Multiple possible text inputs with if statements - batch-file

Question

I am trying to make a fully immersive text adventure using a batch file.
Here is my problem: I want the answers to be a text input, so that the players type in a response which dictates where they will go.
For a lot of questions I need there to be multiple possible inputs. For example when you get to an enemy there are tons of different things you could do, however I can only figure out how to get it to recognise one input.
With other words, I want system to take user input and do actions accordingly.
Here is my code for this section so far:
:forest1
echo you awake in a forest, you do not know where you are or why you are there.
echo infront of you is a small goblin like creature
:recoil1
echo What do you do?
set /p answer=
if %answer%==run (
goto run1
) else (
if %answer%==attack (
goto attack1
) else (
if %answer%==befriend(
goto befriend1
) else (
if %answer%==scream(
goto scream1
) else (
if %answer%==dance (
goto dance1
) else (
echo Nothing happened
timeout /t 1
goto forest1
)

Answer 1

Your way should be modified like this to work:
#echo off
rem Your code before the code you provided above ^^
:forest1
echo You awake in a forest, you do not know where you are or why you are there.
echo In front of you is a small goblin like creature
goto :recoil1
:recoil1
set /p "answer=What do you do? "
if "%answer%" == "run" (
goto :run1
) else (
if "%answer%" == "attack" (
goto :attack1
) else (
if "%answer%" == "befriend" (
goto :befriend1
) else (
if "%answer%" == "scream" (
goto :scream1
) else (
if "%answer%" == "dance" (
goto :dance1
) else (
echo Nothing happened.
timeout /t 1
goto :forest1
)
)
)
)
)
You see: this is complicated a bit; you missed lots of parenthesis!
So, use choice command with some modifications:
#echo off
rem Your code before the code you provided above ^^
:forest1
echo You awake in a forest, you do not know where you are or why you are there.
echo In front of you is a small goblin like creature
goto :recoil1
:recoil1
echo What do you do? Here is a list of options:
echo r - run away
echo a - attack the goblin
echo b - be friend with the goblin
echo s - scream
echo d - dance
echo n - do nothing
choice /C:rabsdn /N
if errorlevel 6 (
echo Nothing happened.
timeout /t 1
goto :forest1
)
if errorlevel 5 goto :dance1
if errorlevel 4 goto :scream1
if errorlevel 3 goto :befriend1
if errorlevel 2 goto :attack1
if errorlevel 1 goto :run1
which is clearer, faster and more readable, isn't it?
Note: the if with the errorlevel should be in descending order because if errorlevel n means if the errorlevel is greater than or equal to n!
Modify the options to better suit for you.

Answer 2

Why not try use if in the for looping to do this job?
#echo off
:forest1
cls & echo/ & if defined answer set answer=<nul
echo/ you awake in a forest, you do not know where you are or why you are there.
echo/ infront of you is a small goblin like creature
:recoil1
set /p "answer= What do you do? "
for %%i in (run attack befriend scream dance) do if /i "%answer%" == "%%i" goto :%answer%1
echo/ Nothing happened
timeout /t 1 & goto forest1
:run1
echo/ Here I'm in Label run1 & exit /b
:attack1
echo/ Here I'm in Label attack1 & exit /b
:befriend1
echo/ Here I'm in Label befriend1 & exit /b
:scream1
echo/ Here I'm in Label scream1 & exit /b
:dance1
echo/ Here I'm in Label dance1 & exit /b