Radar tests - the ultimate suggestion

[nrshida]

Haven't had an opportunity to examine the new radar test yet, so I can't say what it reveals or not in the MA.

What these tests are revealing on the forum though, is players who would rather keep the gameplay exactly as it is and have the game die rather than face changes.

Aces High Classic is never going to come back because it doesn't have a sustainable population. If AH is to survive it's going to be different. If you can't grasp the necessity to alter the game to keep it, then please do vote with your feet and (quietly) shuffle off to play or something else. As you keep threatening to do.

My suggestion to HTC is: keep going. Keep making creative alterations and testing them, not to garner opinions of those remaining but to observe the dynamic changes to gameplay until it creates a virtual environment which IS attractive to new players. This is the approach employed in other development areas where the environment is no longer stable (or never was) and is fluxing or uncertain.

Keep going! 

[1stpar3]

  Really...NOTHING is really ALL all that different. seems some folk are "hung up" with the term RADAR. As of now..if A teammate spots/gets within Icon range...the bandit shows on "Radar". True a few tweaks would be nice...NOE is hard to do IF all enemy has to do is be within 6k of your plane. I would suggest a tweak in that regard..like Below Radar nullifies this effect? Maybe even knocked out radar could affect the icon distances?

[TWCAxew]

The first thing I do when I see a noe missions is call it out on the country channel. I don't see a problem with them showing up on the map if they are spotted

[mERv]

The first thing I do when I see a noe missions is call it out on the country channel. I don't see a problem with them showing up on the map if they are spotted

and the 2nd thing you should always do is kill the goon first assuming you didn't intercept them noe yourself 

[TWCAxew]

and the 2nd thing you should always do is kill the goon first assuming you didn't intercept them noe yourself 

Nah that would be crazy

[Sabre]

The first thing I do when I see a noe missions is call it out on the country channel. I don't see a problem with them showing up on the map if they are spotted

The key statement is, "when I see a noe mission". Even with icons visible on a NOE target, I don't always notice it, especially if I'm engaged. My critique with the current "new" Radar is that the enemy AC shows up on the map if the game engines shows that the icon is visible to an enemy, not if the enemy actually takes notice of the icon. I understand the concept HiTech is shooting for, that of an integrated fusion of sensors (radar, eyes, ears) detecting, reporting, and collating contact reports, and disseminating a picture of the battlespace to friendly players. However, such a system actually should require that HUMINT only be included when the source (i.e. the player with potential LOS on the target) actively report the contact somehow to the air defense control center (ADCC).

My suggestion would be to require the player to "lock-up" the enemy icon, using a key-press that would operate similarly to the "Check-six" function; call it the "contact" function, perhaps. Press the "contact" key repeatedly, until it highlights the target icon, hold the key down for a second or two and release it. This transmits the contact info to the ADCC, and only then does it show up on other players' maps. So long as the reporting player remains in icon range, the enemy icon will remain on the map; once icon viz is lost, the map icon goes stationary on the map, flashes for 30 seconds, then disappears.

[Wiley]

My suggestion would be to require the player to "lock-up" the enemy icon, using a key-press that would operate similarly to the "Check-six" function; call it the "contact" function, perhaps. Press the "contact" key repeatedly, until it highlights the target icon, hold the key down for a second or two and release it. This transmits the contact info to the ADCC, and only then does it show up on other players' maps. So long as the reporting player remains in icon range, the enemy icon will remain on the map; once icon viz is lost, the map icon goes stationary on the map, flashes for 30 seconds, then disappears.

That's pretty much exactly how Planetside 2 does it.  You tag a guy and he shows on the minimap for your friendlies.  I don't think it would be bad at all.

Wiley.

[Lazerr]

So you would run into a group of baddies, and need to sit there and bang on the keyboard to get them all to show up on dar if your outside the radar ring? I could see having them in your field of view for 5 to 10 seconds to show up, and if they kill you, their dar dissapears.  Might stop some of the running.


"O shoot! We better get this guy before everyone sees us on the map!"

[Ciaphas]

My suggestion would be to require the player to "lock-up" the enemy icon, using a key-press that would operate similarly to the "Check-six" function; call it the "contact" function, perhaps. Press the "contact" key repeatedly, until it highlights the target icon, hold the key down for a second or two and release it. This transmits the contact info to the ADCC, and only then does it show up on other players' maps. So long as the reporting player remains in icon range, the enemy icon will remain on the map; once icon viz is lost, the map icon goes stationary on the map, flashes for 30 seconds, then disappears.

+1

[Sabre]

So you would run into a group of baddies, and need to sit there and bang on the keyboard to get them all to show up on dar if your outside the radar ring?

Yes, that is the essence of my suggestion. By requiring the player to "tag" each con, you insure that he/she has in fact seen each icon. It also retains some of the fog-of-war that I believe is essential to a game like Aces High. No god-like omniscience, courtesy of Mr AI. Plus it still allows for someone to sneak around an engagement, if the engaged protagonists' SA is being taxed by virtue of being in a furball.

[Lazerr]

Yes, that is the essence of my suggestion. By requiring the player to "tag" each con, you insure that he/she has in fact seen each icon. It also retains some of the fog-of-war that I believe is essential to a game like Aces High. No god-like omniscience, courtesy of Mr AI. Plus it still allows for someone to sneak around an engagement, if the engaged protagonists' SA is being taxed by virtue of being in a furball.

I like that idea, it would be ideal if you could simply lock on from your head position view, without an additional keystroke.

[1stpar3]

I like that idea, it would be ideal if you could simply lock on from your head position view, without an additional keystroke.

Had this happen yesterday...I replied with story on another thread so wont repeat it, just that it MIGHT BE a problem. SO, TO TAG...like PADLOCKING(hitting TAB key) means you have too look at them to padlock

[ccvi]

I think you can only padlock within icon range. If its human player reports, reporting dot contacts should be considered, too.

Why not just type /2 enemy con at 1.2.3 30k!
well, /reportcontact 1.2.3 30k
to print it on the map?

This even adds some bad reports into the mix, like in reality

[1stpar3]

I think you can only padlock within icon range. If its human player reports, reporting dot contacts should be considered, too.

Why not just type /2 enemy con at 1.2.3 30k!
well, /reportcontact 1.2.3 30k
to print it on the map?

This even adds some bad reports into the mix, like in reality

Yes at Icon distance...problem I was addressing,well tried, was on another thread and didnt repeat....was guy at 10k NOT LOOKING flew over an otherwise BELOW DAR level and POOF ICONS on map. If you TAB/Padlocked before they showed up...would mean someone was looking and FOUND something.Instead of just tripping over something unnoticed. I dont really have a problem with this...but some MAY. Just being proactive

[TWCAxew]

I think you can only padlock within icon range. If its human player reports, reporting dot contacts should be considered, too.

Why not just type /2 enemy con at 1.2.3 30k!
well, /reportcontact 1.2.3 30k
to print it on the map?

This even adds some bad reports into the mix, like in reality

Whiles I like your idea aswell there is a problem with this. The goal of the radar test are to increase the activity. Especially letting new players know where something is going on. Now who would go out of his way and select all the enemy's? I am lazy so I won't unless I have a friend coming in. I also I like to keep my opponents for my own because I am greedy when not flying with someone being my wingman. So are many others.

What I am trying to say is that I doubt it would provide much more intel to your side because of human nature.