to auto-pilot them using rudimentary command like run, charge,
or defend. Now, it will be a revolution if you can give us ability to
program party members action. Something like:

   Iolo:
   INIT no_init_spell = TRUE

   IF HP_critical critical /\ HAS_Heal_Potion Iolo THEN
      DO WITH PRIORITY 5 Use_Heal_Potion Iolo friend ;
   
   IF round < 1 /\ no_init_spell /\
      DO WITH PRIORITY 1 
         BEGIN
         spell := pick {Prayer, Invisibility, Strengh} ;
         Cast Iolo Iolo spell ;
         no_init_spell := FALSE ;
         END ;

  DO WITH PRIORITY 2
     BEGIN
     IF no_Enemy_Spell_Casters THEN
        Use Iolo Bow (Weakest_Foe)        
     ELSE Use Iolo Bow (pick Enemy_Spell_Casters) ;

and so on....

Hey, we can even let the users program the monsters. You know what,
you should deliver a monster compiler with Ultima9, that way, we can
custom the AI of your monster. Maybe you can even make a competition
of who makes the most interesting (not the thoughest!) monster!

You know, an interesting monster is a monster that is tough, but does
make mistake once and a while, like we all living beings do.

--Jade--