Branches

Branches are board items that carry conditional logic. By evaluating one or more conditions written in Arcscript, a branch determines which outgoing connection the game flow follows at runtime.

ℹ️ The above example uses board variables: variable attributes on a board with the custom ID items, such as bronze_key and potion_strength.

In Play Mode, a branch evaluates its conditions in order and sends the game flow down the connection that corresponds to the first condition satisfied. You can use this behavior to control precisely which options are presented to the player.

Conditions and connections

Number of connections

A branch can have any number of incoming connections. Its outgoing connections correspond one-to-one with its conditions, structured as:

• if condition 1 → Connection 1
• elseif condition 2 → Connection 2
• ...
• elseif condition n → Connection n
• else → Connection n+1

Number of conditions

Logic dictates that a branch must have exactly one if condition, may have any number of elseif conditions, and may have at most one else condition.

Condition evaluation

Conditions are evaluated in order from top to bottom. In the example below, the elseif expression is redundant and will always be skipped:

• if score < 1000...
• elseif score < 10...
• else

The else condition applies to all cases not covered by the previous if/elseif conditions, therefore it does not take custom expressions.

✅ Play-test your branch logic in Play Mode.

Branch usage

Branches connect with elements, jumpers, and other branches, permitting or blocking the narrative flow depending on their conditions and the current game state.

Labels along a branch path

Connections entering and leaving a branch can both have labels. When a path passes through one or more branches, the option displays the last label that produces text after Arcscript is evaluated. A later label that produces no text keeps the earlier label's text.

Variable changes from labels accumulate along the path. A branch checks its conditions using the values calculated by earlier labels, even if a later label replaces their text. These variable changes are applied to the playthrough only when the player selects that option, before its target element loads.

See the labels example for an element → branch → element path that demonstrates both rules.

if branches

An if-only branch renders its connected option only when its condition is met. Otherwise, it blocks the story flow, providing no output.

In the above example, the branch evaluates the board variable items.bronze_key. If true, the option to unlock the door is presented. If false, no option appears instead.

You can add multiple if-only branches to offer several independent conditional options. If the player satisfies more than one condition, they receive all corresponding options.

Below, you can see how the example above renders in Play Mode, if the player has all three items:

elseif conditions

To ensure the player receives at most one option from a set of possibilities, use a single branch with elseif conditions rather than multiple separate branches. In the following example, the options of using the key or the potion are bundled in the same branch, so only one option can be provided, even if the player has both items:

Even if the player has the potion of strength, only using the bronze key will be available as an option. The bronze key takes priority, due to its higher position in the branch.

The battle axe appears independently, since it is evaluated by its own branch.

Fallback options

When using conditional options, get in the good habit of including at least one unconditional option (that is one without a branch). This can work as a fallback option, making sure the flow can continue regardless of the game state.

In this example, the flow continues even if the player has none of the three items:

In Play Mode, only the fallback option is visible:

else conditions

Adding an else condition guarantees the branch always provides exactly one option, regardless of which conditions are met.

In this example, the branch provides the option to use only one object, even if the player has all three of them.

✅ Read more about variables and Arcscript on their respective pages.

Create branches

To create a branch, do either of the following:

• Right-click on an empty board area and select Create > Branch from the menu.
• Drag and drop the New branch icon (at the left of the bottom menu) onto an empty board area.

When you create a new branch, it contains only its required if condition.

Select branches

Click a branch to select it. To select multiple items, see Select board items.

Copy a branch link

With only the branch selected, right-click it on the board and select Copy link. Opening the link centers the branch on its board in the language active when you copied it.

See Share an item or board position for access requirements.

Delete branches

To delete a branch, do either of the following:

• Select it and press Delete or Backspace.
• Right-click on it and select Delete selection from the menu.

Edit branches

if conditions

Edit if conditions

To edit the if condition, double-click it. Press Esc to exit editing.

⚠️ The if condition is required and cannot be added or removed.

elseif conditions

Add elseif conditions

To add an elseif condition, do either of the following:

• Right-click the branch and choose Add elseif.
• Press Ctrl+Enter or Cmd+Enter while editing another condition. The new elseif condition appears below the one you are editing.

Remove elseif conditions

To remove an elseif condition:

1. Double-click the elseif condition to enter editing mode.
2. Click the (x) icon that appears on the right side of the condition.

Edit elseif conditions

To edit an elseif condition, double-click it. Press Esc to exit editing.

else conditions

Add else conditions

To add an else condition, do either of the following:

• Right-click the branch and choose Add else.
• Press Enter while editing another condition, if the branch has no else condition yet.

Remove else conditions

To remove the else condition, right-click the branch and select Remove else.

ℹ️ A branch can have only one else condition.

ℹ️ The else condition matches all cases not covered by the preceding if/elseif conditions, therefore it takes no custom expression and cannot be edited.

Change color theme

To change the color theme of a branch, right-click on it and select one of the available colors from the menu.