Next-Gen Interactive Fiction GUIDE #2: Item descriptions

When describing items in the interactive fiction game it is important to make sure that you are clear, concise, and not adding extra and unnecessary fluff. The purpose of item descriptions is to clearly indicate what item a player is interacting with, what it looks like, and what purpose it does or could serve.

There are a few different scenarios where an item would need to be described and they often fall into one of three categories.

– First Encounter
– In-Depth Description
– Description when Equipped <if applicable>

When speaking about the First Encounter with an item, be sure not to go over more than one or two sentences. Describe the item, what direct purpose it serves, and any other vital information. You want to let the reader know what the item is and for what reason it is being mentioned, but you do not want to be long-winded in this explanation.

Example #1
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The sword was of average length and dressed in a beautiful blue sheath, its material was of the highest quality making it perfect for one-handed wielding. Its handle was dressed with fine fabric and the gloss sheath carried magnificent patterns and pictures in a rich black ink.
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Feel free to get more meticulous with your In-Depth Description. You can use more sentences for this illustration, although it is recommended to keep it around three to four. When writing this type of description, examine and explain the piece in greater detail being sure to focus on aspects which paint a better picture for the reader or that are of importance to future gameplay.

Example #2
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The sword is roughly 24 inches long and weighs a little over two pounds. A dark blue sheath protects its meticulously crafted steel blade, with black twine strung to compose the handle. When examining the black markings on the glossy sheath, Japanese-inspired art covers it, all drawn by hand with the finest of black ink. The crossguard was made from beautiful rose-colored steel and was molded into the shape of two weaving dragons. Two tassels of fine yarn hang from the medium-length handle which also bears the prestigious thread, woven all the way up to its guard.
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The last instance where an item would need to be described is when it has become equipped to a player and its purpose or attributes change or become more prevalent. This will not be applicable for every item and this shouldn’t be used to describe characteristics that the reader is already aware of, only those that have changed.

Example #3
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When the man slung the sword around his shoulder he was immediately invigorated, it felt as though he had submerged himself in an ice bath. The blade seemed to speak to him, and he immediately felt a strong connection to it.
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When describing an item there must be a certain amount of detail provided to the reader. You want to captivate the reader with the scene you are painting for them. When you provide too little detail to a reader, they will be forced to use their imagination to fill in the gaps. While in some cases this isn’t a bad thing, it can quickly lead to the reader losing interest in your scene as they are forced to create their own world instead of immersing themselves in the one you have created.
Always be sure to give the reader a sufficient amount of detail, this will keep them interested and engaged in your piece.

There is also the ability to give a reader too much detail in regard to a single item and this will also lead to losing the reader’s attention. You want to make sure not to spend a large amount of your piece describing something that is of little importance to the story. In our sword example, if we were to spend seven or eight sentences describing the sheath and its design, only to never have it reappear nor have any consequence to your interactive fiction game’s plot only dulls the reader’s attention and confuses them. Unless the item is the main focus of the story and a long and accurate description is necessary try to only focus on the details which are of importance to the reader.

The main goal of item descriptions is to give the reader an accurate picture of what their player has encountered. Do not shy away from describing an item in-depth where necessary but be sure not to lose your audience on minute details which will serve no purpose to your story.

Describe what the item does, what it looks like, and any other vitally important details, any more than this, and you can be sure that the reader will be left overwhelmed.