PC or NPC ends the conversation?

[Legacy_KooKoo88]

               Hello,

I've been writing my modules with the PC always having the last word, even if it's [END DIALOGUE].  Recently I've seen conversations end with the NPC having the last line and it's really bothered me.

I'm wondering if there's a standard convention for this or if everyone has their own preference? . . .

good gaming.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Shia Luck]

               IME the standard is to have PC end the conversation, but i think it depends on the context and what the two are saying, no?  [END DIALOGUE] is not exactly elegant or immersive. Ideally the conversation ends as it would naturally including sometimes when the PC is left dying to say something but the NPC just walked off on them, no? 

Have fun '>
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_jmlzemaggo]

               There is a standard convention of course I remember reading once. I wrote it down somewhere, let me find it. 'couple of seconds... Oh, okay, here it is. 'read it: "The standard convention says... it's up to the writer." I suppose following the standard law which says "no author, no game..."
'sounds like you're pretty much free here then. The only question is why did you ask that particular question... Do you need some freedom to write what you really want to write? Okay, I remember another convention about that. ***looking*** There! 'reading english... 'got it! It just says: "Just do it!" and the text ends suddenly, with some very dark red blood around the very last word... 
               
               

               

                     Modifié par jmlzemaggo, 21 juillet 2010 - 10:09 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_rogueknight333]

               Your practice is the norm. The convention, for whatever conventions are worth, is to have the PC end the conversation, if necessary with a rather artificial final line. I have only rarely seen it done otherwise. I think it makes sense to do it that way most of the time. Ending a conversation on an NPC line causes the conversation window to abruptly and unexpectedly close, forcing the player to shift to look at the text over the NPC's head, or in the window at the bottom of the screen, to see what was said, which might confuse and disconcert players. Giving players control over when to end a conversation gives them the freedom to either read through the text slowly, pondering every word, or rush through it as quickly as possible, as their tastes may incline them. Now if in the middle of a conversation a dragon were to suddenly drop out of the sky and land behind the PC, it might make sense to have the NPC at this stage abruptly break off speaking and flee in terror, but such a scenario is not typical.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_KooKoo88]

               

rogueknight333 wrote...

Ending a conversation on an NPC line causes the conversation window to abruptly and unexpectedly close, forcing the player to shift to look at the text over the NPC's head, or in the window at the bottom of the screen, to see what was said, which might confuse and disconcert players.

Hi rogueknight333!  That's what I thought would happen.  It seemed to me that they cut off abruptly, but I was starting to doubt my memory.  I will continue the way I've been doing it. 

Thank you all for the responses. '>

Good gaming.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Sharona Curves]

               Although it varies based on the conversation being had, it has been my experience that the NPC is the one usually with the last word.  Of course, this is based on Persistent World constructed conversations where the PC usually has numerous branching options of things to ask and question the NPC on.  The ending is usually something along the lines of:
 
(PC) - Thanks for the info.
->(NPC) - Anytime (Lad/Lass).  Happy Adventuring to ya!
 
It just seems odd if most of the time to have the PC have the last word, at least from what I've seen.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_dndr]

               

KooKoo88 wrote...

Hello,

I've been writing my modules with the PC always having the last word, even if it's [END DIALOGUE].

'end dialogue' makes the most sense to me.