The Vortigaunts' Posture

General Development Black Mesa
#1

I was considering posting this in the Bug section, but I’m not sure if it’s an actual bug or simply an oversight, so I thought it better to make it a suggestion here. Mods, feel free to move it if you think it goes there instead.

Anyway, something I’ve noticed in Black Mesa is that the vortigaunts stand and run like this (I’ve put the animation names for reference):

The trouble with this is that it clashes with their attack animation, so when they finish attacking their arms suddenly snap to their sides, which looks very unnatural. They also look quite relaxed in that pose, which doesn’t really fit the situation they’re in. I suggest that their standing and running animations be changed to these:

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These are the animations used by the vorts during Episode 2 in the big antlion fight. It not only fits in with their attack animation, but it also makes them look more alert and aggressive, and less “cute”.

Also, I remember a discussion a short while back over the non-aggressive vorts in Xen, and how you’d differentiate between those that attack you and those that don’t. Well, this posture would be a good visual indicator - if they’re using the second poses they’re aggressive, and if they’re using the first they’re not.

Somewhat nitpicky, I know, and I’m not sure how easy this would be to accomplish, but if it can be added in a patch it’d make the vortigaunts look somewhat more effective as enemies.

tl;dr Replace the first set of poses with the second for regular vorts, use the first poses for ones in Xen that don’t attack you.

#2

100% agree. they look scary in the latter animation set.

#3

yeah I like that Idea, too. It was awkward how they were sometimes standing relaxed here and there after they fired lightning attacks against you. And finally the “Xen-Vort-Problem” would be much easier to solve. Considering Xen is still in the Works, it’s definitely a option to implement, if the DEVs like it as well.

#4

I agree. The vorts never really came across as a threat in BM. And they weren’t, really, but that’s a different matter.

#5

Totally agree. This would be a fantastic change.

#6

I also agree. I would love to see this implemented.

#7

Yeah, it looks pretty bad, not only because the shift from one animation to another is abrupt, but because it doesn’t make much sense. Vorts wouldn’t teleport to the middle of a battlezone in an idle, relaxed pose. No one would.

#8

those friendly vorts…
some of them in the alien factory had an animation (when unaware of player presence),
which looked like the communication-animation the vort in the beginning of ep2 uses.
look for it next time when you’re there devs,
and have those vortessence-communication in black mesa xen, where vorts use this
method when unaware of the player, or at least have some scripted ones, exactly like the vort in ep2.
that would be sooo epic

I remember back then, when ep2 was new and played through this sequence and after finishing ep2, the next time I got to that area in half life 1 and saw that chunky-modeled vort do this move.
still givin’ me dem thrillz

#9

I think in general the vorts in this stand too tall and proud. They shouldn’t have the same posture they use in Half-Life 2 and the episodes. They should be hunched over, beaten down and scared.

#10

Agreed. I think the Vorts in BM really need an overhaul to match how they were in HL1, which might include recording some new sounds for them.

#11

Really great suggestion and I completely agree. This combined with increasing their damage and survivability would be a very welcome patch note.

#12

I say make it happen. And what ever happened to those custom zombie animations? They were made but not implemented. How is nobody else not sick of hl2 zombie animations after all these years?

#13

I thought those were just static render poses.

#14

No there were animation reels showing some really horrific idle and getting up stances.

#15

This is actually a pretty great suggestion, I totally agree with this. Awkward animation transition and Xen vort differentiation, two birds with one stone, hell yeah.

#16

I was disappointed myself to see them move like in HL2

#17

I don’t like that they use Idle01 pose between their attacks, instead of preserving battle pose (ActionIdle). That should be fixed, IMO.
So I agree with you 100%.

#18

I am truely loving this idea! However I am not the person that needs to love this. :s hrug:

#19

I’m pretty sure that they had a new walk animation, since I don’t remember having this much trouble hitting their heads before.

#20

This combined with some new sounds would really help make the Vorts feel more threatening. I’ve already replaced their sound files from the pack that Xalener made and it makes quite a difference:

https://forums.blackmesasource.com/showthread.php?t=14679

Founded in 2004, Leakfree.org became one of the first online communities dedicated to Valve’s Source engine development. It is more famously known for the formation of Black Mesa: Source under the 'Leakfree Modification Team' handle in September 2004.