Artwork by Rick Snyder. https://www.instagram.com/rdsnyderart

NPC Dialogue Conversations, inspired by my WIP space opera, Project Ellexis

npc-dialogue-conversation-examples-project-ellexis

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My Creative Process here were two specifics: context and formatting. I wanted to show how I write dialogue outside of screenwriting software or Excel tables, the latter I did anyway with Microsoft Word. Demonstrating communicating easy-to-read layout, description for context, and formatting for entering into the game engine or recording in an audio booth.

Initially, I used one of my favorite videogames, Halo 2 (Bungie, 2004) as a foundation. Then, to write it as fanfiction. After I chatted with Emma Caldwell from Firaxis at GDC 2025, she recommended that I do make it original. I decided to pivot to setting of my making, my work-in-progress space opera novel, Project Ellexis, and tweaked the phrasing of what I previously wrote.

I actually wrote this first in Trelby. I thought as it is dialogue, it ought to be formatted like a script. It made sense! However, the layout sucked. It was not as effective for its purpose as I hoped. Barks are triggered from gameplay moments or stats. Showing them in table layout instead made them far easier to read and communicate, as though to a variety of teams.