So here's the plan VAs will be given a character, and record lines from up to 5 Google Docs. The first Doc has all the unique lines for their character. Proof of concept: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AjyJ_YayH0A9dGRyYURlY3NCT3hiLUpXWXRZc0xudEE#gid=17
Second, Faction. This will include rumors and giving background information on the faction itself and where important members of the faction may be found. Actors only need to record lines that don't have requirements excluding them. (If your character is in Hlaalu but is not a member of the 'scout' class, you don't need to read the line about the arvel family; if your character is in Hlaalu but is not in Odirniran you don't read the lines with the topic 'Odirniran') Proof of concept: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AjyJ_YayH0A9dC1ubTRaTGl2Ymh6Z3hQT3Z1azZ5ZHc#gid=0
Third, location. This will exclude Faction overlap, and includes directions to important NPCs in the same village/general region. Proof of concept: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AjyJ_YayH0A9dEVJN1BUQkptaUVraWFJR0Q1dDlaTFE#gid=0
Missing from 'location'.
So some things I cut from what is to be recorded - 'background', 'local rumors', 'little advice', 'morrowind lore' topic options. Background sounded wooden and long winded, and it seems very odd that every NPC knows all the same exact rumors (plus, these would add a reckless amount of work to our voice actors).Instead, I propose that local rumors, little secrets, and Morrowind Lore be handled by new NPCs in each region. These lines will be split among bartenders, homeless, orphans, wandering vagrants, traveling bards, shady characters in back alleys, etc.
Most of the lines under Morrowind Lore read like wikipedia pages -- it just sounds unnatural for every NPC to give the same lecture. We could make new NPCs to handle these lines as their primary dialogue. I propose Morrowind Lore options for factions and general be relegated to 'Lore Master' NPCs.
***Note that any 'morrowind lore' topics that are unique to a faction, or a certain individual - those would have already been caught by the 'individual' and 'faction' sheets! Don't worry about a temple priest lore master telling you things only a Blades Trainer should know!
One stop shopping for the lore topics. So an old priest in the temple that could tell you the history of the temple in that area. Those be his primary lines. A retired fighter would handle other 'morrowind lore' topics about what the weapons are good for and how to fight with them.
In Morrowind, these were randomized. So 'generic kwama farmer #7' was telling you what a halberd was and how to keep it in good working condition. My idea gets rid of that.
For the fourth doc, I plan on making a 'greeting' doc with tabs by race and sex. Under each tab, there will be a happy greeting, neutral greeting, angry greeting, blight greeting (for when the player has blight disease), corprus (for when the player has corprus), diseased (when the player is diseased), Vampire (when player is a vampire), Nerevarine (when player has fulfilled the prophecies). This sheet will also contain "Thief" and "Intruder" lines.
Concerns with greetings
It won't be quite as varied as they were in Morrowind, but I think that's a sacrifice that will have to be made. The only other options are to have ONE generic voice handle all greetings (which would clash with the voice of the rest of the lines) or to not have those lines voiced at all.
Having a 'generic' voice actor handle all the generic lines is possible, but I personally think that sounds worse than cutting them out completely. Remember the 'beggars' in Oblivion? And they were using the same voice actors.
"If it's not worth doing right, it's not worth doing." I would rather have no voice acting at all, than have it done in a half-assed manner. Not having voice acting is not as immersion breaking as having one NPC being voiced by multiple people. Having 400 voice actors say 'good morning' to me in their own voice is less immersion breaking than having one voice saying different things for all of them.
Now, we'll need some generic lines for 'persuasion' type lines, 'naked' characters, etc. I don't want these to clash too much. I think it's best not to have them as fully spoken sentences, but rather like the attack/injury sounds. Very subtle; a disapproving grunt and sneer for refusal, a smile with chuckle for approval, a shocked gasp for player-nudity, *a low whistle for an impeccably dressed player. * I can handle all the whistles by the way, I am a whistling god.
I need support on this, or it's not getting done.
Don't know much about the
Don't know much about the Morrowind dialog system, but why can't we keep it simple like Skyrim? I'm sorry, but I could care less about an NPCs background or rumors unless it leads to a misc or side quest. Not everyone needs some deep character or lore. Keep it simple, record quest lines, greetings/goodbyes, and a few other generic ones and be done with it. This isn't Morrowind.