Since Xt is intended to be character-based, you want each of the mercs to have a distinct personality as well as abilities to help him/her standout. We know there are tweaks coming up to the models (Fragger shown in latest development video, Skyhammer “benched” from PAX because he wasn’t up to the other’s standard), but I’ll assume at this point that the visual look of the known mercs will not change drastically and so I’ll leave that aside. That leaves us with names and in-game voice characterization. So what are your thoughts on those?
Here are mine, starting with the PAX lineup since those are probably the less likely to change now:
** Wall of Text Alert: feel free to skip to your favorite mercs **
** If you need a quick reminder of who’s who: http://forums.warchest.com/showthread.php/36212-Extreme-Cool-Dirty-Bomb-Alpha-Wallpaper?p=472326&viewfull=1#post472326 (shameless plug :D).
** You can also hear the PAX mercs in the PAX briefing video (merc lineup starting around 1:10): http://forums.warchest.com/showthread.php/37498-PAX-Sneak-Peek!?p=466307&viewfull=1#post466307
[ul]
[li]Sawbonez: Classic nickname for a medic with a bit of a modern twist, perfectly fine for me. Voice characterization from PAX sounds fine, bit of a cool cat with a gruff edge, me likes.[/li]
[li]Proxy: That name just feels perfectly right: cheery with a techy edge, and that reference to the landmines. Her PAX voice (which I believe is the same we heard in earlier development videos where VO were discussed) is just like I would have imagined it: vivid and enthusiastic, kind of like Borderlands’ Tiny Tina’s slightly less psychotic older sister. [/li]
[li]Thunder (previously Conker): The old name was more unique and Brit-sounding, but maybe someone thought it was too much? Or there’s a slang meaning that made it unsuitable? Either way, bit of a step back there… The PAX VO sounded good, nice oafish voice, kind of what you’d expect for an ogre character which is fitting in my view.[/li]
[li]Arty: The name is a bit bland and overly explicit, but nothing better comes to mind right now… His PAX voice is a bit stereotypical, but it’s kind of a must if you want characters to stand out from each other.[/li]
[li]Vassili: The reference to Vassili Zaytsev makes it a perfectly fine nickname for a hardcore sniper, whatever his origins are. Although it’s no longer shown anywhere in the game at the moment, his original true name was Lewis, so it doesn’t look like SD meant for him to be Russian in any case. The PAX voice is OK, sounding sufficiently arrogant to suit the sniper style.[/li][/ul]
Now for the rest of the team:
[ul]
[li]Aura (previously Hardy): No idea what Hardy was supposed to come from, but Aura seems to refer to the healing aura of her health station. It also sounds more feminine as a name, and so overall a better fit in my opinion. Her model is the most fashion-conscious of the female ones so far with the sleek clothing and hairstyle, so I view her as having a bit of a snotty “I’m better than you” attitude. Calm voice, high-class language, slightly condescending.[/li]
[li]Phoenix (previously Footloose): Again, strange original name, much more meaningful new one. Can’t think of a better one to match his abilities… For some reason I imagine him as fairly neutral and business-like in his demeanor. Of course the VO would have to be muffled to some extend to reflect the face mask.[/li]
[li]Bushwhacker (previously T-Rat): T-Rat was an interesting name for a skinny guy who looks a lot like everyone’s favorite sexual tyrannosaurus (Blain in Predator). It also sounds a bit like “turret”, so well related to the character. On the other hand Bushwhacker makes him sound Australian to me, and with the 'stache and hat he could be TF2’s Saxon Hale’s smaller brother… But still T-Rat was more distinctive in my opinion. Voice-wise I imagine him as a serious chest-thumping thrash-talker, making fun of his enemies and friends as well (pretty much the demeanor of both Blain and Hale now that I think about it…). [/li]
[li]Slugger: OK nickname, works well for a shotgun-totting merc. The term “slugger” being often associated with hard-hitting boxers and baseball players, I would see this guy sounding like an ex professional athlete, perhaps your stereotypical American football linebacker (checkout “Terry Tate” on YouTube) or the UK equivalent (rugby goon?). [/li]
[li]Fragger (previously Dazzler): Dazzler doesn’t make much sense anymore without the flashbangs, but Fragger is seriously lame. Boomer? Blaster? Not sure what would be better but I’d stay away from something that sounds like Frogger… Voice-wise, I would see him as a man of few words with punchy dead-pan one-liners. Schwarzenegger with a British accent.[/li]
[li]Nadder: As I mentioned elsewhere already, Nadder sounds too manly for me, I would have gone with Nadia or better Nadine, keeping the “nade” reference in a more feminine name. I can see her voice personality going in either of two opposite directions. On one hand she could be playful and sexy (not trashy, just taunting and teasing), or at the opposite your typical butch female soldier (think Vasquez in Aliens or pretty much any role by Michelle Rodriguez from SWAT to Avatar to Battle:LA) [/li]
[li]Skyhammer: Good solid nickname, what more to say? I imagine this one with a commanding, all-business, no-BS voice personality. Kind of like you stereotypical sergeant (not the yelling drill sergeant kind, more the grizzled veteran platoon father-figure type).[/li]
[li]BBQ: Simply love that name, it bring up all the right imagery for that character. I might be influenced by TF2’s pyro, but I can’t imagine a merc who’s trademark is to deep-fry people to be anything but a total nut job sociopath. Either something over-the-top hyper like Batman’s Joker or horribly calm and sadistic with a deep bass voice Darth Vader style, complete with wheezy gas mask breathing effect.[/li]
[li]Snoop (previously The Eye, possibly Aimee?): The Eye was pretty lame, Snoop sounds casual and fits the look of the character better. The name Aimee also showed up recently in a weapons chart Smooth posted, but there’s no way to tell if this was before Snoop came up or a possible future replacement. For me that one sound too “proper” for that character, so I’d stay with Snoop which also relates better to her unique ability. I feel this one as a young trash-talking gangsta / rapper. [/li]
[li]Phantom (previously Ghostly): Ghostly seemed a little too much like a reference to StarCraft’s cloaking snipers. Phantom sound a bit like a superhero name, but considering the mask and over-the-top outfit it’s kind of fitting. To keep with the theme of the mysterious invisible assassin, I see a deep, calm and in-control kind of voice. Batman in the Dark Knight or, to loop back on the first name reference, a voice similar to SC’s Ghosts.[/li][/ul]
tl;dr: Are you happy with the names of the mercs? What would you like to see as voice characterizations?
Hope to give you more news on these guys soon.
