---
key: mechanic/dialogue--family-etiquette
type: mechanic
id: dialogue--family-etiquette
lang: en
title: 'Status, etiquette and rituals'
summary: >-
  Social status, forms of address and rituals determine appropriate dialogue
  options and other characters’ reactions.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/dialogue--family-etiquette/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/dialogue--family-etiquette.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/dialogue--family-etiquette.md
aliases: []
tags:
  - Dialogue
  - Game rules
sourceIds:
  - source-61bf1085758a8075
sources:
  - id: source-61bf1085758a8075
    title: Pentiment
    url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/1205520/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: dialogue
    id: family-etiquette
    title: Dialogue
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/dialogue/#family-etiquette'
    categoryIds:
      - section-2
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
    title: 'Status, etiquette and rituals'
    description: >-
      Social status, forms of address and rituals determine appropriate dialogue
      options and other characters’ reactions.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/dialogue-pentiment-11.webp
      width: 1440
      height: 810
      crop:
        x: 525
        'y': 225
        width: 788
        height: 488
      game: Pentiment
      sourceUrl: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/1205520/'
      originalUrl: >-
        https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/1205520/ss_88593d62ce96069e28d113c331e710be024ed221.1920x1080.jpg?t=1759874806
      credit: Obsidian Entertainment / Xbox Game Studios
      rights: >-
        Game imagery © its respective rights holders. Publisher-distributed
        Steam screenshot; all rights reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.
      caption: Addressing a baron by title in Pentiment
      alt: Addressing a baron by title in Pentiment
      markers:
        - x: 60
          'y': 43
          label: The title and greeting reflect the character’s social status
    tips:
      - Establish social norms and appropriate forms of address in advance.
    examples:
      - title: Pentiment
        url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/1205520/'
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
---
# Status, etiquette and rituals

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

Social status, forms of address and rituals determine appropriate dialogue options and other characters’ reactions.

## At a glance

![Addressing a baron by title in Pentiment](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/dialogue-pentiment-11.webp)

[Pentiment](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1205520/) · Game imagery © its respective rights holders. Publisher-distributed Steam screenshot; all rights reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.

1. The title and greeting reflect the character’s social status

- Establish social norms and appropriate forms of address in advance.

- [Pentiment](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1205520/)

## How it works

Social status, rituals, and accepted forms of address change the availability and meaning of cues.

## Variants

### Variants and applications

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

- Application form. Rule: The correct name, title, and degree of formality will change the NPC's willingness to listen... <a id="variant-etiquette-01"></a>
- Welcome ritual. Rule: To start a meaningful exchange, you need to follow the accepted sequence of actions. <a id="variant-etiquette-02"></a>
- The right to ask a question. Rule: A hierarchy or procedure determines who can ask and on what topics. <a id="variant-etiquette-03"></a>
- Forbidden topic. Rule: Some questions violate a norm, provoke a sanction, or require special permission. <a id="variant-etiquette-04"></a>
- Saving face. Rule: The player seeks a concession so that the NPC can publicly maintain status and dignity. <a id="variant-etiquette-05"></a>
- Public commitment. Rule: Witnesses reinforce the social cost of a promise, refusal, or change of position. <a id="variant-etiquette-06"></a>
- Cultural adaptation. Rule: The player notices local norms and changes the usual manner of communication. <a id="variant-etiquette-07"></a>
- Formal speech act. Rule: An oath, order, sentence or consent changes status if the necessary powers and conditions are present. <a id="variant-etiquette-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.

- [Pentiment](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1205520/) (id: source-61bf1085758a8075)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors