The Creation Flow
Work in Progress
This documentation is still being expanded and refined. Features, screenshots, and descriptions may change until Talescape's public release. If something is unclear or you need help, please ask on the official Talescape Discord. We're happy to clarify or update pages as needed.
The Talescape Editor is built around a consistent workflow that guides you from story setup to publication. This section describes the main stages of the process and how they connect.
1. Create
Each project starts with a new story. When creating it, you define the title, language, and Dream Type (a general mood category such as Daydream, Nightmare, Vision, or Echo).
A story is divided into chapters, and each chapter contains one or more scenes. Scenes represent playable sections of the story: they hold dialogues, events, and background media.
2. Write
Once the structure exists, you can begin adding content. Use the Dialogue Editor to create conversations, narration, and branching choices. Add characters with portraits and optional voice assets to define who speaks each line.
Scenes can contain multiple dialogues and can link to other scenes. You can freely mix linear and branching storytelling depending on your design.
3. Connect
To make stories interactive, Talescape provides several logic systems:
- Variables store values such as flags, numbers, or strings.
- Conditions check variables, items, or achievements to determine what happens next.
- Events define when actions occur (for example, when a scene starts or a choice is made).
- Actions perform specific results such as showing text, changing variables, or moving to another scene.
- Timers can be used to trigger events repeatedly or after a certain delay.
These elements can be combined to control flow, outcomes, and player feedback.
4. Test
Use Story Preview to run your story inside the editor. The Debug Menu allows you to inspect variables, inventory, and logs in real time.
The Checks System automatically validates your project before publishing. It identifies missing media, unreachable scenes, undefined variables, or other issues that could break gameplay.
5. Publish
When the story passes all required checks, you can start the release workflow.
In this step, you:
- Choose a release type (draft, public, or contest submission).
- Review your metadata, content warnings, and category.
- Submit the story for moderation and publication.
Once approved, the story becomes available to players on the Talescape platform. You can update or retire it later through the same workflow.
Summary
| Step | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Create | Define structure: story, chapters, and scenes |
| Write | Add text, dialogue, and characters |
| Connect | Add logic using variables, events, and conditions |
| Test | Preview and validate the story |
| Publish | Submit and release to players |