acdream/docs/research/2026-08-09-campaign-ch-test-script.md

# Campaign CH — in-client user test script

One connected session against local ACE, retail GUI (`ACDREAM_RETAIL_UI=1`).
For the color checks, running the retail client side-by-side is ideal but
optional — the hex values are byte-verified; what needs eyes is "does it
FEEL right".

## 1. On-screen interface text (CH2 — the SpewBox)

- Jump, and press jump again while airborne → **"You can't jump while in
  the air"** appears as transient text flush to the very TOP of the
  viewport (round 3, 2026-08-10 — moved off the earlier 60px-down
  placeholder), NOT in the chat window. Chat gets no line at all.
- Spam it 5+ times fast: the line refreshes in place (no stacking of
  identical text); distinct refusals stack newest-on-top, max 4 lines.
- Try `@version` → its output goes to CHAT (green), not the SpewBox.
- The SpewBox text should now read visibly SMALLER than round 2 (retail
  dat Font `0x40000025`, 11px, replacing the earlier 15px debug font).
- **Report presentation impressions**: position and font are now
  best-available approximations, not resolved retail values (register
  AP-178); line lifetime is still a placeholder (AP-177) — say what looks
  wrong vs your retail memory.

## 2. Chat colors (CH1)

Side-by-side vs retail if possible:

- Say something → white. Emote (`:waves` works now) → grey.
- Tell someone → your "You tell ..." line is DARK yellow (210,210,100);
  an incoming tell is BRIGHT yellow.
- Magic self-cast lines → light blue. Combat: damage you take → salmon,
  damage you deal → dark red.
- `@version` / `@loc` output → green (retail types command output 0x00).
- Fellowship chat (if you form one) → bright yellow.

## 3. Side channels (CH3)

- `/general hi` → round-trips (ACE echoes it back; blue-grey color).
  Same for `/trade`, `/lfg`.
- Roleplay: with "Hear Roleplay Chat" OFF (the ACE default), sending to
  Roleplay → **"You are not listening to the Roleplay channel!"** and
  nothing is sent. Enable it in Settings → Chat → ACE reports entering
  the channel; sending now works. (`@join roleplay` / `@leave roleplay`
  also flip it, effective immediately.)
- Legacy family single-print: `/f hi` (in a fellowship) shows ONE line,
  not two. Same for /v /p /m /cv if you have the allegiance structure.
- `/a hi` without an allegiance → refusal, not a silent drop.

## 4. Commands (CH4)

- `:waves` and `;waves` → emote. `@f, hi` (trailing comma) works.
- `@t Two Word Name, hello` → comma splits the name (needs an alt with a
  multi-word name to fully verify).
- `@g hi` → goes to FELLOWSHIP (not the global General room!). Without a
  fellowship expect a server-side error — the important thing is it does
  NOT broadcast globally.
- `@allegiance boot Bob` → "Please see @help Allegiance for more
  information..." locally; nothing broadcast, nothing sent.
- `@house abandon` → TWO confirmation dialogs. **Decline** (unless you
  really want to abandon a house). Declining either stage sends nothing.
- `@mr` → help text only. `@clist general` → channel list from ACE.
- An unknown verb like `@somenonsense` → passes through to ACE (server
  answers, client does not swallow it).

## 5. Help text (round 3, 2026-08-10)

- `/help` (no args) → TWO lines in the chat window: a "Note: You may
  substitute a forward slash..." line, then "Available help:" followed by
  13 real retail topic one-liners (allegiances/channels/chatting/death/
  emote/fillcomps/friends/house/squelch/status/text/commands). This
  replaced an acdream-invented cheat sheet ("Chat: /say...", "Client:
  /help...") — that text should no longer appear at all.
- `/help death` → the SAME "Note:" line first, then a SECOND line starting
  "For more information, type @help <command>." immediately followed by
  the 8-line corpse/death command listing — not just the 8 lines alone.
- `/help somenonsenseverb` → **goal-window fix (2026-08-10, #367 closed):**
  "Unknown command" now flashes on the SpewBox (top of viewport), NOT the
  chat window — the SAME surface as section 1's "jump in the air" refusal.
  Chat gets no line at all.

## 6. Goal-window fix — SpewBox refusal typing (2026-08-10, #363/#367)

- `/g` (or `/f`/`/a`/`/m`/`/p`/`/v`/`/c` etc.) with NO message → **"You
  must specify the text you wish to say!"** flashes on the SpewBox.
  Previously this silently did nothing.
- `/r hi there` (or `/reply`) with no prior incoming Tell → **"Someone
  must @tell you first!"** flashes on the SpewBox. Previously silent.
- A bad-args catalog command, e.g. `/ls now` or `/marketplace foo` → **"That
  is not a valid command."** flashes on the SpewBox. Previously showed a
  green "Usage: /lifestone" line in CHAT — both the color/surface AND the
  wording changed.
- `/hslist badtype` → **"Please see @help hslist for more information on
  how to use this command"** flashes on the SpewBox. Previously showed a
  green "Usage: /hslist <house type>" line in CHAT.
- `/clist`/`/on`/`/off` with no channel name, and `@allegiance boot Bob`
  from section 4 above — SAME text as before, but now flash on the
  SpewBox instead of showing in chat.
- A bare `/` or `@x` (no letter verb) and `/help somenonsenseverb` (section
  5) both now flash "Unknown command[: x]" on the SpewBox too.
- Sanity: `/endurance`, `@version`, `@loc` and other informational command
  output must STILL show in chat (green/default), not the SpewBox — only
  genuine refusals moved.

## Known-open, do not report as new

- Ctrl+M mute chord (#358) — still broken, separate from this campaign.
- SpewBox line lifetime is still a placeholder (AP-177) pending a retail
  measurement session; position/font are now best-available
  approximations (AP-178), not confirmed retail pixel values.
- Allegiance management subcommands print the help refusal instead of
  executing (#360); `@day`/`@log`/`@render` deferred (#361); four request
  commands send but responses aren't rendered yet (#362, already closed).