14 replies to this topic

[Adder]

I'm still bugfixing on a triangle-dialog in my NPC-Mod. When the NPC is confronted by a figure of her past, the PC can either keep her (works out nicely), leave her alone and watch a fight between them or turn against her.

After the fight that should follow the last two options, the survivor will have one or two more lines before he disappears. I tried to realise this with the following script:

IF
	!InParty("Layne")
	Allegiance(Myself,NEUTRAL)
	Global("LeftLayne","GLOBAL",1)
	Died("Layne")
THEN
	RESPONSE #100
  Dialogue(Player1)
END


IF
	!InParty("Layne")
	Allegiance(Myself,NEUTRAL)
	Global("SoldLayne","GLOBAL",1)
	Died("Layne")
THEN
	RESPONSE #100
  Dialogue(Player1)
END

So if I understood things correctly, this should initiate the dialog when Layne (the NPC) died. Unfortunately that other guy seems to be pretty impatient, he makes his little speech and disappears while Layne is still very alive.

Any idea how this could be fixed?

[SConrad]

Have you tried Dead() instead of Died()?

[Adder]

Just tried it. Still the same result.

[Adder]

Well, I couldn't find the Death Variable anywhere in the list of variables, but I read somewhere that it was replaced in newer versions of NI by the Script Name. That one is set to Layne, I also checked the spelling.

I'm using the variable "Layne" on other occasions in the script (See(), InParty() etc) too and there it works out nicely.

So either I got the whole Script-Name-thing wrong or the problem lies elsewhere...

[SConrad]

The deathvariable should be listed on the "View/Stats" page of the creature in NI. It's also listed on the "Edit" page (0x280), two rows below alignment and just before the different offsets.

[Adder]

The list on the file goes as follows:

...
Alignment
Unknown
Unknown
Script Name (which is set to Layne)
Unknown
Known spells offset
...

And there is really no Death Variable to be found. I checked the entire thing line by line. Twice.
I lately downloaded a new version of NI because the old one didn't work with my new Java. Maybe it has got something to do with that?

[Sir Kalthorine]

Forgive me if I am stating the obvious or inadvertantly insulting your intelligence, but are you giving your NPC a Death Variable? As far as I am aware, you have to specify the name of the Death Variable in the .CRE file (max. 8 letters), it isn't something that the game does for you.

[SConrad]

Try checking the creature with another editor, such as DLTCEP.

[Adder]

As I understood it, to initiate a dialogue an NPC has to have the command dialog() or dialogue() in its BCS-file. Are there other ways for the game to start a dialogue?

The only other place where the script triggers a dialogue is the following:

IF
     See("Layne")
     NumTimesTalkedTo(0)
THEN
     RESPONSE #100
           Dialogue(Player1)
END

Could this cause the problem? I mean, the NumTimesTalkedTo() should be set to 1 when the first dialogue started, right?

[Adder]

Quote

I think the best thing to do is to paste some more of your code up here, as it's difficult to find the problem like this.

All right, I will do that

Well, what should happen is this: There are three ways to end the dialogue. The first is to save the NPC:

DAREAN.D

IF ~~ THEN BEGIN 4
SAY ~Hn, that's too bad. In that case I'll leave for now.~ 
IF ~~ THEN DO ~SetGlobal("SavedLayne","GLOBAL",1)~ EXIT
END

Then this part of the script should be triggered:

DAREAN.BCS

IF
	InParty("Layne")
	Allegiance(Myself,NEUTRAL)
	Global("SavedLayne","GLOBAL",1)
THEN
	RESPONSE #100
  EscapeArea()
END

If I choose this option, he leaves and when he's out of sight this script is triggered...

LAYNE.BCS

IF
	InParty(Myself)
	!See("Darean")
	Global("SavedLayne","GLOBAL",1)
	!Global("EndLayne","GLOBAL",1)
THEN
	RESPONSE #100
  Dialogue(Player1)
END

...and this dialog begins.

LAYNE.D

IF ~Global("SavedLayne","GLOBAL",1) !Global("LayneTalked","GLOBAL",1)~ THEN BEGIN LS1
SAY ~Thank you, <CHARNAME. I think I owe you an explanation.~
...

This part works out nicely.

The second path starts like this:

DAREAN.D

IF ~~ THEN BEGIN 7
SAY ~No more hide and seek, girl. I'll get your head now.~ 
IF ~~THEN DO ~SetGlobal("LeftLayne","GLOBAL",1)~ EXIT 
END

Then Layne should leave the party and attack Darean, while Darean should just attack her:

DAREAN.BCS

IF
	!InParty("Layne")
	Allegiance(Myself,NEUTRAL)
	Global("LeftLayne","GLOBAL",1)
THEN
	RESPONSE #100
  Attack("Layne")
END

IF
	!InParty("Layne")
	Allegiance(Myself,NEUTRAL)
	Global("LeftLayne","GLOBAL",1)
	Dead("Layne")
THEN
	RESPONSE #100
  Dialogue(Player1)
END


LAYNE.BCS

IF
	InParty(Myself)
	Global("LeftLayne","GLOBAL",1)
THEN
	RESPONSE #100
  LeaveParty()
  Attack("Darean")
END


IF
	!InParty(Myself)
	Global("LeftLayne","GlOBAL",1)
	Killed("Darean")
THEN
	RESPONSE #100
  Dialogue(Player1)
END

After the fight, the survivor has a line before s/he leaves the area:

Darean.D

IF ~Global("LeftLayne","GLOBAL",1)~ THEN BEGIN 9
SAY ~Good bye, <CHARNAME>. We won't meet again.~ 
IF ~~THEN DO ~SetGlobal("EndLayne","GLOBAL",1) EscapeArea()~ EXIT
END

LAYNE.D

IF ~Global("LeftLayne","GLOBAL",1)~ THEN BEGIN ED7
SAY ~One day you will pay for this, <CHARNAME>.~ 
IF ~~ THEN DO ~SetGlobal("EndLayne","GLOBAL",1) EscapeArea()~ EXIT
END

What happens is that Layne leaves the party and attacks Darean, but he makes his little speech and leaves. I never found out what would happen if Layne killed Darean, though.

The third way for the PC is to turn against Layne. She wouldn't be too pleased, of course...

LAYNE.D

IF ~~ THEN BEGIN ED6
SAY ~No. NO! You won't get me without a fight!~ 
IF ~~ THEN DO ~SetGlobal("SoldLayne","GLOBAL",1)~ EXIT
END

Then she turns hostile while Darean attacks her with the party:

LAYNE.BCS

IF
	InParty(Myself)
	Global("SoldLayne","GLOBAL",1)
THEN
	RESPONSE #100
  LeaveParty()
  Enemy()
END

DAREAN.BCS

IF
	!InParty("Layne")
	Allegiance(Myself,NEUTRAL)
	Global("SoldLayne","GLOBAL",1)
THEN
	RESPONSE #100
  Attack("Layne")

END

IF
	!InParty("Layne")
	Allegiance(Myself,NEUTRAL)
	Global("SoldLayne","GLOBAL",1)
	Dead("Layne")
THEN
	RESPONSE #100
  Dialogue(Player1)
END

Until now it works out as well. After Layne died Darean should pay up and leave, but as above he starts talking too early:

DAREAN.D

IF ~Global("SoldLayne","GLOBAL",1)~ THEN BEGIN 10
SAY ~It was a pleasure to do business with you, <CHARNAME>.~ 
IF ~~ THEN DO ~GiveGoldForce(250)~ GOTO 11
END

This should be it. Hope this is sufficient

(Oh, I'm sure this will be a complete and utterly stupid mistake...)

Edited by Adder, 13 June 2005 - 05:21 AM.

[Adder]

Quote

"Dead" sets if the creature has ever died, anywhere. Is it set due to some previous testing, possibly?

Only if this setting can't be removed by various reloads. But it shouldn't have happened in the first place; the first time she got killed was after I tested the dialog the first time...