Twine 2 : Make Full Games! - Beginner to Advanced (Harlowe)

Twine 2 : Make Full Games! - Beginner to Advanced (Harlowe)

Twine 2 is an open-source tool that allows you to create interactive, non-linear stories and text-based games without any prior programming knowledge. 

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It’s a powerful tool that opens the door to a world of creativity, where storytelling and game design blend seamlessly. One of the most popular story formats in Twine 2 is Harlowe, which is well-suited for beginners due to its user-friendly syntax and flexibility. Harlowe simplifies the creation of interactive fiction, making it accessible to everyone, while also offering advanced features for experienced developers.

In this guide, we'll take you on a journey from the basics to more advanced concepts of using Twine 2 with the Harlowe story format, empowering you to create complete and immersive games.

Getting Started with Twine 2

Before diving into the details of game creation, let's start with the basics of Twine 2. First, you'll need to download and install Twine 2 from the official website. Twine 2 is available for both desktop and web versions, making it convenient to use on any platform.

Once installed, you can start by creating a new story. When prompted to choose a story format, select Harlowe. This format provides an easy-to-understand syntax for creating interactive narratives. Your story is composed of different passages, which are essentially sections of text that can be linked together to form the structure of your game.

Crafting Your First Story

Let's create a simple interactive story to understand how passages and links work in Twine 2 with Harlowe. Start by creating a new passage. Passages are the building blocks of your story; each one represents a unique location or event. You can link these passages using hyperlinks, allowing the player to navigate through your story.

For example, your first passage might be an introduction to the story:

markdown
:: Introduction
Welcome to the mystical forest. You find yourself standing at a crossroads. To the north, the forest deepens into darkness. To the east, you can see the faint glow of a village. Which direction will you choose?

[[Go North->DarkForest]]
[[Go East->Village]]

Here, [[Go North->DarkForest]] and [[Go East->Village]] are links to other passages named "DarkForest" and "Village," respectively. When the player clicks on one of these links, they'll be taken to the corresponding passage.

Next, create the "DarkForest" and "Village" passages:

markdown
:: DarkForest
You step into the dark forest, where the trees seem to whisper secrets. The path ahead is unclear, but you sense something watching you from the shadows. Do you continue forward or retreat?

[[Continue Forward->DeepForest]]
[[Retreat->Introduction]]

:: Village
The village is quiet, its streets deserted. As you walk through, you notice a strange light emanating from one of the houses. Do you investigate the light or continue exploring the village?

[[Investigate the Light->HauntedHouse]]
[[Continue Exploring->VillageSquare]]

In this way, you can continue building your story by creating new passages and linking them together, allowing the player to explore different paths and outcomes.

Customizing Your Game with Variables

One of the most powerful features of Harlowe is its ability to use variables to track the player's progress and choices. Variables can store information, such as the player's health, inventory items, or decisions they've made, which can influence the story later on.

Let's say you want to track whether the player has a special key that unlocks a door. You can use a variable to achieve this:

markdown
:: Village
The village is quiet, its streets deserted. As you walk through, you notice a strange light emanating from one of the houses. Do you investigate the light or continue exploring the village?

[[Investigate the Light->HauntedHouse]]\
[[Continue Exploring->VillageSquare]]

(if: $hasKey)[\
    You feel the weight of the key in your pocket. Perhaps it unlocks something important.]

In the passage above, the (if: $hasKey) syntax checks if the variable $hasKey is true. If it is, the text within the square brackets will be displayed. You can set this variable when the player acquires the key:

markdown
:: HauntedHouse
You find a rusty old key inside the house. It looks important, so you decide to take it with you.

(set: $hasKey to true)

[[Return to the Village->Village]]

By using variables, you can create more complex and dynamic stories where the player's choices and actions have a lasting impact.

Adding Conditionals and Branching Narratives

Branching narratives are at the heart of interactive fiction, and Harlowe makes it easy to create complex branching paths based on player choices. Using conditionals, you can control which passages or options are available to the player depending on their previous decisions.

For example, you might want to create a scenario where the player's choice to enter the dark forest without a torch results in a different outcome:

markdown
:: DarkForest
(if: $hasTorch)[\
    You light your torch, and the path becomes clear. You can see strange symbols carved into the trees. They seem to lead somewhere deeper into the forest.\
    [[Follow the Symbols->SecretPath]]\
][else][\
    The forest is pitch black, and you can't see a thing. You feel something brush against your leg. In a panic, you decide to retreat to the crossroads.\
    [[Retreat to the Crossroads->Introduction]]\
]

Here, the (if: $hasTorch) conditional checks if the player has a torch. If they do, they can proceed deeper into the forest. If not, they're forced to retreat. This allows you to create more nuanced and engaging stories where the player's choices matter.

Advanced Techniques: Using Arrays and Loops

As you become more comfortable with Twine 2 and Harlowe, you can start exploring more advanced techniques, such as using arrays and loops to manage complex data and create dynamic content.

An array in Harlowe is a collection of values that can be stored in a single variable. For instance, if you want to keep track of multiple items in the player's inventory, you can use an array:

markdown
(set: $inventory to (a: "torch", "key", "map"))

You can then add or remove items from the array as the player progresses:

markdown
(push: $inventory, "sword")   -> Adds "sword" to the inventory
(remove: $inventory, "key")   -> Removes "key" from the inventory

To display the inventory to the player, you can use a loop to iterate through the array and list its contents:

markdown
Your inventory contains:
(repeatedly: each $item, ...$inventory)[* (print: $item)]

This code will list all the items in the player's inventory. Using arrays and loops can greatly enhance your game's complexity, allowing for rich, dynamic gameplay.

Incorporating Media and Visuals

While Twine is primarily text-based, you can also incorporate images, audio, and even simple animations to enhance the player's experience. Harlowe allows you to embed media files directly into your passages.

To include an image, use the (img:) macro:

markdown
(img: "forest.jpg")

For audio, you can use the (audio:) macro to play sound effects or background music:

markdown
(audio: "forest-ambience.mp3")[(play:)]

These additions can make your game more immersive and engaging, creating a richer experience for the player.

Publishing and Sharing Your Game

Once you've finished creating your game, it's time to share it with the world. Twine 2 allows you to export your game as an HTML file, which can be easily shared or hosted online. Simply click on "Publish to File" in the Twine editor, and you'll have a standalone HTML file that anyone can play in their browser.

You can also upload your game to platforms like itch.io, where it can reach a broader audience. Additionally, Twine's community is vibrant and active, providing a great environment for sharing your work, receiving feedback, and learning from others.

Conclusion

Twine 2 with the Harlowe story format is a powerful tool for creating interactive stories and games, whether you're a beginner or an experienced developer. With its intuitive interface, flexible scripting, and ability to handle complex narratives, Twine opens up endless possibilities for storytelling.

As you continue to experiment and learn, you'll discover even more advanced techniques and features that can take your games to the next level. Whether you're crafting a simple choose-your-own-adventure story or a complex interactive fiction with branching paths and variables, Twine 2 and Harlowe provide the tools you need to bring your ideas to life.