Skip to main content

Wilson Speech

Version History​

Build VersionChange DateChange TypeDescription
6763122025-06-25modifiedAdded Rift 5 speech lines: ANNOUNCE_FLOATER_HELD, ANNOUNCE_FLOATER_LETGO
6760422025-06-21stablePrevious version

Overview​

The speech_wilson.lua file serves as the master template for all character speech files in Don't Starve Together. Wilson is the default character, and his speech responses are used as the base for all other characters. This file contains dialogue responses for various game actions, item interactions, and game states.

File Purpose​

Wilson's speech file acts as:

  • Master template: The foundation for generating all other character speech files
  • Default fallback: When other characters don't have specific dialogue, Wilson's responses are used
  • Complete reference: Contains the most comprehensive set of speech responses

Speech Structure​

Main Categories​

The speech data is organized into several major categories:

ACTIONFAIL​

Contains responses when actions cannot be performed:

ACTIONFAIL = {
    GENERIC = {
        ITEMMIMIC = "Well that's inconvenient.",
    },
    ACTIVATE = {
        LOCKED_GATE = "The gate is locked.",
        HOSTBUSY = "He seems a bit preoccupied at the moment.",
    },
    -- ... more subcategories
}

Character Responses​

Responses to various in-game items and entities, organized alphabetically:

-- Item responses
ACORN = "It's an acorn.",
ANCIENTDREAMS_GEMSHARD = "It pulses with the stuff of nightmares.",

-- Entity responses  
ABIGAIL = "She's cute, in a creepy way.",
ANTLION = "What a big bug!",

Meta Responses​

General response categories:

DESCRIBE_GENERIC = "It's a... thing.",
DESCRIBE_TOODARK = "It's too dark to see!",
DESCRIBE_SMOLDERING = "That thing is about to catch fire.",

Character Personality​

Wilson's speech reflects his character as:

  • Scientific mindset: Often makes observations and hypotheses
  • Optimistic nature: Generally positive responses even in dangerous situations
  • Curious personality: Shows interest in examining and understanding things
  • Pun usage: Frequently makes wordplay and scientific jokes

Speech Generation Process​

  1. PropagateSpeech.bat: Automated script that copies Wilson's speech structure to other characters
  2. Template comments: Special comments guide the propagation process
  3. Character-specific overrides: Other characters can override specific responses while inheriting the base structure

Usage Examples​

Action Failure Response​

-- When player tries to activate a locked gate
ACTIONFAIL.ACTIVATE.LOCKED_GATE = "The gate is locked."

Item Inspection​

-- When examining an acorn
ACORN = "It's an acorn."

Complex Item States​

-- Beebox with different states
BEEBOX = {
    READY = "The bees have been busy!",
    FULLHONEY = "It's full of honey!",
    GENERIC = "A house for bees.",
    NOHONEY = "The bees are still working.",
    SOMEHONEY = "There's some honey, but the bees are still working.",
    BURNT = "The bees won't like this."
}

Technical Implementation​

File Structure​

  • Return table: Single Lua table containing all speech data
  • Nested organization: Hierarchical structure for different response types
  • String values: Most entries are simple strings, some are tables with conditional responses

Character-Specific Handling​

-- Some responses are marked for specific characters only
NOKELP = "only_used_by_wurt",
NO_ELIXIRABLE = "only_used_by_wendy",

Fallback Mechanism​

When other character files don't define specific responses, the game falls back to Wilson's speech automatically.

Development Guidelines​

Adding New Speech​

  1. Add new responses to speech_wilson.lua first
  2. Run PropagateSpeech.bat to update all character files
  3. Customize character-specific responses in individual files
  4. Test that fallbacks work correctly

Formatting Requirements​

  • No single-line Lua tables
  • Opening and closing brackets on separate lines
  • Consistent unnamed string counts across all characters
  • Proper commenting for character-specific responses

Rift 5 Content​

Wilson's responses to new Rift 5 mechanics with his characteristic scientific curiosity:

-- Rift 5 - New floating mechanics with scientific observations
ANNOUNCE_FLOATER_HELD = "I was busy drowning but something came up... me!"
ANNOUNCE_FLOATER_LETGO = "I hate being kept in susp-"
ANNOUNCE_LUNARGUARDIAN_INCOMING = "It's back!"
  • speech_from_generic.lua: Contains context strings for character-specific responses
  • PropagateSpeech.bat: Automated script for updating all character speech files
  • Other character speech files: All inherit from Wilson's structure

Constants and Enums​

The speech system uses various game constants for consistent responses:

Common Response Patterns​

  • Item inspection responses
  • Action failure messages
  • Entity interaction dialogues
  • Environmental descriptions
  • Food consumption reactions

This speech system ensures consistent dialogue coverage across all characters while allowing for personality-specific customization.