Dialectic Modders Guide

NPC Biography Data Mods

The Dialectic game plugin scans Data/Dialectic for files ending in _bios.csv. Matching files up to 10 MB are uploaded to DialecticServer automatically.

A mod can therefore ship a file such as:

Data/Dialectic/my_companion_mod_bios.csv

Biography CSV Format

Download the current example from Configuration - NPC Biographies. Columns are positional and follow this order:

npc_name,core,worldknowledge_tags,npc_static_bio,personality,appearance,relationships,occupation,skills,speechstyle,goals,voiceid,gender,race,refid

npc_name and core are required. Use underscores in names, such as doc_mitchell. Relationship seeds must be JSON objects, for example:

{"Player":{"aff":25,"type":"professional"}}

Matching Actors

Use the Fallout reference or base form ID in refid when a stable ID exists. Name matching is still useful for generic actors, but unique form IDs avoid collisions between NPCs sharing a display name.

Runtime telemetry supplies current race, gender, voice type, inventory, equipment, factions, skills, SPECIAL, health, action points, and other changing state. Do not use the biography CSV as a replacement for live actor data.

Descriptions

The Descriptions page accepts structured records for items, locations, races, factions, and other world data. Description-only context filters can limit nearby items and inventory entries to records with useful authored text.

Use the page's upload, merged-data, and database verification controls to confirm imported rows.

World Knowledge

World Knowledge stores reusable Fallout lore topics in the server database. NPC profile tags determine which subjects a character can draw from, while context settings control whether the selected knowledge enters prompts.

Package knowledge through Dialectic's current World Knowledge records and upload flow.

Voice Mapping

Data/Dialectic/fallout_builtin_voices.csv maps Fallout voice types to audio already installed under Data/Sound/Voice. Dialectic never ships extracted game audio.

A biography can provide a voiceid override, but it should identify a real installed voice type or a voice configured in TTS Studio.

Action Editor

The server Action Editor controls the prompt definition and response contract for an action. The game plugin must also implement the same action name and all required parameters.

Actions involving AI packages or factions may require records in Dialectic.esp. Add those records in GECK or xEdit, expose their form IDs to the runtime, and include cleanup behavior that restores the actor afterward.

Action Contract

• Prompt: tells the model when and how the action can be used.
• Parameters: identify speaker, target, item, location, amount, or other structured values.
• Plugin action: must match the native dispatcher name exactly.
• Return result: reports success or a concrete failure reason to the server.
• Event text: records the completed action without leaking internal form IDs into player-facing prose.

Testing A Data Mod

1. Install the data mod through Mod Organizer 2.
2. Start DialecticServer and Fallout.
3. Check dialectic.log for the detected _bios.csv file and upload result.
4. Open NPC Biographies and verify the merged profile.
5. Activate the actor and inspect the AI Response prompt before testing dialogue or actions.