---
key: mechanic/dialogue--family-selection
type: mechanic
id: dialogue--family-selection
lang: en
title: Response selection
summary: >-
  The player chooses an available reply. Their answer changes the conversation,
  reveals information or affects a relationship.
updatedAt: '2026-10-21'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/dialogue--family-selection/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/dialogue--family-selection.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/dialogue--family-selection.md
aliases:
  - Dialogue choices
tags:
  - Dialogue
  - Structure and input
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-selection
    title: Dialogue
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/dialogue/#family-selection'
    categoryIds:
      - section-1
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-21'
    title: Dialogue choices
    description: >-
      The player chooses an available reply. Their answer changes the
      conversation, reveals information or affects a relationship.
    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: Choosing a reply
      alt: >-
        Disco Elysium: a conversation at the counter and three numbered replies
        in the right-hand panel.
      markers:
        - x: 79
          'y': 72
          label: Choose from the available replies
        - x: 79
          'y': 36
          label: Conversation context before the decision
    tips:
      - Make the wording convey the intent of the resulting reply.
      - Use a clear response to communicate meaningful 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
---
# Response selection

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

The player chooses an available reply. Their answer changes the conversation, reveals information or affects a relationship.

## At a glance

![Disco Elysium: a conversation at the counter and three numbered replies in the right-hand panel.](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/disco-elysium-dialogue.webp)

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

1. Choose from the available replies
2. Conversation context before the decision

- Make the wording convey the intent of the resulting reply.
- Use a clear response to communicate meaningful consequences.

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

## How it works

The player selects one of the proposed remarks or actions, and the system determines what the interlocutor will hear.

## Variants

### Variants and applications

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

- Selecting an exact dialogue line. Rule: The player sees in advance the wording that the character will say. <a id="variant-selection-01"></a>
- Choice of intention. Rule: The player selects an action like “calm down” or “refuse”, and the system selects a phrase. <a id="variant-selection-02"></a>
- Tone selection. Rule: The meaning of the message remains the same, but the method of presentation changes: soft, sharp, ironic... <a id="variant-selection-03"></a>
- Selecting a topic. Rule: The player asks the subject of conversation without selecting a specific question. <a id="variant-selection-04"></a>
- Selecting a recipient. Rule: One message is sent to a specific participant and causes an appropriate reaction. <a id="variant-selection-05"></a>
- Choosing actions instead of words. Rule: The answer is leaving, a gift, an attack, a demonstration of an item or another action. <a id="variant-selection-06"></a>
- Silence is the answer. Rule: Refusal to speak is considered a meaningful move and affects the reaction of the interlocutor. <a id="variant-selection-07"></a>
- Delegation of response. Rule: The player gives the right to speak to a companion, representative, or selected team member. <a id="variant-selection-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