Spiel Library

A "Spiel" is a term I've coined for a data structure used for speech or communication meeting these criteria:

• The specified communication is essentially linear, e.g. character says A then B then C.
• Further specification of replies to vocal interruptions or other user-provided inputs is possible.

Imagine a waiter describing a restaurant's specials of the day. They would talk through their offerings in a linear way. But you could interrupt them along the way, e.g. "Is the the salmon gluten-free?" A Spiel can contain the information to describe all the restaurant specials, as well as respond to a patron's questions and comments along the way.

In interactive games, the Spiel is a useful tool in giving a sense of human interaction without all of the possibilities multiplying exponentially. In this way, a content author can practically design conversations without it becoming untenable.

Features

• Serialize and deserialize the YAML-based Spielfile format.
• Character and emotion associated with lines.
• Traversing, querying, and processing a Spiel.
• Generate keyword matchers that efficiently check which replies match keyword inputs.
• Import the linear portion of a Spiel from a Fountain screenplay format.

Usage

Creating a New Spiel from Scratch

The code below creates a new spiel populated with two nodes containing lines of dialogue for a Biff character to say. The call to addReply() after the first node will cause Biff to reply "Lots and lots of things!" if the user says something that matches one of 3 keyphrases.

import { Spiel } from 'sl-spiel';

const spiel = new Spiel();
spiel.createNode('BIFF', Emotion.IRRITATED, 'I've got a lot of things to say.');
spiel.addReply('like what / what...things / what...say', 'Lots and lots of things!');
spiel.createNode('BIFF', Emotion.NEUTRAL, 'The first thing is...');

Adding Root Replies

Root replies work the same as replies, except that matching for them is active on every node.

import { Spiel } from 'sl-spiel';

const spiel = new Spiel();
spiel.addRootReply('shut up', 'No, you shut up!', 'BIFF', Emotion.ANGRY);

Exporting a Spiel to a SpielFile.

import { Spiel, exportSpielFile } from 'sl-spiel';

const spiel = new Spiel();
spiel.createNode('BIFF', Emotion.IRRITATED, 'I've got a lot of things to say.');
const text = exportSpielFile(spiel);
// Write text to a file, using file I/O. Or save to IndexedDB, post to a service endpoint, etc.

Importing a Spiel from a SpielFile.

// Next line would work if you have a WebPack loader set up for yaml files, but any
// means of reading the text of a spielfile into a string can be used.
import spielFileText from 'spielFiles/example.spiel.yaml'; 
import { importSpielFile, Spiel } from 'sl-spiel'; 

const spiel = importSpielFile(spielFileText);

Traversing a Spiel and Checking for Matches

import { Spiel } from 'sl-spiel';

const spiel = new Spiel();
spiel.createNode('BIFF', Emotion.IRRITATED, 'I've got a lot of things to say.');
spiel.addReply('like what / what...things / what...say', 'Lots and lots of things!');
spiel.createNode('BIFF', Emotion.NEUTRAL, 'The first thing is...');

spiel.moveFirst(); // There's also similar methods for moving to next, previous, last, and indexed-based nodes.
console.log(spiel.currentNode.nextDialogue()); // "I've got a lot of things to say."
const reply = spiel.checkForMatch('what do you have to say');
if (reply) console.log(reply.nextDialogue()); // "Lots and lots of things!"

Adding Random Variants to Dialogue

Often, you want to have variants of the same phrase to avoid character dialogue feeling too repetitious. The .nextDialogue() method of nodes and replies, can choose a random dialogue text if you have specificied multiple dialogues texts for a node or reply.

import { Spiel } from 'sl-spiel';
const spiel = new Spiel();
spiel.createNode('BIFF', Emotion.IRRITATED, 'I've got a lot of things to say. / There is so much I can tell you.');

spiel.moveFirst();
console.log(spiel.currentNode.nextDialogue()); // "I've got a lot of things to say."
console.log(spiel.currentNode.nextDialogue()); // "There is so much I can tell you."

Non-Goals and Architectural Boundaries

• DOES NOT include presentational functionality.
• DOES NOT include I/O functionality, e.g. audio, user input, files, HTTP.

Contributing

The project isn't open to contributions at this point. But that could change. Contact me if you'd like to collaborate.

Contacting

You can reach me on LinkedIn. I'll accept connections if you will just mention "SL Spiel" or some other shared interest in your connection request.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikhermansen/