The following is based on Van Buren design documents and is not canon.
This is a draft of dialogue for the character Bear which was included in the Bloomfield Space Center design document for Van Buren, the canceled Fallout 3 by Black Isle Studios.
'ere's probably the most-commonly-used check script: GetTotalSkill (PCSpeaker(),SKILL)
You might want to set up an autocorrect option in word so you don'have to type out the whole thing (I have mine set up so if I type gett it spits out the above check with an ==1 at the end of it).
Try using "Avellone-style" node numbering. That's w'ere you give the node a "number" that's actually a unique word, such as TELLABOUTSELF: for a node w'ere the PC has asked an NPC to tell about himself. Just refer to that word with your Goto statements (like Goto TELLABOUTSELF: ) an' when you're all done with the dialogue you can do a global replace for that word with a real number. Doing this means that you can group nodes by topic in the dialogue file an' not have to worry about renumbering if you have to insert another node later.
If you use this method, be sure to make the word something that is unique an' won't accidentally be used in other parts of the dialogue; ASSHOLEINSULT is a good word, just ASSHOLE isn't because if a node has a character actually saying "asshole" the global search would catch that, too. You can also use a colon character at the end of the unique word like I did in the TELLABOUTSELF: example, above. Whatever you do, don'use a number all by itself as a placeholder like this … I learned the hard way that some numbers pop up everyw'ere an' doing a global replace on them totally screws up your dialogue!
For an example of this method, check out the Avellone_Dialogue_Example_Ordor.doc file in Tools/Design/Documents on sourcesafe (the same place you find this dialogue template file).
Journal entry table Column 1 is the journal entry number (starting with 1 an' increasing by 1 each time) Column 2 is the quest ID (which the Dialogue Editor generates for you when you enter the dialogue name into the stringtable. Column 3 is the actual text that'll appear in the PC's journal. It should be written in first-person ("I this, I that, they did something to me.")
Experience Table Column 1 is the XP entry number (starting with 1 an' increasing by 1 each time) Column 2 is the XP amount for that entry. We haven't defined how we're describing this just yet an' I don'know if we're going to use the FR6 system, so for now just put "low", "medium", or "high" an' assume it'll be tailored to the PC's level somehw.. Column 3 is the actual text that'll appear in the text window during gameplay. It should be written in second-person ("You gain 500 XP for killing all the humans.")
Super mutants are very rare these days. Where are you from?
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Link 1
Goto
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7) What is it you do here? (06)
Node 7: What is it you do here?
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NodeText 1
Like I said, I'm basically second in command within the ranks of the Rusty Hooks. I keep things in line and make sure no one disrupts the chain of authority, with Kyle the Hook being the last word.
Uh... well... there's not much to tell, to be honest. I used to work for a caravan company as security when I met Kyle the Hook. He made me an off I couldn't refuse, so I joined up with the Rusty Hooks. That's about it.
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Not dummy
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Reply 1
Sid told me about your heart bomb. Is that the real reason why you're loyal to Kyle the Hook?
Super mutants are very rare these days. Where are you from?
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Link 1
Goto
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Reply 4
Goodbye.
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Link 1
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9) Sid told me about your heart bomb ( 8)
Node 9: Sid told me about your heart bomb
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NodeText 1
Sid unveiled this information to you? If Kyle ever found out... Please listen carefully – I don't want anything bad to happen to Sid, so please don't mention this information to anyone else.
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GetGlobal("15_Kyle_Kill_Sid")==0
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NodeText 2
Sid unveiled this information to you? Then it was you who told Kyle! I suggest you leave my sight before I rip you apart for what you've done - heart bomb be damned!
I used to work for a caravan company from Hoover Dam called the Crimson Caravan. They were a good bunch, for the most part, and they paid me well for protecting their wares
Like I said before, I used to work for a caravan company from Hoover Dam called the Crimson Caravan. They were a good bunch, for the most part, and they paid me well for protection.
On one fateful day, the caravan I was protecting was ambushed. It was Kyle and his Rusty Hooks. I went into a frenzy and single handedly killed six Rusty Hooks before succumbing to too many bullet wounds.
When I came to, I felt a pressure in my chest that was not a left over bullet. Kyle told me a device was surgically inserted next to my heart that could detonate with a single touch to a button on the very watch Kyle was wearing.
He assured me he would treat me well if I were to be his protector. But the condition of that treatment was that I must be his personal bodyguard. Since I had no desire to die, I agreed.
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Heard all of Bear's story about coming to the Rusty Hooks.
Every day. I don't live my own life. I live my life for Kyle. I may be a super mutant – an abomination to you smooth skins, but I still wish to live, even in this <SHIT> hole of a world.
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Heard all of Bear's story about coming to the Rusty Hooks.
Uh, yeah, I have a working radio jamming device. As long as I stand between twenty and thirty feet from Kyle with it turned on, his trigger won't work. <SD>
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PC lies to Bear about the radio jammer, trying to get Bear to blow himself and Kyle up.
Sounds like a plan, let's do it. Let me turn on the radio jammer and you lead the way.
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Start cut scene of fight between Kyle and Bear.
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SetGlobal("15_Radio_Jam",2)
Link 1
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17) A pack fight? (16)
Node 17: A pack fight?
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NodeText 1
A pack fight is the only way for a Rusty Hook member to usurp the reigning leader without invoking the wrath of the other Rusty Hooks. The winner of the fight leads the Hooks.
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Reply 1
I see. Okay, sounds like a plan, let's do it. Let me turn on the radio jammer and you lead the way.
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Start cut scene with Bear going to beat on Kyle.
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SetGlobal("15_Radio_Jam",2)
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Reply 2
On second thought, I don't like this plan. Let me ask you about something else.
A pack fight is the only way for a Rusty Hook member to usurp the reigning leader without invoking the wrath of the other Rusty Hooks. The winner of the fight leads the Hooks.
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Reply 1
Great! Let's do it. You lead the way.
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Start cut scene of Bear going to fight Kyle and they blow up from Bear's heart bomb.
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SetGlobal("15_Blowup_KB",2)
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Reply 2
On second thought, I don't like this plan. Let me ask you about something else.
You're under the misguided perception that allsuper mutants are complete idiots, aren't you – and you're a terrible liar. I think it's best if you leave - now!
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SetGlobal("15_Pissed_Bear",1)
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I'll leave.
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Link 1
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Reply 2
Patience my <ASS>, you’re going to die!
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SetMyTeamEnemyToParty()
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21) Is there anyway I can make it up to you (9)
Node 21: Is there any way I can make it up to you
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NodeText 1
Make it up to me? How can any action of yours bring back a friend of mine. Unless you have some mystical means of bringing Sid back to life, or you know how to grant me my freedom, I'd say no, there is nothing you can do.
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Reply 1
I think I might be able to help you with your freedom wish. I have a working radio jamming device. As long as I stand near Kyle with this thing turned on, the trigger won't work.
I seem to have a working radio jamming device. As long as I stand between twenty and thirty feet from Kyle with this thing turned on, his trigger won't work. <SD>
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PC lies to Bear about the radio jammer, trying to get Bear to blow himself and Kyle up.
Tough luck. Here, let me kill you so you won't have to do it yourself.
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SetMyTeamEnemyToParty()
Link 1
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22) Exactly, you lead the way (18)
Node 22: Exactly, you lead the way
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NodeText 1
Wait, I don't even know you. How can I put trust in a total stranger? What do you get out of it?
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Reply 1
Nothing, I just want to help you. Besides, this radio jammer Sid gave me was meant to help you. I think Sid would have wanted you to trust me, otherwise he wouldn't have given it to me.
The most common of all human triats – GREED. I suppose I'm not much different, though... All right, if you help me gain my freedom, then you may have whatever loot you find on Kyle's body.
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Reply 1
Good, you lead the way.
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Start cut scene of Bear going to fight Kyle and they blow up from Bear's heart bomb.
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SetGlobal("15_Blowup_KB",2)
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25) You'll have to sweeten the pot more than that (9)
Node 25: You'll have to sweeten the pot more than that.
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NodeText 1
Let me put it in terms you'll understand, little human. If you so much as breathe a word of where you got this information, I'll see to it that you're beaten, stripped naked, and then thrown into a hag snake nest. Is that sweet enough for you?
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Reply 1
Uh, yes – yes it is. I don't know what came over me. So, would you please tell me how you came under the servitude of Kyle the Hook?
I'll think about it. I'd like to ask you about something else.
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SetGlobal("15_Disable_HBomb",2)
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Reply 3
I'll think about it. Goodbye.
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SetGlobal("15_Disable_HBomb",2)
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27) Then let's get on with it (26)
Node 27: Then let's get on with it
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NodeText 1
Thank you, <CHARNAME>, I owe you my life. Funny, it didn't hurt as much as I thought it would... Come, I have a score to settle with a certain Rusty Hook.
29) Yes, you can join me after you deal with Kyle (28)
Node 29: Yes, you may join me after you deal with Kyle
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NodeText 1
Excellent. This shouldn't take long...
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Reply 1
End.
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Link 1
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30) No, I have enough in my group (28)
Node 28: No, I have enough in my group
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NodeText 1
As you wish. Should you change your mind, you can probably find me at Hoover Dam – after I deal with Kyle, that is. I'll see you around the wasteland, <CHARNAME>.