Well, you could have a separate log window that did not interfer with or be in the way of the rest of the interface. Examples include RPG games like Neverwinter Nights, and the Infinity engine, with resizable log windows. The problem with this solution is that you don't see who says what directly. But it could be solved by linking a line of text with the unit name, to a camera reposition link aka a hyperlink ***:
***3. bat 2. company 4. squad***: bla bla bla
BTW another handy feature, would be a director's camera, that automatically jumped between the hotspots in a replay turn. Granted, it would not be so useful when checking the overall progress on the battlefield, but would instead make for good 1 minute action packed mini warmovies. Naturally you would want to be able to turn it on and off. It could also be implemented through a mini-window, like in conquest: frontier wars if I am not mistaken. You use the unit window screen in the replay phase to show the hotspots.
[ October 05, 2002, 05:02 AM: Message edited by: mrbear ]