Control Flow in Nodes

Mortar now supports if/else blocks inside nodes so you can gate text or events based on variables, function calls, or enum comparisons. This feature is intentionally lightweight—there are no loops yet—so dialogue remains readable.

Syntax Overview

let player_score: Number = 123

node ExampleNode {
    if player_score > 100 {
        text: "Perfect score!"
    } else {
        text: "Keep pushing."
    }
}

Each branch may contain any sequence of valid node statements: text, assignments, choices, or even nested if chains. The serializer flattens these blocks into content entries with a condition field, making the .mortared file declarative for your game engine.

Supported Expressions

You can compare numbers, check booleans, and call functions (with or without arguments):

fn has_map() -> Bool
fn get_hp() -> Number
fn get_hp_max() -> Number
fn has_item(name: String) -> Bool

node ExampleNode {
    // Boolean function call as condition
    if has_map() {
        text: "You spread the map across the stump."
    }

    // Function call in comparison
    if get_hp() > 0 {
        text: "Still standing!"
    }

    // Function calls on both sides of comparison
    if get_hp() >= get_hp_max() {
        text: "Your HP is already full."
    }

    // Function call with arguments
    if has_item("sword") {
        text: "You draw your sword."
    }

    // Negation and logical operators
    if get_hp() > 0 && !has_map() {
        text: "You're alive, but lost."
    }
}

Under the hood, expressions become AST nodes (binary operators, unary operators, identifiers, or literals). Use helper functions (fn has_map() -> Bool) whenever the condition depends on game-side data that Mortar itself cannot calculate.

Best Practices

• Keep branches short. If you need radically different conversations, jump to distinct nodes using choice or next.
• Update state before the condition so both sides can reference the latest values.
• Combine with variables and enums to track structural progress (chapter, route, etc.).

Future releases plan to add while loops and more expressive statements, but today’s if/else building block already covers most dynamic text scenarios without compromising Mortar’s clarity.