Re-defining actions.

Authoring Inform 7
1

Again, I am stumped.

I am trying to re-define the command “break” so it can be used in a solution to a problem, so I used the following–

Understand the command "break" as something new.  Understand "break [something]" as breaking.

It returned a problem message, saying that ‘understand…as…’ must be followed by a meaning…(?).

I had re-defined another verb in the same manner and it did not return this message.

Thanks

2

Could it be that since “break” was already in the vocabulary, the second clause was not needed?

3

Actually I just now realized that I needed to do this–

Understand the command "break" as something new.  Breaking is an action applying to one thing.  Understand "break [something]" as breaking.

It requires an object, perhaps that’s why a problem message was returned…?

4

You have to say “Breaking is an action…” if you want there to be a breaking action.

5

Would it make sense to leave “break” as a synonym for ATTACK which is already an action applying to one thing? Write your rules about “Check attacking the valuable document…” which gives you all the attack words a player might use to try and break a thing.

Or, you can still make a new verb if you want, and reroute ATTACK to it which will include “break”. “Instead of attacking something: try schmeerping the noun. Understand “staple [something]” and “wedge [something]” as schmeerping.”