User blog comment:Timeoin/E3 and what we've learnt so far.../@comment-203.213.127.102-20110622151229

Very curious as to how speechcraft will be implemented. The persuasion wheel was silly but I would still like some challenge to speechcraft rather than Fallout's system. LA Noire hinted at a possible solution here: rather than just adding new dialogue choices with higher speechcraft levels, you could also remove 'incorrect' (or 'inappropriate') responses from the list, or highlight them as incorrect. Additionally, make some of the responses "average" rather than just good/bad or pass/fail, and use the same dialogue for certain responses to save on V.O. requirements. Dialogue complexity could scale according to NPC importance, which would further reduce the voice-acting required.

What typically happens with speechcraft/persuasion in games is that once you have a high enough skill level you automatically get the "best" dialogue option. This is TOO EASY! If combat requires the player to have quick reflexes and wits, speechcraft should require intuition and good judgement. The persuasion wheel didn't deliver that, and neither did Fallout's dialogue system. Having a percentage chance of pass/fail is also a COP-OUT and simply encourages quicksaving, which slows down gameplay and irritates players because they feel like they HAVE to get the "correct" answer. The solution is to reduce emphasis on "passing" speechcraft challenges, and to stop blatantly informing the player that they have "failed" a dialogue challenge. Instead, use the speechcraft skill ITSELF to reward players for being persuasive. Have one or two "good" answers that net you speechcraft points and raise disposition, some "ok" responses that provide fewer speechcraft and don't raise disposition (but still succeed), "dud" responses that cause a negative reaction and reward no speechcraft, and "excellent" responses that provide bonus speechcraft and disposition. Use disposition as a means for unlocking further interaction with an NPC ie a shopkeeper could offer secret items or give you trading tips.