Back when I first played Wing Commander and later Wing Commander Privateer (I know, different franchise, developer even) I always loved this pseudo multiple choice communication with NPC ships. Also the animated NPC video chat while talking to them was super awesome. The communication went like this:
Kilrathi attacks: "Now you're going down, scum" (or something like this)
I had the choice to answer:
1. Please don't hurt me
2. We will eradicate Kilra from this system
3. I'll call the police
It was no communication really, but it gave a lot of imaginative purpose to the encounter.
Think of how awesome it would be, if you could tell the police who is scanning you:
1. Does your salary still sucks so much?
2. Oh come on, not again
3. I'm Pablo Escobar , I'll tell your superiors.
Or another example, you as a pirate, opening communication to a possible victim:
1. Well hello there sexy, what do you have in your cargo hold? (possible answers: "Nothing, really. *tries to run*", "None of your business *attacks*", ...)
2. Drop your cargo and I'll let you live
3. I'm just doing this for fun, sorry dude.
Hire some creative folks (not me) to write some funny conversation trees. Would be super awesome.
Well thats basically it. Add to this different possible reactions of the NPCs maybe including attacking you if you go too far and this could be pretty funny.
Kilrathi attacks: "Now you're going down, scum" (or something like this)
I had the choice to answer:
1. Please don't hurt me
2. We will eradicate Kilra from this system
3. I'll call the police
It was no communication really, but it gave a lot of imaginative purpose to the encounter.
Think of how awesome it would be, if you could tell the police who is scanning you:
1. Does your salary still sucks so much?
2. Oh come on, not again
3. I'm Pablo Escobar , I'll tell your superiors.
Or another example, you as a pirate, opening communication to a possible victim:
1. Well hello there sexy, what do you have in your cargo hold? (possible answers: "Nothing, really. *tries to run*", "None of your business *attacks*", ...)
2. Drop your cargo and I'll let you live
3. I'm just doing this for fun, sorry dude.
Hire some creative folks (not me) to write some funny conversation trees. Would be super awesome.
Well thats basically it. Add to this different possible reactions of the NPCs maybe including attacking you if you go too far and this could be pretty funny.