---
title: start_conversation
summary: X4 interface reference. Types are established only within the stated scope.
section: reference
kind: api
status: reference
updated: 2026-10-26
tags: ["API","X4"]
sources: ["https://wiki.egosoft.com/X4%20Foundations%20Wiki/Modding%20Support/","https://www.lua.org/manual/5.1/manual.html","https://luajit.org/ext_ffi_api.html"]
---
## Return value

| Type | Meaning |
| --- | --- |
| [`none`](wiki:type-results) (MD action) | Types describe the declared interface, not proof of a successful game effect. |

[Types and methods](wiki:types)

## XML attributes

[How schema types work](wiki:schema-types)

`libraries/common.xsd`

| Attribute | Schema type | Required | Default / fixed |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `chance` | [`expression`](wiki:schema-expression-b8bc0e4f) | no | not declared |
| `weight` | [`expression`](wiki:schema-expression-b8bc0e4f) | no | not declared |
| `comment` | [`comment`](wiki:schema-comment-c44bb2fd) | no | not declared |
| `actor` | [`expression`](wiki:schema-expression-b8bc0e4f) | no | not declared |
| `context` | [`expression`](wiki:schema-expression-b8bc0e4f) | no | not declared |
| `template` | [`expression`](wiki:schema-expression-b8bc0e4f) | no | not declared |
| `conversation` | [`conversation`](wiki:schema-conversation-8b34dbc2) | yes | not declared |
| `convparam` | [`expression`](wiki:schema-expression-b8bc0e4f) | no | not declared |
| `type` | [`inline:start_conversation@type`](wiki:schema-inline-start-conversation-type-01095dc7) | no | not declared |
| `priority` | [`inline:start_conversation@priority`](wiki:schema-inline-start-conversation-priority-d549256b) | no | not declared |
| `missioncue` | [`expression`](wiki:schema-expression-b8bc0e4f) | no | not declared |

An MD action can write to a named variable or change the world. This is not a Lua return value. The output variable depends on the action and its attributes.

## Example and context

See [language basics](wiki:x4-code-basics), [types and methods](wiki:types) and [Lua / MD events](wiki:md-lua-bridge). Examples there are independent learning examples. No project source files or private implementation fragments are distributed with this reference.