error = treating STRING as var or visa versa?
STTRING (str) functions (C-Script)
Code:
STRING credits_s[256];  // 256 may be excessive
var credits_n = 10000;
TEXT credits_t
{
	pos_x = 774;
	pos_y = 305;
	layer = 2;
	font lcars2_font;
	string = credits_s
	layer = 1;
}
// convenience functions
function creditsf_update() {
	str_for_num(credits_s, credits_n);
}
function creditsf_add(_n) {
	//if (credits_n < 0) {
		//credits_n = max(credits_n + _n, 0);	// -credits not allowed
	//} else {
		credits_n += _n;
	//}
	creditsf_update();
}
function creditsf_set(_n) {
	credits_n = _n;
	creditsf_update();
}

function tile_event() 
{
	if (bmapno ==1) 
	{
	//credits = - 2000;
	creditsf_set(-2000);
	ent_create(ship_b1, my.x, ship_function);  // create / place ship at my.x?
	}
	if (bmapno ==2)
	{
	ent_create(ship_b2, my.x, ship_function);  // create / place ship at my.x?
	}
	if (bmapno ==3)
	{
	ent_create(ship_b3, my.x, ship_function);  // create / place ship at my.x?
	}
}