In Tyranny, when you have a conversation with companions and most NPCs, instead of the static portrait for companions you have in PoE1, you'd see a window showing the companion or NPC doing various gestures. I'm just curious if PoE2 will have that neat feature as it deepens the immersion (though you guys already do it quite well with the descriptions).

 

Then again, I understand that PoE2 is going to be much, MUCH larger in size and scope than Tyranny (which was a joint project between Obsidian and Paradox), so, the assets needed would be much larger and there would be many more interactions than there are in Tyranny.

 

Of course, I'd be totally fine without that since you guys do a good job of it with descriptions already. I just thought that it would be a cool thing to have with the more dynamic and evolving interactions PoE2 is going to have.

 

edit2: I saw a suggestions thread back a bit, maybe I could post in there actually, or could have in the first place.

Edited April 29, 20178 yr by smjjames

They said they will have the dictionary word mechanics in there, so they might. 

There is an update about water color portraits. https://www.fig.co/campaigns/deadfire?update=254#updates. They plan on showing these portraits for conversation

No, they're using hand-painted "watercolour style" portraits for dialogues.

No, they're using hand-painted "watercolour style" portraits for dialogues.

 

I suppose that makes sense considering there are MANY more NPCs you'd be able to talk to than in Tyranny.

They didn't look particularly great in Tyranny - 3D models rarely look better than painted portraits, and the watercolours should fit the rest of the game better too.

I thought that the use of 3D models in Tyranny was creative, but it did seem like a good use of limited recourses. I am happy to have simpler but unique portraits for NPCs. Makes me very curious how the UI will look. I imagine it will be a departure from dark-wood design of PoE.

 

Mark 25:00

As always, I'd like close-ups of the 3D models instead of paintings but having, at least, the watercolor pictures of the characters in conversation is better that just a background still and a colored name.

I don't know, my current Avatar sort of sums up my opinion.  I think they worked fine and had personality.  That said, for Eternity, I think the water color portraits are more in line with the feel of the game and will work well.

I think they were a novel idea that didn't really work well, they drew attention to the fact that the avatars didn't really look that good close up.

^ Agreed. A 2D portrait is typically leagues better than a 3D model unless the latter is exceptionally high-poly and with truly superb textures.

All in for 3D models in stead of portraits. Make room for the 21st century!

NWN used portraits; NWN2 used 3D models. For the most part I didn't think it was an improvement. 3D models are satisfactory, but not as memorable as good oil-based art.

The nice thing about the models in Tyranny was that they reflected changes you made to your party members. Give them different armor? Dialog model shows them in the new armor. As impressive as that was, it felt like a half-measure considering that the main character portraits were static. My 2 cents