---
key: mechanic/dialogue--family-gates
type: mechanic
id: dialogue--family-gates
lang: en
title: Dialogue availability conditions
summary: >-
The character’s state, knowledge, items and past actions unlock or block
replies. The player sees requirements and chooses among available lines.
updatedAt: '2026-10-21'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/dialogue--family-gates/'
jsonUrl: >-
https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/dialogue--family-gates.json
markdownUrl: >-
https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/dialogue--family-gates.md
aliases:
- Dialogue reply requirements
tags:
- Dialogue
- Game rules
sourceIds:
- source-f23ca43cf9c58791
- source-61d64fa31c025264
sources:
- id: source-f23ca43cf9c58791
title: Pillars of Eternity
url: >-
https://recipp.ipp.pt/bitstreams/be8bf81f-cd71-4f66-8cba-ae2cb1039981/download#page=27
verifiedAt: null
- id: source-61d64fa31c025264
title: Pillars of Eternity
url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/291650/Pillars_of_Eternity/'
verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
- catalogId: dialogue
id: family-gates
title: Dialogue
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/dialogue/#family-gates'
categoryIds:
- section-2
supersededBy: []
attributes:
preview:
updatedAt: '2026-10-21'
title: Dialogue reply requirements
description: >-
The character’s state, knowledge, items and past actions unlock or block
replies. The player sees requirements and chooses among available lines.
image:
src: images/mechanics/pillars-dialogue-gates.webp
width: 1136
height: 426
game: Pillars of Eternity
sourceUrl: >-
https://recipp.ipp.pt/bitstreams/be8bf81f-cd71-4f66-8cba-ae2cb1039981/download#page=27
originalUrl: >-
https://recipp.ipp.pt/bitstreams/be8bf81f-cd71-4f66-8cba-ae2cb1039981/download#page=27
credit: 'Obsidian Entertainment; image via Magalhães (2015), fig. 4'
rights: >-
© respective game rights holders. Screenshot reproduced in J. Magalhães,
Adaptive Game Design (2015), figure 4, citing NeoGAF. All rights
reserved.
caption: Available replies and unmet requirements
alt: >-
Pillars of Eternity: a conversation with Heodan. Red Perception 14 and
Resolve 15 rows are unavailable, while the light Intellect 13 reply is
available.
markers:
- x: 33
'y': 35
label: 'Perception 14: requirement not met'
- x: 23
'y': 40
label: 'Intellect 13: reply available'
crop:
x: 0
'y': 0
width: 520
height: 340
tips:
- Explain why a reply is locked unless concealing it serves the design.
- Distinguish a locked reply from an available check that can still fail.
examples:
- title: Pillars of Eternity
url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/291650/Pillars_of_Eternity/'
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
---
# Dialogue availability conditions
id: dialogue--family-gates
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/dialogue--family-gates
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/dialogue--family-gates/
The character’s state, knowledge, items and past actions unlock or block replies. The player sees requirements and chooses among available lines.
## At a glance
[Pillars of Eternity](https://recipp.ipp.pt/bitstreams/be8bf81f-cd71-4f66-8cba-ae2cb1039981/download#page=27) · © respective game rights holders. Screenshot reproduced in J. Magalhães, Adaptive Game Design (2015), figure 4, citing NeoGAF. All rights reserved.
1. Perception 14: requirement not met
2. Intellect 13: reply available
- Explain why a reply is locked unless concealing it serves the design.
- Distinguish a locked reply from an available check that can still fail.
- [Pillars of Eternity](https://store.steampowered.com/app/291650/Pillars_of_Eternity/)
## How it works
Character status, knowledge, items, and past actions open or close options for lines.
## Variants
### Variants and applications
- Skill or characteristic. Rule: A dialogue line is unlocked when a certain ability is at a sufficient level.
- Origin and biography. Rule: Access depends on the selected background or stable properties of the character.
- Profession and specialization. Rule: Professional knowledge gives special questions and methods of explanation.
- Rank and affiliation. Rule: Title, organization, faction or position changes the right to speak on a topic...
- Knowledge and progress of the task. Rule: A response requires a known fact, a completed step, or a conclusion made.
- Item and equipment. Rule: You need a document, proof, a gift, a tool or certain clothes...
- State of body and psyche. Rule: Injury, intoxication, stress, fatigue or the effect of a substance changes the available response.
- The setting and those present. Rule: Place, time, witnesses and group composition open or block options.
## 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.
- [Pillars of Eternity](https://recipp.ipp.pt/bitstreams/be8bf81f-cd71-4f66-8cba-ae2cb1039981/download#page=27) (id: source-f23ca43cf9c58791)
- [Pillars of Eternity](https://store.steampowered.com/app/291650/Pillars_of_Eternity/) (id: source-61d64fa31c025264)
CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors