I had a thought the other day, about how cool it would be if they could make the 3D models look more like classic illustration or even pen and inks for a portrait capture feature. I've never been particularly impressed with simple photo filters of the sort that just turn iphone faces into line drawings, but what would be an interesting application of that kind of tech, would be like a virtual fantasy illustration studio for D&D. You know where one could transform 3D models and environments into something more stylized, with lighting controls, or pen and ink versions even. Like basically some way to direct shoot and rotoscope what the game engine is already doing, but at a further level of abstraction or stylization. Then the dungeon master could not only create simple portraits for NPCs using such a tool, but could also set a narrative scene and illustrate it as a still. Like basically screen cap'ing avatar mannequins, but in an actual environmental setting with some tools to make it look a little different than the in-game modelling.
A simple portrait creator, might include something very similar to what we have now, which is basically a head/bust shot at the smallest scale and a full view avatar in the char sheet. But the figures could be moved and animated in different ways to allow for characterization.
A simple headshot might include emotive facial expressions, and a way to do simple background elements as well, like a color gradient or exterior/interior backdrop, haze smoke or glow effects, and things of that sort. Most importantly, directional lighting. An uplit character can give off a totally different vibe from a toplit or sidelit character.
For a head/bust scale do the same but with a basic outfit designer.
For the full body portrait, an articulated manaquin with dynamic posing, plus weapons or accessories like books or spell effect jazz hands and the like.
Then do something similar for the MM, just with monsters instead of NPCs haha
I just think something like that would be such an instant hit for any game that gets there first. I'd like to see it in a dungeons and dragons game just because the applications would be rad. Like it could work digitally and for PnP, if it was done well. Then have it launch with a flagship campaign. Like Baldur's Gate would have been a cool choice, but since they missed the boat on it, perhaps Icewind Dale 3, or if we ever get a Neverwinter 3. One could hope. I mean someone has to do it eventually right?
