In the 2004 Bard's Tale game, you could choose between two dialogue options every time: Snarky or Nice. Not knowing what would happen after you chose actually worked because it was usually hilarious and often unexpected. Snark at a female innkeeper who pulled a trick on you and she'd sleep with you, if you were meek and chose Nice, the outcome was not so good.

It worked in that game... but I don't think it would work in this one.

I think a mood icon-keyword system for talking to your partner after an event would be terrible. It would distance me from the character, plus I would have no idea what they're actually saying. I would prefer the current way of identical portraits and distinct lines to mood icon-keywords.

*****

Oh, that's an interesting idea, Zerael - Keywords and tooltips. That might not work well, but what about expandable/collapsible dialogues:


Strangely-dressed man: Hello there, fine adventurers. I've got a little dilemma. I was planning on going fishing, but seems that the fish that used to reside in my pond have gotten up and walked away.

  • You
  • Fishing
  • Dilemma


  • You
  • [hide] >>> I'm pleased to meet you, sir. What's your name?
  • [___] >>> Ha ha, why are you in a dress?
  • Fishing
  • Dilemma


Roderick: I'm pleased to meet you, sir. What's your name?

Strangely-dressed man: (+5 Disposition) I am Flabbimus Geomaxus. I used to be a wandering wizard, but have retired to enjoy the quiet life.

  • You
  • Fishing
  • Dilemma


Flabbimus Geomaxus: It's quite a relaxing hobby. Just peace, and quiet, and your own thoughts.


  • You (Greyed out to indicate you chose this already)
  • Fishing
  • Dilemma
  • [hide] >>> Been at the old drudanae, have you?
  • [___] >>> What madhouse have you escaped from?
  • [___] >>> Okayyyy... I'll just quietly back away now.
  • [___] >>> Fish that got up and walked away? I'm intrigued, tell me more.


Roderick Okayyyy... I'll just quietly back away now.

Flabbimus Geomaxus: (No Disposition change) Wait, wait! They're no ordinary fish, you see. When I retired, I buried my old magical things in the yard and the magic seems to have leaked into the fish pond. It changed the fish into something which I think might be just a little bit... dangerous.

  • You
  • Fishing
  • Dangerous Fish
  • [hide] >>> Yes, I see where this is going. Maybe I'll take a miss on magical massive man-eating fish.
  • [___] >>> I might be inclined to assist you, if you make it worth my time.
  • [___] >>> I will certainly help. I don't want to see anyone get hurt.


When it shows up on-screen, the conversation would look like this (except for portraits instead of names):

Strangely-dressed man: Hello there, fine adventurers. I've got a little dilemma. I was planning on going fishing, but seems that the fish that used to reside in my pond have gotten up and walked away.
Roderick: I'm pleased to meet you, sir. What's your name?
Strangely-dressed man: I am Flabbimus Geomaxus. I used to be a wandering wizard, but have retired to enjoy the quiet life.
Roderick: Fishing
Flabbimus Geomaxus: It's quite a relaxing hobby. Just peace, and quiet, and your own thoughts.
Roderick: Okayyyy... I'll just quietly back away now.
Flabbimus Geomaxus: Wait, wait! They're no ordinary fish, you see. When I retired, I buried my old magical things in the yard and the magic seems to have leaked into the fish pond. It changed the fish into something which I think might be just a little bit... dangerous.
Roderick: I might be inclined to assist you, if you make it worth my time.



Not the best medium for depicting this, but I hope you get the concept. It keeps the list of keywords in place so that if there really isn't any point in choosing a different line, clicking the keyword will go right to the result, and this should reduce the walls of text a bit, maybe.