My First Quest

In this tutorial you will learn how to create a complete quest - from talking to an NPC, through the quest log, to receiving a reward.

How Do Quests Work in Gothic?

The quest system in Gothic is based on three elements:

1. Dialogs (C_INFO) - conversations with NPCs that start and end quests
2. Quest Log - entries visible to the player
3. State variables - tracking quest progress

The C_INFO Class - Dialogs

Each dialog option is an instance of the C_INFO class:

Field	Type	Description
npc	int	The NPC we're talking to
nr	int	Display order (lower = higher)
condition	func	Condition function - when the option is visible
information	func	Function executed when the option is selected
permanent	int	TRUE = option doesn't disappear after use
important	int	TRUE = NPC speaks first (no player choice)
description	string	Dialog option text

Step 1: Mission State Variable

First, define a variable to track quest progress. Add it to the mission constants file (e.g., Log_Constants.d):

var int MIS_Konrad_FindAxe;

const string TOPIC_Konrad_FindAxe = "Konrad's Axe";

Symbol	Description
MIS_Konrad_FindAxe	Mission state variable: 0 = not started, LOG_RUNNING = in progress, LOG_SUCCESS = completed, LOG_FAILED = failed
TOPIC_Konrad_FindAxe	Quest log topic name

Step 2: Mission Item

Create an item that the player needs to find (in Items/MissionItems.d):

instance ItMi_Topor_Konrada (C_Item)
{
    name      = "Konrad's Old Axe";
    mainflag  = ITEM_KAT_NONE;
    flags     = ITEM_MISSION;
    value     = 0;
    visual    = "ItMw_010_1h_misc_axe_01.3DS";
    material  = MAT_WOOD;

    description = name;
    TEXT[5]     = "Mission Item";
};

Field	Value	Description
name	"Konrad's Old Axe"	Item name displayed in game
mainflag	ITEM_KAT_NONE	"Other" category (not weapon/armor/food)
flags	ITEM_MISSION	Mission item - cannot be sold or dropped
value	0	Not for sale
visual	"ItMw_010_1h_misc_axe_01.3DS"	3D model file
material	MAT_WOOD	Wood (affects sounds)
description	name	Tooltip header = item name
TEXT[5]	"Mission Item"	Tooltip info line

info

The ITEM_MISSION flag prevents the item from being sold or dropped.

Step 3: Dialog - Exit Conversation

Every NPC must have an exit conversation option. This is a standard element:

instance DIA_Konrad_EXIT (C_INFO)
{
    npc         = BAU_900_Konrad;
    nr          = 999;
    condition   = DIA_Konrad_EXIT_Condition;
    information = DIA_Konrad_EXIT_Info;
    permanent   = TRUE;
    description = DIALOG_ENDE;
};

func int DIA_Konrad_EXIT_Condition ()
{
    return TRUE;
};

func void DIA_Konrad_EXIT_Info ()
{
    AI_StopProcessInfos (self);
};

Field / Call	Description
npc = BAU_900_Konrad	This dialog belongs to Konrad
nr = 999	Always at the very bottom of the dialog list
condition	Condition function (always TRUE here)
information	Function executed when option is selected
permanent = TRUE	Option stays visible after being used
description = DIALOG_ENDE	Built-in constant for "End"
return TRUE	Exit option is always visible
AI_StopProcessInfos(self)	Closes the dialog window

Step 4: Dialog - Greeting (NPC Speaks First)

When the player approaches Konrad for the first time:

instance DIA_Konrad_Hallo (C_INFO)
{
    npc         = BAU_900_Konrad;
    nr          = 1;
    condition   = DIA_Konrad_Hallo_Condition;
    information = DIA_Konrad_Hallo_Info;
    permanent   = FALSE;
    important   = TRUE;
};
```

| Field | Value | Description |
| ----- | ----- | ----------- |
| `npc` | `BAU_900_Konrad` | This dialog belongs to Konrad |
| `nr` | `1` | High priority (shown first) |
| `condition` | `DIA_Konrad_Hallo_Condition` | Condition function |
| `information` | `DIA_Konrad_Hallo_Info` | Function executed on trigger |
| `permanent` | `FALSE` | Dialog appears only once |
| `important` | `TRUE` | NPC approaches the player and speaks first |

```daedalus
func int DIA_Konrad_Hallo_Condition ()
{
    // Show only if quest hasn't been started yet
    if (MIS_Konrad_FindAxe == 0)
    {
        return TRUE;
    };
};

```daedalus
func void DIA_Konrad_Hallo_Info ()
{
    AI_Output (self, other, "DIA_Konrad_Hallo_01_01"); //Hey, you there! Got a moment?
    AI_Output (other, self, "DIA_Konrad_Hallo_15_01"); //What do you want?
    AI_Output (self, other, "DIA_Konrad_Hallo_01_02"); //I lost my axe somewhere in the forest. Will you help me find it?
};

self = NPC (Konrad), other = player.

tip

Audio naming convention: DIA_Konrad_Hallo_01_01 - 01 = NPC voice number, 01 = line number. 15 in the player's line refers to the hero's voice. The // comment after AI_Output must be on the same line - the Daedalus parser treats it as the dialog subtitle text.

Step 5: Dialog - Accepting the Quest

instance DIA_Konrad_Topor (C_INFO)
{
    npc         = BAU_900_Konrad;
    nr          = 5;
    condition   = DIA_Konrad_Topor_Condition;
    information = DIA_Konrad_Topor_Info;
    permanent   = FALSE;
    description = "I'll help you find the axe.";
};

Field	Value	Description
npc	BAU_900_Konrad	Dialog belongs to Konrad
nr	5	Display order position
condition	DIA_Konrad_Topor_Condition	Visible only when quest not started
information	DIA_Konrad_Topor_Info	Starts the quest
permanent	FALSE	Disappears after selecting
description	"I'll help you find the axe."	Player's dialog option text

func int DIA_Konrad_Topor_Condition ()
{
    if (MIS_Konrad_FindAxe == 0)
    {
        return TRUE;
    };
};

func void DIA_Konrad_Topor_Info ()
{
    AI_Output (other, self, "DIA_Konrad_Topor_15_01"); //Alright, I'll look for your axe.
    AI_Output (self, other, "DIA_Konrad_Topor_01_01"); //Thanks! Last time I saw it near the old cave to the north.

    // === START QUEST ===
    MIS_Konrad_FindAxe = LOG_RUNNING;

    // Create topic in the quest log
    Log_CreateTopic (TOPIC_Konrad_FindAxe, LOG_MISSION);
    Log_SetTopicStatus (TOPIC_Konrad_FindAxe, LOG_RUNNING);
    B_LogEntry (TOPIC_Konrad_FindAxe,
        "Konrad lost his axe in the forest near the old cave to the north. I should look for it."
    );

    AI_StopProcessInfos (self);
};

Key Quest Log Functions:

Function	Description
Log_CreateTopic(topic, LOG_MISSION)	Creates an entry in the quest log
Log_SetTopicStatus(topic, status)	Sets status: LOG_RUNNING / LOG_SUCCESS / LOG_FAILED
B_LogEntry(topic, text)	Adds a note to an existing entry

Step 6: Dialog - Returning the Item and Reward

instance DIA_Konrad_Topor_Oddaj (C_INFO)
{
    npc         = BAU_900_Konrad;
    nr          = 10;
    condition   = DIA_Konrad_Topor_Oddaj_Condition;
    information = DIA_Konrad_Topor_Oddaj_Info;
    permanent   = FALSE;
    description = "I have your axe.";
};

Field	Value	Description
npc	BAU_900_Konrad	Dialog belongs to Konrad
nr	10	Display order position
condition	DIA_Konrad_Topor_Oddaj_Condition	Visible when quest is running AND player has the axe
information	DIA_Konrad_Topor_Oddaj_Info	Gives reward and completes quest
permanent	FALSE	Disappears after selecting
description	"I have your axe."	Player's dialog option text

func int DIA_Konrad_Topor_Oddaj_Condition ()
{
    if (MIS_Konrad_FindAxe == LOG_RUNNING)
    && (Npc_HasItems (other, ItMi_Topor_Konrada) >= 1)
    {
        return TRUE;
    };
};

func void DIA_Konrad_Topor_Oddaj_Info ()
{
    AI_Output (other, self, "DIA_Konrad_Topor_Oddaj_15_01"); //I have your axe. Found it near the cave.

    B_GiveInvItems (other, self, ItMi_Topor_Konrada, 1);

    AI_Output (self, other, "DIA_Konrad_Topor_Oddaj_01_01"); //Great! Take this gold as thanks.

    CreateInvItems (self, ItMi_Gold, 150);
    B_GiveInvItems (self, other, ItMi_Gold, 150);
    B_GivePlayerXP (100);

    MIS_Konrad_FindAxe = LOG_SUCCESS;
    B_LogEntry (TOPIC_Konrad_FindAxe,
        "I found Konrad's axe and returned it to him. In return, I received 150 gold coins."
    );

    AI_StopProcessInfos (self);
};

Call	Description
Npc_HasItems(other, ItMi_Topor_Konrada)	Checks if player has the axe
B_GiveInvItems(other, self, ItMi_Topor_Konrada, 1)	Player gives the axe to Konrad
CreateInvItems(self, ItMi_Gold, 150)	Creates 150 gold in Konrad's inventory
B_GiveInvItems(self, other, ItMi_Gold, 150)	Konrad gives 150 gold to the player
B_GivePlayerXP(100)	Player receives 100 XP
MIS_Konrad_FindAxe = LOG_SUCCESS	Marks quest as completed
AI_StopProcessInfos(self)	Closes the dialog window

Step 7: Placing the Item in the World

In the Startup.d file (world startup function) place the axe at a location:

func void Startup_NewWorld ()
{
    Wld_InsertItem (ItMi_Topor_Konrada, "NW_CAVE_NORTH_01");
};

Wld_InsertItem places Konrad's axe at the cave waypoint.

Complete File Structure

A complete quest requires these files:

Scripts/Content/
├── _intern/Constants.d          ← MIS_Konrad_FindAxe variable
├── Story/Log_Entries/
│   └── LOG_Constants.d          ← TOPIC_Konrad_FindAxe constant
├── Items/
│   └── MissionItems.d           ← ItMi_Topor_Konrada
├── Story/NPC/
│   └── BAU_900_Konrad.d         ← NPC definition
├── Story/Dialoge/
│   └── DIA_BAU_900_Konrad.d     ← all dialogs
└── Story/Startup.d              ← Wld_InsertNpc + Wld_InsertItem

Summary

A complete quest in Gothic requires:

1. A state variable tracking progress (0 → LOG_RUNNING → LOG_SUCCESS)
2. A mission item with the ITEM_MISSION flag
3. Dialogs with conditions based on quest state and owned items
4. Quest log entries informing the player about progress
5. Rewards (gold, XP, items)
6. Registration of all files in Gothic.src in the correct order