quickstart.md

Quick Start

Create your first branching dialogue in 5 minutes.

Step 1: Create a New Project

Launch TaleNode. You start with an empty canvas. Use File > New (or ++ctrl+n++) to ensure a clean slate.

Step 2: Add a Start Node

Right-click on the canvas and select Add Node > Start. A green Start node appears. Every dialogue needs exactly one Start node — it's the entry point.

Step 3: Add a Dialogue Node

Right-click again to the right of the Start node and select Add Node > Dialogue. Click the Dialogue node to select it — the Inspector panel opens on the right.

In the Inspector, fill in:

• Speaker: Guard
• Text: Halt! Who goes there?
• Emotion: angry

Step 4: Connect the Nodes

Hover over the output port (right side) of the Start node. Click and drag a wire to the input port (left side) of the Dialogue node. Release to create the connection.

You should see a bezier curve connecting the two nodes.

Step 5: Add a Choice

Right-click and add a Choice node. Connect the Dialogue node's output to the Choice node's input.

Select the Choice node. In the Inspector, set:

• Prompt: What do you say?
• Option 1: I'm a friend.
• Option 2: None of your business.

Step 6: Add Responses

Add two more Dialogue nodes — one for each choice outcome.

• Connect Choice output "I'm a friend." to the first Dialogue node.
  • Speaker: Guard, Text: Very well, you may pass., Emotion: neutral
• Connect Choice output "None of your business." to the second Dialogue node.
  • Speaker: Guard, Text: Then you shall not pass!, Emotion: angry

Step 7: Add End Nodes

Add two End nodes. Connect each response Dialogue node to its own End node.

• First End: Tag = friendly
• Second End: Tag = hostile

Step 8: Test It

Open View > Playtest Panel. Click Start to walk through your dialogue. Try both choices.

Step 9: Save and Export

1. Save: ++ctrl+s++ — saves as a .talenode project file (preserves positions, all data).
2. Export: File > Export JSON... — outputs a clean JSON file for your game engine.

Your First Graph

Your finished graph should look like this:

[Start] → [Dialogue: "Halt!"] → [Choice: "What do you say?"]
                                        ├─ "Friend" → [Dialogue: "You may pass."] → [End: friendly]
                                        └─ "Business" → [Dialogue: "Shall not pass!"] → [End: hostile]

Demo Project

Want to explore a fully built example? Open the included demo project "The Last Constellation" from examples/the_last_constellation.talenode. It contains:

• A 3-act sci-fi dialogue scenario with 30+ nodes
• 5 characters with portraits, colors, and relationships
• Branching paths, conditions, events, and random encounters
• Variables tracking trust, reputation, and story state

Use File > Open and navigate to the examples/ folder to load it.

What's Next?

• Canvas & Navigation — Learn pan, zoom, and selection
• All Node Types — Explore Condition, Event, and Random nodes
• Variables — Add game state to your dialogues
• JSON Export Format — Understand the output format