Thoughts on FO2 Dialog Tools

Robert B

Robert B

Kitty's got some rads!
Alright, in working on my replacement mod, I started digging into techniques to create dialog scripts. My primary goal was to determine whether I should script my dialogs manually or whether there was a tool out there that could make the process easier.

I should note that there's no recent forum entry on dialog or any of these tools. I've run across a few brief mentions in the NMA Archived forums, but nothing that definitively says a particular technique is superior to others. So, this is pretty much virgin territory from a forum post perspective.

I was able to identify 4 related tools out on @Drobovik's database. I could not find any other tools (though they may exist on the TeamX site, etc.) They were as follows...
  • FMF_Dialog_Editor_v0.27.2-beta_by DjUnique (Fan Made Fallout Dialog Editor)
  • Visual Dialog Maker v0.9.2_by Slash
  • Fallout Dialog Generator MSG - SSL v2.2beta_by Mario Dweller
  • dialog_checker_v1.0.9.0_by IcEMaN345
In testing each, it quickly became clear that the FMF Dialog editor tool was more complete than the other dialog related tools I was reviewing. The 3 competitor tools each perform a small part of the dialog creation, editing or validation process well; but nothing is as comprehensive as the FMF Dialog Editor.

As a novice, it looks like the FMF Dialog Editor will be easier to use than generating scripts manually, so that's the path I'm planning to take. With that said, there are a few key resources that you need to refer to before diving into dialog creation. They are...
Now, my question to the NMA community is on whether my decision is a sound one. Do you all use the FMF Dialog tool, do you do it manually or is there something else hiding out there that I've missed?

Thanks in advance,

RB.-
 
Notepad. Sorry, but none of the tools mentioned above are any good in the long run. There is just no good tool around and there probably will never be any.

Better accept that and punish yourself with notepad.

The best dialog editor for a Fallout game that I've seen so far was the one for FOnline... but of course it isn't compatible with the original games. Also it's not very comfortable to use either (but better than nothing). The one Obsidian made and forced into the GECK for New Vegas is ok too. Unless you can write your own tool, you can either try to handle the ones you mentioned or... like I said, go with Notepad.

Lack of a good tool is one of the main reasons why progress with my mod is stalling again. Most of my dialog files are a fucking mess, because I'm adding / removing stuff every once in a while and there is just no clear pattern anymore. It's all bullshit.
 
@Lexx I can always count on you for the honest truth. :grin: It is sincerely appreciated. :clap:

While I still want to play with the FMF tool a little more; I'll start planning to perform direct creation of my dialog scripts and see how things go. I'm sure it'll start driving me crazy in no time! :aiee: I'm already struggling with writing the dialog in the storyline and haven't even started coding it yet. The creative process is the first, most important step (and I'm struggling with it).

Thanks again Lexx,

RB.-
 
The FMF tool is more of a general script editor, though. If you know how to handle the pain, you can build most of the game with it, I guess. It would be a lot better already if it could show dialogue in a treeview or heck, a flowchart graph. The nodeview is just plain bullshit, imo.
 
I myself need a handy tool for creating dialogs.
Therefore, I am working on an idea with diagrams, here are the first results of work on reworking the tool to build diagrams.
While this does not look good, but it works)
test.png
@Lexx
The only question for you, do you want to edit the code of the dialog Node directly on the diagram?
 
Depends what's easier. If the procedures are shown in flowchart style, I'm pretty sure it would be handy to be able to edit the whole procedure code in it. Also I guess it would be easier to write the program as you don't have to filter a procedure for certain elements? (dialog options, etc)
 
I use a hex editor, XVI32 is my favorite. Sorry, but Notepad is just unreliable in the long run. There is no good text editor and probably never will be. :)
 
Lexx said:
Depends what's easier. If the procedures are shown in flowchart style, I'm pretty sure it would be handy to be able to edit the whole procedure code in it.
Click to expand...
Editing the code directly in the flowchart, with this of course there are complications, since this is essentially an interactive picture, but I'll think of something)
Also I guess it would be easier to write the program as you don't have to filter a procedure for certain elements? (dialog options, etc)
Click to expand...
I do not quite understand your proposal, because there are difficulties in translation.
Or simply did not understand your question.
 
I thought you're showing the procedure code directly in a "block" from the flowchart. That would mean it is easier to make: Just take the procedure code and display it in the flowchart block, similar to what I was proposing here (here).
 
Lexx said:
I thought you're showing the procedure code directly in a "block" from the flowchart. That would mean it is easier to make: Just take the procedure code and display it in the flowchart block.
Click to expand...
I take as a basis your images.
But to display the code as you imagine it on the images, it will be difficult to implement all the nuances of the code, what if the code for the nodes looks like this? )
Code: 
If <condition> then Reply (230); Else Reply (220);

Most likely the code will be edited in a separate pop-up control, on top of the image of flowcharts, as on your second enlarged image.
 
If someone writes his code like this, he has to change his habits. :p
 
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