---
name: Dialogue Systems
slug: dialogue-systems
category: Writing
description: A methodology for writing interactive game dialogue, covering character voice design, choice psychology, bark systems, and cutscene direction. Use when crafting NPC conversations, dialogue trees, or story-driven choice design.
github: "https://github.com/revfactory/harness-100/tree/main/en/05-game-narrative/.claude/skills/dialogue-systems"
stars: 1194
forks: 420
install: "git clone https://github.com/revfactory/harness-100"
added: 2026-07-20T06:49:20.727Z
last_synced: 2026-07-29T06:37:28.439Z
canonical_url: "https://dirskills.com/skills/dialogue-systems"
---

# Dialogue Systems

A methodology for writing interactive game dialogue, covering character voice design, choice psychology, bark systems, and cutscene direction. Use when crafting NPC conversations, dialogue trees, or story-driven choice design.

**Install:** `git clone https://github.com/revfactory/harness-100`

## README

# Dialogue Systems — Game Dialogue System Methodology

Specialized game dialogue knowledge used by the dialogue-writer agent when writing NPC dialogue, choices, and cutscenes.

## Why Game Dialogue Is Different

Novel dialogue is read. Film dialogue is heard. Game dialogue is **chosen by the player**. This interactive element changes everything.

## Character Voice Design: VOICE Framework

| Element | Description | Design Question |
|---------|-------------|-----------------|
| **V**ocabulary | Vocabulary level and range | What words does this character use, and which do they never use? |
| **O**pinion | Attitude toward the world | Optimistic? Cynical? Pragmatic? Idealistic? |
| **I**diom | Speech habits, punctuation patterns | Distinctive exclamations, sentence endings, repeated expressions? |
| **C**adence | Sentence rhythm and length | Short, clipped speech? Long, elegant sentences? |
| **E**motion | Emotional expression style | Express emotions directly? Imply through actions? Suppress? |

### Character Voice Card Example

```
Character: Seasoned Mercenary Captain
- V: Heavy military terminology, minimal emotional vocabulary. "Operation," "retreat," "supply"
- O: Realism, mocks idealism. "Heroes die young"
- I: Habit of ending sentences with "...yeah." Frequent imperative sentences
- C: Short sentences, occasionally long monologues (when reminiscing)
- E: Never expresses emotions directly. Shows only through actions
```

## Choice Design Psychology

### Choice Type Classification

| Type | Description | Narrative Function | Example |
|------|-------------|-------------------|---------|
| **Personality Expression** | Player role-playing | Building character identity | Kind/Cold/Humorous responses |
| **Information Gathering** | Obtaining additional info | World exploration | "What does that mean?" |
| **Moral Dilemma** | Irreconcilable value conflicts | Emotional weight | If you could only save one? |
| **Strategic Choice** | Affects gameplay | Resource/path decisions | Frontal assault/Stealth/Negotiation |
| **Relationship Choice** | Changes NPC relationships | Social simulation | Agree/Disagree/Evade |

### Choice Design Rules

1. **Predictable outcomes**: Reading the choices should allow rough prediction of results. "Burn the innocent village" should not lead to a good outcome
2. **Emotional differentiation**: Not all choices should be "nice words vs. mean words." Even with the same intent, the **method** should differ
3. **Rule of 3**: 2-4 choices, optimal is 3 (proactive/neutral/aggressive variants)
4. **No false choices**: If every option leads to the same result, the player feels betrayed
5. **Silence is also a choice**: Treat "..." or timeout as a meaningful response

### Designing the Weight of Choices

```
Weight = Irreversibility x Scope of Impact x Emotional Investment

- Irreversibility: Re-selectable (low) ~ Permanent (high)
- Scope of Impact: Immediate dialogue change (low) ~ Ending change (high)
- Emotional Investment: First-met NPC (low) ~ Long-time companion (high)
```

## Bark System

Barks are **short lines NPCs say automatically in non-dialogue situations**. They are a key element that makes the world feel alive.

### Bark Categories

| Category | Trigger | Example |
|----------|---------|---------|
| **Idle** | Waiting near the player | "The market is quiet today..." |
| **React** | Reacting to player actions | "Whoa, careful!" (during combat) |
| **Ambient** | Weather/time/location changes | "Looks like rain..." |
| **Relationship** | Changes based on affinity | High affinity: "Hail, hero!" / Low: "Hmph, you again" |
| **Story** | Based on quest progression | "The elder was looking for you" |
| **Combat** | During battle situations | "They're behind us!", "Need healing!" |

### Bark Quality Rules

- **No repeating the same bark**: At least 3-5 variations per trigger
- **Maintain character voice**: Barks also follow the VOICE framework
- **Information delivery**: Naturally convey quest hints or world information through barks
- **Length**: 1-2 sentences, 3 seconds maximum

## Cutscene Dialogue Direction

### Dialogue Density by Cutscene Type

| Cutscene Type | Dialogue Ratio | Silent Direction Ratio | Purpose |
|--------------|---------------|----------------------|---------|
| **Opening** | 30% | 70% | World immersion, visual impact |
| **Character Introduction** | 60% | 40% | Imprinting character personality |
| **Pre-Battle** | 40% | 60% | Building tension |
| **Twist/Reveal** | 50% | 50% | Shock + lingering impression |
| **Ending** | 40% | 60% | Emotional catharsis |

### Dialogue-Silence Rhythm Formula

```
[Dialogue] — [Reaction shot 1-2 sec] — [Dialogue] — [Long silence 3-5 sec] — [Decisive line]

Absolute prohibition: [Dialogue][Dialogue][Dialogue] in succession — no room for emotions to build
```

## Dialogue Format Standard

```
DIALOGUE_ID: D_[Chapter]_[Scene]_[Sequence]
SPEAKER: [Character Name]
EMOTION: [neutral/happy/angry/sad/fearful/surprised/contempt]
CONDITION: [IF flag_xxx == true]
VOICE_NOTE: [Acting direction — "whispered," "suppressing anger"]

[Dialogue content]

-> CHOICE (if choices exist)
  A: [Choice text] -> GOTO D_XX_XX_XX / SET flag_xxx
  B: [Choice text] -> GOTO D_XX_XX_XX / SET flag_xxx
```