Romulans don't speak like Romulans

kirksplat

This is bugging me, even though I am struggling with an acceptable alternative model. It just seems like when I'm talking to Romulans, they say thing that don't sound Romulan in my brain. Stuff like, "The bugs are going crazy!"

It just seems very weird, as far as how some of the dialogue is written. I'm wondering if I'm alone in that reaction.

For some reason, Romulans don't speak like Romulans.

cheroj

I've noticed the same thing. They sound like human farmers with pointy ears, as if Dr. McCoy fathered an entire colony of Southern half-Romulans and then took off (Have fun with that image now).

Every Romulan I've ever seen in the series (And I've seen it ALL) has always been much more collected, imperious, and even a bit sibilant. And when they do get moved to "extreme emotions" even their shouting seems regulated and gauged, as if their rage is really a front to test a response. I can understand these Romulans trying to get over the xenophobia of the old Star Empire, but remember that is a trait of the species and needs to be more apparent, regardless of whether they are Tal Shiar or simple colonists.

crypticarmsman

kirksplat wrote: »

This is bugging me, even though I am struggling with an acceptable alternative model. It just seems like when I'm talking to Romulans, they say thing that don't sound Romulan in my brain. Stuff like, "The bugs are going crazy!"

It just seems very weird, as far as how some of the dialogue is written. I'm wondering if I'm alone in that reaction.

For some reason, Romulans don't speak like Romulans.

The only time we ever saw some Romulan civilians was in the TNG two part episode "Unification"; and they seemed to have a wide range of emotion and mundane concerns. I

Honestly, what in the Romulan Colony NPC dialogue is so jarring to the point that "It doesn't sound 'Romulan'; as in 40 years of watching Star Trek - I don't think I've seen anything in Romulan speech paterns that's uniquely 'Romulan'.

Unknown

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naevius

Yeah, I don't believe we've seen too many Romulan farmers before this.

(Maybe upper-class Romulans go to fancy prep schools, unlike the other 99%.)

drogyn1701

I got through level 10 last night and none of the NPCs said "IT'S A FAAAKE!" that's a travesty.

Seriously though we're seeing different Romulans than we ever have before. If course they're going to speak differently. In the same way that a Kansas farmer speaks differently than a New Hampshire Senator, but both are still Americans.

When you run into Admirals and Tal Shiar guys and Sela, they speak more like the upper crust/military/spy Romulans from the shows.

neoakiraii

And how are they suppose to speak....these people been free from the watchful eye of an oppressive government where if you don't watch what you say you die......now they are free to talk how they want without worries.

melisande77

When you run into Admirals and Tal Shiar guys and Sela, they speak more like the upper crust/military/spy Romulans from the shows.

Unfortunately you are killing those guys, instead of working for them.

hartzilla

melisande77 wrote: »

Unfortunately you are killing those guys, instead of working for them.

Considering how insane some of them are its for the best.

sander233

kirksplat wrote: »

This is bugging me, even though I am struggling with an acceptable alternative model. It just seems like when I'm talking to Romulans, they say thing that don't sound Romulan in my brain. Stuff like, "The bugs are going crazy!"

"The insect population is displaying erratic behavior" - nah, too Vulcan.

melisande77

Considering how insane some of them are its for the best.

And still some of us want to be like Commander Tomalak. Or if you have more of a conscience the captain from Balance of Terror.

mirrorseacat

melisande77 wrote: »

And still some of us want to be like Commander Tomalak. Or if you have more of a conscience the captain from Balance of Terror.

Given how little dialogue there is for our actual character I wouldnt think there would be much problem in acting like Tomalak or Commander Keras (loose name for TOS male commander) or Commander Toreth. Just act in such a way that you emulate them, it takes a bit of roleplay to do it correctly but neither the Fed or Kdf give a full meaning to their captains either.

-Seacat

drogyn1701

melisande77 wrote: »

And still some of us want to be like Commander Tomalak. Or if you have more of a conscience the captain from Balance of Terror.

Make a Foundry mission You can have the player act however you want.

squidheadjax

crypticarmsman wrote: »

Honestly, what in the Romulan Colony NPC dialogue is so jarring to the point that "It doesn't sound 'Romulan'; as in 40 years of watching Star Trek - I don't think I've seen anything in Romulan speech paterns that's uniquely 'Romulan'.

The line that one woman you talk to gives about the whole shifitng-blame-to-look-better-thing being 'old-fashioned'. C'mon, at least turn it back on him a little!

If I wanted Romulans that spend their time chasing bunnies and acting all aloof and Federation-y, I'd have spent more than thirty minutes on New Romulus without wanting to vomit. This is genericized twaddle to drive sales of green ship skins, not a story based on the Romulans as presented in the IP - neither original TOS flavor nor TNG-onward.

Oh, and the Collectors-with-the-serial-numbers-filed-off don't help either.

grnlbrtnfrnt

I was going to post something too.

This is part of why I dont feel like I am having a Rounlan experience. The graphics and atmosphere are there.

The dialog sounds very un romulan. Mostly its the banter the BOs say. Its just too goody goody, gee whiz type stuff.

Romulans are passionate. The culture would be more akin to the Romans in Spartacus. Most of the interaction seems a bit for lack of a better word sappy. At times it verges on juvunile.

The answer options you are given often make my toon sound like a boy scout.

Tamalak was not Dudly Do Right.

sudoku7

Obviously what's needed is more Romulan Ale.

guriphu

See, the problem here is that you're still expecting Cryptic to be competent. I went in assuming that everything would be horrible, and was happily blown away to discover that there were a few things that were actually good, like the lovely set designs and the cool scripted events. I didn't even notice the horrible writing until you pointed it out; it just blended right in to the rest of the horrible writing in the game.

grnlbrtnfrnt

guriphu wrote: »

See, the problem here is that you're still expecting Cryptic to be competent. I went in assuming that everything would be horrible, and was happily blown away to discover that there were a few things that were actually good, like the lovely set designs and the cool scripted events. I didn't even notice the horrible writing until you pointed it out; it just blended right in to the rest of the horrible writing in the game.

yeah... but ... the klingon bad writing at least throws honor and targ and certain well known phrases in here and there so you feel like you are talking with klingons.

Your dialog options are Blank Off and Blank Off and Die (unless its a Fed centric mission and then you get the sappy do gooder choice)

I cringe everytime Tovan opens his mouth

khanstruewrath

melisande77 wrote: »

Unfortunately you are killing those guys, instead of working for them.

*spoiler alert*







except that out of that entire colony, only 2 of you dont die......

dastahl

Much of the text hasn't had a final pass, so a lot of the text is early draft placeholder, especially when it comes to side comments and later missions.

guriphu

Well, that's nice to hear. I look forward to seeing what you can do to make us feel like the proud, calculating pragmatists we know and love, rather than a bunch of 50s comic book characters.

wfs5519

I noticed in a dialogue a romulan saying "lets feel them out" which creeps on the edge of earth american slang or street talk. "Let's see what they are like" or "let us see what they are like" would be better. romulans seem to use proper, non-shortcut methods of speaking. that is where you see the disconnect, i think. they also speak with more confidence.. "i think you are wrong." is improper for a romulan.. "i believe you are wrong." Is more romulan speech. romulans don't use street talk and slang. they speak with pride and formality.

romulan dialogue is direct, proper, & proud/confident.

guriphu

wfs5519 wrote: »

I noticed in a dialogue a romulan saying "lets feel them out" which creeps on the edge of earth american slang or street talk. "Let's see what they are like" or "let us see what they are like" would be better. romulans seem to use proper, non-shortcut methods of speaking. that is where you see the disconnect, i think. they also speak with more confidence.. "i think you are wrong." is improper for a romulan.. "i believe you are wrong." Is more romulan speech. romulans don't use street talk and slang. they speak with pride and formality.

romulan dialogue is direct, proper, & proud/confident.

This. Exactly this. Romulans should vary from simple, direct, and dignified; to sneering, haughty, and cruel; to powerful, passionate, and cunning; but never crude, timorous, or unrefined. To be Romulan is to be part of a proud and ancient culture that accepts as an intrinsic fact that simply being Romulan is an honor and a duty.

Cryptic, if you want to sell the Legacy of Romulus, sell us that.

havam

first mission dialogue after choosing alliance.

"it is an honor to be of service to our ally, the Klingon empire"


i mean are you kidding me?!?!??!?!? same sentiment in romulan speech:

"Your distrust is unwarranted. Our performance in battle will show this to all warriors worthy of the name among our allies."

or something like that. We are rommies! we are better then you.....simple as that.

guriphu

havam wrote: »

first mission dialogue after choosing alliance.

"it is an honor to be of service to our ally, the Klingon empire"


i mean are you kidding me?!?!??!?!? same sentiment in romulan speech:

"Your distrust is unwarranted. Our performance in battle will show this to all warriors worthy of the name among our allies."

or something like that. We are rommies! we are better then you.....simple as that.

"Mistrust us if it pleases you, Klingon. You need us as much as we need you."

pwecangetlost

A lot of the Klingon dialogue appears to be some of the best of TNG, been enjoying the liberal use of Klingon vocab thrown about.

Other than the odd spelling error, the Romulan dialogue seems fine, suited to the characters they're meant to be. I agree with some of the points that the things like contractions are a little over the top at times, I thought Romulans were generally quite formal people, but, I definitely wouldn't describe it as 'bad'.

tobar26th

It's worth remembering these aren't your grandfather's Rommies. They've gone through a lot, wait for the VO, that may make them sound more romulan to you.

daan2006

I agree with OP they don't talk or sound like romulans

daan2006

havam wrote: »

first mission dialogue after choosing alliance.

"it is an honor to be of service to our ally, the Klingon empire"


i mean are you kidding me?!?!??!?!? same sentiment in romulan speech:

"Your distrust is unwarranted. Our performance in battle will show this to all warriors worthy of the name among our allies."

or something like that. We are rommies! we are better then you.....simple as that.

"it is an honor to be of service to our ally, the Klingon empire" I found that very funny when I saw it in game

garakfan84

havam wrote: »

first mission dialogue after choosing alliance.

"it is an honor to be of service to our ally, the Klingon empire"


i mean are you kidding me?!?!??!?!? same sentiment in romulan speech:

"Your distrust is unwarranted. Our performance in battle will show this to all warriors worthy of the name among our allies."

or something like that. We are rommies! we are better then you.....simple as that.

This

I don't know... I may be wrong and I know these Romulans aren't with the RSE/Tal Shiar but it feels like they are losing what makes them a Romulan. Choosing an Alliance? I guess but somehow it's like they are losing their identity. Maybe I should wait for more stuff to be released... I am happy we are finally getting Romulans and so far it's been great to test some of the things but something doesn't feel right.

kel1rest

I'm also glad to see Dan saying that much of the text is place-holding, but it does look like there is quite a lot of it that needs looked at. The one that really made me cringe was when you meet D'Tan for the first time and someone says "I'll get right onto it" or something like that. It may be shorter but I would have preferred "I will see to it". Another poster said it sounded like the Romulans were using a lot of American slang. I would prefer this to be toned down a bit.