Author Topic: More dot commands (Read 1032 times)

hubsonfire · « **on:** April 03, 2006, 11:57:06 PM »

Presuming it's easy to coad, more dot commands would be welcome. I still find the AH clipboard a bit clunky to use, and would like to see a few more /few modified dot commands.

.afk to toggle the AFK indicator

.plane instead of number

.convergence 1 for primary
.convergence 2 for secondary guns, where applicable

We already have a means to use the dot commands to select planes/vehicles, although it's not very intuitive, and we can set fuel loadouts by commands. After all these years, and lots of improvements, I still find the clipboard to be slow, and somewhat laggy, and at times totally unresponsive, and always when I'm most in a hurry. The ability to perform some of the more mundane tasks without fighting the gui would be a blessing to me. Since the game already uses a standard naming procedure for aircraft a vehicles, maybe that could be carried over to the commands.

The ord loadout and convergence screens are still a pain, for me anyway, as the loadouts for some planes are numerous enough that it's difficult to tell exactly what you're clicking on, and the convergence settings appear to be entirely random with regard to which weapon pairing(s) you're trying to set, especially when you have 2 or 3 sets of guns set at the same distance. To pull one off, I've got to drag the others to different distances, then select the one that I actually want to adjust, then pull the others back, etc. The ability to just enter the new value for a particular weapon without playing the shell game would be a nice simple addition, in my opinion.

Anyway, I'd thought of this after using the .goto command repeatedly, and realising how much simpler it was (for me at least) to use text commands and circumvent the clipboard altogether.

SMIDSY · « **Reply #1 on:** April 04, 2006, 12:04:22 AM »

it is impossible to adjust your convergence in mid flight. it had to be adjusted on the ground before you took off.

APDrone · « **Reply #2 on:** April 04, 2006, 12:22:37 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by SMIDSY
it is impossible to adjust your convergence in mid flight. it had to be adjusted on the ground before you took off.

I don't think hub is referring to inflight, but as a command that can be entered even while in the tower. That particular example might be cumbersome as you have to remember how many convergences you have to deal with. ( P47, for example, would have 4 )

Whereas the GUI makes interfacing a lot more visual, many software packages use keyboard commands that are often far faster than the equivalent effort required by the mouse. Granted, this does not apply to every situation, but you've probably experienced a time or two where using the tab key can be faster to scoot through an online form than grabbing the mouse, moving to the field you want to go to, then clicking.

Tuning radios is a fine example. Yes, you can bring up a radio channel, double click in the window and then type in the frequency you want.

Or.. .radio n fff where n is channel and fff is frequency. A lot faster for me to do it thataway.

Other nice things to add:
.roster .. especially when you're in a mission view mode and don't want to click on 'back' button a couple times.

.map ccccccc where 'cccccc' would be description of map you would lke to see. so .map largeAF brings up map of large airfield

.zoom 1 - 10 so you don't have to hold [ ] or Ins/ DEL keys except for fine tuning

More dot commands would be a good thing.

Martyn · « **Reply #3 on:** April 04, 2006, 03:14:26 AM »

I've always thought an extra couple of commands to set course would be really useful for when you're on a long AFK (like lunch, cat stuck on roof or extended wife-ack etc.).

.heading 235
.altitude 26500
Alt-X (autopilot climb)

Using this you can get several of your mates to enter the same values and nip off down the pub for a swiftie, come back and (hopefully) find yourself still in formation somewhere high and useful.

Of course you could always end up being 'bounced' on the way, but that's the price to pay for 'not being there' right?

APDrone · « **Reply #4 on:** April 04, 2006, 06:44:05 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Martyn
I've always thought an extra couple of commands to set course would be really useful for when you're on a long AFK (like lunch, cat stuck on roof or extended wife-ack etc.).

.heading 235
.altitude 26500
Alt-X (autopilot climb)

Using this you can get several of your mates to enter the same values and nip off down the pub for a swiftie, come back and (hopefully) find yourself still in formation somewhere high and useful.

Of course you could always end up being 'bounced' on the way, but that's the price to pay for 'not being there' right?

This is an excellent idea too. But, take it a step further, and have a .followwaypoint command that sets your heading, speed, and climb-rate by way of the waypoints defined in the mission you're flying.

The mission editor already allows these to be entered, it would be REALLY NEAT if the planes could be set to follow them.

THEN, you enable mission planning on the off-line mode and be allowed to assign the drones to missions. Then you could have the B24 fly in a bombing pattern at a speed and altitude commensurate with what could expect in the MA ( 15k at 200mph, for example ) ( I know, I know, somebody will want a 200 ft version with terrain following radar ) and maybe I could get enough practice in with the 262 to be able to actually hit something up there..

Martyn · « **Reply #5 on:** April 04, 2006, 07:15:01 AM »

Waypoints? Planning? Ooooh - you ARE ambitious.

OTH - I really like the idea. Setting waypoints is a bit more involved than just adding dot commands unless you do it something like this...

.waypoint 1 7.18.4 12000
.waypoint 2 8.14.8 19000
.waypoint 3 A21 22000
Ctrl-Alt-X

Which uses dot commands to set waypoints numbered 1 on upwards.

The second group of numbers are the map reference (e.g. 7.18.4) that indicate the centre (or center for those of you in the US!) of a square. Alternatively the name of a field would do as it must have a map reference.

(I know, using the mission editor map takes a lot of hassle out of this).

The final figure is the preferred altitude (if the plane can reach it).

You could also add stuff like bombing runs and automate the lot (just sit there as a gunner maybe) but that takes the fun out of it - beside you'd only blame HTC if the bombs miss and couldn't expect accuracy.

Still, it does open opportunities for building fleets of bombers, setting waypoints and carpet bombing enemy cities. But that's a different game...

APDrone · « **Reply #6 on:** April 04, 2006, 07:36:43 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Martyn
... But that's a different game...

Yeah, right.. 2 weeks..

As far as waypoints, I think that's a case where the GUI really shines. Man, when they released the changes to the mission editor to allow the current waypoint entry and allow you to do it while in flight.. that's the equivalent to the sliced bread cliche in the AH world, IMHO.

So, what color (or colour for those of you on the other side of the pond

) should the 'auto' light be while in 'follow waypoint mode'? Blue?

Kurt · « **Reply #7 on:** April 04, 2006, 08:22:40 AM »

I'd like...

.shootdown
such as .shootdown kurt

.repairmyplanethisguyiseating mealive

.warpfactor 12

etc.

Reschke · « **Reply #8 on:** April 04, 2006, 04:03:04 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Martyn
Waypoints? Planning? Ooooh - you ARE ambitious.

OTH - I really like the idea. Setting waypoints is a bit more involved than just adding dot commands unless you do it something like this...

.waypoint 1 7.18.4 12000
.waypoint 2 8.14.8 19000
.waypoint 3 A21 22000
Ctrl-Alt-X

Which uses dot commands to set waypoints numbered 1 on upwards.

The second group of numbers are the map reference (e.g. 7.18.4) that indicate the centre (or center for those of you in the US!) of a square. Alternatively the name of a field would do as it must have a map reference.

(I know, using the mission editor map takes a lot of hassle out of this).

The final figure is the preferred altitude (if the plane can reach it).

You could also add stuff like bombing runs and automate the lot (just sit there as a gunner maybe) but that takes the fun out of it - beside you'd only blame HTC if the bombs miss and couldn't expect accuracy.

Still, it does open opportunities for building fleets of bombers, setting waypoints and carpet bombing enemy cities. But that's a different game...

We aren't flying manned cruise missles or even the B2 bomber here...Geez I like to drink as much as the next guy but now you're talking about autopilot and even auto-bombadier. Next you will want auto-gunners and even a scantily clad lass to bring you some drinks as well. Come on this is a representation of the WW2 era aircraft and technology; not some weird porno fantasy.

BUT hey if it gets you tanked up and tossed in the sack more often then have at it buddy!

APDrone · « **Reply #9 on:** April 04, 2006, 04:58:45 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Kurt
...

.repairmyplanethisguyiseating mealive

System: Due to ENY, R2s are disabled at this field..

Spatula · « **Reply #10 on:** April 04, 2006, 05:08:59 PM »

Kweassa · « **Reply #11 on:** April 04, 2006, 05:28:53 PM »

I'd like a <.hizooka > command, please.

hubsonfire · « **Reply #12 on:** April 04, 2006, 08:11:08 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Reschke
and even a scantily clad lass to bring you some drinks as well.

Duh, yeah, me too.

Drone, Spatula, good suggestions.