Scratch coding storytelling messaging

Scratch Storytelling with Message Chaining

This skill provides a pattern for Scratch projects where characters have conversations across multiple scenes. It uses broadcast messages to implement both sequential dialog (one character speaks after another) and parallel speech (multiple characters speak at the same time).

Core Concepts

Sequential Processing

Characters take turns speaking by chaining broadcast messages. Each character waits for a specific message, speaks using a timed say block, then sends the next message to trigger the other character's line.

Sprite A: [receive "scene1"] -> [say "..." for 2 secs] -> [broadcast "reply"]
Sprite B: [receive "reply"]  -> [say "..." for 2 secs] -> [broadcast "next"]

The say ... for N secs block is crucial: it blocks execution for N seconds before proceeding to the next block. This ensures the previous speech bubble disappears before the next character's line appears.

Parallel Processing

Characters speak simultaneously when multiple sprites receive the same broadcast message. Each sprite has its own when I receive hat block for the same message, and their scripts run in parallel.

Sprite A: [receive "finale"] -> [say "Hooray!"]
Sprite B: [receive "finale"] -> [say "Oh no!"]

The two sprites start speaking at nearly the same time. The exact order is unspecified and cannot be controlled, but they appear simultaneous to the viewer.

Scene Switching

The Stage controls backdrop changes and acts as the bridge between scenes. It listens for a message indicating the current scene's dialog is complete, switches the backdrop, and broadcasts a new message to start the next scene.

Stage: [flag clicked] -> [switch backdrop to "scene1"] -> [broadcast "scene1"]
Stage: [receive "scene1done"] -> [switch backdrop to "scene2"] -> [broadcast "scene2"]

Architecture

A typical storytelling project has this message flow:

[Green Flag]
    |
    v
Stage: switch to backdrop1, broadcast "scene1"
    |
    v
Sprite A receives "scene1": say line (2s), broadcast "lineA_done"
    |
    v
Sprite B receives "lineA_done": say reply (2s), broadcast "scene1done"
    |
    v
Stage receives "scene1done": wait, switch to backdrop2, broadcast "scene2"
    |
    v
Sprite A receives "scene2": say line  }  parallel
Sprite B receives "scene2": say line  }  (simultaneous)

Prerequisites

This skill builds on the scratch-project-edit skill. Ensure:

• The playwright-cli skill is installed and a browser session is open
• The Scratch editor is open and window.vm is available

Implementation

Broadcast Message Registration

All broadcast messages must be registered in the Stage's broadcasts object. Each entry maps an internal ID to a display name.

stage.broadcasts = {
  'b_scene1':     'scene1',
  'b_lineA_done': 'lineA_done',
  'b_scene1done': 'scene1done',
  'b_scene2':     'scene2'
};

Stage Blocks

The Stage has two scripts: one for initialization and one for each scene transition.

stage.blocks = {
  // Script 1: Green flag -> set initial backdrop -> broadcast scene1
  'flag': {
    opcode: 'event_whenflagclicked',
    next: 'switch_bg1',
    parent: null,
    inputs: {}, fields: {},
    shadow: false, topLevel: true,
    x: 50, y: 50
  },
  'switch_bg1': {
    opcode: 'looks_switchbackdropto',
    next: 'bcast_scene1',
    parent: 'flag',
    inputs: { BACKDROP: [1, 'bg1_menu'] },
    fields: {},
    shadow: false, topLevel: false
  },
  'bg1_menu': {
    opcode: 'looks_backdrops',
    next: null,
    parent: 'switch_bg1',
    inputs: {},
    fields: { BACKDROP: ['BackdropName1', null] },
    shadow: true, topLevel: false
  },
  'bcast_scene1': {
    opcode: 'event_broadcast',
    next: null,
    parent: 'switch_bg1',
    inputs: { BROADCAST_INPUT: [1, [11, 'scene1', 'b_scene1']] },
    fields: {},
    shadow: false, topLevel: false
  },

  // Script 2: Receive scene1done -> wait -> switch backdrop -> broadcast scene2
  'recv_scene1done': {
    opcode: 'event_whenbroadcastreceived',
    next: 'wait_transition',
    parent: null,
    inputs: {},
    fields: { BROADCAST_OPTION: ['scene1done', 'b_scene1done'] },
    shadow: false, topLevel: true,
    x: 50, y: 350
  },
  'wait_transition': {
    opcode: 'control_wait',
    next: 'switch_bg2',
    parent: 'recv_scene1done',
    inputs: { DURATION: [1, [5, '1']] },
    fields: {},
    shadow: false, topLevel: false
  },
  'switch_bg2': {
    opcode: 'looks_switchbackdropto',
    next: 'bcast_scene2',
    parent: 'wait_transition',
    inputs: { BACKDROP: [1, 'bg2_menu'] },
    fields: {},
    shadow: false, topLevel: false
  },
  'bg2_menu': {
    opcode: 'looks_backdrops',
    next: null,
    parent: 'switch_bg2',
    inputs: {},
    fields: { BACKDROP: ['BackdropName2', null] },
    shadow: true, topLevel: false
  },
  'bcast_scene2': {
    opcode: 'event_broadcast',
    next: null,
    parent: 'switch_bg2',
    inputs: { BROADCAST_INPUT: [1, [11, 'scene2', 'b_scene2']] },
    fields: {},
    shadow: false, topLevel: false
  }
};

Sprite Blocks — Sequential Dialog

Each sprite in a sequential dialog chain receives a message, speaks with a timed say block, then broadcasts the next message.

sprite.blocks = {
  // Sequential: receive message -> say line -> broadcast next message
  'recv_scene1': {
    opcode: 'event_whenbroadcastreceived',
    next: 'say_line',
    parent: null,
    inputs: {},
    fields: { BROADCAST_OPTION: ['scene1', 'b_scene1'] },
    shadow: false, topLevel: true,
    x: 50, y: 50
  },
  'say_line': {
    opcode: 'looks_sayforsecs',
    next: 'bcast_next',
    parent: 'recv_scene1',
    inputs: {
      MESSAGE: [1, [10, 'Dialog text here']],
      SECS: [1, [4, '2']]
    },
    fields: {},
    shadow: false, topLevel: false
  },
  'bcast_next': {
    opcode: 'event_broadcast',
    next: null,
    parent: 'say_line',
    inputs: { BROADCAST_INPUT: [1, [11, 'lineA_done', 'b_lineA_done']] },
    fields: {},
    shadow: false, topLevel: false
  }
};

Sprite Blocks — Parallel Speech

For simultaneous speech, multiple sprites each have a when I receive block for the same broadcast message. No further chaining is needed — both scripts run in parallel.

// Sprite A — parallel speech
spriteA.blocks = {
  'recv_scene2': {
    opcode: 'event_whenbroadcastreceived',
    next: 'say_parallel',
    parent: null,
    inputs: {},
    fields: { BROADCAST_OPTION: ['scene2', 'b_scene2'] },
    shadow: false, topLevel: true,
    x: 50, y: 300
  },
  'say_parallel': {
    opcode: 'looks_sayforsecs',
    next: null,
    parent: 'recv_scene2',
    inputs: {
      MESSAGE: [1, [10, 'Sprite A reaction']],
      SECS: [1, [4, '2']]
    },
    fields: {},
    shadow: false, topLevel: false
  }
};

// Sprite B — same broadcast, different line
spriteB.blocks = {
  'recv_scene2': {
    opcode: 'event_whenbroadcastreceived',
    next: 'say_parallel',
    parent: null,
    inputs: {},
    fields: { BROADCAST_OPTION: ['scene2', 'b_scene2'] },
    shadow: false, topLevel: true,
    x: 50, y: 300
  },
  'say_parallel': {
    opcode: 'looks_sayforsecs',
    next: null,
    parent: 'recv_scene2',
    inputs: {
      MESSAGE: [1, [10, 'Sprite B reaction']],
      SECS: [1, [4, '2']]
    },
    fields: {},
    shadow: false, topLevel: false
  }
};

Key Block Details

Timed Say (looks_sayforsecs)

Shows a speech bubble for a fixed duration, then clears it. Blocks execution until the duration elapses — this is essential for sequential dialog timing.

{
  opcode: 'looks_sayforsecs',
  inputs: {
    MESSAGE: [1, [10, 'Text to display']],   // [10] = string literal
    SECS: [1, [4, '2']]                      // [4] = number literal
  }
}

Persistent Say (looks_say)

Shows a speech bubble that stays until explicitly cleared. Use this for the final line in a scene if the bubble should remain visible.

{
  opcode: 'looks_say',
  inputs: {
    MESSAGE: [1, [10, 'Text to display']]
  }
}

Backdrop Switch (looks_switchbackdropto)

Requires a shadow menu block (looks_backdrops) specifying the backdrop name.

{
  opcode: 'looks_switchbackdropto',
  inputs: { BACKDROP: [1, 'menu_block_id'] }
}
// Shadow menu:
{
  opcode: 'looks_backdrops',
  fields: { BACKDROP: ['BackdropName', null] },
  shadow: true
}

Sprite Positioning (motion_gotoxy)

Set character positions at the start of each scene to place them appropriately for the backdrop.

{
  opcode: 'motion_gotoxy',
  inputs: {
    X: [1, [4, '-80']],
    Y: [1, [4, '-30']]
  }
}

When to Use This Pattern

Apply this pattern when a Scratch project needs:

1. Two or more characters having a conversation — dialog must appear in order, one line at a time
2. Scene changes — the backdrop switches between conversation segments
3. Simultaneous reactions — multiple characters respond to the same event at the same time

When NOT to Use This Pattern

• Single character narration: Use a simple [flag clicked] -> [say ... for N secs] chain
• User-driven dialog: If the user clicks to advance dialog, use when this sprite clicked events instead of timed broadcasts
• Continuous animation: If characters move and speak simultaneously throughout, consider broadcast and wait with forever loops instead

Extending the Pattern

Adding More Scenes

Add more when I receive / broadcast pairs to the Stage for each scene transition. The message chain can be extended indefinitely:

scene1 -> lineA -> lineB -> scene1done -> scene2 -> lineC -> scene2done -> scene3 -> ...

Mixing Sequential and Parallel Within a Scene

Within a single scene, you can have sequential dialog followed by a parallel moment:

[receive "scene1"] -> [say line1 for 2s] -> [broadcast "reply"]
[receive "reply"]  -> [say line2 for 2s] -> [broadcast "react"]
[receive "react"]  -> [say "wow!" for 2s]    // Sprite A  } parallel
[receive "react"]  -> [say "yay!" for 2s]    // Sprite B  }

Using "broadcast and wait"

Replace event_broadcast with event_broadcastandwait when the sending sprite needs to perform actions after the receiving sprite finishes. This is useful when one character should react after another completes a multi-step sequence.

{
  opcode: 'event_broadcastandwait',
  inputs: { BROADCAST_INPUT: [1, [11, 'messageName', 'message_id']] }
}