Interface + gameplay observations/questions

[Banquet]

ORIGINAL: Flankerk

The AI is generally fairly dumb with regard to designating hostiles. They'll usually wait for you to fire first or get some visual confirmation. Plenty of tricks can be used to make them more challenging. The use of invisible units is effective for scenarios where only one side is playable for example.

That's strange because it seems the AI always seems to fire first unless I intervene. It's hard to keep a track on range but I don't think they're closing to visual before firing their missiles.

I think maybe I am fixating too much on the 'To Protect the Queen' scenario and should try some others. It just seems like a good testing area as you get 30+ land based air to play with.

Speaking of measuring range.. just another newb wishlist item! The current way of measuring range is really cumbersome..

I know presently it has another function but I think dragging the mouse to draw a line between two objects would be a great way to see range really easily. Distance could update on the map as you dragged the mouse. I don't like to have numpad5 always on as it clutters the message box, and having to hit numpad5 and then click on 2 points is just too slow.. especially when the situation can be changing really fast (3k kts closing speed sometimes!)

Very much enjoying the game still. It's amazing how the imagination takes over when watching the map. Those icons become very real. Ships plowing into rough seas.. Helicopters taking off from a pitching deck. Fast jets streaking low over the sea.. It's going to be a while before computers can draw that stuff better than I can imagine it! [:)]

[FreekS]

Now that range suggestion would be great! Like Google ruler!
 
I think you do need to look at other scens; there are plenty of units with long range sensors that will classify the target. You can see that in the sensor window of the database. for example IR often classifies at 10-20nm and more advanced recon platforms may have even more advanced classification sensors. Some DBs (like the PlayerDB) have 'helper units' such as Intel Officers that classify everything above the horizon to 300nm. Those are used sparingly and I try to find a way that they are ONLY available to the AI by destroying them when player has them on their side.
 
But for players too there are plenty of planes, helo's, ships and ground units that classify beyond visual range.
 
 
 

[Awac835]

I might as well pop in a question and see if it gets answerd [:)]
 
I bought HP3 ANW a while back i like it from a gameplay point of view. Its much more detailed then Janes Fleet Command that i used to play. But i also have to admit that the Interface is horribly out datet and i couldnt get my self to work with it. So whats the time frame for the updated GUI version? Are we talking a year or so?
It bugs me since i had same experince with the rerelease of TOAW. I coudlnt get into it becouse of that 1½ century old UI, it really means alot to me that its friendly. But unlike TOAW nothing is there to replace HP3 when it comes to topnotch naval combat [:@] well DW from janes but that is different [:)]

[Dimitris]

Don't hold your breath for it.

[BurntFingers]

ORIGINAL: Banquet

That's strange because it seems the AI always seems to fire first unless I intervene. It's hard to keep a track on range but I don't think they're closing to visual before firing their missiles.

Could it be because sometimes you have game Preferences set to Weapons Tight and Weapons Free? I like to start a game with Weapons Tight and only go to Weapons Free when there's a chance of an intercept... it wastes a lot of missiles but I usually keep more of my planes flying.

It might not be anything to do with your issue, just occurred to me reading this (rather good) thread.

ORIGINAL: Banquet
Very much enjoying the game still. It's amazing how the imagination takes over when watching the map. Those icons become very real. Ships plowing into rough seas.. Helicopters taking off from a pitching deck. Fast jets streaking low over the sea.. It's going to be a while before computers can draw that stuff better than I can imagine it! [:)]

Amazingly detailed game, lots of different outcomes. That's what makes it special.

[Banquet]

Thanks for the suggestion BurntFingers. The setting was on weapons free

[Bungle]

ORIGINAL: Sunburn

Don't hold your breath for it.

mmm fmfmmmm qqmfltok!

[Bungle]

ORIGINAL: Awac835

I might as well pop in a question and see if it gets answerd [:)]

I bought HP3 ANW a while back i like it from a gameplay point of view. Its much more detailed then Janes Fleet Command that i used to play. But i also have to admit that the Interface is horribly out datet and i couldnt get my self to work with it. So whats the time frame for the updated GUI version? Are we talking a year or so?
It bugs me since i had same experince with the rerelease of TOAW. I coudlnt get into it becouse of that 1½ century old UI, it really means alot to me that its friendly. But unlike TOAW nothing is there to replace HP3 when it comes to topnotch naval combat [:@] well DW from janes but that is different [:)]

I have just purchased H3ANW (having owned II many years ago) and have to agree with you about the GUI . After downloading installing and firing up a cold shiver of rememberance passed up and down my spine, hour after frustrating hour...... ahhhg! ....... the version I have in front of me in the box is pre windows and I cant quite help thinking that the version I downloaded on the weekend is too .... ahhh enough bitch'n..... its only a GUI [:D]

However it has improved in game play, 'lil mysteries' ( things that shouldnt be said in polite company and in the presence of small childred) dont pop/crop up anywhere near as often. [&o] Still getting up to speed on the tutorials so questions will commence next week, ahh nothing quite like a quad launch.

........and the the printed manual from II is still good for 3ANW, no need to keep flicking over to the Adobe window... you must remember this .. laa la la laaaa