Working With Conversations and Interactions

Objective

The goal of this guide is to introduce creating Quest Items, using Variables, creating a Conversation, and making Props interactable. Advancing further into the Secret Lab is going to require interacting with a Computer. This will trigger a Conversation and result in acquiring a Quest Item. We're also going to set a Variable in the conversation; if the player has a high enough skill, this Quest Item will allow progress through a Door.

1. Create a Quest Item
2. Create a Variable
3. Create a Conversation
4. Make a Prop Interactable

Creating a Quest Item

First off we'll create a quest item that can later be acquired by the player in a conversation. Quest items can be found in the Story Data view.

1. Click File -> Select New Quest Item
2. Enter an Item Name (e.g. tut_s01_Security Code)
3. Enter an UI Name (e.g. Security Code)
4. Enter a Description (e.g. Access codes for the Securiy Lab doors)

The Editor keeps all Quest Items and Conversations of the entire Content Pack in the Story Data panel. It is recommended to come up a naming scheme to help keep all your data sorted. For example:

• c01-s01_ConversationName
• c01-s01_QuestItem

Like this, everything from Chapter01 - Scene01 will be grouped together.

Create a Variable

Lets create a variable for use in the conversation. These are stored in the Scene Data view.

1. Right-Click Variables -> Select Create Variable
2. Set the Property Name to AlarmOn
3. Set the Property Type to Bool
4. Select AlarmOn and set the Bool Value to True by checking the box.

Create a Conversation

With the Quest Item and Variable prepared we can go about setting up our Conversation. Conversations, like Quest Items, are stored in the Story Data view.

1. Click File -> Select New Conversation
2. Name the Conversation (e.g. "tut_s01_Computer")
3. Select [END DIALOGUE]
   1. Click to create a new item
   2. Select [End DIALOGUE]
   3. Enter "Renraku Lab Systems, Operating System v3.41 -- Main Menu" in the Dialogue tab.
   4. Click and add 3 more items
4. Select the first [END DIALOGUE]
   1. Enter Door Codes in the Dialogue Box
   2. Check Available Only Once
   3. With Door Codes still selected -> Click to create a new item
   4. Select [End DIALOGUE]
   5. Enter "You access today's security codes." for the Dialogue
   6. Under the Type drop down select GM Voice
   7. Click the Conditions and Actions Tab
   8. Click to add a new condition
   9. Right-Click No Effect -> Under Actors -> Select Add Item to Team
   10. Right-Click LightningBarrier5 -> Under Existing Items -> Under Quest Items -> Select tut_s01_Security Code
   11. Select the Renraku Lab Systems... node -> Click to copy the node
   12. Select the "You access today's..." node -> Click to create a new node
   13. Select [END DIALOGUE] -> Click to paste the node as a link
5. Select the second [END DIALOGUE]
   1. Enter Security Alarm in the Dialogue Box
   2. Check Available Only Once
   3. With Security Alarm selected -> Click
   4. Select [END DIALOGUE]
   5. Enter "You turn off the Alarm system" in the Dialogue Box
   6. Under the Type drop down select GM Voice
   7. Click the Conditions and Actions tab
   8. Click to add a new condition
   9. Select the Renraku Lab Systems... node -> Click to copy the node
   10. Select the You turn off the... node -> Click to create a new node
   11. Select [END DIALOGUE] -> Click to paste the node as a link
6. Select the Security Alarm node
   1. Click the Conditions and Actions tab
   2. Click to add a new Prerequisite
   3. Right-Click No Effect -> Select Compare Actor Skill
   4. Right-Click Ranged Combat -> Under Preset Value -> Select Decking
   5. Right-Click Equal To -> Under Preset Vaue -> Select Greater Than or Equal To
   6. Enter {{CC}} Decking 3 {{/CC}} before Security Alarm in the Dialogue Box

Interactable Props

The Computer

With the conversation all put together, we need something to start it. We'll use the computer in the corner of the southern room to make this happen.

1. Select the computer prop
2. In the Properties View change Prop Name from Cyberterminal to Computer
3. Click
4. Change Interaction Type to Generic Interaction

Create Trigger

We now need a trigger to fire off the conversation when the computer is interacted with

1. Create a new Trigger in the Scene Data view
2. Give the new Trigger a descriptive name (e.g. prp_Computer)

When

1. Click to create a new When Statement
2. Right-Click the new When Statement -> Select On Item Interaction
3. Set the item to "Computer"

Do

1. Click to create a new Do Statement
2. Right-Click the new Do -> Under Dialogue -> Select Start Conversation
3. Set the Conversation to start with Triggering Actor
4. Check Retain this Trigger After Firing

The Door

Now that the player can recieve the quest item, lets create a door that can use it. We can use the door in the eastern room, just north of the computer. We will create a condition that checks that the player has the security codes. For added affect, we'll make it so the door can't be opened if the alarms are still on.

1. Select the computer prop
2. Click
   1. Click to add a new condition
      1. Right-Click No Condition -> Select Evaluate if Actor has Item
      2. Change Lightning Barrier 5 to tut_s01_Security Code
   2. Click to add a new condition
      1. Right-Click No Condition -> Select Comparison (bool)
      2. Change False to AlarmOn

Testing the Scene

With everything in place it is time to test the scene. This requires the game client to be running with the content menu open.

1. Select Test Scene
2. Select Hire Main Character from the Main Character Override drop down
3. Click Test Scene
4. Switch focus to the Shadowrun game client
5. Click "Continue" when the scene has finished loading