The Legend of D0nald: Command Reference

Everything below is taken from the game's own parser and was checked by running the engine. If a word isn't listed here, the game doesn't know it.

How commands work

• Type a verb, usually followed by a thing or person: examine pitcher, talk to dad. Upper or lower case doesn't matter.
• Two-thing commands use a linking word: use crayons on stand, give pitcher to dad, ask reporter about tariffs. Linking words the parser understands: on, with, in, into, to, at, from, about, onto, under, against, for, using, through, inside, near, by.
• Filler words are skipped, so take the pitcher please works. Skipped words: a, an, the, my, some, this, that, those, these, please, of.
• Short names work. Three or more letters of a word are enough: take pit finds the pitcher.
• it / them / one mean the last thing you mentioned: examine pitcher, then take it.
• all works with take and drop: take all, drop all.
• If a word fits more than one thing, the game asks "Which do you mean...?". Reply with a word that tells them apart.
• Commands can be up to 120 characters. Unknown words get the reply I don't know the word "...".
• Free commands don't use up a move: look, examine, inventory, help, hint, score, journal, builds, map, lessons, undo, and the save/load commands. Most other actions take one move. Typing a puzzle command with nothing after it, or a move in the wrong format, is also free.

1. Movement

Directions

• Commands: north south east west up down northeast northwest southeast southwest in out
• Aliases: n s e w u d ne nw se sw, inside (in), outside (out)
• What it does: Walks one step that way. Each room lists its exits, and the Go buttons show them too. A blocked exit tells you why.
• Example: n, up, out
• Next chapter: when a chapter is finished, the game tells you, and out takes you to the next chapter's first room.

go

• Aliases: walk, run, head, move, travel, go to
• What it does: Same as a direction, but with a verb in front. It takes directions only, not room names. If you name a thing instead (go to <thing>), the game tries to enter it.
• Example: go east, walk up, head south

enter / board

• Aliases: enter, board, get in, get on
• What it does: Gets into or onto a vehicle or place. On its own, enter (or get in) goes in when the room has an "in" exit.
• Example: board <vehicle>, get in

get out

• Aliases: none (same as out)
• What it does: Leaves through the room's "out" exit.
• Example: get out

climb

• Aliases: none
• What it does: Goes up when the room has an "up" exit.
• Example: climb

descend

• Aliases: none
• What it does: Goes down when the room has a "down" exit.
• Example: descend

2. Looking & examining

look

• Aliases: l, look around
• What it does: Describes the room again, with the things, people and exits here. Free.
• Example: l

examine

• Aliases: x, inspect, check, study, describe, view, look at, check out
• What it does: Takes a close look at one thing or person. Free. Drawings, maps and photos also open in the Picture panel. Things that hold a puzzle open the Puzzle panel.
• Example: x clipping, look at stand

search

• Aliases: rummage, explore, look in, look inside, look under
• What it does: Hunts through or under something. On its own, search looks around the whole room. Some places hide things only a search turns up. Takes a move.
• Example: search, look under stand

read

• Aliases: none
• What it does: Reads books, signs, screens and notes. Things with a picture also show it.
• Example: read clipping

listen

• Aliases: hear, listen to
• What it does: Listens to the room or to something in it.
• Example: listen

smell

• Aliases: sniff
• What it does: Smells the air or a thing.
• Example: sniff pitcher

3. Items

take

• Aliases: get, grab, pick, carry, collect, pick up, pick on
• What it does: Picks something up. take all grabs everything here that can be carried. Fixed things can be read or examined, but not carried.
• Example: take pitcher, pick up pitcher, take all

drop

• Aliases: discard, leave, put down, put <thing> (with no linking word)
• What it does: Puts something you're carrying down here. drop all empties your pockets.
• Example: drop pitcher, put down pitcher

inventory

• Aliases: i, inv, items, pack
• What it does: Lists what you're carrying. Free.
• Example: i

use

• Aliases: apply, plug, insert, place, slot, install, attach, connect, feed, set, fit, combine, polish, wipe, clean, water, plant, grow, fix, repair, tune, turn on, turn off, put <thing> on/in <thing>
• What it does: Uses one thing on another, or uses a thing in the right place. If one thing alone does nothing, the game asks "Use ... on what?".
• Example: use crayons on stand, put pitcher on stand

give

• Aliases: hand, offer, deliver, return
• What it does: Gives something you're carrying to a person. Both word orders work.
• Example: give pitcher to dad, give dad pitcher

open

• Aliases: unlock
• What it does: Opens or unlocks something.
• Example: open <door>

close

• Aliases: shut
• What it does: Closes something.
• Example: close <door>

push

• Aliases: press, shove, slide
• What it does: Presses buttons or pushes things.
• Example: press <button>

pull

• Aliases: tug, turn, flip, toggle, yank, lift
• What it does: Pulls levers, flips switches, lifts things.
• Example: pull <lever>, flip <switch>

wear

• Aliases: none
• What it does: Puts something on.
• Example: wear <hat>

buy

• Aliases: purchase
• What it does: Buys something, if anyone is selling.
• Example: buy <thing>

eat / drink

• Aliases: taste (eat), sip (drink)
• What it does: Eats or drinks something. Fries count.
• Example: eat <snack>, sip <drink>

catch

• Aliases: capture, trap, net
• What it does: Tries to catch something.
• Example: catch <thing>

knock

• Aliases: none
• What it does: Knocks on something.
• Example: knock <door>

attack

• Aliases: hit, fight, kill, strike, tap, hammer, swing
• What it does: Bonks something. Usually the game reminds you that bonking things is not a deal, and people would rather talk.
• Example: hit <thing>

4. Talking

talk

• Aliases: speak, chat, greet, talk to, talk with, speak to, speak with, chat with
• What it does: Greets a person and lists a few topics you can ask about.
• Example: talk to dad

ask

• Aliases: tell, question, interview, ask for, talk to <person> about <topic>
• What it does: Asks a person about a topic. Try the topics they suggest, plus anything you've seen. If you leave out the topic, the game suggests one.
• Example: ask reporter about tariffs, talk to reporter about tariffs

say

• Aliases: shout, yell, whisper
• What it does: Says something out loud. If someone is here, they answer. Some places react to particular words.
• Example: say hello

hello

• Aliases: hi, hey
• What it does: Greets whoever is here.
• Example: hi

pet

• Aliases: hug
• What it does: Pets or hugs a person or creature.
• Example: hug <person>

thank

• Aliases: thanks
• What it does: Says thank you.
• Example: thanks

yes / no

• Aliases: y (yes)
• What it does: Answers a yes/no moment. When the game asks you to confirm a restart, yes, y, ok, sure or restart confirms it, and anything else carries on.
• Example: yes

Choosing from a numbered menu

Conversations and big decisions sometimes give you numbered choices.

• Choose: type the number (1, 2 ...), a letter (a to e), or a few words from the option. You can also tap the Choose buttons.
• Back out: cancel, back, leave, nevermind, never mind, no, quit or exit. While a menu is open, these close the menu. They don't quit the game.
• Any other normal command, like look, closes the menu and runs that command.
• Example: 1, cancel

5. Building, deals & big moments

builds

• Aliases: pieces, projects
• What it does: Shows every big build, with [x] for pieces you have and [ ] for pieces you still need, and opens the Builds panel. The panel also shows your Bucks. Free.
• Example: builds

assemble

• Aliases: build, construct
• What it does: Puts a full set of pieces together in the right place. The four builds are the Lemonade Stand (1 Buck), the Tower (2 Bucks), the Sand-Castle Wall (free) and the White House Ballroom (3 Bucks). On its own, assemble builds whatever set you've completed. The Builds panel has an Assemble button too.
• Example: assemble stand, build tower, build ballroom

sell

• Aliases: none
• What it does: Sells lemonade at the street corner, once the stand is built.
• Example: sell lemonade

decide

• Aliases: choose
• What it does: Every chapter ends with a big choice. decide opens it as a numbered menu. One choice moves the story on and the others lead to funny endings.
• Example: decide

announce

• Aliases: none
• What it does: Makes a big announcement, in the right place (such as the ballroom on campaign night).
• Example: announce

drive

• Aliases: ride, and board, climb or enter for the truck
• What it does: Rides in a vehicle, such as the truck in the 2024 chapter.
• Example: ride truck

shake

• Aliases: none
• What it does: Shakes a thing. A piggy bank is worth a try.
• Example: shake piggy

bow

• Aliases: curtsy
• What it does: Takes a bow at the very end of the story so far, which ends the game. How it ends depends on your Trust and your builds. In a daily chapter, the final choice ends it instead.
• Example: bow

Daily chapters

Pick a day in the Chapter menu before you press New game. The newest day is already selected; choose The Story So Far for the full campaign. A daily chapter is short:

• Read the clipping (it opens in the Picture panel) for the facts of the day.
• Type a number to choose what happens next, and continue to see the choices again.
• Solve its puzzle with answer <words>, for example answer june 1.
• One path follows what really happened; the others are make-believe endings. Each day has its own leaderboard tab.

6. Puzzles

Puzzles open in the Puzzle panel when you examine the right object or reach the right place. The panel lets you drag blocks, move sliders, tap grid squares, place hotels around a board or press keypad buttons. A preview shows the command you're building, and Try it sends it. Clear starts over. The panel just types a normal command for you, so you can also type the same move yourself.

Rules for every puzzle:

• Type the verb with nothing after it (for example stack) to see the format and open the panel. This is free.
• A move in the wrong format is free and tells you the right format. A real attempt that doesn't work uses a move.
• In the wrong place you get "There is nothing to ... here." Solved puzzles say so.
• Grid squares are named by column letter and row number: a1, b3, and so on.

Some moments use a numbered menu instead (see Choosing from a numbered menu).

recover

• Aliases: rescue
• What it does: Use this when the game announces a DEAD END. It explains the way out and opens the recovery puzzle or conversation. The dead-end banner has the same button, plus Load a save and Restart. If you're not stuck, it just says so.
• Example: recover

break

• Aliases: say break
• What it does: Breaks out of a loop you're stuck in (the highway in the 2016 chapter is one).
• Example: break

7. Game & system

help

• Aliases: ?
• What it does: Shows example commands, the directions and the shortcuts. Free. The Help button does the same.
• Example: help

hint

• Aliases: hints, clue
• What it does: Gives a hint about what to do next. Ask again for a more direct hint (hints come in steps, such as 1/3, 2/3, 3/3). Free, and the Hint button does the same.
• Example: hint

undo

• Aliases: none
• What it does: Takes back your last move. You can keep undoing, up to 120 steps. It doesn't work once the story has ended. The Undo button does the same.
• Example: undo

score

• Aliases: rank, status
• What it does: Shows your points (out of 518 in the campaign, fewer in a daily chapter), moves, Trust (0 to 10) and rank. Free.
• Example: score

journal

• Aliases: notes, memories, diary
• What it does: Reads the memories you've collected along the way. Free.
• Example: journal

lessons

• Aliases: lesson
• What it does: Lists the lessons you've learned so far (out of 10). Free.
• Example: lessons

map

• Aliases: none
• What it does: Opens the Map panel, which shows every room you've visited. Free.
• Example: map

save

• Aliases: none
• What it does: Saves to a server slot from 1 to 5. With no number, it uses the first empty slot. The autosave updates by itself whenever you start a new chapter and every 40 moves. You need to be online, and a finished story can't be saved.
• Example: save, save 2

load

• Aliases: restore
• What it does: Loads slot 1 to 5, or auto. With no slot, it lists your saves. The server replays and checks every save when you load it.
• Example: load 1, restore auto

saves

• Aliases: slots
• What it does: Lists your save slots and what's in them.
• Example: saves

delete

• Aliases: erase
• What it does: Deletes a save slot. You have to name the slot.
• Example: delete 3

restart

• Aliases: quit, exit, give up
• What it does: Starts a new story. If you've made progress, the game asks you to confirm by typing yes.
• Example: restart

After an ending, only free commands work (score, journal, look and so on). Type restart or press Play again for another go.

8. Other actions

wait

• Aliases: z, rest, sleep
• What it does: Lets a moment pass.
• Example: z

think

• Aliases: ponder
• What it does: Has a good think. Some places reward this.
• Example: think

sit

• Aliases: none
• What it does: Sits for a moment.
• Example: sit

Just for fun

These all get a reply, and most are just jokes: dance, jump, swim, sing, pray, wave, cheat, xyzzy, plugh. You'll have to try them to see.

9. Shortcuts, keyboard & buttons

Command line

• Enter or the Go button sends a command.
• Up / Down arrows scroll back through earlier commands.
• Escape clears the line.
• Start typing anywhere on the page (outside other boxes and buttons) and your typing goes to the command line.

Map panel

• Click a neighbouring room tile to walk there. Unexplored rooms show as ?.
• With the map focused, Arrow keys move north (Up), south (Down), west (Left) and east (Right). Page Up goes up and Page Down goes down.
• The Exits buttons under the map walk you through each exit, including into other regions.
• Click a region at the top to look at its map. Back to where I am returns to your current region.

Desk tabs

• Map, Puzzle, Picture and Builds tabs. With a tab focused, the Left / Right arrows switch tabs. A dot on the Puzzle tab means there's an unsolved puzzle here.

Inside puzzles

• Grid puzzles: the arrow keys move between squares, and Enter or Space taps one. Tapping a square already on your path cuts the path back to it.
• Ring puzzle: Enter or Space places or removes a hotel.
• Tap grid (Gild): tap only the squares you want, and they are sent in reading order.
• Keypad: type the digits on your keyboard, and Backspace deletes. The on-screen C button clears and ⌫ deletes.
• Sliders: drag them, or type a number in the box next to each one.
• Block puzzles: tap or drag blocks into the program, and reorder them with ↑ ↓ or remove them with ×.
• Try it sends the command and Clear starts over.

Chip buttons (under the story)

Tapping a chip fills in or sends a command for you:

• Go: one button per exit.
• Here: things and people in the room. Tapping one on an empty line fills in examine <thing> or talk to <person>. If you've already picked a verb, it finishes the command, for example give pitcher becomes give pitcher to dad, use crayons becomes use crayons on <thing>, and ask becomes ask <person> about .
• Carrying: the things in your inventory. They work the same way as Here.
• Do: look, inventory, builds, journal, hint and lessons run right away. examine, take, talk to, ask, give, use, read, push, pull and drop start a command, and you tap a thing to finish it.
• Choose: shown during numbered menus, one button per option, plus cancel.
• Story over: Play again, journal and score.

Other buttons

• Undo, Hint and Help run those commands. Save and Load jump to the Saved games panel.
• Saved games panel: Save, Load and Delete for each slot. When you'd lose something, the button asks "Sure?", and a second tap confirms.
• Dead-end banner: a button to open the recovery puzzle or fix things (the same as recover), plus Load a save and Restart.
• Leaderboards: tabs for Game, My group, Groups and Overall, plus a tab for the daily chapter picked in the Chapter menu.

Play at https://rtwl.fun/games/legendofdonald/

Made by Lawless and Grok