LE Improved NPC body language/acting/emotion

[TheHermit84]

If there's one thing that's bothered me during my Elder Scrolls/Fallout play through(s), it's that the NPCs really lack an expressive or emotional presence when talking to the player character or each other. In my opinion, the voice acting in Skyrim is sublime and it's a shame that the NPC body language/acting doesn't compliment that. NPCs tend to stand rather statically or sway gently during the climatic and dramatic parts of the story line, where you'd expect them to show more of a true conviction; have a theatrical way about them, if you like - raise fists, hold their hand to their heart, bow down to their kings, show spirit and joy, nod their heads in agreement, move about more, etcetera... It becomes a little soulless and unconvincing, particularly, for example, the moment where you meet Arngeir, and he's delivering this epic speech and there's just no expression on his face at all!

You may all remember The Sound of Skyrim video that Bethesda revealed just before the release of the game:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtuZb3PV7S0&feature=plcp&context=C41e149cVDvjVQa1PpcFPRCeRV1AYU5Qxtm5RXKH9wSj0zs7nFZsY%3D

 

If you look at Christopher Plumber and how animated he is when reading his lines, despite only his voice being recorded, he really makes himself believable. It needs to be akin to this depending on the versatility of the Creation Engine/ Havok Physics.

Now there was a mod for Oblivion named Talk with your hands, and it was brilliant, even if a little simplistic. It did the job: http://tes.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=14669

 

I would love to see a mod that develops upon this idea, that accentuates and really draws out the spirit of the story, by using timely hand gestures to emphasise their verbal utterances and maybe take it to another level as well by increasing the number of idles and task for the NPCs to do during their day. If only it could match the likes of the player acting in games like Bioshock, Metro 2033, or even the E3 game play video for Far Cry 3. I'd be super happy.

Thanks all.

[longnose]

i agree the Npcs in skyrim are a bit stiff and emotionless and animations pretty much don't exist when in dialogue, this would be a great immersion mod, but it would take quite a massive amount of work (i would imagine) you should get a bunch of people to support this idea and send it to bethesda as a request =D

 

 

<======== Supports this mod request!

[TheHermit84]

Oh indeed, I imagine it would take an awfully long time because I envisage truer facial expressions too, which would utilise all facial muscles and not just the movement of the mouth. It would have to be a massive overhaul of sorts.

 

I'm surprised they didn't include it in this instalment of the Elder Scrolls, there was no sign of it in their Skyrim Game Jam either.

 

I just can't help watching this video of Cicero and cringe, somewhat. The voice acting is so animated, preposterous, and maniacal that I imagine him to be flailing his arms about, touching his face, stamping his feet, eyes wide open, with a beguiling grin -- but he's not! He looks more like he's waiting for the bus home after an exhausting day at work.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtDkrsmFh7k

[Alvarezmd90]

I agree with all this.

Skyrim is just missing a bit of emotion.

I'm only level 24 but It feels so useless, all the quests.

The actors are really stiff. And when you've completed the task, you get a thank you and some cash.

Nobody of the npc's seems actually care what I did. It would be cool an npc smiles and gives you a thumb up or something.

 

Then again.. there are a few really strong emotional npc's. For example I felt kind of pity for the homeless parentless girl because I couldn't buy a house for her to stay in.

 

What I would suggest is making a few talking animation variations for each type npc.

Like: normal, crazy, scared, drunk and agressive.

And put a tag on a npc to make sure it uses one of these animations.

[AlienSensei]

Yep. Agreed. We need this.

[Alvarezmd90]

Take a look:

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Heartwarming/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim

 

It's a list of heartwarming moments in skyrim. They're kind of small and hard to spot but at least they are present.

I think the main problem is that almost every npc is forgetable really quick. Dragon Age Origins does that differently.

 

Here's a topic where someone else kind of thinks the same about this:

http://forums.anandtech.com/archive/index.php/t-2208671.html

 

He's a bit negative but he got some good points.

[llorangesll]

Lol agreed and I too support this mod request :biggrin:

Oh indeed, I imagine it would take an awfully long time because I envisage truer facial expressions too, which would utilise all facial muscles and not just the movement of the mouth. It would have to be a massive overhaul of sorts.

I'm surprised they didn't include it in this instalment of the Elder Scrolls, there was no sign of it in their Skyrim Game Jam either.

I just can't help watching this video of Cicero and cringe, somewhat. The voice acting is so animated, preposterous, and maniacal that I imagine him to be flailing his arms about, touching his face, stamping his feet, eyes wide open, with a beguiling grin -- but he's not! He looks more like he's waiting for the bus home after an exhausting day at work.

Edited March 25, 2013 by llorangesll

[Alvarezmd90]

Or let Bethesda fix this. If they even noticed this request.

[Wolfmod]

No one smiles and laughter is right out of the question. If Lydia smiled... Just a simple animation thown into the mix that had a /no_smile function on certain dialogues throughout the game to avoid smiling when angry, fearful, or ernest. It would make a huge difference... not that I am holding my breath for it.

[sashaNar]

I've discovered Serana a few days ago, idk if that's one of mods or just her different animations, but she gesticulates guite a lot. Well, she does it during all the dialogs, but still it looks waay better than all other characters talking.

And there were awesome mod for oblivion which made every character type in game use different animations, that really made the difference. Would be nice to have smth similar, even using existing animation mods.