A simple dialog tree creation system developed for use in an adventure game project. Messages are stored in a doubly linked list and conversations can be composed in plain-text within an easy to use format.

.Stop right there!; Whatever. | Howdy | Bye.

..Excuse me? ; You're excused. | I'm sorry. | Bye.

...This isn't going well. ; Okay, bye then.

...No problem, go right ahead! ; Thanks, have a nice day!

..She gives you a silent, stern glare ; WOOOO! | Bloop! | Glorp!

...What?; See ya! [Run away] | Yay dinosaurs! [Run away]

..Bye bye! ; [Wave with gusto]

• Leading periods represent the level in the hierarchy, with the single-period statement being the root node. Each dialog tree must have exactly one root node.

• Player and non-player text is separated by a semicolon. Statements said by non-player entities appear to the left of the semicolon, and player reponse options appear to the right.

• Player response options are separated by the '|' character.

• The position of an item in the user response options corresponds to the location of the next message in the dialog tree.

• If the user chooses "Whatever", the first option in level 1, then "Excuse me?" is next because it is the first level 2 message.

Similarly in level 1:

• 'Howdy' --> 'She gives you a silent, stern glare'
• 'Bye' --> 'Bye bye!'

This pattern is continued throughout subsequent levels.