added new tabs 'Limit guessing:' and 'Limit repeating:' to edit options menu

config.lua

@@ -67,3 +67,15 @@ yl_speak_up.blacklist_action_quest_item = {}
 yl_speak_up.chat_all_prefix = minetest.colorize("#0000FF", "[NPC] ")
 -- the NPC will use this color when sending a chat message
 yl_speak_up.chat_all_color = "#AAAAFF"
+
+
+-- it's possible to prevent players from trying actions (i.e. npc_gives, text_input, ..) too often;
+-- if no special text is set, this one will be shown (tab "Limit guessing:" in edit options menu)
+yl_speak_up.standard_text_if_action_failed_too_often = "You have tried so many times. I'm tired! "..
+	"Come back when you know the answer - but not before tomorrow."
+-- it's also possible to prevent players from successfully executing actions too often (after all the
+-- quest items are created from the finite NPC's inventory); this is the standard text that will be
+-- shown by default (tab "Limit repeating:" in edit options menu)
+yl_speak_up.standard_text_if_action_repeated_too_soon = "I don't have infinite ressources. If you lost "..
+	"something I gave you - come back tomorrow and we may talk again."
+

fs_edit_options_dialog.lua

@@ -29,6 +29,16 @@ yl_speak_up.input_edit_option_dialog = function(player, formname, fields)
 			{n_id = n_id, d_id = d_id, o_id = o_id,
 			 caller="show_if_action_succeeded"})
 		return
+	elseif(fields.switch_tab and fields.switch_tab == "3") then
+		yl_speak_up.show_fs(player, "edit_option_dialog",
+			{n_id = n_id, d_id = d_id, o_id = o_id,
+			 caller="show_tab_limit_guessing"})
+		return
+	elseif(fields.switch_tab and fields.switch_tab == "4") then
+		yl_speak_up.show_fs(player, "edit_option_dialog",
+			{n_id = n_id, d_id = d_id, o_id = o_id,
+			 caller="show_tab_limit_repeating"})
+		return
 	end
 
 	-- this menu is specific to an option for a dialog; if no dialog is selected, we really
@@ -331,13 +341,15 @@ yl_speak_up.get_fs_edit_option_dialog = function(player, n_id, d_id, o_id, calle
 	-- make all following coordinates relative
 	local action_text = "container[0.2,13.0]"..
 		"box[0.25,0.0;21.0,6.7;#555555]"
+	local tab_list = "tabheader[0.2,0.0;switch_tab;"..
+				"If the action was successful:,"..
+				"If the action failed:,"..
+				"Limit guessing:,"..
+				"Limit repeating:"
 	-- show what happens if the action fails
 	if(caller == "show_if_action_failed") then
-		action_text = action_text..
+		-- allow to switch between successful and failed actions
-			-- allow to switch between successful and failed actions
+		action_text = action_text..tab_list..";2;true;true]"..
-			"tabheader[0.2,0.0;switch_tab;"..
-				"If the action was successful:,"..
-				"If the action failed:;2;true;true]"..
 			"label[0.4,0.6;"..
 			"If the player *failed* to complete the above action correctly,]"
 		if(action_data and action_data.a_on_failure
@@ -364,6 +376,97 @@ yl_speak_up.get_fs_edit_option_dialog = function(player, n_id, d_id, o_id, calle
 			action_text = action_text..
 				"label[0.4,3.6;..go back to the initial dialog.]"
 		end
+	-- show time-based restrictions (max guesses per time);
+	-- the values will be saved in function yl_speak_up.edit_mode_apply_changes
+	elseif( caller == "show_tab_limit_guessing") then
+		local timer_name = "timer_on_failure_"..tostring(d_id).."_"..tostring(o_id)
+		local timer_data = yl_speak_up.get_variable_metadata(timer_name, "parameter", true)
+		if(not(timer_data)) then
+			timer_data = {}
+		end
+		action_text = action_text..tab_list..";3;true;true]"..
+			-- allow to switch between successful and failed actions
+			"label[0.4,0.6;"..
+				"Apply the following time-based restrictions to limit wild guessing:]"..
+			-- timer for failed actions
+			"label[0.4,1.6;The player can make]"..
+			"field[4.9,1.0;1.5,0.9;timer_max_attempts_on_failure;;"..
+				tostring(timer_data[ "max_attempts" ] or 0).."]"..
+			"label[6.7,1.6;attempts to complete this action successfully each]"..
+			"field[17.5,1.0;1.5,0.9;timer_max_seconds_on_failure;;"..
+				tostring(timer_data[ "duration" ] or 0).."]"..
+			"label[19.2,1.6;seconds.]"..
+			"label[0.4,2.2;Hint: 3 attempts per 1200 seconds (=20 minutes or one MineTest day)"..
+				" may be good values to\navoid wild guessing while not making the player "..
+				"having to wait too long to try again.]"..
+			"tooltip[timer_max_attempts_on_failure;How many tries shall the player have?"..
+				"\nA value of 0 disables this restriction.]"..
+			"tooltip[timer_max_seconds_on_failure;After which time can the player try again?"..
+				"\nA value of 0 disables this restriction.]"..
+			-- ..and what the NPC will explain in such a case
+			"tooltip[1.2,3.9;19.6,2.5;This is what the NPC will say next when "..
+				"\nthe player has failed to complete the action too"..
+				"\nmany times for the NPC's patience and the player"..
+				"\nhas to wait some time before guessing again.]"..
+			"container[0.0,3.2]"..
+			"label[0.4,0.4;The NPC will explain his unwillingness to accept more "..
+				"guesses "..
+			yl_speak_up.show_colored_dialog_text(
+				dialog,
+				{alternate_text = (timer_data[ "alternate_text" ]
+					          or yl_speak_up.standard_text_if_action_failed_too_often)},
+				d_id, -- show the same dialog again
+				"1.2,0.7;19.6,2.5;d_text_next",
+				"with the following text",
+				":]",
+				"button_edit_limit_action_failed_repeat")..
+			"container_end[]"
+	-- show time-based restrictions (time between repeating this action successfully)
+	elseif( caller == "show_tab_limit_repeating") then
+		local timer_name = "timer_on_success_"..tostring(d_id).."_"..tostring(o_id)
+		local timer_data = yl_speak_up.get_variable_metadata(timer_name, "parameter", true)
+		if(not(timer_data)) then
+			timer_data = {}
+		end
+		action_text = action_text..tab_list..";4;true;true]"..
+			"label[0.4,0.6;"..
+				"Apply the following time-based restrictions to limit too quick repeating:]"..
+			-- timer for successful actions
+			"label[0.4,1.6;If the player completed the action successfully, he shall have to"..
+				" wait]"..
+			"field[15.0,1.0;1.5,0.9;timer_max_seconds_on_success;;"..
+				tostring(timer_data[ "duration" ] or 0).."]"..
+			"label[16.7,1.6;seconds until he]"..
+			"label[0.4,2.1;can repeat the action. Hint: 1200 seconds (=20 minutes or one "..
+				"MineTest day) may be a good value.]"..
+			"tooltip[timer_max_seconds_on_success;"..minetest.formspec_escape(
+				"If you hand out a quest item, you may not want the player"..
+				"\nto immediately repeat the action countless times, thus"..
+				"\nemptying the NPC's storage and using the quest item for"..
+				"\nother purposes. On the other hand, quest items may get "..
+				"\nlost, so the player needs a way to repeat each step."..
+				"\n1200 seconds may be a good value here as well.").."]"..
+			-- ..and what the NPC will explain in such a case
+			"tooltip[1.2,3.9;19.6,2.5;"..minetest.formspec_escape(
+				"This is what the NPC will say next when the player"..
+				"\nwants to repeat the action too soon for the NPC's"..
+				"\ntaste - after all the NPC does not have infinite "..
+				"\ninventory ressources, and the player may abuse the "..
+				"\nquest item for entirely diffrent purposes..").."]"..
+			"container[0.0,3.2]"..
+			-- this will lead back to the same dialog
+			"label[0.4,0.4;The NPC will explain his unwillingness to repeat the "..
+				"action so soon "..
+			yl_speak_up.show_colored_dialog_text(
+				dialog,
+				{alternate_text = (timer_data[ "alternate_text" ]
+						   or yl_speak_up.standard_text_if_action_repeated_too_soon)},
+				d_id, -- show the same dialog again
+				"1.2,0.7;19.6,2.5;d_text_next",
+				"with the following text",
+				":]",
+				"button_edit_limit_action_success_repeat")..
+			"container_end[]"
 	-- show what happens if the action was successful
 	else
 		-- no action defined
@@ -373,11 +476,8 @@ yl_speak_up.get_fs_edit_option_dialog = function(player, n_id, d_id, o_id, calle
 				"label[0.4,0.6;"..
 				"There is no (A)ction defined. Directly apply the following (Ef)fects:]"
 		else
-			action_text = action_text..
+			-- allow to switch between successful and failed actions
-				-- allow to switch between successful and failed actions
+			action_text = action_text..tab_list..";1;true;true]"..
-				"tabheader[0.2,0.0;switch_tab;"..
-					"If the action was successful:,"..
-					"If the action failed:;1;true;true]"..
 				"label[0.4,0.6;"..
 					"If the player completed the above action successfully, "..
 					"apply the following (Ef)fects:]"
@@ -418,6 +518,7 @@ yl_speak_up.get_fs_edit_option_dialog = function(player, n_id, d_id, o_id, calle
 				"",
 				"button_edit_action_success_dialog")..
 				"container_end[]"
+
 	end
 	action_text = action_text.."container_end[]"
 

functions.lua

@@ -1423,6 +1423,44 @@ yl_speak_up.edit_mode_apply_changes = function(pname, fields)
 		end
 	end
 
+	-- how many times can the player fail to execute the action successfully?
+	if(fields[ "timer_max_attempts_on_failure"]) then
+		local field_name = "timer_max_attempts_on_failure"
+		local timer_name = "timer_on_failure_"..tostring(d_id).."_"..tostring(o_id)
+		if(not(tonumber(fields[ field_name ]))) then
+			fields[ field_name ] = 0
+		end
+		-- make sure the variable exists
+		if(yl_speak_up.add_time_based_variable(timer_name)) then
+			yl_speak_up.set_variable_metadata(timer_name, nil, "parameter", "max_attempts",
+							  fields[ field_name ])
+		end
+	end
+	-- ..and how long has the player to wait in order to try again?
+	if(fields[ "timer_max_seconds_on_failure"]) then
+		local field_name = "timer_max_seconds_on_failure"
+		local timer_name = "timer_on_failure_"..tostring(d_id).."_"..tostring(o_id)
+		if(not(tonumber(fields[ field_name ]))) then
+			fields[ field_name ] = 0
+		end
+		-- make sure the variable exists
+		if(yl_speak_up.add_time_based_variable(timer_name)) then
+			yl_speak_up.set_variable_metadata(timer_name, nil, "parameter", "duration",
+							  fields[ field_name ])
+		end
+	end
+	if(fields[ "timer_max_seconds_on_success"]) then
+		local field_name = "timer_max_seconds_on_success"
+		local timer_name = "timer_on_success_"..tostring(d_id).."_"..tostring(o_id)
+		if(not(tonumber(fields[ field_name ]))) then
+			fields[ field_name ] = 0
+		end
+		-- make sure the variable exists
+		if(yl_speak_up.add_time_based_variable(timer_name)) then
+			yl_speak_up.set_variable_metadata(timer_name, nil, "parameter", "duration",
+							  fields[ field_name ])
+		end
+	end
 	-- currently only contains result["show_new_option"] (which is needed for options edit menu)
 	return result
 end

quest_api.lua

@@ -70,6 +70,26 @@ yl_speak_up.add_quest_variable = function(owner_name, variable_name)
 end
 
 
+-- time based variables are used for "Limit guessing:" and "Limit repeating:"; they ensure that
+-- options with actions cannot be repeated indefintely;
+-- returns false if the variable could not be created; else it returns the variable metadata
+yl_speak_up.add_time_based_variable = function(variable_name)
+	if(not(yl_speak_up.player_vars[ variable_name ])) then
+		yl_speak_up.player_vars[ variable_name ] = {}
+		yl_speak_up.player_vars[ variable_name ][ "$META$" ] = {}
+		yl_speak_up.player_vars[ variable_name ][ "$META$"][ "var_type" ] = "time_based"
+		yl_speak_up.save_quest_variables(true)
+		return yl_speak_up.player_vars[ variable_name ][ "$META$"]
+	elseif(yl_speak_up.player_vars[ variable_name ]
+	  and  yl_speak_up.player_vars[ variable_name ][ "$META$"]
+	  and  type(yl_speak_up.player_vars[ variable_name ][ "$META$"]) == "table"
+	  and  yl_speak_up.player_vars[ variable_name ][ "$META$"][ "var_type" ] == "time_based") then
+		return yl_speak_up.player_vars[ variable_name ][ "$META$"]
+	end
+	return false
+end
+
+
 -- accidentally created or no longer needed variables need to be deleted somehow
 -- force_delete if set, the variable will be deleted no matter what; this is for
 --              manual maintenance and not used in this mod
@@ -305,7 +325,9 @@ end
 -- in general, meta_name is a table containing entries entry_name (usually players or npc_ids)
 -- with assigned values (usually true) for quick lookup
 yl_speak_up.set_variable_metadata = function(k, pname, meta_name, entry_name, new_value)
-	k = yl_speak_up.add_pname_to_var(k, pname)
+	if(pname) then
+		k = yl_speak_up.add_pname_to_var(k, pname)
+	end
 	-- delete/unset
 	if(not(new_value)) then
 		new_value = nil
@@ -451,7 +473,7 @@ end
 
 
 -- which NPC do use this variable?
-yl_speak_up.get_variable_metadata = function(var_name, meta_name)
+yl_speak_up.get_variable_metadata = function(var_name, meta_name, get_as_is)
 	-- var_type (the type of the variable) is a single string
 	if(meta_name and var_name and meta_name == "var_type") then
 		if(  not(yl_speak_up.player_vars[ var_name ])
@@ -469,6 +491,10 @@ yl_speak_up.get_variable_metadata = function(var_name, meta_name)
 	  or type(yl_speak_up.player_vars[ var_name ][ "$META$"][ meta_name ]) ~= "table") then
 		return {}
 	end
+	-- do not transform into a list; get the table
+	if(get_as_is) then
+		return yl_speak_up.player_vars[ var_name ][ "$META$"][ meta_name ]
+	end
 	local meta_list = {}
 	for k, v in pairs(yl_speak_up.player_vars[ var_name ][ "$META$"][ meta_name ]) do
 		table.insert(meta_list, k)