---
key: mechanic/dialogue--family-resolution
type: mechanic
id: dialogue--family-resolution
lang: en
title: Checks and outcome resolution
summary: >-
  A reply’s outcome depends on abilities, conditions or a random roll. A check
  turns the player’s intention into success, failure and the next conversation
  state.
updatedAt: '2026-10-21'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/dialogue--family-resolution/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/dialogue--family-resolution.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/dialogue--family-resolution.md
aliases:
  - Dialogue checks
tags:
  - Dialogue
  - Game rules
sourceIds:
  - source-8fcf1671c353b49b
sources:
  - id: source-8fcf1671c353b49b
    title: Disco Elysium
    url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/632470/Disco_Elysium__The_Final_Cut/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: dialogue
    id: family-resolution
    title: Dialogue
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/dialogue/#family-resolution'
    categoryIds:
      - section-2
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-21'
    title: Dialogue checks
    description: >-
      A reply’s outcome depends on abilities, conditions or a random roll. A
      check turns the player’s intention into success, failure and the next
      conversation state.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/disco-elysium-check.webp
      width: 1440
      height: 810
      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_dec29c440fab2f7817d68c1380c019290eb1755e.1920x1080.jpg?t=1780913406
      credit: ZA/UM
      rights: © ZA/UM. All rights reserved.
      caption: A successful check reveals a deduction
      alt: >-
        Disco Elysium: a dice roll succeeds and Visual Calculus explains traces
        of an incident.
      markers:
        - x: 45
          'y': 82
          label: The dice result is confirmed as a success
        - x: 77
          'y': 56
          label: Success reveals a new deduction in the dialogue
    tips:
      - Show what determines the chance of each outcome.
      - Failure can continue the scene with new consequences.
    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/dialogue
---
# Checks and outcome resolution

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

A reply’s outcome depends on abilities, conditions or a random roll. A check turns the player’s intention into success, failure and the next conversation state.

## At a glance

![Disco Elysium: a dice roll succeeds and Visual Calculus explains traces of an incident.](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/disco-elysium-check.webp)

[Disco Elysium](https://store.steampowered.com/app/632470/Disco_Elysium__The_Final_Cut/) · © ZA/UM. All rights reserved.

1. The dice result is confirmed as a success
2. Success reveals a new deduction in the dialogue

- Show what determines the chance of each outcome.
- Failure can continue the scene with new consequences.

- [Disco Elysium](https://store.steampowered.com/app/632470/Disco_Elysium__The_Final_Cut/)

## How it works

The system determines the outcome of a dialogue line through conditions, characteristics, randomness or the quality of the player's decision.

## Variants

### Variants and applications

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

- Deterministic threshold. Rule: The result is determined by comparing the characteristic with a predetermined requirement. <a id="variant-resolution-01"></a>
- Probability check. Rule: Success is determined by a random test with a probability depending on the conditions. <a id="variant-resolution-02"></a>
- Counter check. Rule: The speaker's abilities are compared with the abilities or defenses of the interlocutor. <a id="variant-resolution-03"></a>
- Passive check. Rule: The system automatically notices a lie, hint or opportunity without a separate choice from the player. <a id="variant-resolution-04"></a>
- Accumulation of successes. Rule: It takes several successful moves in one conversation to get results. <a id="variant-resolution-05"></a>
- Degrees of result. Rule: Instead of two outcomes, complete success, concession, complication and varying degrees of failure are possible. <a id="variant-resolution-06"></a>
- Contextual modifiers. Rule: Preparation, evidence, relationships, and setting change the difficulty of the test. <a id="variant-resolution-07"></a>
- Checking the player's decision. Rule: Success depends on the chosen argument or course of action, and not on the characteristics of the hero. <a id="variant-resolution-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.

- [Disco Elysium](https://store.steampowered.com/app/632470/Disco_Elysium__The_Final_Cut/) (id: source-8fcf1671c353b49b)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors