Is it possible to add in talking portraits? See Thread v

[Caeltos]

I've got a question for our fellow coders and modders here.

I've been fiddling with the idea of having more "immersive" gameplay, and by that - I mean trying to emaluate abit of a single-player driven "narrative" to some extent to the multiplayer games.

However, with some limitations of course - but the goal is to see if it's possible to add in talking portraits in the middle of a multiplayer match.

For an ex.

Start of the game;
- Chaos Lord (Talking Portrait) (appears top-left) and tells them gibberish.

Each faction would hear their own corresponding thing, or if it's even possible - try to randomize it for each faction and make every match more unique and different from one another.

Adding onto that, setting some layers of say, a very close-game in terms of victory points would lead to the winning side saying something when there's only 100 VP, which all players would hear.

Anyway, it's just some brainstorming and ideas, but the execution is abit of a different story. Would like to hear if it's possible, without causing errors across the board and what-have-you.

[Atlas]

Well the game already has notifications referring to specific events. Sticking with the Chaos example the guy would say things like:

"If that Victory Point is lost...." @ losing point
"Now's here's a cathedral blah blah blah Black Crusade" @ finish T3

You mean that you want a sort of animation at the top left for that kind of stuff?

Or more like a Braveheart thing where the commander does some kind of inspirational speech sort of like certain areas of the campaign?

[ChrisNihilus]

I think he means like in the Campaign, where for example in a Space Marine vs Chaos they start speaking to each others. An intimidatory speach.

Then if the player that play SM is losing, a portrait of the Chaos Lord will appear to both players and say something like "I shall devour your soul" or "You have no hope against us" or something, and the Force Commander will answer to that.

It's a nice idea.
With the audio sample in all the campaigns i believe it will be easy to forge different combinations of dialogue or even some kind of randomization.

[Metron]

That sounds awesome... Let's make that happen...

[Caeltos]

I think he means like in the Campaign, where for example in a Space Marine vs Chaos they start speaking to each others. An intimidatory speach.

Then if the player that play SM is losing, a portrait of the Chaos Lord will appear to both players and say something like "I shall devour your soul" or "You have no hope against us" or something, and the Force Commander will answer to that.

It's a nice idea.
With the audio sample in all the campaigns i believe it will be easy to forge different combinations of dialogue or even some kind of randomization.

Yeah, pretty much that example.

[Fr33man1800]

I think that is a very good idea but I supose the lines would be only on 1vs1 matches or under certain conditions right? Because for example in a 3vs3 with a lot of random heroes it could be dificult to get some coherent dialog . OFC if the lines are like "come and face me if you dare coward!" that could be universal but if it is meant to be more especific could be a bit harder to implement right? , i supose the game would had to check which races are being played and then display the mesages acordingly. Since I havent see this before implemented in any multiplayer game dont know how it would work but it definetly sounds awesome.

EDIT: I think that i've come across an interesting idea that would kill two birds with one stone.
I renember a while back reading a post regarding the recreation of big w40k battles in 3vs3 matches by playing each member an especific race and some especial rules as well like 1000 VPs.
My idea consist in having especific maps meant to play with especific factions and setings, that would already recreate the conditions of the battle that is being played. This maps would had also especific voice events depending on what is happening on the field like for example if the natural VP is taken by the enemy a certain dialog appears saying retake the point blah bla blah (the audio would be very easy to obtain since there are plenty of voicelines in the DOWII campaign that would fit very well).
I dont know if with the worldbuilder its posible to create "interactive" maps or you can only create standard DOWII maps with standard victory conditions. Nevertheless if its possible could be interesting to have a map in which for example the main objective is to cap one strategic VP loacted at the enemys recreating one battle of the imperium in which for example nids attack and IG/SM/GK defend etc...

[Commissar Yarrick]

Hmmm I really do love the idea of seeing a Guardsman commending my Commissar Lord when he levels and see him flap his omuth in the screen: "Good work commissar! Better yourself!"

[Barrogh]

TBH units talk to each other quite a lot, and it even can be informative. I don't find it too interesting to waste screen space and generate more noise though, so I'd like to hear the purpose this is supposed to serve.

And I find animated portraits to be rather ugly...

[Ashiraya]

I loved the way they talked in the campaign. This seems nice.