DID NOT WORK:
var %map.draw.trying = $scriptdirglobalgfx\ $+ $3
e $exists( %map.draw.trying )
WORKED:
%map.draw.trying = $scriptdirglobalgfx\ $+ $3
e $exists( %map.draw.trying )
NOTE:
The presence of /var is the ONLY thing that changed, for the offending routine to be successful. The given lines appeared exactly as I've shown you.

PS:
I just remembered that I also tried $isfile and $isdir through this trial, and neither did they return my results until I created a global variable rather than local... enlighten me smile

mIRC 6.17, win2k