--- deliantra/server/include/object.h	2009/10/03 18:46:26	1.208
+++ deliantra/server/include/object.h	2009/10/11 01:35:52	1.209
@@ -523,7 +523,9 @@
    */
   MTH bool has_random_items () const { return randomitems && !flag [FLAG_IS_A_TEMPLATE]; }
 
-  MTH bool has_dialogue () const { return *&msg == '@'; }
+  static bool msg_has_dialogue (const char *msg) { return *msg == '@'; }
+
+  MTH bool has_dialogue () const { return msg_has_dialogue (&msg); }
 
   // returns the outermost owner, never returns 0
   MTH object *outer_owner ()