Add '...' chat bubble above player when pressing talk before reaching NPC

game.js

@@ -388,9 +388,13 @@ class Game {
     if (p) {
       const centreX  = viewW / 2 - 16;
       const centreY  = viewH * 0.65 + this.state.worldY;
+      const bottomPx = viewH - centreY - 40;
       p.style.left   = centreX + 'px';
-      p.style.bottom = (viewH - centreY - 40) + 'px';
+      p.style.bottom = bottomPx + 'px';
       p.className    = `map-player walk-${dir}`;
+      /* Keep "..." bubble above player */
+      const bub = document.getElementById('player-bubble');
+      if (bub) { bub.style.left = (centreX - 4) + 'px'; bub.style.bottom = (bottomPx + 66) + 'px'; }
     }
 
     this._checkNPCProximity();
@@ -453,8 +457,22 @@ class Game {
   }
 
   _talkToNPC() {
+    if (!this._nearNPC()) {
+      /* Too far away — show "..." bubble above player */
+      const bub = document.getElementById('player-bubble');
+      if (bub) {
+        bub.classList.remove('visible');
+        void bub.offsetWidth;
+        bub.classList.add('visible');
+        clearTimeout(this._bubbleTimer);
+        this._bubbleTimer = setTimeout(() => bub.classList.remove('visible'), 1500);
+      }
+      return;
+    }
     const arrow = document.getElementById('map-dir-arrow');
     if (arrow) arrow.style.display = 'none';
+    const bub = document.getElementById('player-bubble');
+    if (bub) bub.classList.remove('visible');
     SFX.encounter();
     this.startQuestion();
   }
@@ -467,10 +485,13 @@ class Game {
 
     const p = document.getElementById('map-player');
     if (p) {
-      p.style.left      = (viewW / 2 - 16) + 'px';
+      const left   = viewW / 2 - 16;
-      p.style.bottom    = (viewH * 0.28) + 'px';
+      const bottom = viewH * 0.28;
-      
+      p.style.left      = left + 'px';
+      p.style.bottom    = bottom + 'px';
       p.className       = 'map-player idle';
+      const bub = document.getElementById('player-bubble');
+      if (bub) { bub.style.left = (left - 4) + 'px'; bub.style.bottom = (bottom + 66) + 'px'; }
     }
     this._applyCamera();
     const hint = document.getElementById('map-talk-hint');

index.html

@@ -109,6 +109,7 @@
         <div class="map-npc" id="map-npc"></div>
       </div>
       <!-- Player stays fixed to viewport, only Y moves -->
+      <div class="player-bubble" id="player-bubble">...</div>
       <div class="map-player" id="map-player"></div>
       <!-- Hints overlay the viewport, not the world -->
       <div class="map-talk-hint" id="map-talk-hint" style="display:none"><span class="hint-pc">Press E</span><span class="hint-touch">Press A</span></div>

style.css

@@ -483,6 +483,38 @@ html, body {
 .npc-bubble   { font-size:14px; font-family:var(--font); color:var(--black); background:var(--yellow); border:2px solid var(--black); width:20px; height:20px; display:flex; align-items:center; justify-content:center; margin:0 auto 2px; animation:bounce .7s ease-in-out infinite; }
 .map-npc      { font-size:clamp(36px,10vw,52px); filter:drop-shadow(2px 3px 0 rgba(0,0,0,.35)); cursor:pointer; }
 /* Player is fixed to the viewport centre horizontally; only Y moves */
+/* "..." bubble above player when pressing talk away from NPC */
+.player-bubble {
+  font-size: 11px;
+  font-family: var(--font);
+  color: var(--black);
+  background: #fff;
+  border: 2px solid var(--black);
+  padding: 0 5px;
+  height: 20px;
+  display: none;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+  border-radius: 2px;
+  white-space: nowrap;
+  position: absolute;
+  z-index: 100;
+  box-shadow: 1px 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,.3);
+}
+.player-bubble::after {
+  content: '';
+  position: absolute;
+  bottom: -6px;
+  left: 50%;
+  transform: translateX(-50%);
+  border: 3px solid transparent;
+  border-top-color: var(--black);
+}
+.player-bubble.visible {
+  display: flex;
+  animation: bounce .5s ease-in-out 3;
+}
+
 .map-player {
   position: absolute;
   width:  32px;
@@ -493,7 +525,7 @@ html, body {
   background-position: 0 0;
   image-rendering: pixelated;
   filter: drop-shadow(2px 3px 0 rgba(0,0,0,.4));
-  z-index: 99;
+  z-index: 10;
   font-size: 0;
   color: transparent;
 }