Dialogue systems

Model conversations as a graph: nodes hold lines, choices branch the flow, conditions gate options, and variables remember what the player did. The first real decision is build vs. buy — adopt a proven authoring tool (Ink or Yarn Spinner) or write a small data-driven runner. This skill owns both Ink and Yarn; the visual-novel and rpg genres consume it.

When to use

• Use to design branching conversations, choice menus, or narrative state (flags, relationship values) that affect later dialogue.
• Use to decide between Ink, Yarn Spinner, and a custom JSON/resource format.
• Use to wire a dialogue script into your game loop (advance line, present choices, run commands, resolve variables).

When not to use: for engine UI (text boxes, portraits, choice buttons), use godot-ui-control or the engine's UI skill. For persisting narrative variables across sessions, use save-systems. For data-as-resources in Godot/Unity, see godot-resources / unity-scriptableobjects.