Active Speaker Overhead Indicator

[tmeans825]

Hey! I am not using text-bubble based dialogue in my game (I'm essentially using the base WRPG type template).

With that, I was wondering if there was a relatively easy built-in way to show an indicator (not a quest indicator) over the current speaking actor's head (like the icon of a speech bubble with '...' to indicate they're the one currently speaking). I searched all over the forum/documentation and could only find references to quest indicators, though I want this indicator over the head of whoever is speaking at any given time, regardless of quests.

Thank you, and I'm loving the plug-in so far!

[Tony Li]

Hi,

You can use a script with an OnConversationLine method to show the indicator. Here's a basic example:

First, say each character has a simple script like the one below to manage its overhead indicator:

Code: Select all

public class Speaker : MonoBehaviour
{
    public GameObject indicator;
}

Then add a script to the Dialogue Manager, something like:

Code: Select all

public class SpeakingIndicatorManager : MonoBehaviour
{
    private Speaker lastSpeaker;
    
    void OnConversationLine(Subtitle subtitle)
    {
        if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(subtitle.formattedText.text)) return; // Line is empty; don't show indicator.
        if (lastSpeaker == null || subtitle.speakerInfo.transform != lastSpeaker.transform)
        {
            if (lastSpeaker != null) lastSpeaker.indicator.SetActive(false);
            var currentSpeaker = subtitle.speakerInfo.transform.GetComponent<Speaker>();
            currentSpeaker.indicator.SetActive(true);
            lastSpeaker = currentSpeaker;
        }
    }  
    
    void OnConversationEnd(Transform actor) 
    {
        if (lastSpeaker != null) lastSpeaker.indicator.SetActive(false);
        lastSpeaker = null;
    }
}

[tmeans825]

Thank you for the example Tony, this makes a lot of sense. You rock!

[Tony Li]

Glad to help. Thanks for using the Dialogue System!

[Lekonia]

Hi
Just got the Dialogue System and it is working wonderfully, i stumbled on this post which sounds exactly like what i am looking for, i am trying to implement the scripts for a simple test, I wanted to confirm that with the "SpeakingIndicatorManager" script, it needs to use the "using PixelCrushers.DialogueSystem;" for the "OnConversationLine" to work? (Specifically the "Subtitle" aspect of the method)

I am very new to all this but i am very keen to learn, and thank you for making such a great System.

[Tony Li]

Yes, that's correct.

Tip: If you type in some code and it doesn't recognize a word such as "Subtitle", you can usually right-click on the word and select a menu option to add the necessary line to recognize it, such as "using PixelCrushers.DialogueSystem;" in this case.

[Lekonia]

Thank you!
It is working wonders and the indicators are doing their thing for the NPC's, thank you for the help and to the original poster for this thread.

[Tony Li]

Great! Glad it's working.