Lose the Clipboard Map

[Karnak]

Funked,
How about this modification of your proposed system?

Replace the current map functions with the following:

1. Radio messages come from the HQ, just as they came from a central control point in the BoB.

2. Command ".gci" would give him the distance, direction, altitude and speed of the of the nearest bandit, with distance rounded to miles, direction to either 5 or 10 degree increments, altitude to angels and speed to 25mph increments. Command ".gci XX" would give him the distance, direction, altitude and speed of the of the nearest bandit, with distance rounded to miles, direction to either 5 or 10 degree increments, altitude to angels and speed to 25mph increments, which shows up on the radar of friendly base XX.  The radar resolution would be about 2 miles.  Once within two miles of the bandit the GCI would simply inform the pilot that they cannot separate his contact from the enemy contact.  GCI updates would only be available every 30 seconds.

3. The system should give a message like "Base XX reports enemy units in visual range!" if enemy ground, air, or sea units come within visual range of the base.  The system should give a message like "Base XX is under attack!" if enemy ground, air, or sea units cause damage to the base.

I think this would be much more realistic than only providing pilots 25 miles of radar coverage.  I don't think that HTCs servers would like the increased packet requirements or that the servers would particularly like maintaining a database of the spatial relationship of all the units online.

------------------
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother

Bring the Mosquito FB.MkVI Series 2 to Aces High!!!

Sisu
-Karnak

[This message has been edited by Karnak (edited 05-10-2001).]

[funked]

Karnak that sounds great.
I just want to move it away from the horizontal situation display that you can keep open while fighting to maneuver your way around a dogfight.

However I still don't like the "you are here" map.  It's really pretty easy to find your way around.  The best a real pilot could get (assuming he had zero nav skills) was a bearing to a friendly base.

[This message has been edited by funked (edited 05-10-2001).]

[mrfish]

 

Originally posted by funked:
PS:

1.  I don't think these are all original ideas, and I don't take credit or ownership of them.

2.  The current map functions would still be available to players in the tower, except for the sector bars, upon which I wish eternal damnation.    

disclaimer contimnued: available for a limited time only, not valid where prohibited by law, one per customer please,  sorry tennessee!  

seriously - sounds cool - anything would be worth testing for a tour. if it sucks we can change it.

[Thirdup]

Click on a map sector:
"Sector 14.9 reports 5 enemy aircraft, 2 enemy ground vehicles"

Radar cons show for that sector only (if ground radar is operational in that sector).

[This message has been edited by Thirdup (edited 05-10-2001).]

[Jigster]

In regards to Funked's first suggestion of navigating via text commands and map, we already have a system inplace for "manual" navigation.

Simply put, the naval gun targeting system would be perfect for navigation without the multi-directional icon (you could even leave it, but not show the facing direction anymore)

Click on a place on the map and you get a bearing and distance. Perhaps a baby step in working towards a little more realistic navigation system. You could consider it ground contact information with radio beacon vectors  

[StSanta]

I'd like to see any of these ideas tried out, just for some variation.

Or simply lose dot dar when you're flying. Sector bar would be enough to tell you the general area of a fight, or where there is a fight.



------------------
Von Santa
Staffelkapitän 9./JG 54 "Grünherz"
"If you return from a mission with a victory, but without your Rottenflieger, you have lost your battle."
- D. Hrabak, JG 54 "Grünherz"

[-ammo-]

 

Originally posted by funked:
Sorry, text messages giving radar vectors are simply much closer to what the real dudes had than the AWACS display.  If you can't see that then you aren't thinking it through completely.

[This message has been edited by funked (edited 05-10-2001).]

Well thats all fine and good..but is it possible that most folks like the map/clipboard and all the help it gives at the stroke of a key/mouse click. Just maybe most folks like all these features that facilitate gameplay. I would never want to sacrifice the flight models or anything that would alter the AC from their historical state. I kinda like the auto trim for speed, angle, the clipboarb ( genious idea, makes it easy at a glance),..etc.. Yes it has spoiled me that I can look at the clipboard and see I am in safe shape and go fix my snack and drink. I know I can just conitinue to climbout while I get that all important snack or mandatory Bathroom break done.

[Degas]

Just lose the dar.  ALL the dar.  We've all played with our HQ slagged and no dar at all.  Makes the game better, imo.

And I've seen absolutely no one having problems finding a fight under those circumstances.