{"schemaVersion":1,"record":{"key":"mechanic/visual-novel--family-03","type":"mechanic","id":"visual-novel--family-03","lang":"en","title":"Conversation and influence","summary":"Replies and the way they are delivered change the interlocutor’s position, the flow of the conversation, or the available further actions.","updatedAt":"2026-10-22","status":"active","url":"https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/visual-novel--family-03/","jsonUrl":"https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/visual-novel--family-03.json","markdownUrl":"https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/visual-novel--family-03.md","aliases":[],"tags":["Visual novels","Mechanics"],"sourceIds":["source-8fcf1671c353b49b"],"sources":[{"id":"source-8fcf1671c353b49b","title":"Disco Elysium","url":"https://store.steampowered.com/app/632470/Disco_Elysium__The_Final_Cut/","verifiedAt":null}],"sections":[{"id":"principle","title":"How it works","body":"Replies and the way they are delivered change the interlocutor’s position, the flow of the conversation, or the available further actions."},{"id":"variants","title":"Variants","body":"### Variants and applications\n\n<a id=\"family-03-variants\"></a>\n\n- Selecting conversation topics. Type: Mechanics. Rule: The player determines what to talk about and what information to get... <a id=\"variant-vn-024\"></a>\n- Exhaustion of topics. Type: Mechanics. Rule: Used questions disappear or change content... <a id=\"variant-vn-025\"></a>\n- Clarifying questions. Type: Mechanics. Rule: Follow-up questions reveal details and create new topics. <a id=\"variant-vn-026\"></a>\n- Tone control. Type: Mechanics. Rule: Manner of speech changes the reaction to a message of similar content. <a id=\"variant-vn-027\"></a>\n- Persuasion through tactics. Type: Mechanics. Rule: The player selects an argument, sympathy, pressure or other method of influence. <a id=\"variant-vn-028\"></a>\n- Bargain. Type: Mechanics. Rule: The terms of the agreement depend on offers, concessions and refusals. <a id=\"variant-vn-029\"></a>\n- Lies and maintaining a version. Type: Mechanics. Rule: The game checks the consistency of the fictional story with previous statements. <a id=\"variant-vn-030\"></a>\n- Choice of information to be disclosed. Type: Mechanics. Rule: The player decides what truth to tell, to whom and when... <a id=\"variant-vn-031\"></a>\n- Promises and commitments. Type: Mechanics. Rule: What is said creates conditions that can subsequently be fulfilled or violated. <a id=\"variant-vn-032\"></a>\n- Conversation as state management. Type: Mechanics. Rule: Replies increase or decrease anxiety, irritation, willingness to cooperate... <a id=\"variant-vn-033\"></a>\n- Budget issues. Type: Mechanics. Rule: Only a limited number of questions can be asked before the meeting ends. <a id=\"variant-vn-034\"></a>\n- Exit the conversation. Type: Mechanics. Rule: The player ends communication, maintaining the opportunity, losing the chance or changing the relationship. <a id=\"variant-vn-035\"></a>"},{"id":"context","title":"Context and limits","body":"Author's working classification for designing games and interactions. Options can overlap and combine; the list is not a generally accepted standard or proven exhaustive list. Application examples are conditional unless a specific verifiable observation is indicated nearby. Sources support individual techniques and technical limitations."}],"relations":[],"placements":[{"catalogId":"visual-novel","id":"family-03","title":"Visual novels","url":"https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/visual-novel/#family-03","categoryIds":["section-1"]}],"supersededBy":[],"attributes":{"preview":{"updatedAt":"2026-10-22","title":"Conversation and influence","description":"Replies and the way they are delivered change the interlocutor’s position, the flow of the conversation, or the available further actions.","image":{"src":"images/mechanics/disco-elysium-dialogue.webp","width":1440,"height":810,"crop":{"x":563,"y":38,"width":825,"height":712},"game":"Disco Elysium","sourceUrl":"https://store.steampowered.com/app/632470/Disco_Elysium__The_Final_Cut/","originalUrl":"https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/632470/ss_23836438cd455287232be5ae9c4f48d5c488967b.1920x1080.jpg?t=1780913406","credit":"ZA/UM","rights":"© ZA/UM. All rights reserved.","caption":"Attempting to exert Authority","alt":"Attempting to exert Authority","markers":[{"x":79,"y":72,"label":"An Authority check governs an attempt to exert pressure"}]},"tips":["Connect the other character’s response to the argument and its conditions."],"examples":[{"title":"Disco Elysium","url":"https://store.steampowered.com/app/632470/Disco_Elysium__The_Final_Cut/"}]}},"endsAt":null,"provenance":"Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on 2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and editorial review.","license":"CC-BY-4.0","codeLicense":"MIT","attribution":"gamemechanics.pro contributors","catalogKey":"catalog/visual-novel"}}