Giving NPC's something to talk about Topic

3001

04/24/2013 05:54 AM

Does anyone have ideas for just general dialogue in a game. I mean like going around the town, talking to people, who don't say something related to the main quest or something. Just general conversation.

Liberty

RTP Princess

24266

04/24/2013 06:48 AM

Make them real. Let them talk about their lives or reference the monsters/cities in your world. Let them talk about each other and secret treasures - some real, some not -, tell stories about myths, discuss the past or worry about the future.

I mean, what's more interesting?
"Hey there, nice day we're having."
or
"Hey there, nice weather we've been having lately. Hope it keeps up until the harvest is in or there'll be no food this winter."

"Whoa, didn't see you there buddy! Be careful sneaking up on someone like that!"
or
"Whoa! Didn't see you there, buddy! You training to be a Corcadile or something? Damn things just jump out of the bushes at you around the lake down south."

"That's a pretty dress you have on."
or
"Oh, wow. That's a pretty dress you've got there. You buy that at Myst's Boutique? She's got some pretty classy clothes, doesn't she? Oh, but did you hear? There's a rumour going around that she has a whole other collection which is supposed to be ultra special. I wonder if it's true..."

Raoul589

709

04/24/2013 10:29 AM

If you need an idea for something for a random person to say in a pinch, I find the following possibilities useful.

Pick a simple mood or personality for the NPC. Is the NPC happy, sad, grumpy, worried, drunk, upset, hopeful...? Why is this NPC happy or sad or angry or worried or whatever? Normally at this point you can pull something out of the air for them to say. For instance, they could say: 'I hope my husband returns from the war soon...' or 'I can't believe Mum won't let me play outside!' or 'Isn't living by the sea just great?'

Have the NPC ask the player a question, like 'Who are you?', 'Why are you interrupting me? I'm eating.', or 'Can you spare a coin, sir?'.

Look at the location that the NPC is in, and choose something that they could be doing in that place. Then you can have them say 'I think this needs a little more salt.' or 'Gee, moving these crates is tiring.' or 'Can I afford to buy this?' or 'Shh... you'll scare the fish away.'

Have them tell you something about the town, like 'The best tavern in town is the Wistful Parrot', or 'We're preparing for the annual fried rice festival.' Remember that the player is probably a visitor in the town and the NPCs can give him information about the town. Maybe the player silently asked the NPC 'So, any rumours around town?'

Take two or more NPC's and give them an implicit interaction, like having a boy saying 'I told him I would meet him here' and another (in a different area) saying 'Where did my brother go?'. This also lends itself well to little mini-sidequests.

Think about a reason that the player might have interacted with the NPC in the first place (why did the player press to interact with the NPC, in the logic of the game?). If the player (implicitly or explicitly) asked 'Who are you?', the NPC would say 'Me? I'm just in town for the night. Tomorrow, I'm climbing Mt Kenthop to look for Heptaptrons.' If the player asked 'What are you doing?', the NPC would say 'I'm cooking dinner' or 'I'm getting drunk so that I'm warm during guard duty.'

MoonWolfV

3001

04/25/2013 07:14 AM

Thanks for the suggestions. They seem a lot more interesting to talk to now. Even though I still have to make a conscious effort not to have them yakking on about the main quest or how great the local king or queen is.

GIVING NPC'S SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT

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