Guild Wars 2 Wiki talk:Projects/Shared Model Project

Usage

I guess my question is, how close does a model need to be for it to be "shared"? As I was looking through the lists to ease the burden for Straits of Devastation, I saw some models that looked pretty identical other than their weapons. In some cases they were considered the same, and in some they were different. (Order of Whispers Human Female, I think) SarielV 21:00, 7 July 2016 (UTC)

Similar issue, the Champion Imbued Aberrations. These are just typical dragonbrood models, but they have an extra visual effect (energy arcing into the ground). SarielV 21:04, 7 July 2016 (UTC)

If they can pass as twins, weapons and all, they are shared. Some NPCs have the same model but different weapons, for example there are two female sylvari models who look the same, but wield two different weapons:one has dual daggers, the other has a bow, and there are quite a few npcs that have the bow one and several who have the dagger. If anything just upload a picture if you're not sure and I can sort it out later. In regards to the Imbued Aberrations, I have no idea, I'll have to get back to you on that. - Do_odleplex 21:29, 7 July 2016 (UTC)

NPCs with constant appearance-altering effects like the imbued aberrations or the crazed southsun wildlife should have their own images based on model+effect. Those which have temporary but mechanic-related effects, like the Mordrem Spitfire shields should have images of those effects on the model in a gallery/lower infobox section (personally for those I'd prefer gallery so that the infobox can be left for alternate models). Konig 03:04, 8 July 2016 (UTC)

(In)put Re(quest)ed...

Re: Splitting racial pages: I don't see why not. They're all going to be huge and growing.
Re: Groups without images: Forgot about cave creatures.
Re: Objects. Agreed. Would also like a single page that isn't a user page for unique models / unique effect models / unique weapon-wielding models.
Re: "Animals". Technically, mechanically, a race. Even if it's just one. But may not be one forever. Konig (talk) 02:36, 17 February 2017 (UTC)

_{Iseewhatudidthar.} Moved the Unique NPC page so it's not in userspace. I'm assuming you meant Cave Beast, and yeah I forgot to put those two on the Unique NPC page. I need to move a bunch of stuff there when I'm not feeling like something from Orr. X_x And I guess I could do one page for the Animals and break it up by sub group. I'll see if I can't work at the animals and objects tomorrow maybe. - Do_odleplex 04:01, 17 February 2017 (UTC)

I meant that "Animal" is a mechanical race and thus belongs as the currently but possibly not forever sole list to the "A" races, just as Vampire Beasts are the only "V" race. And aren't there Cave Beasts that share models? Though there was a vet/elite version of at least one of them or something... Konig (talk) 06:35, 17 February 2017 (UTC)

As far as I know(based on how many times I've been killed/nearly killed by them) there are only the two types of Cave Beast, which is probably why I excluded them when making pages. - Do_odleplex 19:13, 17 February 2017 (UTC)

Chest model

Dredge Chest = Treasure Chest? Need confirmation if one has a more red tint than the other. --— Cronos 22:57, 24 April 2017 (UTC)

A, I'm fairly certain that's just the lighting from a lava flow, and B this isn't really the place to be asking that. The Shared Model project is for shared NPC models. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Falren (talk • contribs) at 23:03, 24 April 2017 (UTC).

I believe you are correct Cronos, they are most likely the same, just one has lighting that makes it look red. And Falren, I added a page for objects somewhat recently since it appears there are quite a good many objects with shared models as well, so there's no harm in asking here. - Do_odleplex 23:08, 24 April 2017 (UTC)

Whoops! I didn't notice that. My bad. Falren (talk) 23:15, 24 April 2017 (UTC)

Firefly Object

Should Firefly (object) be added to the shared objects? It is used in at least two rather separate locations and could be used in more in the future. ~ Fishrock ^(talk) 22:22, 10 September 2017 (UTC)

Technically no because the model is used for one object that just happens to be in multiple locations. Konig (talk) 23:20, 10 September 2017 (UTC)

Randomly generated models

So I've noticed a TON of randomly generated NPCs with the expac. They aren't truly unique, they're just randomly selected from the same pool. That means that these NPCs could technically be "shared" with multiple models. Should we have a "randomly generated" pool? It would have images that we know randomly generated NPCs could use, but may not have been using at the time. Idk if this just makes everything complicated for no reason. --Rain Spell (talk) 21:50, 18 November 2017 (UTC)

I personally don't think it is necessary, I would just follow this:

 If an NPC's model is randomly generated (for example Klunn's appearance changes) DON'T constantly switch the picture. Just pick whichever model it uses that has the best picture and notate it on that NPC's page and next to it's name here as well.

Some of the randomly generated appearances are shared even with NPCs that do not changes their look. Sime (talk) 21:59, 18 November 2017 (UTC)

Or, as Blackice started doing, adding

<!-- She can have more than one appearance. -->

in the NPCs infobox. Sime (talk) 00:09, 20 November 2017 (UTC)

Definitely don't do HTML comments, otherwise we'll get more pages like Talk:Yonca. Notate it on the page itself so people don't have to actually edit the page to see that the NPC has a randomly generated appearance. Otherwise, yeah, if the NPC has a random appearance, just pick one model that you've seen it use and call it a day. I myself try to go with whatever model seems to be used the least among NPCs if I can, but really it doesn't matter which picture is picked just as long as it's one they use. - Do_odleplex 18:01, 20 November 2017 (UTC)

Just a heads up, the NPC infobox now has a random = parameter: setting this to yes will add a line under the image stating that it changes randomly. Example: Yonca. --Idris (talk) 03:20, 6 April 2018 (UTC)

Issue with norn male merchants

See also: User talk:Azure Fang#Stefan

Azure Fang and I have uncovered an issue with certain norn male merchants -- their ingame models don't reflect what the wiki claims their models are. We still aren't sure if the issue is that the models randomly change or if the project is simply wrong, but I wanted to leave a heads up here either way. --Idris (talk) 04:42, 5 April 2018 (UTC)

Update: we've figured out that these NPCs do indeed have randomly-changing models. It seems like a fair amount of research is now needed to check which NPCs throughout the game do this, so we had the idea of creating a subpage here on the Shared Models Project so people can submit their imgur screenshots of likely-to-be-random NPCs. Good idea? --Idris (talk) 04:52, 8 April 2018 (UTC)

I was just marking the npcs that seemed to be random on the race page, since that seemed to be easiest way to do it. - Do_odleplex 06:00, 8 April 2018 (UTC)

Yeah, that does seem easier than taking a million screenshots. Do we have a guide somewhere encouraging folks to do that? --Idris (talk) 06:59, 8 April 2018 (UTC)

How important is showing weapons to this project?

So far, I've always focused on including weapons but personally never cared about separating between weapon types. I know Doodleplex has, and I've never removed cases of "same model but different weapons", but I am now wondering just how important such is. One main reason I'm kind of against separate images for separate models is the Flame Legion, which I've noted has five or so models which get shared across multiple base types, each with a different weapon set (e.g., like how tyhe current Stalker, Blademaster and Bladestorm are the same model but different weapons, I've also seen Shadowblade's and Axe Fiend's models used for those three and vice versa). Icebrood are similar, where we have one model with five different weapons; Jotun as well. So I'm tossing it out there: while I'd like to maintain individual images for NPCs with plot-driven different weapons (e.g., Korag's corrupted warhorn), I think the rest should aim for weapon-neutral images (either clipping them off, or finding models without weapons or with the weapons sheathed), and we just have one-for-all as opposed to having five shots of the same model just because it's a holding a different weapon.
Thoughts? Konig (talk) 09:12, 11 August 2018 (UTC)

New section for charr

Now that the Dominion have been added with lots of models with aberrant, fallen and svanir effects, charr should probably get a new section for dominion so as not to bloat any of the currently existing sections. Sunlion (talk) 04:56, 31 May 2020 (UTC)

Then create it. EDIT: Nvm I see that charr are missing the racial groups tag, so yeah, we can ask Doodle to create it. ~SimeTalk 14:01, 31 May 2020 (UTC)

Is the project still active for EoD?

Will we add humans and tengu from Cantha? (Ministry of Security, Speakers, Jade Brotherhood, various citizens [Nobles, Peasants, Mori Village Tengu etc.]) (Also apologies if this is already covered, how does one add an NPC with a shared model? For example Worker (Guild Hall Explorer)'s model is randomly selected.) --Skrittbrained (talk) 21:34, 27 March 2022 (UTC)

Yep, it is active and we will add the entries, it is just that there is currently a large amount people uploading, it could get a bit confusing for them. Also, if an NPC uses random model, you just pick one and add the parameter random = yes to the infobox. EDIT: Started the entry for EoD humans (Human Racial Groups 4)), mixed groups will go under the Multi-racial Groups section to the Misc pages, tengu under "T" Races, etc.~Sime 21:53, 27 March 2022 (UTC)

Thanks so much for the answer! --Skrittbrained (talk) 22:12, 27 March 2022 (UTC)

Hey, sorry to make another suggestion before even uploading one shared model screenshot. About organizing the humans: could we change how they are listed? For example to

Basegame: female • male • organizations

HoT to PoF: Elonians • organizations <-- splitting Elonians into men and women might be beneficial, but the page length seems decent

EoD: female • male • organizations <-- there are so many new NPC models and Living World might add more, so a preemptive split could be useful, otherwise EoD: Canthans • organizations

• I think this is more descriptive and would therefore
  • make it easier to search for the right model without requiring enough familiarity with the project to know where on page 1-4 of racial groups they could be listed
  • make navigation when filing new screenshots of shared models easier
  • these categories can quickly be expanded for the announced 4th expansion and onwards
• the numbers 1/2/3/4 are small and hard to click, especially on devices with small screens
• it's a little disorienting to click on page 3 and see the pagetitle as page 5
• In the spirits of The Wiki Diversity Project: filing models of black or asian people as just a racial group - same as bandits - sends a weird message, which, in the spirit of good faith I think is very much not intended
• (If there are ever as many non-binary human NPCs that they'll share models/be randomly selected their page could also easily be added without creating confusion of page 9 on position 3 or similar)
• If as many NPCs are added to other groups the system could be added to those too (just as Dominion Charr are filed in an easily accessible way)

And the bestiary, does it have an overview page or refer to the collection of species' names (Aberrant, Astral, ...)? --Skrittbrained (talk) 11:47, 28 March 2022 (UTC)

Although I am not the lead of the project (but I am sure Doodle will not mind) I had a discussion with some people about the categorization yesterday, actually, and what you are proposing is what we also basically had agreed on. So I went ahead and changed the nav, though now I have to move around the content itself. About labelling Elonians/Canthans as a "racial group", that's basically just a remnant from before the expansions imho, where it was just for the bandits, seraphs and such. About bestiary, yes, it is about the name of the species, so Aberrant creatures should be under A, Karkas under K, etc. As I mentioned in the Project news, though, many pictures of NPCs from the "Animals" category are still missing from here because we were not sure if to categorize them under A or sort it differently, like cows > under C, you get it. Also thanks for the suggestions. ~Sime 17:23, 28 March 2022 (UTC)

Potential new layout for the image table subpages

Hi all, I've been reminded this morning that updating the subpages is a bit annoying. I'm wondering if a change to the layout + the way we input the data would help.

I have a draft over at: User:Chieftain Alex/sandbox3.

The proposed columns to show would be:

• file name
• file preview
• DPL generated list of what uses that file
• description
• supporting notes
• yes/no

Compare with the current layout:

• file preview
• description
• manually generated list
• new proposed file name - do we use this much?
• yes/no for image name
• yes/no for image quality

The revised wikicode would be:

{{../image table header}}
{{../image table row
| file = File:Seraph Soldier female 0.jpg
| desc = Female Seraph Soldier without any weapons.
| good = {{no}}
}}
{{../image table row
| file = File:Seraph Soldier female 1.jpg
| desc = Female Seraph Soldier with light skin having [[Seraph Shield]] on her back.
| good = {{yes}}
}}
{{../image table row
| file = File:Seraph Soldier female 1 (alt).jpg
| desc = Female Seraph Soldier with darker skin having [[Seraph Shield]] on her back.
| note = Little pixel-y for my tastes, fine in general
| good = {{yes|yellow}}
}}

Old:

{{../image table header}}
|- 
| [[File:Seraph Soldier female 0.jpg|120px]]
| Female Seraph Soldier without any weapons.
|
* [[Doc Stone]]
* [[Seraph Supplier]]
|
* [[:File:Seraph Soldier female 0.jpg]]
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|- 
| [[File:Seraph Soldier female 1.jpg|120px]]
| Female Seraph Soldier with light skin having [[Seraph Shield]] on her back.
|
* [[Bryn Tailor]]
* [[Dahvida the Blue]]
* [[Kennelmaster Tarin]]
* [[Lieutenant Hines]]
* [[Lieutenant Leafe]]
* [[Lieutenant Summers]]
* [[Seraph Commander Joy]]
* [[Seraph Soldier]]
* [[Seraph Soldier Adaleen]]
* [[Seraph Soldier Georgina]]
* [[Seraph Soldier Shari]]
* [[Seraph Supplier Wrenne]]
* [[Seraph Watchman Morina]]
* [[Supplier Allie]]
|
* [[:File:Seraph Soldier female 1.jpg]]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| [[File:Seraph Soldier female 1 (alt).jpg|120px]]
| Female Seraph Soldier with darker skin having [[Seraph Shield]] on her back.
|
* [[Corporal Lebeau]]
* [[Seraph Outfitter (tier 2)]]
* [[Seraph Soldier Denna]]
* [[Seraph Tinkerer]]
* [[Sergeant Minak]]
|
* [[:File:Seraph Soldier female 1 (alt).jpg]]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes|yellow}} ''Little pixel-y for my tastes, fine in general''
|}

Would appreciate any feedback on this. -Chieftain Alex 11:56, 21 August 2022 (UTC)

I personally have no issues with the proposed change, as it is annoying having to constantly add the npcs manually. However, it would eliminate any links that should be using that picture and are not currently, though that could be either checked before implementing this or later via History. Otherwise looks good. ~Sime 17:42, 21 August 2022 (UTC)

Environment lighting

I know the environment/lighting don't really matter for this project but what if they have a huge difference gap? I'm doing Astral Ward models they could be in a various placed like in Wizard tower (white marble gold bg), in Inner Nayos (dark and blueish), in Janthir (red bloodstone bg), what should be their norm? and sadly, most of their wielding weapon variant are in Inner Nayos/Janthir --𝙏ᴇʀʏ 08:51, 22 December 2024 (UTC)

Generally the most prefered is the most generic/neutral background, so here I would say Wizard Tower when possible. ~Sime 15:39, 22 December 2024 (UTC)