Add help zones guide topic

src/mudlib/commands/help.py

@@ -354,6 +354,30 @@ async def cmd_client(player: Player, args: str) -> None:
     await player.send("\r\n".join(lines) + "\r\n")
 
 
+async def cmd_zones_help(player: Player, args: str) -> None:
+    """Show the zones guide."""
+    lines = [
+        "zones",
+        "  zones are spatial containers - rooms, dungeons, overworld areas.",
+        "  each zone has a terrain grid, spawn point, and optional portals.",
+        "",
+        "  listing zones",
+        "    @zones              list all registered zones",
+        "",
+        "  navigating",
+        "    @goto <zone>        teleport to a zone's spawn point",
+        "    enter <portal>      step through a portal to another zone",
+        "",
+        "  building",
+        "    @dig <name> <w> <h> create a new blank zone",
+        "    @paint              toggle paint mode for terrain editing",
+        "    @save               save current zone to file",
+        "",
+        "  see: @zones, @goto, @dig, @paint, @save",
+    ]
+    await player.send("\r\n".join(lines) + "\r\n")
+
+
 # Register the commands command
 register(
     CommandDefinition(
@@ -387,6 +411,18 @@ register(
     )
 )
 
+# Register the zones help topic
+register(
+    CommandDefinition(
+        "zones",
+        cmd_zones_help,
+        mode="*",
+        hidden=True,
+        admin=True,
+        help="zone building guide",
+    )
+)
+
 
 async def cmd_help(player: Player, args: str) -> None:
     """Show help for a command or skill.
@@ -401,6 +437,18 @@ async def cmd_help(player: Player, args: str) -> None:
             "type help <command> for details. see also: commands, skills, client\r\n"
         )
         return
+
+    # Check if this is a help topic (hidden command)
+    defn = _registry.get(args)
+    if defn is not None and defn.hidden:
+        # Check admin permission for admin-only topics
+        if defn.admin and not player.is_admin:
+            await player.send(f"Unknown command: {args}\r\n")
+            return
+        # Execute the help topic directly
+        await defn.handler(player, "")
+        return
+
     await _show_command_detail(player, args)
 
 

tests/test_help_command.py

@@ -34,6 +34,15 @@ def player(mock_reader, mock_writer):
     return Player(name="TestPlayer", x=5, y=5, reader=mock_reader, writer=mock_writer)
 
 
+@pytest.fixture
+def admin_player(mock_reader, mock_writer):
+    from mudlib.player import Player
+
+    p = Player(name="AdminPlayer", x=5, y=5, reader=mock_reader, writer=mock_writer)
+    p.is_admin = True
+    return p
+
+
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_help_command_is_registered():
     """The help command should be registered in the command registry."""
@@ -82,3 +91,35 @@ async def test_help_and_commands_both_exist():
     assert "commands" in commands._registry
     # They should be different functions
     assert commands._registry["help"].handler != commands._registry["commands"].handler
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_help_zones_shows_guide(admin_player):
+    """help zones shows zone guide text with command references."""
+    await commands.dispatch(admin_player, "help zones")
+    output = "".join([call[0][0] for call in admin_player.writer.write.call_args_list])
+    assert "zones" in output
+    assert "@zones" in output
+    assert "@goto" in output
+    assert "@dig" in output
+    assert "@paint" in output
+    assert "@save" in output
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_help_zones_shows_see_also(admin_player):
+    """help zones output contains see also cross-references."""
+    await commands.dispatch(admin_player, "help zones")
+    output = "".join([call[0][0] for call in admin_player.writer.write.call_args_list])
+    assert "see:" in output
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_help_zones_requires_admin(player):
+    """Non-admin players cannot see admin help topics."""
+    # Import build to ensure @zones help topic is registered
+    from mudlib.commands import build  # noqa: F401
+
+    await commands.dispatch(player, "help zones")
+    output = "".join([call[0][0] for call in player.writer.write.call_args_list])
+    assert "unknown" in output.lower()