hellfish Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 Originally posted by Battlefront.com: All icons next to weapons are Specialities. Every Soldier has one, even if it is plain old Rifleman (aka Buttkicker ). Two Stars = Leader, One Star = Assistant Leader. If you lose both then someone else will be put in charge, but you'll get no leadership benefits from the replacement. The other two Specialists in this example are Radioman (RATELO) and Forward Observer (FO). The only significant piece of UI that isn't shown here is the Support Fire UI. Took nearly 3 years to figure out how to make it smooth and easy, but we did Steve So the assistant leader in this instance would be the Platoon Sergeant? Will the platoon medic be portrayed at all? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Battlefront.com Posted September 1, 2006 Author Share Posted September 1, 2006 Syrian UI is identical in terms of format, but the icons are customized for the Syrians. Meaning, you'll see AKs instead of the M4s, stars on red background for Leaders, RPG-18s instead of AT-4s in Special Equipment, etc. There are two sets of icons in the game on two different colored backgrounds. This means when you play US Army vs. US Army the symbols are identical, but one side uses blue and the other side uses red. Same for Syrian vs. Syrian. Steve 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akd Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 I would place SAVE CONDITIONS BRIEFING etc. ...to the right of the orders interface section. That just seems more intuitive, keeping the unit interaction/data windows together. Actually, ideally these would each be independent windows that we could drag, drop, size and close-out as we wish, but that might be more work than it is worth. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stikkypixie Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 What is the meaning of the red cross next to Jones's name? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Battlefront.com Posted September 1, 2006 Author Share Posted September 1, 2006 Yes, the Assistant Leader for a Platoon HQ is the PSG. However, we are going to stick him back in Stryker #3. Unfortunately, we have to choose where he stays since individually can't be dynamically moved around. The way it is now Stryker #3 has no gunner because in real life the PSG is also the VC/gunner for Stryker #3. This means when the Platoon Leader falls the PSG in Stryker #3 will be in command. The Medic is not slated for inclusion since it blurs the line we've drawn between our abstract handling of the wounded. In real life he'd likely spend much of his time running around seperately anyway. Also, he isn't the Platoon's Medic. He's just a loaner from Company We thought about putting the menu buttons off to the right of the Command Buttons but decided against it for some reason. However, I am open to considering moving them. The single red cross next to Jones means he's got a -1 Leadership modifier. Two red crosses is -2, and that is something you don't want to see too often Steve 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Battlefront.com Posted September 1, 2006 Author Share Posted September 1, 2006 The C2 icons for this Platoon HQ are full up. Sometimes a unit has none. They way they work is all methods of C2 are divided up into three categories: 1. Visual 2. Audio 3. Digital There are several possibilities for each, the best one being the one that is used. For example, a good Audio connection (i.e. direct voice) trumps a Radio since the latter is far more prone to failure. When a unit has both Eye and Voice contact with his superior it becomes, hehe, Personal. This means they are right next to each other. This is the highest form of C2 that exists. In this example the Platoon HQ has Eye and Voice contact with his HQ as well as a RPDA for Digitial connection. The more and better connections, the stronger the chain of command and information sharing. This becomes critical when processing Support Calls. Steve 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hellfish Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 Originally posted by Battlefront.com: The Medic is not slated for inclusion since it blurs the line we've drawn between our abstract handling of the wounded. In real life he'd likely spend much of his time running around seperately anyway. Also, he isn't the Platoon's Medic. He's just a loaner from Company Yeah - I forgot that Strykers have an MEV at the company level. I was about to correct you on that. We thought about putting the menu buttons off to the right of the Command Buttons but decided against it for some reason. However, I am open to considering moving them. The single red cross next to Jones means he's got a -1 Leadership modifier. Two red crosses is -2, and that is something you don't want to see too often Steve So Lt. Jones is a West Point grad? (I'm going to hell for that, aren't I?) 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Emrys Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 Originally posted by Wicky: Where is movement order no. 3? or is that a secret? M is presumably movement - what do the F S A buttons represent? Easy. M=Male F=Female S=Sexless A=Androgyne Michael 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salkin Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 Cool bone Steve ! What's that thing in the right hand corner ? Is it really the selfdestruct button ? Oh, and I spotted the miniature battering ram right away...it's used by police all over the world (I think). //Salkin 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoolaman Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 Originally posted by Battlefront.com: The C2 icons for this Platoon HQ are full up. Sometimes a unit has none. They way they work is all methods of C2 are divided up into three categories: 1. Visual 2. Audio 3. Digital There are several possibilities for each, the best one being the one that is used. For example, a good Audio connection (i.e. direct voice) trumps a Radio since the latter is far more prone to failure. When a unit has both Eye and Voice contact with his superior it becomes, hehe, Personal. This means they are right next to each other. This is the highest form of C2 that exists. In this example the Platoon HQ has Eye and Voice contact with his HQ as well as a RPDA for Digitial connection. The more and better connections, the stronger the chain of command and information sharing. This becomes critical when processing Support Calls. Steve Now that is what I wanted to know. Excellent idea, and feel free to elaborate on how this works for relative spotting, realistic command delays, chain of communication, and the player's ability to control his units directly vs being "out of command". 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace Pilot Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 Originally posted by fytinghellfish: So Lt. Jones is a West Point grad?Only because he couldn't get into Annapolis. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Echo Delta Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 *waiting* 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M1A1TC Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 Very nice improvement over original, but please get rid of the pink, it hurts my manly eyes BTW, just watched Annapolis, decent movie, but too much boxing 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarkus Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 Originally posted by Salkin: What's that thing in the right hand corner ? Is it really the selfdestruct button ?That's the GO button emplacement, but I think it simply doesn't show on a real time game. Cheers 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Battlefront.com Posted September 1, 2006 Author Share Posted September 1, 2006 Tarkus is correct. The GO! button sits there for WeGo mode, but we haven't put something in there to fill up the space during RealTime. Steve 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flammenwerfer Posted September 2, 2006 Share Posted September 2, 2006 Looks good. Is it me or does 'nervous' sound un-soldierly? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aka_tom_w Posted September 2, 2006 Share Posted September 2, 2006 Thats a great looking interface looks like all the controls are handy and it should be pretty easy to get "used to" for the faithful and new players too (they might just have to work a little harder to get used to it) It looks great and one can see a great deal of time and effort has gone into it! Nice job! -tom w [ September 01, 2006, 06:32 PM: Message edited by: aka_tom_w ] 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delyn Posted September 2, 2006 Share Posted September 2, 2006 Originally posted by Battlefront.com: Tarkus is correct. The GO! button sits there for WeGo mode, but we haven't put something in there to fill up the space during RealTime. Steve How about a pause botton? You can pause in realtime right? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rudel.dietrich Posted September 2, 2006 Share Posted September 2, 2006 Originally posted by Flammenwerfer: Looks good. Is it me or does 'nervous' sound un-soldierly? Of all the emotions I went through as a soldier, far and away the one I experienced the most would be 'nervous' 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Emrys Posted September 2, 2006 Share Posted September 2, 2006 Originally posted by Flammenwerfer: Is it me or does 'nervous' sound un-soldierly? "Scared ****less" would have taken up too much space. Michael 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hellfish Posted September 2, 2006 Share Posted September 2, 2006 I think mine would be 'boredom'. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c3k Posted September 2, 2006 Share Posted September 2, 2006 Nice. I'd like to voice my desire to have some sort of information available regarding the various icons shown. Vergultungswaffe has shown, tongue in cheek, that they are not self-explanatory. Obviously, the icons will become familiar with use, but I think the weapons and ammo images are quite small and can be easily confused. Perhaps allowing a mouse pointer which hovers over the icon, using the UBK as an example, would open a small window stating "This is an Urban Breach Kit which allows the unit to break down walls, doors, floors, and ceilings." Or whatever it really does. This would be useful for the different ammo types represented, as well as the wide variety of rocket propelled weapons, all of which have a long cylindrical shape. Is anything like this even being contemplated? Or, is it assumed that I will be able to glance at the icons (whatever the size they are on MY computer screen) and divine their intended meaning? My criticism is meant to improve the usability of the GUI, not slam the hard work which has obviously gone into packing a huge amount of information into a clean package. Thank you, Ken 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rudel.dietrich Posted September 2, 2006 Share Posted September 2, 2006 Originally posted by fytinghellfish: I think mine would be 'boredom'. Well ok you got me, but once you actualy get to do something boredom is replaced my stomach eating tension until you get to return to hours upon hours of mind numbing boredom. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kettler Posted September 2, 2006 Share Posted September 2, 2006 Steve, Considering I managed to figure out most of it by myself, including spotting the SWAT type door buster, the multiple commo and observation means, and the brace of AT-4s, I'd say you're in pretty good shape, since I'm not much for complicated interfaces. Pretty slick! Was a bit perturbed by the nonplayability of the PSG, since my brother was one in his Bradley days, but the Stryker specific explanation makes sense and is impossible to ignore. Regards, John Kettler 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Battlefront.com Posted September 2, 2006 Author Share Posted September 2, 2006 Mouse help has always been a part of the plan. I do think that most of the stuff is easily understood with one explanation. The Special Equipment perhaps less so. I can assure you that there aren't so many icons that you can't get to know them fairly quickly. Steve 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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