Author Topic: Event Mode - Icon Discussion (Read 1234 times)

Vermillion · « **on:** December 14, 2000, 11:54:00 AM »

One of the many complaints (and most frequent, and most vociferous, and ....

) from players is about icons.

Alot of you frequently complain about wanting "no icon" arena's and events.

So I wanted to ask everyone who flew in Afrika Corps (or any other recent event that use the new setting), what they thought about the new icon setting available for special events?

For those that don't know. You still see dots at the standard range, and you get the friendly icon readings at 10k (was suppose to be 5k, but was bugged), and you get enemy icon information at 3k.

Personally (I only actually flew in frame 5) I thought it was great. It didn't give away too much information, and allowed slower aircraft the opportunity to disengage, but allowed the necessary information that the current graphics don't intuitively provide.

I do know there were ALOT of suprise bounces with this new setting.

What do you guys think?

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Vermillion
Senior CM, Aces High Scenario Corps

Ripsnort · « **Reply #1 on:** December 14, 2000, 12:29:00 PM »

I personally loved the icons setting in the Med SEA. I might add that I did not fly as a pilot, but flew with the default settings in other events.

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"If you cannot learn to do something well,
learn to enjoy doing it poorly"

[This message has been edited by Ripsnort (edited 12-14-2000).]

Westy · « **Reply #2 on:** December 14, 2000, 01:01:00 PM »

Great subject!!

I can only go by my experience from several months ago when Udie used to get us together in the SEA and do the icon-less thing. I thought no icon flying was fantastic. It was really great if you were in a one-on-one or two on one. It really started to suck when it devolved into a multi-plane furball. Why? Because even at 600 yards, with no icons we found no one wanted to stop ACM'ing because we could not ID the planes flying around us. No one wanted the first to be easy meat for the unidentified planes surrounding ourselves.

PC's and graphics have not come along far enough for a completely icon-less environment - IMO, of course. Maybe some sims can give the dots and plane shapes individual "colors" to help distuinguish between aircraft. This works in AH for planes such as the P-51, P-38 which show up silvery in the sky. The Spitfire with the white spinner in AH is also ID'able for those with good graphics and small DPI equipped monitors.

I would love to help test icon-less or friendly only icon arrangments for future events. If the CM team wants to arrange something please ensure folks KNOW the purpose of the test. And please divide the plane sets into Allies-Axis as that is what would be done in a historical event. This would allow anyone to jump into a running test and not wreak havoc on the testers by flying an F4U-1C for the Axis side for example.

-Westy

[This message has been edited by Westy (edited 12-14-2000).]

hblair · « **Reply #3 on:** December 14, 2000, 01:04:00 PM »

I'm fer reduced icon range.

Fury · « **Reply #4 on:** December 14, 2000, 01:12:00 PM »

imho the 10 for friendlies was too much (I realize it was bugged).

5 and 3 sounds great.

One of my bigger feelings about icons is that it gives away friendlies before it gives away enemies -- so I know to ignore the dot instead of tracking it in closer. Why not make fiendly and enemy be the same, say D3?

I did fly in one of the weekend events with on-your-honor enemy icons turned off -- it was a blast. I'd really like to see that tried again.

Fury

Vermillion · « **Reply #5 on:** December 14, 2000, 01:24:00 PM »

Let me clarify one issue.

At this time, "no icon" is not a option for a couple of reasons. And my understanding is that it won't be in the near future.

I was wanting to discuss what you thought of the 5/3 icon setting, and how you felt about it.

Is it just right? Too small? Too long?

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Vermillion
Senior CM, Aces High Scenario Corps

[This message has been edited by Vermillion (edited 12-14-2000).]

Westy · « **Reply #6 on:** December 14, 2000, 01:58:00 PM »

"I was wanting to discuss what you thought of the 5/3 icon setting, and how you felt about it."

Better than nothing I guess. I think 5/1.5 would be better

-Westy

[This message has been edited by Westy (edited 12-14-2000).]

funked · « **Reply #7 on:** December 14, 2000, 02:00:00 PM »

5/3 is too long IMHO.

I like WB Scenario Lite icon settings:
- All Ranges appear at 1.0k.
- Friendly IDs appear at 4.0k.
- Enemy Plane Types appear at 2.0k.

[This message has been edited by funked (edited 12-14-2000).]

Citabria · « **Reply #8 on:** December 14, 2000, 02:03:00 PM »

make it d5 friendly d3 enemy

with anything more the enemy is automatically identified as bad since a friendly icon would have popped up by the range he is at.

d5 friend d3 enemy sounds quite good.

to bad dot range/long range specks cant be adjusted in intensity with an atmospheric visibility command

Sunchaser · « **Reply #9 on:** December 14, 2000, 02:12:00 PM »

I understand the monitor and video restrictions negating no icons{my personal choice} and will support the shortest possible distance.

The argument that enemy icons should be visible further to enable disengagement if he has a better airplane does not hold water.

Fight whatcha brung or disengage on ID and hope you get away.

I realize that I am speaking from the Level Bomber, no evasives point of view and fighter perspective is different.

As real as we can stand it means as many crutches as humanly possible must go.

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When did they put this thing in here and WTF is it for?

Wlfgng · « **Reply #10 on:** December 14, 2000, 02:41:00 PM »

Shortest possible distance...
I'd go for no icons except for limitations imposed by current state of computer graphics.

4/2 or 3/1.5

-ammo- · « **Reply #11 on:** December 14, 2000, 03:55:00 PM »

I thought the 5/3 was good buit the icons can be refined. I would love to see the range elimanated from the icons, and I would like to see more subtle colors. I think it would be a great "middle of the road" way of doing icons. It would be way too hard on folks to elimenate icons altogether, but my idea would definately make it more challenging.

Just my thoughts

daddog · « **Reply #12 on:** December 14, 2000, 04:21:00 PM »

I have enjoyed them as a player and a CM.

As an added thought would anyone like to see an option of "call signs" at d1 or d2? Had seen those a few times in WB and really added a nice twist.

Depending on whose name you saw on your 6 your pucker factor could really jump.

NUTTZ · « **Reply #13 on:** December 14, 2000, 05:10:00 PM »

Hblair ,Dingy and i played a breif F4's vs Niki.s in my map w/ icons off. I will say it was really hard , BUT it Completely stops the HO's

NUTTZ

gospel · « **Reply #14 on:** December 14, 2000, 05:23:00 PM »

I really liked the icons in africa corps.

What I would like to see changed is the black dots.

Remember the way warbirds does it, where you can see the plane and not a black dot?

In africa corps our squad was going to attempt a low level attack. We practiced and found out that those black dots show up a long way against the blue backdrop of the ocean.

Even at low level.