Which expressions to include?

[Blindiron]

Simple question this time: you are creating a face set with a character's expressions, which 8 expressions do you go with?

 

[HexMozart88]

All depends on the character. I personally don't usually use expressions at all, though I once had a team make me create 20+ expressions for each character (there were 18 main characters in the game, so do the math). One of many reasons I left that team.

 

[ItsTforThree]

Thousand-yard stare, happy, sad, sad laughter, humbled, disbelief, ignorant, accepting.

 

[ATT_Turan]

It's pretty hard for anyone to tell you this, because it depends entirely on your game and the dialogue you're going to write.

Are you doing a horror game? You might never need a smiling or laughing face. Conversely, if you're doing something light-hearted, you might never want one of the scared or shouting faces.

I've never felt the need for 8 expressions. Each of my actors has a neutral, happy, angry, and scared/shocked face.

 

[arsMori]

As everyone said, it depends on the game.

Personally, I like to fill all 8 slots in a single faceset image. I make 5 generic expressions (neutral, happy, sad, angry, flustered), and then the other 3 are dependent on character (ex. smug character gets smirking expressions, jovial character gets laughing expressions, etc.).

The only characters that don't follow this are side characters that don't appear too much, or characters where you cannot see their face.

 

[Ami]

it depends on the personality of each of character, maybe 6 & 8 to use them, or 3 & 4

for example of cold anti-social character, they never smile & always angry toward the others (for my perspective, idk with you)

 

[Soulrender]

I use just the default one, in my opinion, face expressions made with a generator are very artificial.

 

[alice_gristle]

I'm not really a fan of expressions, really! I'd rather have strong dialogue than a gazillion faces, 'cuz no matter how hilarious yo expressions, they don't make up for weak dialogue, not for me anyhow...

I love portraits tho! So I'm with @HexMozart88 on this one, just one is enough!

Also yea, what @ATT_Turan and @arsMori said, think about what ya need... Aaaand, on that note, many expressions can fill a lot of roles, like if you have a frowning face, it cud be anger, or concern, or concentration, you name it, depends on the context!

 

[Ellenor]

Yeah I can't really answer as I make each expression to fit the game dialouge. I also make the sprites reflect those expressions.
So depending on the character it can be 10 + expressions to just one face portrait.
My advice is write your game story first so you have an idea what expressions you need so you don't end up wasting time.

 

[Willibab]

''I could not care less'', ''Intolerable Smirk'', ''Slightly opened eyes with a wtf expression'' ...oh wait...These are the expressions I use in social situations oops