Dialog Editor State

from StarControl Forums

I mentioned in another thread that I played around with the dialog editor and the pizza example. I like the flowchart setup.

One thing I struggled with was setting flags. I can create flags, but I cannot assign them values or clear/delete them.

I wanted to set the system up so that once you went through the dialog once and was offered pizza, going through the dialog a second time would tell you that there was no more pizza. Both forks are present in the example, but nothing connects them.

Is this possible with the current state of the tool? Is it possible with just this tool. or are there other engine tools I will need?

98 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from StarControl Forums Top

Flags are binary. You can create them then turn them on and off. If you create a flag it will persist and not be removed. There are no plans to allow variables to be stored. 

Reply #2 from StarControl Forums Top

I figured it out. There was a new script action button on the boxes associated with the NPC lines and not on the player lines.

This leads to another question...

If I can only set flags in the NPC violet windows, how can I set a flag without another dialog box popping up? (This is true even if I delete the NPC lines box) It doesn't seem like I can select End Chat AND set a flag in one fell swoop, That seems a little weird. 

Also... Do you really have to type out everything in your expressions by hand? There isn't an autocomplete for flags or other text?

Siege of Centauri
Reply #3 from StarControl Forums Top

These are the decisions that we make as a development team on a daily basis. :)  Auto-complete on tool vs game feature for Star Control. Pretty much game features win hands down. Most of us also type really fast (in excess of 90wpm) so it's not as big of a deal. 

Reply #4 from StarControl Forums Top

Haha, I completely understand the dilemma. It was just weird to come across a pseudo combo box in this day and age of prefab GUI elements. Good to know that it isn't a stumbling block. At least you have syntax checking on the fly.

Reply #5 from StarControl Forums Top

Is there a chance that Tools' UI will be improved after the game release?

Not everyone of us can type 365855 wpm.

Reply #6 from StarControl Forums Top

Quoting Hunam_, reply 5

Is there a chance that Tools' UI will be improved after the game release?

Not everyone of us can type 365855 wpm.

If they gave me access to the source for the editor, I could fix it for free. :)

 

In all seriousness, these expressions aren't going to be that complex. Here is my sample dialog tree.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/9bfxhqwadfbpjis/Pizza.xml?dl=0

 

Also, you can see what I was complaining about with expressions and how they affect dialog. Accept eating the pizza to see that I have to have an extra dialog step to set the flag.