Counterfeit Monkey — 76 of 292

Section 4 - Heft

A thing has a number called heft. The heft of a thing is usually 2. The heft of an animal is usually 4. The heft of an insect is usually 1. The heft of a bird is usually 2. The heft of a person is usually 4. The heft of a vehicle is usually 5. The heft of a supporter is usually 5.

The verb to weigh (it weighs, they weigh, it is weighing) implies the heft property.

Definition: a thing is heavy if its heft is greater than 3.

Every turn when the player carries a heavy thing (called burden):

try involuntarily-dropping the burden.

Sanity-check waving a heavy thing:

say "Unlikely, unless we suddenly become a good deal stronger." instead.

Involuntarily-dropping is an action applying to one thing.

Carry out involuntarily-dropping something which is not a person:

now the noun is handled.

Carry out involuntarily-dropping:

try silently dropping the noun; [this is better than just moving to the location because it copes with cases where the thing needs to land in a vehicle or supporter.]

if the player carries the noun:

stop the action.

Report involuntarily-dropping:

say "[The noun] [is-are] [if the heft of the noun is greater than 4]far too large[otherwise]too awkward[end if] for us to carry, and fall[s] onto the ground." instead.

Report involuntarily-dropping an animal:

say "[The noun] [is-are] [if the heft of the noun is greater than 4]far too large[otherwise]too awkward[end if] for us to carry, and half-fall[s], half-jump[s] to the ground." instead.

Report involuntarily-dropping the boar:

now the boar is in the location;

say "[You] more or less throw the boar as far away as possible. It seems the wisest course." instead.

Report involuntarily-dropping a person:

say "[The noun] look[s] rather awkward, and clamber[s] out of our ineffective hold onto solid ground." instead.

Report involuntarily-dropping a cat:

say "[The noun] get[s] tired of being carried and leap[s] delicately to the ground." instead.