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11 Varsapura has a branching dialogue system with skill checks, a first for any HoYoverse title. Conversations present multiple response options, some of which require passing a check in one of three social skills: Persuasion, Deception, and Empathy.
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33 How Skill Checks Work
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55 During dialogue, players see multiple response options. Standard responses are always available and advance the conversation normally. Skill-tagged responses offer alternative paths:
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77 Persuasion options convince NPCs through logical argument or appeal to authorityDeception options lie to or mislead NPCs to extract information or avoid consequencesEmpathy options connect with NPCs emotionally, gaining trust through understanding
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99 Players must pass the skill check to use non-standard dialogue options. Failing a check means that dialogue path is unavailable. The exact mechanics of how checks are calculated, whether they use a dice roll, a stat threshold, or some other system, have not been detailed.
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1111 Consequences
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1313 Different dialogue choices lead to different outcomes. These can range from minor flavor changes to different quest paths or information reveals. The system gives players agency in how Hollowone interacts with the world beyond combat.
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1515 Protagonist Traits
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1717 Each Hollowone protagonist has distinct traits that can be leveraged in dialogue. These traits may make certain skill checks easier or unlock unique dialogue options not available to other character builds. The specifics of trait selection and how it ties into the skill check system are not yet confirmed.
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1919 Context in the Genre
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2121 Dialogue skill checks are common in Western RPGs like Baldur's Gate 3 and Disco Elysium, but they are almost unheard of in the action RPG space HoYoverse operates in. Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail offer dialogue choices that are mostly cosmetic. Varsapura's skill check system suggests a much deeper focus on player agency in narrative, which could be one of the game's defining features if the choices have real consequences.
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2323 Option Visibility
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2525 All dialogue options are visible from the start of every conversation, not unlocked progressively as the player gains skill ranks. The system gates only the resolution of the option: choosing a skill-tagged option triggers an immediate check, and failing the check means the option does not produce its intended persuasive effect. This visibility-first design makes the skill system transparent: players always know which conversational paths exist, and the consequence of investing in one social skill over another is whether a known path becomes available, not whether new paths appear.