Optionally read connection screen from connection_screen() callable

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -14,6 +14,9 @@ Update to Python 3
 - Add new `@force` command to have another object perform a command.
 - Add the Portal uptime to the `@time` command.
 - Make the `@link` command first make a local search before a global search.
+- Have the default Unloggedin-look command look for optional `connection_screen()` callable in 
+  `mygame/server/conf/connection_screen.py`. This allows for more flexible welcome screens 
+  that are calculated on the fly. 
 
 ### Web
 

evennia/commands/default/unloggedin.py

@@ -234,9 +234,14 @@ class CmdUnconnectedLook(COMMAND_DEFAULT_CLASS):
 
     def func(self):
         """Show the connect screen."""
-        connection_screen = utils.random_string_from_module(CONNECTION_SCREEN_MODULE)
-        if not connection_screen:
-            connection_screen = "No connection screen found. Please contact an admin."
+
+        callables = utils.callables_from_module(CONNECTION_SCREEN_MODULE)  
+        if "connection_screen" in callables:
+            connection_screen = callables['connection_screen']()
+        else:
+            connection_screen = utils.random_string_from_module(CONNECTION_SCREEN_MODULE)
+            if not connection_screen:
+                connection_screen = "No connection screen found. Please contact an admin."
         self.caller.msg(connection_screen)
 
 

evennia/game_template/server/conf/connection_screens.py

@@ -1,17 +1,22 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 """
-Connection screen
+Connection screen 
 
-Texts in this module will be shown to the user at login-time.
+This is the text to show the user when they first connect to the game (before
+they log in). 
 
-Evennia will look at global string variables (variables defined
-at the "outermost" scope of this module and use it as the
-connection screen. If there are more than one, Evennia will
-randomize which one it displays.
+To change the login screen in this module, do one of the following:
+
+- Define a function `connection_screen()`, taking no arguments. This will be
+  called first and must return the full string to act as the connection screen.
+  This can be used to produce more dynamic screens.
+- Alternatively, define a string variable in the outermost scope of this module
+  with the connection string that should be displayed. If more than one such
+  variable is given, Evennia will pick one of them at random. 
 
 The commands available to the user when the connection screen is shown
-are defined in commands.default_cmdsets. UnloggedinCmdSet and the
-screen is read and displayed by the unlogged-in "look" command.
+are defined in evennia.default_cmds.UnloggedinCmdSet. The parsing and display
+of the screen is done by the unlogged-in "look" command.
 
 """