---
key: mechanic/dialogue--family-access
type: mechanic
id: dialogue--family-access
lang: en
title: Starting and ending a conversation
summary: >-
  Entry conditions, initiator and controls determine when a conversation starts
  and how it can end.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/dialogue--family-access/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/dialogue--family-access.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/dialogue--family-access.md
aliases: []
tags:
  - Dialogue
  - Structure and input
sourceIds:
  - source-3992177cb9c36d87
sources:
  - id: source-3992177cb9c36d87
    title: Duolingo
    url: 'https://blog.duolingo.com/product-highlights/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: dialogue
    id: family-access
    title: Dialogue
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/dialogue/#family-access'
    categoryIds:
      - section-1
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
    title: Starting and ending a conversation
    description: >-
      Entry conditions, initiator and controls determine when a conversation
      starts and how it can end.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/duolingo-video-call.webp
      width: 1400
      height: 800
      crop:
        x: 150
        'y': 50
        width: 1100
        height: 700
      game: Duolingo
      sourceUrl: 'https://blog.duolingo.com/product-highlights/'
      originalUrl: >-
        https://storage.ghost.io/c/7a/33/7a33d0f4-927d-4fe8-a6bf-96131b5e76d4/content/images/2025/12/EN-DuolingoProductYIR-Video-Call-1.png
      credit: 'Duolingo, Inc.; official screenshot comparison of Video Call with Lily'
      rights: >-
        Screenshots © their respective rights holders. Provided in the official
        guide or product article; all rights reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC
        BY 4.0.
      caption: Starting a call and ending it
      alt: Starting a call and ending it
      markers:
        - x: 23
          'y': 58
          label: The button starts a conversation with Lily
        - x: 50
          'y': 84
          label: A separate button ends the call
    tips:
      - Make the start and exit controls clear before the first response.
    examples:
      - title: Duolingo
        url: 'https://blog.duolingo.com/product-highlights/'
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/dialogue
---
# Starting and ending a conversation

id: dialogue--family-access
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/dialogue--family-access
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/dialogue--family-access/

Entry conditions, initiator and controls determine when a conversation starts and how it can end.

## At a glance

![Starting a call and ending it](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/duolingo-video-call.webp)

[Duolingo](https://blog.duolingo.com/product-highlights/) · Screenshots © their respective rights holders. Provided in the official guide or product article; all rights reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.

1. The button starts a conversation with Lily
2. A separate button ends the call

- Make the start and exit controls clear before the first response.

- [Duolingo](https://blog.duolingo.com/product-highlights/)

## How it works

The terms, initiator, and entry method determine when communication begins and how it can be ended.

## Variants

### Variants and applications

<a id="family-access-variants"></a>

- Player initiative. Rule: The player addresses the selected character, who can accept or reject the request. <a id="variant-access-01"></a>
- NPC initiative. Rule: The character himself starts a conversation when the conditions are met or his own need appears. <a id="variant-access-02"></a>
- Event conversation. Rule: An encounter, discovery, alarm, or story event automatically triggers an exchange of remarks. <a id="variant-access-03"></a>
- Access through an intermediary. Rule: To speak with a character, you must obtain an introduction, invitation, or audience. <a id="variant-access-04"></a>
- Entering into someone else's conversation. Rule: The player joins an already ongoing discussion and changes the composition of the participants. <a id="variant-access-05"></a>
- Postponed meeting. Rule: The parties agree to talk later, at an appointed time or under other circumstances. <a id="variant-access-06"></a>
- Voluntary exit. Rule: Player or NPC ends conversation; care can receive a separate social assessment. <a id="variant-access-07"></a>
- Suspension and resumption. Rule: The conversation maintains unfinished context and continues after the break. <a id="variant-access-08"></a>

## Context and limits

Author's working taxonomy compiled for this request. Titles are descriptive; sources confirm individual principles and examples, and not the entire list.

## Connected materials


## Sources and 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.

- [Duolingo](https://blog.duolingo.com/product-highlights/) (id: source-3992177cb9c36d87)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors