PC Pokefind Companion

NewDialog vs SendMessage

When to use each — the gen5 modern voice rule

Updated Apr 27, 2026

The rule

  • NewDialog = interpersonal speech. A character is talking to someone. Always paired with a colored speaker name.
  • SendMessage = the world speaking to the player. Atmosphere, sights, sounds, smells, time-passage, internal sensory beats. Italicized with &o. No speaker.

Mixing these is the most common voice-breaking mistake when writing in the gen5 modern style.

Examples

NewDialog (interpersonal)

"NewDialog": [
    {
        "&b&lN": "You came south. I thought you might."
    }, 60, true, true, "male_normal"
]

SendMessage (atmosphere / world)

"SendMessage": [
    "&7N is sitting at a low fire on the edge of the eastern ruin field, a stick in his hand, sketching wind diagrams in the dust at his feet."
]

Internal vocalized thought (rare — use NewDialog with [PLAYER])

"NewDialog": [
    {
        "[PLAYER]": "&oHmm, this Pokémon seems to be guarding the cave! I have to get past!"
    }, 60, true, true
]

Truly unspoken thought (SendMessage with &o)

"SendMessage": "&7&oYou think about Iden Vesh, whom you have never met."

Why it matters

Older gens (1–3) used a flat Dialog array convention; gen4–5 are NewDialog-first. When writing modern (gen5) content, NewDialog is required — the established voice depends on it.

See also