Okay, this is rough battle-plan:
1) As far as sounds go:
There are basically three types of sounds:
a) Possibly repeated often or of minor importance. (Example: masterpiece spam, births/growths, cancel spam, combat). Theese should not have any voicework because that would clutter sounds space.
Theese should be sfx shorter than roughly two seconds. As natural as possible (canceling milling job could sound like two stones moving against each other, combat is obvious) because they are going to be atmosphere enhancement.
Each type should be distinctive enough so that player could recognize roughly what happened without looking into log. (i.e. that his manager order was completed).
This is great opportunity for many people who want to help as many different skills can help and you can contribute just well by scouting net for sounds or just tweaking them in editor if you do not have recording equipment.
(And, of course crazy one-in-million easer egg sounds. It would be neat to have 1% chance of dwarf gloating about his leetsness when he makes masterpiece or 1% chance of dwarf going "Hey, what about cutting down some damn trrrees, you elf!" if he has "cancels job: needs wooden log." event.)
b) Infrequent events and/or events of some importance that player will want to catch. (Examples: moods, migrants, caravans, mandates, invaders)
Theese are a bit tough, basically three things can be done:
i) music piece/ambient sounds.
ii) voiced commentary (from dwarf or from other party)
iii) more distinct ding.
For example, mandate could be either "Aehm" cough that player would recognize as tip-off to check nobles screen or "i have a new mandate." line could be said.
You can react to ambush by short combat music piece or spoken comentary.
Generally, if Dwarf does something, it should be voiced commentary of him doing it. ("I have breached into caverns deep underground!" (guess what), "shhhh, i have an idea, mumble mumble mumble" (secretive mood dwarf) or "i feel compled to mumble mumble" (possessed dwarf) ).
This is wherrre dwarrrfy voices are needed and where much of deciding needs to be done.
c) Simple state anouncements that do not really mean much on themselves but which are great opportunity to impact mood. Raining for example, or Seasons.
Currently, seasons are music pices that is kind of lackluster: songs are distracting while they should be more of background loops. And even then, it is music. Many people already listen to music in they player of choice, so it is pointless.
Basically, this needs scouting for more suitable tracks or compiling list of ambient non-music tracks. Or even musician on quest of making dwarfy summer/autumn/winter/spring music.
2) Identify what can be done.
Since we are limited by logs, we can really only react to what we find in logs, so:
a) All possible messages need to be compiled including rare ones that might not even happen for some particular fortress (based on location, player playstyle and his preferences). Basically, many gamelogs are needed.
Your logs, I need them.
3) Your packs
Frankly, I would be quite happy if people followed sphr's example, adopted certain functionality they are interested in they way people currently make their own tileset and publish them.
Or if you just tinker with some existing pack and make it's remix.
Zwei, do you have Skype? It might be easier for us all to bounce ideas for voice styles, instead of making a bunch hoping some will be the right tone or line. Also, there may be some sounds involving multiple people that would require more planning (i.e. groups).
It would be awesome if someone did what you propose, of course. Guess it is time for me to get skype account
It looks like we got plenty of aspiring voice actors, but if you need someone a somewhat deep voice and a Dutch accent I can contribute (not a very thick accent, but my countymen recognize it).