Reduced audio/video fidelity mode

[eVen-gits]

Good day!

Foreword: First of, I am a long time dota player and even contributor (ever since 6.27b) and I've been involved with dota for a very long time with various breaks in between. I've returned to the game just recently after a hiatus only to find that I am having pretty big issues with reading the game.

I am not sure if this is a bug, but I think it's important to discuss this too.

For this reason, I propose a way to turn off or reduce the non-essential visual and audio cues. A number of people are affected by overwhelming visual and audio stimulation. As this is a relatively simple fix, it could be considered a high priority issue, especially because it has a large impact on player experience.

I believe there are some toggles that should be implemented:

• Toggle for taunts
• Toggle for chat wheel phrases (audio)
• Toggle for cosmetics that alter abilities
• Toggle for opponent cosmetics (as alternative, client's cosmetics or default cosmetics should be displayed on a hero)
• Separated slider for unit speech(*)

(*) Note: I think this last option has been requested for a very long time. I personally recall calling to this issue for over a decade. The problem is that it's not possible to separate announcer and unit speech volume. If a user wants to mute hero speech, so will they have to accept a muted announcer (missing important game cues). From gamplay standpoint, that is very relevant.

Closing words: Thank you for your passion and hard work with regards to this beautiful game. Additionally, I'd like to thank the team for the development of SteamOS and Steam Deck, which I am eagerly awaiting. Especially big thanks to proton development team for contributing to linux ecosystem, allowing users of various competence to use this free and open source operating system with less traction. A sincere thank you to the valve team!

[dotabugs]

I'd like to specifically highlight chat wheel audio phrases as they are the most annoying. Even tho there are multiple options in the game that mute players (suggesting their behavior should be identical or very close to each other), only one actually mutes them:

1. Allowed chat: no incoming chat; only friendly players; only friendly players and teammates. (neither of the options mute wheel phrases or sounds).
2. Anonymous mode (doesn't mute wheel phrases or sounds).
3. Manually mute a team with the new button introduced in Spring Cleaning (doesn't mute mute wheel phrases or sounds).
4. Manually mute a player (does mute both wheel sounds and phrases).

Screenshot (red cross = doesn't work; green checkmark = works):

[SnabrielSnarsch]

i think that's intended behavior since chatwheel audios are mostly paid content

[eVen-gits]

At this point, I would also like to point out work of non-valve developer, that has been a go-to solution for players, that get affected by these issues.

https://github.com/No-Bling/DOTA

This is no longer functioning, the developer is also not actively developing the software. Unfrotunately, the mod is broken for the most part, unless users are willing to go into rather sketchy ways to circumvent the VAC system to get it to work. This might lead to further modifictaions to the game client, execution of unknown code and in general, decreased security to the game client.

I would strongly advise valve to offer these solutions themselves, rather than having third party developers produce solutions that might include other undesired functionality to the client.