Omote

SYNTAX:

```
omote [item] [description]:[emote]

```

Omote is a type of object emote that can be used to express, in greater detail, how objects are arranged in the area and greatly enhance or alter the general feeling of the room.  Most players are able to omote any object they are holding, and it is possible to earn (or lose) through ratings the freedom to omote any objects in the room around you as well. The following examples will use a pair of wool scarves, to show how omote can be used and how the arranged items will appear in the room when you are done.

**Simple omotes:**

```
omote scarf is lying in a heap

```

you would see -

You arrange a wool scarf.

and others would see -

Jill arranges a wool scarf.

and looking would then show -

A wool scarf is lying in a heap right next to you.

If you omote the second scarf the same way, looking will show -

Two wool scarves are lying in a heap right next to you.

**Creative phrasing:**

You are not forced to have your omotes begin with the object's name, this can be done using the \* operator.

```
omote scarf Muddy and rumpled, * lies in the corner of the room

```

Looking would show -

Muddy and rumpled, a wool scarf lies in the corner of the room right next to you.

You can also change where 'how close it is to you' appears, by using the word word 'here'.

```
omote scarf lies on the floor here, a muddy footprint pointing east visible atop it.

```

Looking would show -

A wool scarf lies on the floor right next to you, a muddy footprint pointing east visible atop it.

**Emoted omotes:**

If you want to change the action you take when manipulating the object you can use the emote alias :.  You can think of the : as an emote describing how you arrange the object, but in place of the name of the object you use the \* operator from the previous section.

```
omote scarf is lying in a heap:tosses * aside

```

you would see -

You toss your wool scarf aside.

and others would see -

Jill tosses her wool scarf aside.

You can also just put a single verb after the emote alias :.

```
omote scarf is lying in a heap:drops

```

you would see -

You drop your wool scarf.

and others would see -

Jill drops his wool scarf.

**Organized grouping:**

Occasionally you might want to describe how a collection of identically arranged objects look, and have that appearance reflect how many there are when seen.

```
omote scarf is stretched out (side by side )along the west wall of the room

```

If one scarf is arranged like that a look would show -

A wool scarf is stretched out along the west wall of the room.

Two or more scarves (in this case three) would show -

Three wool scarves are stretched out side by side along the west wall of the room.

More complex groupings are possible -

```
omote scarf is spread out (2/side by side )(3-6/in a small pile )(7+/in a heap )along the west wall of the room

```

Would show for 1, 2, 5, and 10 scarves respectively -

A wool scarf is spread out along the west wall of the room.

Two wool scarves are spread out side by side along the west wall of the room.

Some wool scarves are spread out in a small pile along the west wall of the room.

Lots of wool scarves are spread out in a heap along the west wall of the room.

**Random tricks and tips:**

Occasionally you may find a word which is not properly being pluralized. A fast way to correct for that in your omote is to use the corrected plural form in parenthesis.  Example 'its surface(s)', in singular form this would show up as 'its surface', while in plural form 'their surfaces'. Sometimes you may want to use an omote that does not say anything about how close to you the item is.  One good use of this is when you are placing an item next to another item, and saying so in the omote.  You can do this by putting the flag 'nowhere' at the beginning of the command.

```
omote nowhere branch lies at the base of the apple tree

```

A severed branch lies at the base of the apple tree.

At times you may want to use a word in singular form that would normally be pluralized, this can be done using the / operator.  In the following omote the word 'has' has been forced to remain the same in both plural and singular cases.

```
omote cube sticks out of the sand here, (each )showing where a corner /has been broken away

```

A black cube sticks out of the sand here, showing where a corner has been broken away.

Some black cubes stick out of the sand here, each showing where a corner has been broken away.

Since the omote is talking about 'each' of the cubes having a corner broken away, you would not want has to become have. From time to time you might want to refer to a part of an object that you are arranging, ie. the surface of a stone.  When doing this you should use the tilde (~) operator to signify this.  What this does is to make sure the word after the tilde becomes pluralized.  The previous example showed a case where you should not use the tilde operator when referring to parts of objects.

```
omote stone lies on the ground here, its ~surface mottled with red stains

```

If one stone is arranged like that a look would show -

A stone lies on the ground right next to you, its surface mottled with red stains.

Two or more stones (in this case two) would show -

Two stones lie on the ground right next to you, their surfaces mottled with red stains.

Usage Guidelines:

Omotes should be realistic descriptions of how objects are arranged in the room. Omotes should NOT:

* contain any Out Of Character (OOC) elements
* attempt to spoof MUD messages or otherwise mislead
* be used to circumvent communication restrictions (such as language garbling)
* force actions, reactions, or conclusions upon other beings.
* should not mention other objects in the area that could be removed.

Examples of inappropriate omotes:

(concerning realism)

`omote torch that has been driven into the ground here is burning with the`

intensity of thousand suns

`omote pebble is on the ground here, dancing furiously in circles`

(concerning restrictions)

`omote stone lies on the ground here(30+/, together forming the word 'hello')`

`omote stick lies on the ground here(4+/, forming an arrow pointing the way to Banzar)`

(concerning OOC elements)

`omote paper lies here folded into a paper airplane`

`omote sweater is bloodstained and shows two bullet holes`

`omote pack has been discarded here, the wrapper to a Big Mac sticking out of the flap`

(concerning misleading)

`omote branch floats in the air, a glowing blue aura around it`

`omote bench stands here, burning with intense heat`

`omote nowhere branch is hanging from a tree, just out of reach`

(concerning forcing actions/reactions/conclusions)

`omote branch seems out of place and ominous`

`omote statue appears to be staring at you`

`omote sack has been discarded here by Jim`

See also: emote