How do I create dummy nodes that do nothing except flow to the next state immediately? (like the START/END node)

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Someone
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Feb 16, 2022 6:27 am

How do I create dummy nodes that do nothing except flow to the next state immediately? (like the START/END node)

Post by Someone »

Here is my attempt. I tried both Next() and Continue() sequences and neither worked.
I also tried flipping the Actor/Conversant.



They either give me a blank player response menu or the NPC's continue button.
I want them to behave as though the conversation looked like this,



So, like they're not even there.

I'm importing the conversations from an external source that is rather difficult to work with, and those dummy nodes make it easier to write the import logic. I could post-process the graph and remove the dummy nodes after but the import logic is complicated enough as it is.

Is there an easy way to accomplish this? Or am I out of luck and should just post-process?

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I haven't attempted it yet but I'd also like it if the dummy nodes can execute arbitrary Lua in the script, but otherwise not affect the conversation at all. (Something simple like x = foo(), so either branch can access the variable x)
Someone
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Feb 16, 2022 6:27 am

Re: How do I create dummy nodes that do nothing except flow to the next state immediately? (like the START/END node)

Post by Someone »

Whoops, just figured it out by looking at the source code.
Checking the "isGroup" checkbox seems to make it behave as I want it to.

Code: Select all

<c>true</c> if this entry is an empty line used to group a subtree of dialogue entries.
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Tony Li
Posts: 22149
Joined: Thu Jul 18, 2013 1:27 pm

Re: How do I create dummy nodes that do nothing except flow to the next state immediately? (like the START/END node)

Post by Tony Li »

Hi,

Glad you found it. Group nodes are exactly the right thing for immediate pass-through.

If you want to add a node that delays logic (as mentioned here), then instead of a Group node use a node with no Dialogue Text and set the Sequence to: Continue()
Someone
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Feb 16, 2022 6:27 am

Re: How do I create dummy nodes that do nothing except flow to the next state immediately? (like the START/END node)

Post by Someone »

Thanks for linking to the doc for delayed passthrough! This will be extremely helpful to me!
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