--- deliantra/server/common/readable.C	2009/10/15 21:40:42	1.44
+++ deliantra/server/common/readable.C	2009/10/15 22:50:41	1.45
@@ -1271,10 +1271,11 @@
   int chance, i, type, index;
   int book_entries = level > 5 ? rndm (3) + rndm (3) + 2 : rndm (level) + 1;
   const char *ch;
-  char name[MAX_BUF], buf[BOOK_BUF], sbuf[MAX_BUF];
-  static char retbuf[BOOK_BUF];
+  char name[MAX_BUF];
   object *tmp = NULL;
 
+  static dynbuf_text buf; buf.clear ();
+
   /* values greater than 5 create msg buffers that are too big! */
   if (book_entries > 5)
     book_entries = 5;
@@ -1312,19 +1313,20 @@
   assign (name, art_name_array[index].name);
 
   /* Ok, lets print out the contents */
-  sprintf (retbuf, "Herein %s detailed %s...\n", book_entries > 1 ? "are" : "is", book_entries > 1 ? "some artifacts" : "an artifact");
+  buf.printf ("Herein %s detailed %s...\n",
+              book_entries > 1 ? "are" : "is",
+              book_entries > 1 ? "some artifacts" : "an artifact");
 
   /* artifact msg attributes loop. Lets keep adding entries to the 'book'
    * as long as we have space up to the allowed max # (book_entires) 
    */
-  while (book_entries > 0)
+  while (book_entries > 0 && buf.size () < BOOK_BUF)
     {
 
-      if (art == NULL)
+      if (!art)
         art = al->items;
 
-      /* separator of items */
-      strcpy (buf, "--- \n");
+      buf << '\n';
 
       /* Name */
       if (art->allowed && art->allowed->name != shstr_All)
@@ -1337,56 +1339,49 @@
               next = next->next;
             }
           while (next && rndm (2));
-          sprintf (buf, "%s A %s of %s", buf, &temp->name, &art->item->name);
+
+          buf.printf ("A B<< %s of %s >>", &temp->name, &art->item->name);
         }
       else                      /* default name is used */
-        sprintf (buf, "%s The %s of %s", buf, name, &art->item->name);
+        buf.printf ("The B<< %s of %s >>", name, &art->item->name);
+
+      buf << " is ";
 
       /* chance of finding */
       chance = (int) (100 * ((float) art->chance / al->total_chance));
       if (chance >= 20)
-        sprintf (sbuf, "an uncommon");
+        buf << "an uncommon";
       else if (chance >= 10)
-        sprintf (sbuf, "an unusual");
+        buf << "an unusual";
       else if (chance >= 5)
-        sprintf (sbuf, "a rare");
+        buf << "a rare";
       else
-        sprintf (sbuf, "a very rare");
-      sprintf (buf, "%s is %s\n", buf, sbuf);
+        buf << "a very rare";
 
       /* value of artifact */
-      sprintf (buf, "%s item with a value that is %d times normal.\n", buf, art->item->value);
+      buf << " item with a value that is " << art->item->value << " times normal.\n";
 
       /* include the message about the artifact, if exists, and book
        * level is kinda high */
       if (art->item->msg
-          && rndm (4) + 1 < level
-          && !(strlen (art->item->msg) + strlen (buf) > BOOK_BUF))
-        strcat (buf, art->item->msg);
+          && rndm (4) + 1 < level)
+        buf << art->item->msg;
 
       /* properties of the artifact */
       tmp = object::create ();
       add_abilities (tmp, art->item);
       tmp->type = type;
       SET_FLAG (tmp, FLAG_IDENTIFIED);
-      if ((ch = describe_item (tmp, NULL)) != NULL && strlen (ch) > 1)
-        sprintf (buf, "%s Properties of this artifact include: \n %s \n", buf, ch);
+      if ((ch = describe_item (tmp, 0)) && strlen (ch) > 1)
+        buf << "\rProperties of this artifact include:\r" << ch << "\n";
+
       tmp->destroy ();
-      /* add the buf if it will fit */
-      if (!book_overflow (retbuf, buf, booksize))
-        strcat (retbuf, buf);
-      else
-        break;
 
       art = art->next;
       book_entries--;
     }
 
-#ifdef BOOK_MSG_DEBUG
-  LOG (llevDebug, "artifact_msg() created string: %d\n", strlen (retbuf));
-  LOG (llevDebug, " MADE THIS:\n%s", retbuf);
-#endif
-  return retbuf;
+  return buf;
 }
 
 /*****************************************************************************
@@ -1400,61 +1395,45 @@
 static char *
 spellpath_msg (int level, int booksize)
 {
+  static dynbuf_text buf; buf.clear ();
+
   static char retbuf[BOOK_BUF];
   char tmpbuf[BOOK_BUF];
   int path = rndm (NRSPELLPATHS), prayers = rndm (2);
-  int did_first_sp = 0;
   uint32 pnum = (path == -1) ? PATH_NULL : spellpathdef[path];
   archetype *at;
 
   /* Preamble */
-  sprintf (retbuf, "Herein are detailed the names of %s\n", prayers ? "prayers" : "incantations");
+  buf << "Herein are detailed the names of "
+      << (prayers ? "prayers" : "incantations");
 
   if (path == -1)
-    strcat (retbuf, "having no known spell path.\n");
+    buf << " having no known spell path.\n";
   else
-    sprintf (retbuf, "%sbelonging to the path of %s:\n", retbuf, spellpathnames[path]);
+    buf << " belonging to the path of B<< " << spellpathnames[path] << " >>:\n\n";
+
+  int seen = 0;
 
   for_all_archetypes (at)
-    {
-      /* Determine if this is an appropriate spell.  Must
-       * be of matching path, must be of appropriate type (prayer
-       * or not), and must be within the valid level range.
-       */
-      if (at->type == SPELL && at->path_attuned & pnum &&
-          ((at->stats.grace && prayers) || (at->stats.sp && !prayers)) && (at->level < (level * 8)))
-        {
-          assign (tmpbuf, at->object::name);
+    /* Determine if this is an appropriate spell.  Must
+     * be of matching path, must be of appropriate type (prayer
+     * or not), and must be within the valid level range.
+     */
+    if (at->type == SPELL && at->path_attuned & pnum &&
+        ((at->stats.grace && prayers) || (at->stats.sp && !prayers)) && (at->level < (level * 8)))
+      {
+        seen = 1;
+        buf << at->object::name << '\r';
+      }
 
-          if (book_overflow (retbuf, tmpbuf, booksize))
-            break;
-          else
-            {
-              if (did_first_sp)
-                strcat (retbuf, ",\n");
-              did_first_sp = 1;
-              strcat (retbuf, tmpbuf);
-            }
-        }
-    }
   /* Geez, no spells were generated. */
-  if (!did_first_sp)
-    {
-      if (rndm (4))        /* usually, lets make a recursive call... */
-        spellpath_msg (level, booksize);
-      else                      /* give up, cause knowing no spells exist for path is info too. */
-        strcat (retbuf, "\n - no known spells exist -\n");
-    }
-  else
-    {
-      strcat (retbuf, "\n");
-    }
+  if (!seen)
+    if (rndm (4))        /* usually, lets make a recursive call... */
+      return spellpath_msg (level, booksize);
+    else                      /* give up, cause knowing no spells exist for path is info too. */
+      buf << "- no known spells exist.\n";
 
-#ifdef BOOK_MSG_DEBUG
-  LOG (llevDebug, "spellpath_msg() created string: %d\n", strlen (retbuf));
-  LOG (llevDebug, " MADE THIS:\n%s", retbuf);
-#endif
-  return retbuf;
+  return buf;
 }
 
 /* formula_msg() - generate a message detailing the properties
@@ -1838,7 +1817,7 @@
    * 4) you may want separate authour/book name arrays in read.h
    */
   msg_type = msg_type > 0 ? msg_type : rndm (8);
-  switch (msg_type)
+  switch (msg_type*0+2)//D
     {
       case 1:                /* monster attrib */
         strcpy (msgbuf, mon_info_msg (level, book_buf_size));