The strike system is the system in Façade involving the strikes you get before you get kicked out in certain stages of the game. Triggering words, phrases, or behaviour can result in you getting kicked out. In addition to the different systems in stages, there are also different reactions to certain triggers, which depending on the stage, may or may not get you kicked out.
Trigger levels[]
Level one trigger[]
A level one trigger is one that cannot result in you getting kicked out, but can cause frustration, especially later in the game. For example, hugging and comforting either Trip or Grace during the third stage, if done repeatedly, will cause the other to go to the kitchen to get away from you and the person whom you are hugging or comforting.
In the fourth stage, Trip will constantly get mad at you for hugging and comforting him or Grace. In the fifth stage, where Trip and Grace are in separate rooms, the person with whom you are in a room will be somewhat appreciative, but will for the most part reject the gesture. In the sixth stage, when you first hug or comfort Trip or Grace, they will say "I appreciate that you're trying to help, but what we need now is to get through this." Doing it again will cause Trip to get mad, but he will not kick you out.
The same situation will happen with talking about drinks or sex. Trip is the one who is flattered by these at first, though he is still the one to get mad about the former in the fourth and sixth stages, while the latter applies as a level two trigger in some cases, notably when the profane term fuck is used. Therapy also annoys Grace, though like sex, it can sometimes apply as a level two trigger, notably when the term drug(s) is used.
Level two trigger[]
A level two trigger is a trigger that is only appropriate to say when you get to the sixth stage. It is a statement that mentions a problem with Trip and Grace's marriage or makes a suggestion, and therefore is helpful in the sixth stage, but in the third stage, you can get kicked out for it as it is not yet time to mention it. This includes things such as accusing Trip and Grace of infidelity or simply mentioning it, stating that one of them is lying or is to blame, etc. You cannot get kicked out for this in the sixth stage, however, if you mention in twice, either Trip or Grace will simply mention that they have already talked about it.
Level three trigger[]
A level three trigger is a trigger that can cause anger in the third stage, but will not get you kicked out until the fourth and sixth stages. A level three trigger is a more extreme version of a level one trigger; it involves flirting with Trip or Grace. In the first and second stages, it will most likely be seen as a simple compliment. In the third stage, it may cause the other to go to the kitchen due to their anger; however, it will not get you kicked out. In the fourth and sixth stages, if you do it once, you will get one strike; then if you do it again, you will get kicked out.
Level four trigger[]
A level four trigger is a trigger that is only accepted during the first, second, and fifth stages, along with bonus stage one, and only applies to kissing. During the bonus stage, you can kiss Trip or Grace without getting kicked out. In the first and second stages, it is acceptable to kiss them (though kissing Trip if you are a man can provoke a confused reaction), and in the third, fourth, and sixth stages, you can get kicked out.
Level five trigger[]
A level five trigger is a trigger that is never accepted and you can get kicked out for it in any stage, except for the fifth and seventh stages.
Stages and their strike systems[]
Stage one: Greeting Trip at the door[]
If you say a level five trigger word while greeting Trip at the apartment door, he will immediately shut the door in your face after slowly becoming unhappy; however, you may still be able to get into the apartment and you will not get kicked out for it afterwards, though Trip will keep a somewhat angry look for a while. Lower level trigger words or actions, with the exception of fuck, Maria, and Vince, do not provoke the same reaction; however, certain phrases may confuse Trip, but do not count as a strike. If you are a man however, Trip will be more confused if you kiss him on the lips than if you are a woman.
Stage two: Greeting Grace[]
If you say a level five trigger word while greeting Grace, you will get kicked out. Other triggers do not cause problems, however, kissing Trip if you are a man again will confuse him more than if you are a woman and you kiss him.
Stage three: Pre-fighting stage[]
In the pre-fighting stage, which is after the greetings but before the fighting, you have two strikes. Level two, four, and five level triggers can get you kicked out after using one for the third time. You do not have to use the same one three times to get kicked out; you can use any three ones and you will still get kicked out.
Stage four: Pre-kitchen fighting stage[]
In the pre-kitchen fighting stage, which is after the pre-fighting stage but before the kitchen stage, you have one strike. Level two, three, four, and five triggers can get you kicked out after using them twice; much like stage three, it does not have to be the same word.
Stage five: Kitchen stage[]
After asking you a question, either Trip or Grace will go into the kitchen. While this happens, you will not get kicked out for anything.
Stage six: Post-kitchen fighting stage[]
Eventually, Trip and Grace will both be in the living room again. Here, only level one and two triggers are acceptable. You have one strike with level three triggers, as you get kicked out after using a level three trigger the second time; however, you have no strikes for the level four and five triggers and will immediately get kicked out.
Stage seven: Admitting the truth[]
When Trip and Grace admit the truth or the "nothing changes" ending happens, no triggers will effect them, however, complimenting, criticising, or insulting Trip or Grace may result in them saying "There's no need to be nice/rude anymore," and saying other things may result in them simply saying "There's no need to say anything more."
Bonus stage: Kitchen[]
If you repeatedly compliment or are favourable to Trip or Grace, the other will leave the living room and go to the kitchen. During this time, you can be with either of them, regardless of whether or not they are in the living room, though your interactions are shorter if they are in the kitchen, as they will quickly go back to the living room. During this time, level four triggers will provoke a shock from the triggered, however, it will not result in you getting kicked out. Level five triggers will get you kicked out; however, it works differently with Trip and Grace; Trip will immediately kick you out as he has the power to do so, while Grace will act mad, which will attract Trip's attention, which results in him going into the living room/kitchen (depending on where you are) and he will kick you out.
List of triggers[]
Level one triggers[]
Level one triggers include the following:
- Hugging or comforting Trip or Grace
- Mentioning drinks
- The terms breast(s) and butt
- Mentioning therapy/drugs
- Mentioning infidelity
Level two triggers[]
Level two triggers include the following:
- Accusing Trip or Grace of committing infidelity
- Saying that Trip or Grace is to blame
- Accusing Trip or Grace of lying
- Suggesting that Trip and Grace get divorced
- Suggesting that Trip and Grace have children
Level three triggers[]
Flirting with Trip or Grace is the sole level three trigger.
Level four triggers[]
Kissing Trip or Grace is the sole level four trigger.
Level five triggers[]
Level five trigger words and phrases include the following:
- Melon
- Insults (stupid, jerk, asshole, bitch, dick, fuck you, screw you, etc.)
- Sexual slang (excluding boob(s), ass, asshole/butthole [provided that the latter two are not used directly as an insult])
- "Let's not keep digging"
- Some slurs, such as n*gger, faggot, etc.
- Death-related words and phrases, such as die, kill, murder, suicide, "kill yourself," etc.
- Pig
- Snake
- Rat
- "Get me off"
- "We'll fuck later"
- Threesome
- Doggystyle
- Bang
- "Want nothing"
- Masturbate
- Nasty
- Stinky
- "Jump out the window"
- I did not miss you
- "Stop talking," "Shut up," etc.
- Sadist
- Suggesting Trip and Grace get a pet
- Suggesting Trip or Grace should bathe with you
- Cum
Trivia[]
- Some words or phrases that may not seem inappropriate or offensive at all may be interpreted by the engine as a triggering word or phrase for less obvious reasons.
- For example, the phrase "let's not keep digging" will immediately prompt Trip to evacuate the player from the Apartment, as will saying "get me off", most likely because the phrase has a sexual connotation to it.