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Keywords & Journals Quick Reference ​

Keywords Syntax ​

Custom Keywords ​

isdl
config MySystem {
    keywords {
        KeywordName summary: "Description text"
        KeywordName summary: "Description" icon: "fa-solid fa-icon" color: "#hex"
    }
}

Damage Type Keywords ​

isdl
DamageType damageTypeChoice choices: [
    Fire {color: "#dc2626", icon: "fa-solid fa-fire", summary: "Burns"},
    Ice {color: "#2563eb", icon: "fa-solid fa-snowflake"},
    Lightning {color: "#7c3aed", icon: "fa-solid fa-bolt"}
]

Status Effects Syntax ​

Basic Status ​

isdl
actor Character {
    status StatusName(svg: "path/to/icon.svg")
}

Conditional Status ​

isdl
actor Character {
    status Blessed(svg: "icons/svg/holy-symbol.svg", when: self.Faith > 5)
    status Stunned(svg: "icons/svg/dizzy.svg", when: self.Stunned)
}

Death Effect ​

The death keyword is a prefix on the status declaration. It marks this as the death effect, applied when the actor reaches 0 health. Only one death status per actor.

isdl
actor Character {
    death status Dead(svg: "icons/svg/skull.svg", when: self.HP <= 0)
}

Parameters Reference ​

ParameterPurposeExample
summary:Description text (keywords)summary: "Roll twice, take higher"
icon:Font Awesome icon (keywords)icon: "fa-solid fa-fire"
color:Hex color code (keywords)color: "#dc2626"
label:Display namelabel: "Alternative Name"
svg:Status effect icon pathsvg: "icons/svg/fire.svg"
when:Conditional trigger (status)when: self.HP <= 0

Generated Journal Structure ​

System Folder
└── System Name Journal
    ā”œā”€ā”€ Keywords Page
    │   ā”œā”€ā”€ Usage Information Box
    │   └── Keyword Entries (with badges)
    ā”œā”€ā”€ Damage Types Page  
    │   ā”œā”€ā”€ Effects Information Box
    │   └── Damage Type Entries (with badges)
    └── Status Effects Page
        ā”œā”€ā”€ Usage Information Box
        └── Status Effect Entries (with conditions)

Condition Operators ​

ComparisonPreferred (word form)Alternative (symbol)
Equal toequals==
Not equal to!equals!=
Less than<(same)
Greater than>(same)
Less than or equal<=(same)
Greater than or equal>=(same)

Best Practices ​

Keyword Design ​

āœ… Keep descriptions concise - One clear sentence
āœ… Use consistent colors - Match your game theme
āœ… Choose meaningful icons - Visual recognition helps
āœ… Group related keywords - Organize by mechanic type

Status Effects ​

āœ… Test conditions - Ensure they trigger correctly
āœ… Use descriptive names - Clear status identification
āœ… Provide icons - Visual indicators for players
āœ… Mark death effects - Use the death keyword

Journal Integration ​

āœ… Enable in settings - "Create System Journal" must be on
āœ… Check localization - All text can be translated
āœ… Style with CSS - Use isdl- prefixed classes
āœ… Link from sheets - Reference with @keyword syntax