Branching Scenarios in Storyline: Layers or Slides?

When you build branching scenarios in Storyline, one of the decisions you need to make is when to create new slides and when to create layers. In my work, I find that layers are effective for feedback in a gauntlet or constrained branching structure. For everything else, I build new slides for the consequences of each choice. Using layers might seem like it saves some development time, but it can actually create more complexity (and hassle!) if the branching paths cross or you revisit options more than once.

When layers work well

Layers work well for feedback and consequences in simple branching scenarios. The simplest branching scenario structure is a series of questions and responses, but no matter what you pick, you return to the main path. This approach is called a gauntlet or constrained branching structure. (It goes by some other names too–Cathy Moore calls it a “control freak” scenario, for example.)

Many people start with this gauntlet structure when they are first learning how to create branching scenarios (I did too!). It’s the easiest to understand and manage. It usually looks like this, where you have a choice, some responses, and then return to the main path.

In a scenario like this, using layers for the feedback makes sense. You can have the question in the main layer, and the responses and feedback in additional layers. The navigation takes you to the next question on a new slide, and the process repeats.

In Storyline, the main layer for a question would look something like this, with triggers on each choice that show the layers for the responses.

Each of the three response layers show the next part of the conversation in response to the choice. You could also include feedback here. After each question, you continue to the next slide for the next question.

For a simple branching structure like this, layers are probably more manageable. There isn’t really any branching structure to work with; it’s essentially just a series of multiple choice questions with customized feedback.

When slides work better than layers

Once the branching structure becomes even a little more complex, I find that layers become more difficult. Partly, that’s because I start with a map of the structure in Twine. Mentally, it’s easier to think of each passage in Twine converting to a single slide in Storyline. But the larger consideration is that it’s much easier to link to slides than to link to individual layers.

Take a look at the structure for this scenario. In this client screening scenario, the paths frequently cross. I often reused choices to give users a chance to correct their mistakes.

This sort of branching structure would be much harder to keep track of using layers. Therefore, I used links to new slides for each choice rather than showing layers. The structure in Storyline looks fairly similar to the structure in Twine.

In this scenario, each choice jumps to a new slide. You can try this scenario example yourself or read more about how I built it in Storyline.

Typically, this second example is how I build branching scenarios in Storyline.

Reusing choices, opportunities to correct mistakes

If I had used layers instead of slides, it would have been trickier to reuse choices.

For example, in the first decision point, you have three choices.

1. Send Robert a price estimate. (Bad) Jump to slide 1.3 Price Estimate
2. Send Robert some client screening questions. (Good) Jump to slide 1.4 Screening
3. Send Robert questions on the course length. (OK) Jump to slide 1.5 Course Length

On their own, it would be pretty simple to add the responses to those questions in layers. However, if you choose the OK option above, you get another opportunity to pick the best option. I reused that choice, but I reworded it so it wasn’t as obvious. “High level questions about goals and budget” is the same as “client screening questions,” just said a different way.

1. Send Robert a price for the whole project. (Bad) Jump to slide 1.3 Price Estimate
2. Ask Robert what level of elearning he wants. (OK) Jump to slide 1.8 Level
3. Ask Robert some high level questions about goals and budget. (Good) Jump to slide 1.4 Screening

It’s possible to jump to a specific layer of a slide. But in my workflow, it feels more complicated to use variables to check which slide the user last visited when they enter the slide, and then have a conditional trigger based on that. It’s more straightforward to just build more slides. It’s also easier to see the structure in Story view, which makes it easier to troubleshoot and revise.

Your approach?

While this is the approach that works best for me, I don’t think this is a hard and fast rule. There’s definitely an element of personal preference here, although certain situations may be easier with either slides or layers. If you have built branching scenarios in Storyline, especially more complex branching structures, what do you prefer? Do you mostly use layers, or do you primarily rely on slides? How do you decide which approach to use?