name

daad-system

description

Technical reference for the DAAD (Disenador de Aventuras AD) text adventure authoring system. Use when working with DAAD interpreters, compilers, game databases, or adventure source code. Covers: DDB binary file format, all 128 condacts, system flags (0-63), object model, DSF source format, DRC compiler, MALUVA extensions, engine architecture (parser, process tables, game loop, indirection, windows, save/load). Use for: (1) implementing or modifying a DAAD interpreter, (2) writing or debugging DAAD adventures in DSF, (3) understanding DDB binary layout, (4) looking up condact behavior or system flag semantics, (5) working with DRC compiler or MALUVA extensions.

DAAD System Reference

DAAD (Disenador de Aventuras AD) is a multi-platform text adventure authoring system created by Tim Gilberts in 1988 for the Spanish company Aventuras AD. It evolved from The Quill -> PAW -> SWAN -> DAAD. Adventures are written in DSF source files, compiled to DDB binary databases by DRC, and executed by platform-specific interpreters.

Supported platforms: ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, C64, MSX, MSX2, PCW, Atari ST, Amiga, PC (DOS).

Reference Files

Load the appropriate reference based on the task:

DDB Binary Format

File: references/ddb-format.md

34-byte header structure (all fields and offsets)
Data section layout (vocabulary, texts, processes, objects, connections)
Token-based text compression scheme
Character encoding (255 - char), inline escapes, article modification
Save file format

Condacts (all 128)

File: references/condacts.md

Complete condact table: number, name, args, type (condition/action), description
GFX routines table (routines 0-10)
BEEP tone table (8 octaves)
DOALL mechanism
HASAT/HASNAT bit reference (object attributes + system flag bits)
AUTO- condact search priorities

Flags and Objects

File: references/flags-and-objects.md

All 64 system flags (0-63) with names and meanings
Timeout control bitmask (flag 49)
Referenced object update (flags 51-59)
Object structure (6 bytes: location, weight, container, wearable, extended attrs, noun, adjective)
Special location values (252=not_created, 253=worn, 254=carried)
Object 0 convention (light source)
Complete system messages table (SM0-SM60)

DSF Source Format

File: references/dsf-source-format.md

All DSF sections: /CTL, /VOC, /STX, /MTX, /OTX, /LTX, /CON, /OBJ, /PRO, /END
Vocabulary rules (word types, truncation, synonyms, noun-as-verb)
Object definition format
Process entry format and condact sequences
Standard process architecture (PRO 0-6 roles)
DRC #define symbols and inline messages

DRC Compiler

File: references/drc-compiler.md

DRF (front-end) and DRB (back-end) usage
All compiler directives (#define, #ifdef, #extern, #include, etc.)
Auto-defined symbols per target
DRC optimizations vs #classic mode
Differences from classic DC (SCE format)
Related tools (DRT, EAAD, SC2DAAD, DAADMAKER, etc.)

MALUVA Extensions

File: references/maluva-extensions.md

XPICTURE, XSAVE, XLOAD, XMESSAGE/XMES, XBEEP, XPLAY (MML), XPART
XSPLITSCR, XUNDONE
Error reporting (flag 20)
EXTERN equivalents for classic DC compiler

Engine Architecture

File: references/engine-architecture.md

Game startup sequence and main loop
Process call stack (10 levels max)
Parser and logical sentence system (compound sentences, Noun2 resolution)
Indirection mechanism (@ prefix)
Window system (8 windows, "More..." prompt)
ISDONE/ISNDONE mechanism
Darkness system (flag 0 + Object 0)
Connection tables and MOVE
Save/Load and RAMSAVE/RAMLOAD
Runtime error codes
Historical timeline (1983-2018)

Quick Lookup

Key Constants

NULLWORD = 255 (wildcard in process entries)
NOT_CREATED = 252, WORN = 253, CARRIED = 254
Max process nesting = 10
Max objects = 255, max locations = 252
Flags: 256 total, 0-63 system, 64-255 user

Most Important Flags

Flag 0: darkness
Flag 1: objects carried count
Flag 33-36: current verb, noun1, adjective1, adverb
Flag 37: max carryable objects
Flag 38: player location
Flag 51: currently referenced object
Flag 52: max carryable weight