Tanlorin's accent

amig186

So, is there any reason why Tanlorin sounds American when every other Altmer in the history of the series sounded English? It feels like, similar to Ember, this companion was designed to be atypical to their species just for the sake of it. Very disappointing. Why even make the character a specific race if they're going to neither act nor sound like one?

tsaescishoeshiner

Accent comes from upbringing and identity, not genes. I'm pretty sure I remember some altmer in Auridon with less pronounced accents.

I think accent outliers stand out because there are so few, whereas it would be more realistic if the accents in the game were more mixed, and on more of a continuum.

MashmalloMan

tsaescishoeshiner wrote: »

Accent comes from upbringing and identity, not genes. I'm pretty sure I remember some altmer in Auridon with less pronounced accents.

I think accent outliers stand out because there are so few, whereas it would be more realistic if the accents in the game were more mixed, and on more of a continuum.

This is a fantasy role playing game, it's designed for people to escape reality. It's okay for in universe races to fit the archetype and stereotypes that have been established by the franchise it's within for the past 30 years. I don't see a logical reason to assume the companion sounds American instead of English due to their upbringing, unless it serves some type of narative purpose in their story. My wild guess, it doesn't, and is never addressed, but feel free to correct me if I'm wrong?

I think it's more likely that they just tried to break the norm for the companions to stand out like OP suggested. There is room for that, but if you deviate too much, I imagine it breaks the immersion for people who really care about that sort of thing. Like I don't particullarly care, but if I spoke to a Khajiit and they ended up sounding like Kratos, I just couldn't take them seriously and I'd question who okayed that decision :P

BixenteN7Akantor

Or our beloved Zhasim which speaks like an Orc as a Khajiit.

Elsonso

I just don't think they were hiring a VA with that particular vocal trait.

amig186

MashmalloMan wrote: »

tsaescishoeshiner wrote: »

Accent comes from upbringing and identity, not genes. I'm pretty sure I remember some altmer in Auridon with less pronounced accents.

I think accent outliers stand out because there are so few, whereas it would be more realistic if the accents in the game were more mixed, and on more of a continuum.

This is a fantasy role playing game, it's designed for people to escape reality. It's okay for in universe races to fit the archetype and stereotypes that have been established by the franchise it's within for the past 30 years. I don't see a logical reason to assume the companion sounds American instead of English due to their upbringing, unless it serves some type of narative purpose in their story. My wild guess, it doesn't, and is never addressed, but feel free to correct me if I'm wrong?

I think it's more likely that they just tried to break the norm for the companions to stand out like OP suggested. There is room for that, but if you deviate too much, I imagine it breaks the immersion for people who really care about that sort of thing. Like I don't particullarly care, but if I spoke to a Khajiit and they ended up sounding like Kratos, I just couldn't take them seriously and I'd question who okayed that decision :P

Exactly this, it may not be realistic but members of fictional races are generally expected to conform, even loosely, to the established archetype for that race. At the very least, the accent was one of their distinguishing features. If any of the Auridonian elves sounded less pronounced, it was only because they were voiced by American actors putting on a fake English accent and it sometimes slipped, as it does. At least the effort was there. When I look at Tanlorin, all I see is a Breton rogue pretending to be an elf.
By the way, the new Khajiit companion speaks in first person, again. I guess the complaints about Ember fell on deaf ears.

Syldras

Elsonso wrote: »

I just don't think they were hiring a VA with that particular vocal trait.

https://www.thegamer.com/the-elder-scrolls-online-update-44-reveals-first-non-binary-companion/
"The Elder Scrolls Online has just unveiled its first non-binary companion, Tanlorin, a Dragonknight Altmer who is being voiced by the talented Vico Ortiz. If you haven't heard of Ortiz, they're a non-binary/genderfluid Puerto Rican drag king, performing under the name AJ as part of a boy band called the Backstreet Butches, and as the Ricky Martin-inspired Vico Suave."

quinten1221

Syldras wrote: »

Elsonso wrote: »

I just don't think they were hiring a VA with that particular vocal trait.

https://www.thegamer.com/the-elder-scrolls-online-update-44-reveals-first-non-binary-companion/
"The Elder Scrolls Online has just unveiled its first non-binary companion, Tanlorin, a Dragonknight Altmer who is being voiced by the talented Vico Ortiz. If you haven't heard of Ortiz, they're a non-binary/genderfluid Puerto Rican drag king, performing under the name AJ as part of a boy band called the Backstreet Butches, and as the Ricky Martin-inspired Vico Suave."

Well, there goes eso. Rip

M1SHAAN

quinten1221 wrote: »

Well, there goes eso. Rip

ESO didn't die the last time they voiced a character so I think it will be just fine.

Syldras

In my opinion, it doesn't matter at all who a voice actor (or actor in a movie) is in real life (it's called "acting" for a reason). What should matter is that the person fits the character they are supposed to portray and does a good job.

Sorting actors by their gender or even sexual orientation (I've heard that happened with movie characters) is unnecessarily restrictive. Often it is called "inclusive", but is it really better for a gay actor if he only gets gay roles or for a nonbinary voice actor to get only nonbinary roles? Sounds to me like they get less roles (and money) with this restriction, not more.

Also, being chosen for an inborn personality factor like gender, sexual orientation or skin color instead of being the most fitting or talented person for a role would feel insulting to me, as it diminishes the meaning of skill.

sneakymitchell

BixenteN7Akantor wrote: »

Or our beloved Zhasim which speaks like an Orc as a Khajiit.

There is a difference in being raised by family of a certain race and being born in a normal race family. But this time it’s just forces a certain thing for people to not care for in a RPG game. This is supposed to be escapism with our irl life. But having acting that acts and the writing sounds like a person you might know.

I had to turn down her dialogue encounters cause how bad the writing and acting. I didn’t want to ask more questions of her background cause it is more of a headache than any other companion I did for quest and leveling.

Tommy_The_Gun

BixenteN7Akantor wrote: »

Or our beloved Zhasim which speaks like an Orc as a Khajiit.

Aside from Caska, Zhasim is probably the best Khajiit NPC in the game, just because, just like Caska he is not typical regular, cliché khajiit.

kaushad

tsaescishoeshiner wrote: »

Accent comes from upbringing and identity, not genes.

That would be a good point if they weren't raised on an archipelago full of High Elves who universally speak at least an imitation of English RP or if they didn't spend most of their childhood undergoing a rigorous education to meet the standards of their family of renowned High Elven mages.

amig186

Syldras wrote: »

Elsonso wrote: »

I just don't think they were hiring a VA with that particular vocal trait.

https://www.thegamer.com/the-elder-scrolls-online-update-44-reveals-first-non-binary-companion/
"The Elder Scrolls Online has just unveiled its first non-binary companion, Tanlorin, a Dragonknight Altmer who is being voiced by the talented Vico Ortiz. If you haven't heard of Ortiz, they're a non-binary/genderfluid Puerto Rican drag king, performing under the name AJ as part of a boy band called the Backstreet Butches, and as the Ricky Martin-inspired Vico Suave."

I don't have a huge problem with Zos wanting to give the job to an actor who's a nonbin, but I'm sure they could have found one either from England or able to do accents. Or they could have just given this one better direction. I assume Zos wanted someone they'd worked with prior, and that's why they chose Ortiz, but an actor should be able to learn to do an accent for the part they're playing, imo. What I see here is a case of just not caring enough about making the character fit the world.

RaddlemanNumber7

To me, Tanlorin's accent sounds affected, as if they're putting it on. Perhaps this is just another way of trying to define their own cool uniqueness, and to distance themselves from the conventional Altmer their family was forcing them to be. Trying a bit too hard, really. I can accept that as part of this character's behaviour.

It reminds me a bit of The Fonz's affected speech.