Idle Banter Collaboration Thread - Writers, post here!

@ lifelong:

Your mudcrab idle comment is perfect, and could become a classic like the "... until I took an arrow in the knee..." comment (which I always listen for and laugh when I hear).

Justafan

The only issue with having a another "general line for all NPCs to say" is that every single voice actor would have to do it. The reason Bethesda could get away with having lots of those kinds of lines is that they didn't really have too many unique voice actors. But with our project, we have so many VA volunteers for different NPCs that a generic line like that multiplies to well over a hundred individual snippets that we have to implement. Which is kinda a pain.

Not to mention the fact that if every NPC says that, it will get really annoying and not be funny at all. It's also really immersion-breaking to hear recycled dialog like that. Kinda like the arrow in the knee joke. Which is exactly what we want to avoid.

That said, if you want to include that in a specific conversation or NPC muttering, that would be fine. Just no all-purpose dialog, please.

Was an obvious joke, you may have sense-of-humor cancer.

And since you took that obvious joke to levels of such super cereal, I'm totally going to nitpick at this: "a generic line like that multiplies to well over a hundred individual snippets that we have to implement. Which is kinda a pain."

First you made the mistake of taking the word 'every' literally, in that "every single voice actor would have to do it." That is absolute lunacy and I can't imagine why you would think this would ever realistically happen. Why would anyone actually suggest that every single actor record an identical and pointless sentence to be spouted constantly throughout the game? Not only is that completely mental, it's a stupid amount of work all for nothing. Secondly, all lines of dialogue basically multiply to well over a hundred individual snippets to implement, regardless of how generic or unique, collectively. When you are recording 500 lines of voiceover work, it doesn't make any difference whether they are the same line or not; there are 500 lines to be implemented. This entire topic is suggesting the addition of possibly hundreds of extraneous lines of dialogue already. I hardly think you are going to have each voice actor record dozens of unique new lines of dialogue, many with each other, that will only be heard sparingly and when in the presence of the exact NPC's for whom the lines were recorded and then claim that having every actor record the same line is more difficult. Depending on the intended amount of idle banter to be recorded, obviously planning is necessary as is happening now -Noone here will argue with that- but voice acting isn't a new game around here. In the end, it's up to the actors to make it happen. And those of us who've been around here a while know how much hard work has gone into putting together the core voice acting. Anyway my point is your argument was lazy and misplaced, since as I said it was a joke that I would never have imagined flying over the head of any tesrenewel user. No offense

also, annoying and funny are subjective and if we've learned one thing from the internet it's that the arrow in the knee joke is by far the most popular thing about Skyrim.

Regards

@lifelong: 

Justafan was not in any way trying to be disparaging of your comment--to be perfectly honest with you, the 'joke' was a little lost on me too :)

However, you should know that we have being trying to get across from the beginning that we are not after lines of generic dialog in this particular project, and we have had minor issues with trying to phase this out. The comment was posted as both a polite thanks-but-no-thanks, and also serves as both clarification and a reminder to other writers of what we are trying to achieve--thus rendering the claim that it is "lazy" and "misplaced" incorrect. 

As for it being  "super cereal"--this project is taken as seriously as any other, and why shouldn't it be? And contrary to your view, there are a lot more people involved in making the voice-acting a reality than just the actors, so I would like to respectfully request that you think before you type next time. You have insulted numerous people.  

To conclude, I would like to politely ask that you please refrain from placing your irrelevant commentaries (i.e. pointless nitpicking) on perfectly innocent responses to 'jokes' and insults to both the individual and the team on this thread in future-this is a place for positive collaboration, not negativity.

Thank you for your time.

After an absence, I am back with St. Veloth's Hostel, from Molag Mar.

I have written a third draft of Yngling manor, and hugely appreciate the advice.

Sorry! Forgot to add the actual draft

Looks good Entreri! Just have a careful go through regarding spelling. Think the only one I picked up was Hlaahu--should be Hlaalu :)

Please do some more! :D

@twentyenginerunner, I love that work with St Veloth's Hostel! No critiques here :)

EDIT: Attached is a draft for the village of Ald Velothi, at long last! Critique away if you wish :)

Here is my fourth draft! And unless anybody minds, I would like to also pick Suran miscellaneous street dwellers.

Updates ^_^ ... I'm going to take a look at some other misc. street dwellers dialogue to see about some more ideas, but here is the primary stuff. 

As always, thank you all for the feedback and assist!

Cheers!

Krys

So, I was thinking... should Ghostgate be added to the project? It has a fair number of npcs (it would probably count as a small town on the spreadsheet), and is generally a pretty interesting location in terms of lore and story. I'm not sure how feasible it would be to add another area now, but it might be worth keeping in mind.

twentyenginerunner

So, I was thinking... should Ghostgate be added to the project? It has a fair number of npcs (it would probably count as a small town on the spreadsheet), and is generally a pretty interesting location in terms of lore and story. I'm not sure how feasible it would be to add another area now, but it might be worth keeping in mind.

if someone writes it within the next week it can be included. I'd say go for it and just remember the NPCs have to be in the same cell.

All right, unless anyone has any advice, I would say that Yngling manor is complete.

On another note, I have written some Suran dialogue, even did for the merchants. However, I don't know if they go out of their stores now, and if they do I will also give them some conversations with others.

Alright Guys, It's Winty

I've done Tel Uvirith the Stronghold. I am new to the project and it's my first contribution so If you have any advice let me know.

Anyways, Here you go. The Idle conversation and banter for  Tel Uvirith.

If there is anything to Add, Change, Remove or even think it's complete let me know. 

Here is the Redoran Stronghold in Molag Mar.

@Entreri

Pretty good on Suran, although there are a few things that might be weird lore-wise. I do not recall there ever being references to phoenix's in Morrowind (or anywhere is the Elder Scrolls games). Why would a Dunmer swear my Molag Bal? Does it really make sense that an Orc would want to buy a silt strider? I'm not really a lore expert, though.

In regards to merchants leaving their shops (or other npcs entering them), different writers have been interpreting that problem in different ways. Some assume certain characters will talk to merchants, and some have the merchant just talk to themselves. My preference is to only have cross-cell conversations if it really makes sense for an npc to have a schedule that includes time in a different place than where that are in the original game. For example, in the Hall of Wisdom I had a cross-cell conversation in the sleeping quarters, since I figured most of the npcs in the area would be going to that room at some point.

All right, I would say that Yngling manor is finished. I also have my new Suran draft, I made some changes (lore-wise and dialogue-wise) and added a few conversations between merchants and customers.

@twentyenginerunner I really like your molag mar banter,it had a lot of charm to it.

Just finished my first few bits of dialog for the canton dwellers. 

Here are a few of some ideas I had for the Canton settlers random dialog. Some reference specific quests. Hope you enjoy! :)

"I'm not sure I trust that Crassius Curio. Strange fellow."

"If you happen a Daedra worshipper around here those ordinators will have your head."

"Stay away from the underworks, there are all sorts of folks down there."

"If it's goods your looking for you'll want to seek the out waistworks."

"If you need to get around you could make use of a gondola. Talk to Dalse Adren."

*to another settler "Sometimes I think it'd be better if I just went back to Cyrodil."

"You look tough. Maybe you should test yourself at the arena" *possible quest starter*

"All the dark elves are holed up at House Redoran. Too serious of a bunch for me."  

"Have you heard about all those killings lately? Chilling. " *reference to quest http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Morrowind:Mysterious_Killings_in_Vivec.

Thanks for the advice! I have made the corrections you recommended, plus a few extra ones.

that is fantastic, these kind of lines are what make serious games very humorous... in my opinion, these lines are a GREAT addition to morrowind... its like the argonian maid all over again.

the banter is good too, it adds some interesting life to these otherwise boring characters.

I fixed the lines of Dialouge and for now it is considered complete unless anyone has anymore advice. 

Tel Uvirith

Winty Free

I really like your Tel Uvirith dialogue because it is quite realistic and still entertaining. However, I think there are a few little things to address. Firstly, skeevers were not in Morrowind, but if they are being added it's not a problem. Secondly, isn't fuck slightly out of place in Tamriel? Don't let this discourage you from using swear words in your writing, but I just personally think it doesn't match up to the rest of elder scrolls dialogue. 

Still, this is only my opinion, and if you have reasons to keep it as it is please do so.

I would tend to agree.  In place of fuck as an interjection, you can figure a way to use n'chow for Dunmer. In place of bitch, some other perjorative, as dogs and wolves are unknown in Vvardenfell. Get creative with your insults, and get native with your interjections.

Here are the miscellaneous lines for Molag Mar. This should complete the town.

Thanks for the feed back, didn't know that Skeevers were absent for Skywind. Oh well.

Replacing "Skeever's ass" with "Rat's arse". Hopefully that would make more sense. 

Replacing "Bitch" with "Bloated Netch", only because I couldn't think of anything else. 

As for "Fuck", "N'Chow"

WRITERS, READ THIS NOW. 

Okay lovely crew, this just got serious. We now have a deadline of sorts for the writing of the idle banter. If everyone could make a last super-duper effort to get their claims done WITHIN THE NEXT 3-4 DAYS that would be much appreciated. This is your cut-off date to make your contribution. I realize this is bit short notice but it is essential it is done now, as other departments need this done in order to progress. 

Work can be submitted here or via PM to me or Justafan. Any issues, PLEASE let me know. 

Best of luck to you all! :)

finished my draft of all the orcs at fort Darius. I read a couple posts about how the orcs are different from skyrim orcs and should speak in broken English. however sinced these ones are in the legion i thought i could get away with some fluency. also added a couple references to Malacath and Umbra. They all had pretty blank personalities so i added and embellished.

Hey dudes :D

I claimed the Ald-Skar Inn about a week ago, and now ive made some headway with a few lines.

This post is mostly just to say Im hard at work with them, but also to ask where Blowingsand's lines are. He apparently made progress with them, but I cant find his work anywhere. This could be down to not looking hard enough, but if anyone has a copy I would like it.

Here is my work so far, only a half-hours worth but its something ;)

Hi Django, good to see you're hard at work :)

I can't review your document at the moment unfortunately, but I'll get around to it eventually. Keep writing in the meantime...even in different claims if you want :P

As for Blowingsands work, you'll have to send a PM Justafan's way, he'll be the one that has them somewhere if anyone does. 

Keep up the great effort! :)

@Django

A few thoughts on your lines thus far. To start, Argonians have a strange way of speaking, at least as they are being interpreted in this project (in the original Morrowind, however, this is very inconsistent). There are posts about the issue in this and the other writing thread, and it might help to look at another writer's submission. However, so you don't have to dig, I'll lay it out here.

Argonians will never use most personal pronouns (I, he, she, we, you, etc.). They refer to themselves as "this one." For example, "This one is hungry" instead of "I am hungry." When referring to others, they use "it" in place of "you." A common line spoken by Argonians in Morrowind, for example, is, "It has questions?" Additionally, a group might be called "these ones" or "those ones." Argonians might also refer to other races as "smooth-skins" or "warm-bloods." Note that, unlike Khajiit, they never use their names in place of "I." Hopefully this helps.

Also, you might want to try to find out if Argonians will actually be allowed to wear shoes in Skywind. I have no idea myself.

I seem to be having problems uploading the file im going to try again.

Just stumbled by these. Had me a good laugh. Well written. Need more humour in the game without descending into Duke Nukem territory.

Here is another piece of Balmora: the Guild of Fighters.

@Justafan

Weirdly enough, my upload would only take if I did NOT press the upload button. Odd.

Here's my attempt at the Ald'ruhn Temple.

Not sure if Methan Seran reciting from 2920 Rain's Hand is appropriate for his character, but I figure he's got to be holding that book for a reason.

Here you have Gnaar Mok. I hope you'll like it :) 

Thank you :)

Here's Arobar Manor and the Council Club in Ald'ruhn.

Here is the Hlaalu Council Manor.

@twentyenginerunner Hope you don't mind that I borrowed your template - it's very neat. Hlaalu Council Manor reads very nicely.

Here's my draft of Khuul.

Hey! Unless it's too late to write new banter, I would like to write some for the Lizard's Head tavern in Vivec Telvanni Canton.

I only wrote dialogue for the npcs inside, so if you want me to write also for any npcs that might casually walk from the waistworks to have a drink just tell me. I'm asking this because I don't know what the new schedules are.

@oldmanlaertes

Borrow away, my friend. Just keep writing.

Gnisis street walkers mostly done, interested in doing triggered dialogue based on quest progression but I'm not sure how advanced we can get. Still plan on doing the Madach Tradehouse and Barracks (both are on different sheets in my doc) but I won't claim them until I can actually work on them... hopefully tomorrow.

Feedback welcome.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Eh5GmT46qFsM5_crbwmhrCEpEjyHDwsZiE8k_7lXuZg/edit?usp=sharing

St. Olms Waistwork & Misc + some minor revisions

Hey stegosaurus: I think for the most part we have tried to avoid quest-related dialogues, as then the speakers don't really have dialogues after the quest is done, you see. Keep what you have by all means, just make sure that's not the only stuff they have :). You're writing is great, we totally appreciate it!

@oldmanlaertes: You are on fire! I'm liking all this writing, I can't see many issues with it myself :) Please keep it up, you're doing wonders!

Tel Uvirth & Morag Tong Headquarters submissions