Barks are short, triggered voice lines that characters say in response to gameplay events without entering a formal dialogue system. Callouts are a specific subset -- combat barks where characters communicate tactical information. The system tracks game state (combat phase, enemy proximity, player health, environmental hazards) and selects appropriate lines from a massive pool. Good bark systems include cooldown timers to prevent repetition, priority levels so critical callouts override casual chatter, and contextual awareness so characters don't say cheerful things during tragic moments. A single NPC might have hundreds of bark lines recorded to cover every situation.