Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: Captain Virgil Hilts on February 09, 2005, 07:57:00 AM

Title: "town destroyed" message, PLEASE
Post by: Captain Virgil Hilts on February 09, 2005, 07:57:00 AM
Would it be possible to add a message when the last building in the town is detroyed to denote the town being completely destroyed? Not asking for extra credit or anything, just the ability to know the town is destroyed.

An alternative would be to have the condition of the town appear in the status of the base as shown on the clipboard. You'd know there was a building of some sort up if the town status for the base did not show 0%.


One drawback with the new graphics (we love them and we appreciate the effort) is that it becomes difficult (and even impossible with some video settings) to see if the town is completely destroyed. Some of the buildings can be impossible to see amid the rubble. They appear to be down, but they are not. Or they are almost, if not totally, obscured by the rubble of other buildings, unless view from one specific included angle, at low speed, zoomed in.
Title: "town destroyed" message, PLEASE
Post by: CMC Airboss on February 09, 2005, 01:08:53 PM
One problem with a "town destroyed" message would  occur at the end of a regeneration period.  I would be possible for a building to "pop-up" moments after seeing the town destroyed message.  A % status indicator would work better for this purpose.  

However, the new rubble and difficulty picking out targets or visually assessing damage does add somewhat to the "fog of war" where nothing is certain.  

MiG
Title: "town destroyed" message, PLEASE
Post by: dedalos on February 09, 2005, 01:41:21 PM
Quote
Originally posted by CMC Airboss
However, the new rubble and difficulty picking out targets or visually assessing damage does add somewhat to the "fog of war" where nothing is certain.  

MiG


Never been in a war but I heard stories that Trees, Buildings, Guns, and Tanks were visible.  Especialy trees and big guns 100 yards away.  I could be wrong though.
Title: "town destroyed" message, PLEASE
Post by: Eagle327 on February 09, 2005, 02:14:32 PM
I agree with Virgil.
At 10,000 feet, bombsight fully zoomed in, town buildings Vs. building rubble are not distinguishable.

Destroyed buildings should be light Gray.
as, in real life, damaged concrete, wood, plaster,  plastic, are all gray when burned out.

Have tried all viz modes: F1,F2,F3,F4.
I use 1280 resolution.

This really needs fixing.


Eagle
Title: "town destroyed" message, PLEASE
Post by: john9001 on February 09, 2005, 03:01:20 PM
yes to all of the above
Title: "town destroyed" message, PLEASE
Post by: Darkish on February 09, 2005, 06:39:33 PM
Is it impossible to tell if a town is down, or does it just require a bit of a harder look?

Regarding bombing - the craters/impact marks generally give away what's been hit.

Am all for the town damage % though, saves 10 mins of asking on country channel.
Title: "town destroyed" message, PLEASE
Post by: Captain Virgil Hilts on February 10, 2005, 12:41:33 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Darkish
Is it impossible to tell if a town is down, or does it just require a bit of a harder look?

Regarding bombing - the craters/impact marks generally give away what's been hit.

Am all for the town damage % though, saves 10 mins of asking on country channel.


It can be nearly impossible.
Title: "town destroyed" message, PLEASE
Post by: Kweassa on February 10, 2005, 06:25:29 AM
Making low-alt passes over the town to visually confirm its down isn't so bad. Tends to keep the friendlies nearby on their toes, not to mention it keeps the roles divided - bombers do the bombing, fighters do the visual confirmation.

 However, a general percentage indicator would come in handy now and then.
Title: "town destroyed" message, PLEASE
Post by: lasersailor184 on February 10, 2005, 06:37:57 AM
I honestly think it's fine.  I run on a 1024x768 graphics.  I believe yall are just looking for an easy way out.
Title: "town destroyed" message, PLEASE
Post by: TexMurphy on February 10, 2005, 07:13:43 AM
I dont think its really that hard to see if the town is down or not.

BUT I do think the % indicator on the field status board would be a good thing for planing sorties.

I do see if VH, FH, BH, Radar, Troops and Ords are down that helps me plan what to do with the fields. But I have no idea if we need to work on the town.

I would really like to be able to know in the tower if I should head to a field in a Mossie to work the town or in a Spit to provide CAP.

For that the town % indicator would be really really helpfull.

For confirmation when to send in troops you still need visual confirm to make sure no buildings "just  poped".

Tex
Title: "town destroyed" message, PLEASE
Post by: tactic on February 10, 2005, 03:42:29 PM
It's a little tuff sometimes  You just really have to look hard in some instances, and admit it takes some getting used to,  but you ("I") can see if all are down.  In most cases  Your personal video setting may hender your view,  (too dark, the res,  video settings in detail range etc..) I had to play with the adjustments before getting it right, but now  I can always tell if buildings are up or down, i may need to Zoom in at some point and set my f views,  but I can always see whats up or down.  For sure looks more RL in this version.  IMO.
 
 At 10,000 feet it would be tuff in the real world to see buildings whole or in pieces, for sure if surrounded by other structures and debri, fire and smoke.   Just be glad there is not fire and smoke in the city then we would really be in (Deep St) trouble.  <---- not a suggestion AH crew  :)
Title: "town destroyed" message, PLEASE
Post by: Captain Virgil Hilts on February 10, 2005, 03:59:10 PM
Well, I was making low, slow passes over the towns, meaning 150-200 feet and under 200MPH. I tried varying levels of zoom as well. I'm not the only one having trouble, I've had others tell me they have the same problem.

As far as my video settings go:
Resolution = 1024X768
Textures = 256
Detail sliders = 30% or so from the performance end
Vis range = tried F1, F2, F3, and F4

Some of the buildings just seem to be obscured by others, and some seem to look somewhat the same whether up or down.

And actually, buildings being on fire when they are down might make it easier, and might make it more difficult, depending on how you look at it.
Title: "town destroyed" message, PLEASE
Post by: KOOL on February 10, 2005, 06:31:26 PM
The % indicator is a great ideal.  Definitely makes preplanning easier, as well as lets the C47 or M3 know when to dash in for the capture.

As far as the issue Eagle has with not being able to see the deference between destroyed buildings and non-destroyed buildings, just make then different colors as he suggested.  He's older than dirt and his Eagle eye isn't as good as it used to be.  :D
Title: "town destroyed" message, PLEASE
Post by: guttboy on February 10, 2005, 10:53:39 PM
I know it can be frustrating to see if the town is down....however it is a bit of a change that takes some getting used to.  I personally like it....gets folks to really concentrate on the town.

And yes I have been burned by the hidden building thing and cussed like Ralphies father from "A Christmas Story" when he was fixing the furnace...and tossed crap across the room...LOL.

Im giving it a chance and so far kinda like it

:)
Title: "town destroyed" message, PLEASE
Post by: Grumpy on February 11, 2005, 12:46:40 PM
While it may be hard to see building from 10k up, isn't that why there is a telescopic bombsight.   At 10k, in bombsight, with max zoom, I can see there is a some GV next to the lake, but can't find the stealth up building.   And if you are lining up on a town, you're not at max zoom when chosing right side or left side of town, by the time you can see any detail, you are pretty much commited already.

Seperate gripe: Would love to get a gv Icon in F6 when max zoom from 6k up.  Wouldn't that be like under d1000 at a optical zoom of 6x or more. May just enable it at maxzoom only, when 8k & down.
Title: "town destroyed" message, PLEASE
Post by: SkyRock on February 11, 2005, 01:28:45 PM
Why would someone not want a "town destroyed" message?  "FH destroyed" "VH destroyed" "barracks destroyed" "BH destroyed"  "Ship destroyed" "Ammo destroyed"    We have everything but the town posted with a "destroyed " message when it is down.  I think Capt. Virgil's request is right on the money.  It makes sense and is in line with AH's tradition in posting destroyed messages.
Title: "town destroyed" message, PLEASE
Post by: Seeker on February 11, 2005, 01:54:14 PM
Hilts has made a good point; right now it's hard to know (maybe too hard with the current game model) when a town is down.

Some kind of warning is needed with the current set up.

But how about changing the set up?

We know the current engine allows different light sources; how about the only indestrucible object in a town being a light house; when which operates for as long as the town is down?


Or...

Disable troops for goon (they can still carry supplies) and make capture GV only?


Just ideas..... We've got this new engine; and Suds is supposed to be good; give the guy something to work with............