New Icon setting to display squadron affiliation

[gusman]

We should have an Icon setting that would display a player's squadron affiliation in FSO events. Just press <ALT> I and you can toggle to that view. All planes would show squadron name which would make forming an attack group much easier.

Cheers,
gus

[Arlo]

or ......



(The color purple)

Problem? Solved.

[phatzo]

Not really Arlo, I think what he wants is the ability to know what squad the player is with from an icon, not just identify his own squadmates.

[Arlo]

Not really Arlo, I think what he wants is the ability to know what squad the player is with from an icon, not just identify his own squadmates.

In an FSO we already have attack groups formed. Effective communication between group leaders also provides coordination and mutual support. Even 'fill-ins' have to put on a specific unit uniform and when doing so the squad they are flying with (as a new member or temp) will generally intro themselves and help that player coordinate. Other squadrons are operating under different orders and guidelines and it's up to the flight and division leaders of those squadrons to ID and coordinate as they would have in real life. In real life, the various squadrons operating in theater seldom had the luxury of 'seeing' what squadron was nearby but if they knew what channels to tune to they could share such info (not that it was really necessary). I guess I just don't see the necessity.

[gusman]

Not really Arlo, I think what he wants is the ability to know what squad the player is with from an icon, not just identify his own squadmates.

[/b]

Exactly so everyone with VF-17 would have an icon saying VF-17. As for coordinating By the time I get done typing "VF-17 are u @ 14,6,8,5 @20k flying SE?" and get a reply the group is just a bunch of dots in the distance

[Tilt]

It would promote inter squad play in the MA also .............

A 4 letter icon tag could be set up on the squad section of the clipboard and accessed by the icon scroll.

Historically a pilot would identify plane type and then by markings the squad .......... this would duplicate this..........

[Ruah]

I would prefer to be able to cycle through the icons and get to see the name of the enemy too. . .

[Arlo]

It would promote inter squad play in the MA also .............

A 4 letter icon tag could be set up on the squad section of the clipboard and accessed by the icon scroll.

Historically a pilot would identify plane type and then by markings the squad .......... this would duplicate this..........

So the point of short icon distance should be made pointless? Not knowing if the icons you see at 11 o'clock are friendlies or not is part of the excitement in such an event for me. Once we're close enough to see they aren't enemy icons, reaching a conclusion that they're probably either the '69th Gorilla squadron' or the '33rd Flamingo Boys' is part of the 'fog of war' element that also adds a bit of spice .... to me, anyhow. I'm more of a 'specific units pick specific skins' kinda guy and that would actually come closer to mimicking the markings you suggest.

Hi, Tilt, btw. Long time. 

p.s. Guessing the four letter icon would include numbers (for example - 'VF17' or '17JR' for 'VF-17 Jolly Rogers') otherwise - there's some four letter words might get chosen. 

(Ah ... the '4Q' squad!)

[Arlo]

I would prefer to be able to cycle through the icons and get to see the name of the enemy too. . .

May as well include the enemy CPID.

Alas, there's a reason for not having such a capability.

[Krusty]

Yes... Yes there is.

Knowing the name of the enemy promotes tardliness, dweebiness, timid reactions, etc.

Knowing the name of friendly squad units would only solve to create/enhance hordes in the MAs. I would NOT want to see that made any worse.

Overall, frankly... you don't need this. It's called "the CMDR is tuned to Command Channel and knows where other units are" -- Unless you're the CMDR you don't need to know what that other unit is. If you are the CMDR chances are 90% you KNOW who they are because you're intimately familiar with the orders and the maps.

And, if all else fails, it's called VOX. "Who are you guys?" usually resolves the mystery in 2 seconds.

[ImADot]

You know, sometimes I like Krusty. 

[The Fugitive]

You know, sometimes I like Krusty. 

Ya but there are pills that can cure that these days! 

[Arlo]

Ya but there are pills that can cure that these days! 

Perhaps you're thinking of 'drippy.' 

[Tilt]

Is there a "need" well maybe not........ would it be beneficial  IMO probably.......... would add some more immersion

The icon range thing would not change its available at long range for friendlies now...........

Re enemies......... well I suppose it was possible to identify enemy squadron markings once you had got close enough......... so it would have to be a very short range thing.

If a squadron CO decided not to fill in the 4 letter Squadron identifier then there would not be one.

Re enemy CPID's. IMO this would be by choice of the player (the enemy player) it would be the equivalent of personal markings on an air craft. e.g Johnnie Johnson  and Hartmann flew with markings that identified their plane to the knowing enemy. Others did not. Taking this into game players would be able to choose if their CPID was visible to enemy as a short  range icon.

I take the point that squadron identifiers might promote joint ops in a horde type manner in game. My view is that hording is a swarming instinct any way and this sort of thing will have little effective influence on present practice in this respect.

[gusman]

I don't really care what squadron the enemy is so the default setting for the enemy is fine. Icon range will still be 3k. This icon setting will help groups form up at the start of the frame or reform up after an enemy attack. I think the squad toggle <CTRL> s is fine for the MA. I really just want this for Scenarios and FSO or any kind of Special event. Most MA dweebs do not know that there is an icon toggle.

Cheers,
gus