Before I start explaining what this is and why I did it, let me
go into a brief history. This is my third or fourth time trying 
to learn TADS in about eight years. Happily it is going well this
time around.

The reason I mention this is that I am a beginner, I want you to 
be aware of that. I am not a programmer, nor a TADS expert, so if 
you find a glaring error in how I'm doing this, I give you permission 
to rant at me about it, but only if you also include some pertinent
and considerate explanation of why it might be better to do it a
different way. In this way, I can learn and make it better. I
personally think it's a pretty good attempt for a first try, and
it follows C standards as it is based on Stephen Grenade's version
of actor.t. This is big to me only because I know less about C than
I do about TADS. *G* Anyway, on to the explanations...

I have modified actor.t to add the ability to use random actor 
comments about items, actors, rooms, etc. It is still a little 
buggy, but it may prove useful.

Why did I do this? It all stems from Stephen's comment about being
able to ask a character about something repeatedly, for as long as
you don't get tired of hitting 'g'. It struck a chord and I thought
"Hey, if you ask somebody about something more than once, they'll
probably tell you something different." And if you ask enough times
they get annoyed. This is an attempt to allow that kind of 
interaction. I haven't seen anything like this on the IF archive
which was another good reason for somebody to attempt it. So here
it is for you to digest, and discuss hopefully, and above all use it!
I'll get off my podium and get on to the real details here.

Random comments are implemented using TADS built in functions for
random in conjunction with an added [list] in the items it is used
with. Normal usage of actor comments is the default. As it stands
you have to undertake adding the routine for the random comments
to the objects, or by using an overall modify for item, or thing.

This is the first version of this coding. It is available for use
and modification as you see fit. I would like to hear about it if
you do use it. I would like a copy of any modifications that you
might make. I would also like a mention in your credits if you
use it in a game. There is a version tag in this copy of actor.t
if you use Jeff Laing's version module.

Any comments or suggestions are welcome and appreciated. I can be
reached by e-mail at adk@usa.net.

***
Future plans:
1) clean up code to fix looping in items

2) updating to use TADS functions 'car' and 'cdr' which should allow
us to remove the maxtold flag.