9 replies to this topic

[Devlinor]

I am working on the part of the dialog where Sherman has been rebuffed by the PC in Lions Way. He is now in the common room at The Friendly Arms Inn. It would go something like this.

(if refused, will go to Friendly Arm Inn and Wait in common Room)

Sherman
We meet again.  My offer still stands, I am willing to add my skills to your group, especially if you are going to Nashkell to help them.

(interjections here)

Jahera
(if Jahera is in party)  (CHARNAME), he has a point about his skills.  He is a good cleric and a good fighter and could help us, but the decision is your to make.

Kalid
(if Kalid is in party)  I d don't normally deal with any of the Orcish folk, half or n not, but He could help us greatly.  His size and fearsomness alone would cause m many to avoid confrontations.  B But as my wife said, the d decision is yours to make.

Imoen
(If Imoen is in the party with Jahera and Kalid)
I think that Auntie Jahera and Uncle Kalid are right (CHARNAME).  But you have to decide.


Imoen
(if Imoen is in the party (Alone)
I think we should take him in.  He's big, he's a Cleric, and he can fight.  we need the support of his spells to heal us and he can scare away a lot of trouble.  But you have to decide.


(End interjections section)

1.   Very well, I think that you would make a good addition to the party Sherman, please join us.  
2.   I still am a little leary of you, meaning no offence, but I think that we may need you in the future.  Can you wait here for us?

Can this be done and if so, how? I have read most of the Tutorials and have not come across this subject. I am hoping that means that there just isn't a tutorial on it yet.

[cmorgan]

Sure - CHAIN is useful. (aaaargh - RL - if no one else picks this up I will be back, but chech out CHAIN construction for doing this. it makes it easy.)

[Devlinor]

Sure - CHAIN is useful. (aaaargh - RL - if no one else picks this up I will be back, but chech out CHAIN construction for doing this. it makes it easy.)

I hope sombody can help. I read the Tutorials, and the WeiDU docs, but the Chain construction part reads like Greek to a Chinese.

And one more question, How do I find out the DV's of Khalid, Jahera, Imoen, and the rest. I used NI to look at the cre files and Infinity Explorer too, but could not figure out which CRE file is used in the BG1 part of BGT, is "Imoen2" the one used for Imoen? Sorry if these questions seem to be dumb, or Newb questions.


Thanks for help in advance.

Devlinor

Edited by Devlinor, 03 April 2008 - 09:33 PM.

[cmorgan]

OK, let's run down this whole idea.

The basic way of building a state is to create

IF ~condition~ THEN BEGIN statename
SAY ~text~
IF ~condition~ THEN EXIT
END

This can be built into fancier options;
example>> moving the state above other states so it gets evaluated (and played if the conditions are met) first:

IF WEIGHT #-1 ~condition~ THEN BEGIN statename  
SAY ~text~
IF ~condition~ THEN EXIT
END

example>> adding other states to the dialog

IF WEIGHT #-1 ~condition~ THEN BEGIN statename  
SAY ~text~
IF ~~ THEN REPLY ~option 1~ EXIT
IF ~condition 1~ THEN REPLY ~option 2~ EXIT
IF ~condition 2~ THEN REPLY ~option 3~ EXIT
IF ~condition 3~ THEN EXIT
END

We already know in this structure that the engine grabs the first state available. We also know that while scripts like .BCS .DLG are evaluated top to bottom, replies within states are evaluated bottom to top;

we see

• if no condition, REPLY ~option 1~ EXIT
  
• if ~condition 1~ THEN REPLY ~option 2~ EXIT
  
• if ~condition 2~ THEN REPLY ~option 3~ EXIT
  
• if ~condition 3~ THEN EXIT

the engine evaluates them in this order and lets them show up if they meet the conditions:

• if ~condition 3~ THEN EXIT
  
• if ~condition 2~ THEN REPLY ~option 3~ EXIT
  
• if ~condition 1~ THEN REPLY ~option 2~ EXIT
  
• if no condition, REPLY ~option 1~ EXIT

In this example, note that the first response evaluated "hijacks" the state - if condition 3 is met, the dialog immediately exits with no reply or action or transition. Let's extend that idea, and instead of exiting, go someplace else in the transition:

example>> externing to another NPC's dialog

IF WEIGHT #-1 ~condition~ THEN BEGIN statename  
SAY ~text~
IF ~~ THEN REPLY ~option 1~ EXIT
IF ~condition 1~ THEN REPLY ~option 2~ EXIT
IF ~condition 2~ THEN REPLY ~option 3~ EXIT
IF ~condition 3~ THEN EXTERN ~dialogfile_of_other_npc~ statename_for_new_state
END

This last one is the way you can manually add "interjection points" in a regular dialog that send the conversation over to the other NPC. Here is an example:

example>> manual code of interjections

IF WEIGHT #-1 ~condition~ THEN BEGIN statename  
SAY ~text~
IF ~~ THEN REPLY ~option 1~ EXIT
IF ~condition 1~ THEN REPLY ~option 2~ EXIT
IF ~condition 2~ THEN REPLY ~option 3~ EXIT
IF ~InParty("Khalid")~ THEN EXTERN ~KHALIDJ~ KhalidTalks
IF ~InParty("Jaheira")~ THEN EXTERN ~JAHEIJ~ Jaheiratalks
IF ~InParty("Imoen2") !InParty("Jaheira") !InParty("Khalid")~ THEN EXTERN ~IMOEN2~ Imoen_Without_J_and_K
END

In this last example, the engine looks and says:

• If Imoen is there without Jaheira or Khalid, don't say anything - just jump to Imoen's dialog file and reference state "Imoen_Without_J_and_K" and say that.
  
• If Jaheira is in the party, don't say anything - just jump to Jaheira's dialog file and reference state "Jaheiratalks" and say that.
  
• If Khalid is in the party, don't say anything - just jump to Khalid's dialog file and reference state "Jaheiratalks" and say that.
  
• If ~condition 2~ is met, print out ~option 2~ and then if the player clicks on this, EXIT.
  
• If ~condition 1~ is met, print out ~option 2~ and then if the player clicks on this, EXIT.
  
• Since there are no conditions on this option, display ~option 1~ and then if the player clicks on this, EXIT.

This is the traditional way of coding NPC responses within a dialog file. Basically, if the conditions are right, EXTERN to the NPC, then EXTERN back to the original speaker. Or even keep it going, EXTERN - ing all over the place, building replies for NPCs. It has some advantages, in that it follows usual coding conventions and it provides a simple way of moving between files. But at some point, it gets frustrating and complicated to code, and can fall prey to missteps. To get Jaheira, Khalid, and Imoen all talking, you need to manually build each option and refer back to the original one:

(note this is just ONE of the several pathways you would have to build - you would have to build Jaheira alone, Jaheira going to Khaild to joning, Imoen alone, Imoen with Jaheira, Imoen with Khalid, Imoen with Jaheira and khalid, etc., etc. all tying back into the same state in SHERMAN.DLG)

APPEND ~KHALIDJ~

IF ~~ THEN BEGIN KhalidTalksJahiera
SAY ~I d- don't normally deal with any of the Orcish folk, half or n- not, but Sherman could help us greatly.  His size and fearsomness alone would cause m- many to avoid confrontations.  B- But as my wife said, the d- decision is yours to make.~
IF ~~ THEN EXTERN ~SHERMAN~ joinornot
END

IF ~~ THEN BEGIN KhalidTalksNOJahiera
SAY ~I d- don't normally deal with any of the Orcish folk, half or n- not, but Sherman could help us greatly. And his buddy Grant, for that m-matter, unless we are in the US Civil War.  His size and fearsomness alone would cause m- many to avoid confrontations.  B- But the d- decision is yours to make.~
IF ~~ THEN EXTERN ~SHERMAN~ joinornot
END

END

Please note I kept it simple - you have to do more than just check if an NPC is in the party or not. They could be in the party but dead, in the party but left outside of the FAI looting Tarnesh's corpse, etc. - the stricter the condition writing, the less bug reports/crashes/etc. Of course, if you condition it down to every third gameday between 9am and 10am for Elven Female Fighter PCs Carrying Carsomyr And In A Romance With Gavin But Still Ogling Ajantis, expect that exactly one person will ever see that content - you. And you might not see it, either But a good check is to make sure they are alive, in the party, in the area, and ok to talk.

So as you can see, there is alot of convoluted state creation and linking to be done in order to get what you want done. It also means keeping track of stuff across multiple files. Bleh.

Luckily, the Old Guard Moddarz gave up on this kind of horrible confusing manual creation long ago. The simpler way of coding up a dialogue with multiple NPC input without interrupting the flow of ideas is called CHAIN.

WARNING: CHAIN construction can be fun, and there is a good older tutorial at CoM that shows how to build *everything* using CHAIN, but most modern coders avoid its use unless you are having an NPC speaking within your dialog. It is generally better to use the tool for its intended function.

In a CHAIN construction, you work directly with what amounts to a series of interjections (I_C_T, I_C_T2, I_C_T3, I_C_T4 all tangental to this discussion, but check the WeiDU docs for why you might want to use some of these in other situations).

Here is the idea in CHAIN, broken down:

CHAIN IF ~condition~ THEN ~target_dialog_file~ statename
~text~
== ~NPC1~ ~NPC1 always says this~
END
IF ~~ THEN REPLY ~option1~ DO ~something~ EXIT
IF ~condition 1~ THEN REPLY ~option2~ EXIT

Extending this idea,

CHAIN IF ~condition~ THEN ~target_dialog_file~ statename
~text~
== ~NPC1~ ~NPC1 always says this~
== ~NPC1~ IF ~condition~ THEN ~NPC1 speaks if the condition is met~
== ~NPC2~ ~NPC2 always says this~
== ~NPC2~ IF ~condition~ THEN ~NPC2 says this, and sets a special global that it has been said~ DO ~SetGlobal("NPC2SaidX","GLOBAL",1)~
END
IF ~~ THEN REPLY ~PC always gets to reply with this~ EXIT
IF ~condition~ THEN REPLY ~PC gets to answer if a condition is met~ EXIT
IF ~condition~ THEN EXTERN ~target_dialog_file~ statename

Some considerations:

• == ~BKHALI~ IF ~InParty("khalid") InMyArea("khalid") !StateCheck("khalid",CD_STATE_NOTVALID)~ THEN ~Khalid Talks Here~
  is a good idea in CHAIN construction, because the dialog will crash if it can't find a speaker. If Khalid is not present, you don't want to call on his banter or joined file... basically, add the conditions to get NPCs to talk only when they are present and everything is ok for the talk.
  
• Replies can be eliminated completely:
  

  CHAIN IF WEIGHT #-1 ~condition~ THEN ~target_dialog_file~ statename~text~== ~NPC1~ ~NPC1 always says this~== ~NPC1~ IF ~condition~ THEN ~NPC1 speaks if the condition is met~== ~NPC2~ ~NPC2 always says this~== ~NPC1~ ~NPC1 always says this~ EXIT

  
  Just make sure the transition is from someone who's always present, or there will be trouble The condition set should include at least two of the participants being ok for dialog.
  
• The original speaker can interject the same way, using his own file:
  

  CHAIN IF ~condition~ THEN BEGIN ~SHERMAN~ ShermanInFAI~Yo, bro. I be chillin'. Whazzup?~== ~JAHEIRAJ~ ~Why are you talking this way, Sherman?~== ~KHALIDJ~ IF ~InParty("Khalid")~ THEN ~N- now d- d- dear...~== ~JAHEIRAJ~ IF ~InParty("Khalid")~ THEN ~Khalid, dearest, chill. The dude is flippin' out.~== ~SHERMAN~ ~Sorry, I just saw YouTube's "White and Nerdy" and couldn't resist.~ENDIF ~~ THEN REPLY ~OK, Join Up.~ DO ~JoinParty() SetGlobal("ShermanRebuffed",GLOBAL",2)~ EXITIF ~~ THEN REPLY ~You just wrong, cuz. Fly. NOT.~ EXIT

  
  
  Evaluates to
  Sherman + Jahiera in the party
  SHERMAN: ~Yo, bro. I be chillin'. Whazzup?~
  JAHEIRA: ~Why are you talking this way, Sherman?~
  SHERMAN: ~Sorry, I just saw YouTube's "White and Nerdy" and couldn't resist.~
  [PC Options]
  
  Khalid in the party without Jaheira
  SHERMAN: ~Yo, bro. I be chillin'. Whazzup?~
  KHALID: ~N- now d- d- dear...~
  //GAME CRASH BECAUSE JAHEIRA ISN'T PRESENT
  [PC Options]
  
  Sherman + Jahiera + Khalid in the party
  SHERMAN: ~Yo, bro. I be chillin'. Whazzup?~
  JAHEIRA: ~Why are you talking this way, Sherman?~
  KHALID: ~N- now d- d- dear...~
  JAHEIRA: ~Khalid, dearest, chill. The dude is flippin' out.~
  SHERMAN: ~Sorry, I just saw YouTube's "White and Nerdy" and couldn't resist.~
  [PC Options]
  
  
  Sherman, no Jahiera, no Khalid
  SHERMAN: ~Yo, bro. I be chillin'. Whazzup?~
  SHERMAN: ~Sorry, I just saw YouTube's "White and Nerdy" and couldn't resist.~
  [PC Options]

OK, so let's code your example, and fix up any loose ends.
Here is how it might work for your dialogue above:

/* Rebuffed: will go to Friendly Arm Inn and wait in common room. "ShermanRebuffed" set when the party says no the first time and sends him away. */

CHAIN IF WEIGHT#-1 ~Global("ShermanRebuffed","GLOBAL",1)~ THEN ~SHERMAN~ ShermanWaitsFAI
~We meet again.  My offer still stands, I am willing to add my skills to your group, especially if you are going to Nashkell to help them.~
== ~JAHEIJ~ IF ~InParty("jaheira") InMyArea("jaheira") !StateCheck("jaheira",CD_STATE_NOTVALID)~ THEN ~<CHARNAME>, he has a point about his skills.  He is a good cleric and a good fighter and could help us, but the decision is your to make.~
== ~KHALIDJ~ IF ~OR(3) !InParty("jaheira") !InMyArea("jaheira") StateCheck("jaheira",CD_STATE_NOTVALID) InParty("khalid") InMyArea("khalid") !StateCheck("khalid",CD_STATE_NOTVALID)~ THEN ~ I d- don't normally deal with any of the Orcish folk, half or n- not, but he could help us greatly.  His size and fearsomness alone would cause m many to avoid confrontations.  As always, the d- decision is yours to make.~
== ~KHALIDJ~ IF ~InParty("jaheira") InMyArea("jaheira") !StateCheck("jaheira",CD_STATE_NOTVALID) InParty("khalid") InMyArea("khalid") !StateCheck("khalid",CD_STATE_NOTVALID)~ THEN ~ I d- don't normally deal with any of the Orcish folk, half or n- not, but he could help us greatly.  His size and fearsomness alone would cause m many to avoid confrontations.  B- But as my wife said, the d- decision is yours to make.~
== ~IMOEN2~ IF ~InParty("imoen2") InMyArea("imoen2") !StateCheck("imoen2",CD_STATE_NOTVALID) InParty("khalid") InMyArea("khalid") !StateCheck("khalid",CD_STATE_NOTVALID) InParty("jaheira") InMyArea("jaheira") !StateCheck("jaheira",CD_STATE_NOTVALID)~ THEN ~I think that Auntie Jaheira and Uncle Khalid are right <CHARNAME>.  But you have to decide.~
== ~IMOEN2~ IF ~InParty("imoen2") InMyArea("imoen2") !StateCheck("imoen2",CD_STATE_NOTVALID) OR(6) !InParty("khalid") !InMyArea("khalid") StateCheck("khalid",CD_STATE_NOTVALID) !InParty("jaheira") !InMyArea("jaheira") StateCheck("jaheira",CD_STATE_NOTVALID~ THEN ~I think we should take him in.  He's big, he's a Cleric, and he can fight.  we need the support of his spells to heal us and he can scare away a lot of trouble.  But you have to decide.~
END
++ ~Very well, I think that you would make a good addition to the party Sherman, please join us.~ DO ~JoinParty() SetGlobal("ShermanRebuffed","GLOBAL",2)~ EXIT  
++ ~I still am a little leary of you, meaning no offence, but I think that we may need you in the future.  Can you wait here for us?~ EXTERN ~SHERMAN~ waitHerelonger

APPEND ~SHERMAN~

IF ~~ waitHerelonger
SAY ~Sure. The barmaid is kinda cute, for an ettin. I'll be over there if you want me to join up later.~
IF ~~ THEN EXIT
END

END

Let's back up and break it down further.

CHAIN // start the sequence, outside of any APPEND or BEGIN or anything else.

IF WEIGHT#-1 // set this dialog state to "evaluated before other stuff already installed"

~Global("ShermanRebuffed","GLOBAL",1)~ // if this value is set; best set one condition from the initial conversation path so there is no confusion

THEN ~SHERMAN~ ShermanWaitsFAI // build all this stuff into SHERMAN.DLG in a state called "ShermanWaitsFAI"

~We meet again. My offer still stands, I am willing to add my skills to your group, especially if you are going to Nashkell to help them.~ // Sherman says this.

== ~JAHEIJ~ IF ~InParty("jaheira") InMyArea("jaheira") !StateCheck("jaheira",CD_STATE_NOTVALID)~ THEN ~<CHARNAME>, he has a point about his skills. He is a good cleric and a good fighter and could help us, but the decision is your to make.~ // If Jaheira is in the party, is in the area, and is not silenced/dead/etc., then this line will run. If any one of those conditions is not met, the line won't run.

//tougher one, and one you missed originally: what if Jaheira is dead, or silenced, or not in the party, but Khalid is?
== ~KHALIDJ~ IF ~OR(3) !InParty("jaheira") !InMyArea("jaheira") StateCheck("jaheira",CD_STATE_NOTVALID) InParty("khalid") InMyArea("khalid") !StateCheck("khalid",CD_STATE_NOTVALID)~ THEN ~ I d- don't normally deal with any of the Orcish folk, half or n- not, but he could help us greatly. His size and fearsomness alone would cause m many to avoid confrontations. As always, the d- decision is yours to make.~
// this says

IF
JAHEIRA IS ANY OF THE THREE (Not in party, or Not in this area, or silenced/dead/turnedtostone/etc.)
AND
KHALID IS ALL OF THE THREE (In Party, In My Area, OK to talk)
THEN play this line.

== ~KHALIDJ~ IF ~InParty("jaheira") InMyArea("jaheira") StateCheck("jaheira",CD_STATE_NOTVALID) InParty("khalid") InMyArea("khalid") !StateCheck("khalid",CD_STATE_NOTVALID)~ THEN ~ I d- don't normally deal with any of the Orcish folk, half or n- not, but he could help us greatly. His size and fearsomness alone would cause m many to avoid confrontations. B- But as my wife said, the d- decision is yours to make.~ // OK, you get it now; here Khalid is only chiming in if he is ok and present and in the party, etc. and Jaheira is also ok, in the party, etc.

Slip over Imoen, as this is all more of the same.

END // start PC responses

++ ~Very well, I think that you would make a good addition to the party Sherman, please join us.~ DO ~JoinParty() SetGlobal("ShermanRebuffed","GLOBAL",2)~ EXIT // ++ is shorthand for the if the reply stuff; say this PC response, do those actions.

++ ~I still am a little leary of you, meaning no offence, but I think that we may need you in the future. Can you wait here for us?~ EXTERN ~SHERMAN~ waitHerelonger // say this as a PC reply, and send us back to Sherman at the end for his response.

APPEND ~SHERMAN~ // go build this in SHERMAN.DLG

IF ~~ waitHerelonger
SAY ~Sure. The barmaid is kinda cute, for an ettin. I'll be over there if you want me to join up later.~
IF ~~ THEN EXIT
END

END


Summary: CHAIN is incredibly useful for getting NPC comments into your content. It can quickly cover multiple interjectors, set specialized globals, and the argument has been made that it is technically possible to code an entire mod as a single long CHAIN. It also has some pitfalls... especially with making sure you don't accidentally make a CHAIN blow up your game by asking for NPCs to talk when they are not present, or are dead, etc.

P.S. - your question about dialog files and dvs for Imoen are another topic entirely; starting points are Ascenscion64's BGT docs, which are a tutorial all in themselves, and I have a G3 tutorial about cross-platform modding variables that will help you out later on. But for right now, stick with what you know. If you are modding on the BGT platform, use "Imoen2" for the DV, BIMOEN2 for the banter file, IMOEN2 for the joined.

Hope this helps, and I didn't aim too low or too high...

EDIT: Other resources about CHAIN usage.

For the extreme usage of this, which I don't personally recommend for any but the most experienced heavy-duty modder, but the concepts are good and there are some interesting points:

Zyreaen's older but still good "Abuse of CHAIN"


For basics with a flair for the fun,

Blue's original "The Road to Banter" , which I like immensely

theaceface's quick modern overview, with a breakdown of conditions "Chain is so cool..."

Edited by cmorgan, 04 April 2008 - 04:12 PM.

[Devlinor]

Thank you CMorgon. This is helpful in the extreme. I was planning to use the imoen2 ad Imoens DV, because when I checked in Infinity explorer, and NI, it was the only one that showed here with just the thief state and the portrait that I had selected. I was asking about the DV more for how to find them for the other NPCs. Sherman is going to have banters and interjections with many of the NPCs and the DVs are not so obvious. Like Will Scarlett Ohare. I don't know what mod added him, but I am glad it did. I also need to find out many of the DVs for the non-joinable NPCs, like the Mayor of Nashkell, and such. I will hunt through the Dialog files. But your explanation of the Chain syntax was and is very helpful. That last bit about the Etten barmaid made me laugh . Thanks a mil.

Devlinor

[cmorgan]

My pleasure. Good luck on the mod!

[ronin]

WOW!!!! freakin awesome, that was a help for me too.

thanks a million dewd

[Devlinor]

Well, thanks to Cmorgan, for his help I finished the Jo8ining dialog file. now I need to work on the DVSHERP.d for when or if he gets booted. then the Banters, and such. But for now I am posting the Joining file so I can get some feedback from the more experienced modders, as to weather or not this is a good dialog file, and what could be done to make it better.

Background:
Sherman 1/2 Orc Fighter/Cleric Lawful good
he will meet the PC in the LionsWay (ar6600)
and go to The Friendly Arms Inn if he is rebuffed.
He is slated as a BGT NPC who will stay with the PC through the game from BG1 through Throne of Bhall. He is also (hopefully) going to have banters with all the BG1 NPC's, Banters with all the BG2 NPCs and those from the Throne of Bhall. He is not slated for a romance, but a friendship may be a possibility. He is also my first NPC, and First Project. Please Comment.

BEGIN DVSherJ

IF ~NumTimesTalkedTo(0)~ THEN BEGIN DVS000

SAY ~I am not going to attack, I just want to talk for a moment.~

++ ~Very well, I am listening.~ + DVS001
++ ~Keep back, I may be hurt but I will defend myself if I must.~ + DVS002
++ ~After what I have been through so far, I am trusting nobody on this road.~ + DVS005

END

IF ~~ THEN BEGIN DVS001
SAY ~I will.  I am heading to The Friendly Arms Inn, which is north and a bit to the east.  The Mayor of Nashkell asked me to meet with two adventurers there named Jahera, and Kalid and escort them down to Nashkell so that they might look into matters there.  If you are heading in the general direction of the Inn, I would like to join you.  Three travel safer then two, and much safer then one, alone.  I could add another set of eyes for the road and the night watch.~

++ ~Jahera?  Kalid?  My foster father told me to seek those two out if something happened and What you say is true, there is safty in numbers.  Please join us.~ + DVS006
++ ~My foster father was murdered by a hellspawn with eyes that glowed, why should I not believe that you are in league with it.~ + DVS004
++ ~I think that I should trust you, but after what has happened, I don't know.~ + DVS005

END

IF ~~ THEN BEGIN DVS002

SAY ~I am a cleric, and I have some healing potions, if you are in need~

+ ~Class(Player1,CLERIC_ALL)~ + ~I am a cleric also, I just have not had the time to heal myself, what is it you wanted to talk about.~ + DVS003
+ ~!Class(Player1,CLERIC_ALL)~ + ~Thank you for the offer, but I am more interested in what you want to talk about.~ + DVS003
++ ~I don't think I can accept your offer, and now I wish to go.  Please let us pass,~ + DVS005

END

IF ~~ THEN BEGIN DVS003
SAY ~Very well.  I am heading to The Friendly Arms Inn, which is north and a bit to the east.  The Mayor of Nashkell asked me to meet with two adventurers there named Jahera, and Kalid and escort them down to Nashkell so that they might look into matters there.  If you are heading in the general direction of the Inn, I would like to join you.  Three travel safer then two, and much safer then one, alone.  I could add another set of eyes for the road and the night watch.~

++ ~Jahera?  Kalid?  My foster father told me to seek those two out if something happened and What you say is true, there is safty in numbers.  Please join us.~ + DVS006
++ ~My foster father was murdered by a hellspawn with eyes that glowed, why should I not believe that you are in league with it.~ + DVS004
++ ~I think that I should trust you, but after what has happened, I don't know.~ + DVS005

END

IF ~~ THEN BEGIN DVS004

SAY ~(draws himself up indignantly) I serve the Lady of Magic, Mystra, though only as a cleric, not priest. (he shows his holy symbol)  I serve no evil.  (he calms visibly)  I am sorry that I lost my temper, I had hoped that I could gain your trust, but I think that my race and appearance are against me.  I will Leave,  I am sorry about your foster father.  I lost my parents by murder ten years ago, so I think that I know what you are feeling.~

++ ~No, I should apologise.  My foster father taught me to look beyond appearance. You serve Mystra, and she will not allow evil to wear her sign.  Please join us, and accept my apology.~ + DVS006
++ ~I am sorry.  I realize that no evil could wear Mystra's symbol lightly, yet I cannot accept your offer yet.  Maybe we shall meet at The Friendly Arms Inn.~ + DVS005

END

IF ~~ THEN BEGIN DVS005

SAY ~I can understand that.  I will Be at The Friendly Arms Inn where we may meet under better circumstances.~
IF ~~ THEN DO ~SetGlobal("DVShermanRebuffed","GLOBAL",1)~
IF ~~ THEN DO ~EscapeAreaMove("AR6801",685,402,2)~ EXIT
END

IF ~~ THEN BEGIN DVS006

SAY ~Thank You for your Trust~
IF ~~ THEN DO ~SetGlobal("DVShermanJoined","GLOBAL",1) JoinParty()~ EXIT /* Sherman joins the party */
END
/* The scripting below was done for me by Cmorgan and all I did was switch around a bit of text.  My thanks to Cmorgan for his help in this, my first project. */
/* Rebuffed: will go to Friendly Arm Inn and wait in common room. "ShermanRebuffed" set when the party says no the first time and sends him away. */

CHAIN IF WEIGHT#-1 ~Global("DVShermanRebuffed","GLOBAL",1)~ THEN ~SHERMAN~ ShermanWaitsFAI
~We meet again.  My offer still stands, I am willing to add my skills to your group, especially if you are going to Nashkell to help them.~
== ~JAHEIJ~ IF ~InParty("jaheira") InMyArea("jaheira") !StateCheck("jaheira",CD_STATE_NOTVALID)~ THEN ~<CHARNAME>, he has a point about his skills.  He is a good cleric and a good fighter and could help us, but the decision is your to make.~
== ~KHALIDJ~ IF ~OR(3) !InParty("jaheira") !InMyArea("jaheira") StateCheck("jaheira",CD_STATE_NOTVALID) InParty("khalid") InMyArea("khalid") !StateCheck("khalid",CD_STATE_NOTVALID)~ THEN ~ I d- don't normally deal with any of the Orcish folk, half or n- not, but he could help us greatly.  His size and fearsomness alone would cause m many to avoid confrontations.  As always, the d- decision is yours to make.~
== ~KHALIDJ~ IF ~InParty("jaheira") InMyArea("jaheira") !StateCheck("jaheira",CD_STATE_NOTVALID) InParty("khalid") InMyArea("khalid") !StateCheck("khalid",CD_STATE_NOTVALID)~ THEN ~ I d- don't normally deal with any of the Orcish folk, half or n- not, but he could help us greatly.  His size and fearsomness alone would cause m many to avoid confrontations.  B- But as my wife said, the d- decision is yours to make.~
== ~IMOEN2~ IF ~InParty("imoen2") InMyArea("imoen2") !StateCheck("imoen2",CD_STATE_NOTVALID) InParty("khalid") InMyArea("khalid") !StateCheck("khalid",CD_STATE_NOTVALID) InParty("jaheira") InMyArea("jaheira") !StateCheck("jaheira",CD_STATE_NOTVALID)~ THEN ~I think that Auntie Jaheira and Uncle Khalid are right <CHARNAME>.  But you have to decide.~
== ~IMOEN2~ IF ~InParty("imoen2") InMyArea("imoen2") !StateCheck("imoen2",CD_STATE_NOTVALID) OR(6) !InParty("khalid") !InMyArea("khalid") StateCheck("khalid",CD_STATE_NOTVALID) !InParty("jaheira") !InMyArea("jaheira") StateCheck("jaheira",CD_STATE_NOTVALID~ THEN ~I think we should take him in.  He's big, he's a Cleric, and he can fight.  we need the support of his spells to heal us and he can scare away a lot of trouble.  But you have to decide.~
END
++ ~Very well, I think that you would make a good addition to the party Sherman, please join us, and welcome.~ DO ~JoinParty() SetGlobal("ShermanRebuffed","GLOBAL",2)~ EXIT
++ ~I still am a little leary of you, meaning no offence, but I think that we may need you in the future.  Can you wait here for us?~ EXTERN ~SHERMAN~ waitHerelonger

APPEND ~SHERMAN~

IF ~~ waitHerelonger
SAY ~I'll take a room here.  Please tell Mayor Ghaskell that I am here, should he need to contact me.  I hope to see you soon, and I hope you are successful.~
IF ~~ THEN EXIT
END

END

I welcome all advice from the modders here on this one. So far I will have four to thank in the readme, with high thanks and praise to Cmorgan for his help in this thread.

Devlinor

[SConrad]

For the record, I just want to say that there is another school of thought on how to handle interjections in this context. Don't get me wrong--the method cmorgan explained so thoroughly definitely works. Other people, however, do it differently, using I_C_T[2-4]?. It's all a matter of personal preference.

Also:

BEGIN DVSherJ
[...]
APPEND ~SHERMAN~

These two (as well as the EXTERN and in the CHAIN) should be using the same dialogue name, as they are the same dialogue. You might want to do "DVSher," as the J dialogue should be for when your NPC has joined the party.

[Devlinor]

For the record, I just want to say that there is another school of thought on how to handle interjections in this context. Don't get me wrong--the method cmorgan explained so thoroughly definitely works. Other people, however, do it differently, using I_C_T[2-4]?. It's all a matter of personal preference.

Also:

BEGIN DVSherJ
[...]
APPEND ~SHERMAN~

These two (as well as the EXTERN and in the CHAIN) should be using the same dialogue name, as they are the same dialogue. You might want to do "DVSher," as the J dialogue should be for when your NPC has joined the party.

Thank you for the input. I will probably do what is simplest. I am a firm believer in the KISS doctrine (IE Keep It Simple Silly). This was the Joining dialog, and I wanted to set up a possible twist for future banters right off. If this dialog file works as hoped, then I have fulfilled part one. Thank you again for the input and the advice. I know I have a ways to go before I earn the little pill under my avitar that says Modder. My opinion is that it takes more then a simple NPC to earn it, and I have never done things half-way.

Devlinor