Syntax/Command Cheat Sheet

A one-page overview of NovaMark core syntax. For detailed explanations, see Command Reference.

File Structure

---
title: Game Title
version: 1.0
---

@var variable_name = initial_value

#scene_start "Scene Title"

Dialogue

CharacterName: Dialogue text
> Narrator text

Variables

@var hp = 100              // define
@var name = "Alice"
@var alive = true

@set hp = 80               // modify
@set gold = gold + 10      // arithmetic

Supported operators: +, -, *, /, %

Items

// define
@item healing_potion
  name: Healing Potion
  description: Restore 50 HP
  icon: potion.png
@end

// operations
@give healing_potion 2     // acquire
@take healing_potion 1     // remove

Choices

? Prompt text
- [Option1] -> target
- [Option2] -> .label

.label
> Content for option 2

Checks

@check roll("2d6") >= 8
@success
  > Success!
@fail
  > Failure...
@endcheck

@check has_item("key")
@check hp >= 50
@check has_flag("met_spirit")

Built-in functions:

Function	Purpose
`roll("XdY")`	Dice roll check
`has_item("id")`	Check item possession
`item_count("id")`	Get item count
`has_flag("id")`	Check flag status
`has_ending("id")`	Check ending unlocked

Scenes

#scene_forest "Forest"      // define

-> scene_forest             // jump
-> .label                   // jump to label

.label                      // label definition
> Label content

@call shop_scene            // call subroutine
@return                     // return from subroutine

Media

@bg image.png               // background
@bg image.png transition:fade

@sprite char_id show url:img.png position:left
@sprite char_id hide

@bgm music.mp3              // BGM
@bgm stop

@sfx sound.mp3              // sound effect

Character Definition

@char Alice
  color: #4A90D9
  description: The protagonist
  sprite_default: alice.png
  sprite_happy: alice_happy.png
@end

Endings & Flags

@flag met_spirit            // set flag (persists across playthroughs)
@ending good_ending         // trigger ending

Conditionals

@if hp <= 0
  > You collapsed...
  -> game_over
@else
  > You're still alive.
@endif

Runtime State

JSON structure read by renderers (see Runtime State for details):

{
  "status": 0,
  "currentScene": "scene_start",
  "variables": {
    "numbers": { "hp": 100 },
    "strings": { "playerName": "Alice" },
    "bools": { "metSpirit": true }
  },
  "inventory": { "healing_potion": 2 },
  "inventoryItems": [...],
  "characterDefinitions": {...}
}

More Reference

Last updated on 2026-05-25