unit values on counters?

[GeorgePatton]

I just purchased this game and love it (I was a big fan of Strategic Command but didn't care for SC2 when it came out) so far but what do the values mean on surrounding the counters?

The manual doesn't really explain it. I know that XX=div and XXX=Corps but the numerals and circles on top and sides are confusing. I figure they probably mean strength, defense, movement maybe?

The circles on top I figure mean unit quality or tech level (from 1 to 4).

But what about the blue and yellow circles on the right side. I don't get that at all.[&:]

Sorry for being dense but I dont see these mentioned anywhere in the manual.

Thanks

BTW I love the ability to play minor countries....interesting twist...I haven't tried playing Finland or Sweden yet but that could be interesting.

[dooya]

ORIGINAL: GeorgePatton

I just purchased this game and love it (I was a big fan of Strategic Command but didn't care for SC2 when it came out) so far but what do the values mean on surrounding the counters?

The manual doesn't really explain it. I know that XX=div and XXX=Corps but the numerals and circles on top and sides are confusing. I figure they probably mean strength, defense, movement maybe?

The circles on top I figure mean unit quality or tech level (from 1 to 4).

But what about the blue and yellow circles on the right side. I don't get that at all.[&:]

Sorry for being dense but I dont see these mentioned anywhere in the manual.

Thanks

BTW I love the ability to play minor countries....interesting twist...I haven't tried playing Finland or Sweden yet but that could be interesting.

Taken from: tm.asp?m=2135346

ORIGINAL: dooya
[...]


The information displayed on the counter are as follows:

(1) Unit type


from left to right: infantry, airborne, motorized infantry, tanks, air unit

(2) Tech level
(3) a blinking dot indicates whether a unit has already taken part in a coordinated attack in this turn
(4) indicates that a leader is attached to this unit
(5) nationality
(6) Tech level
(7) left number: effective strength (current unit strength multiplied by its current effectiveness); right number: Action points left
(8) "XX" means division, "XXX" means corps
(9) three dots to at the right border:
- Top one: unit has got some AP to spend
- Middle one: unit has got low supply level
- Bottom one: unit is under strengthen

[GeorgePatton]

Great thanks! [&o]

[SeaMonkey]

Hope we'll see a better thought out design for "Bitter Glory".  Item:  If you want to allow gamers to enjoy the basis of a good game(the map) then don't obscure it with the unit icons.
 
Example not to follow: the AA series.  Beautiful maps....obtrusive, but informative unit icons.  There is a better way!

[Banquet]

I wish a lot more devs would follow the AA example.. what is it you think could be done better?

[Bleck]

You can always design your own unit icons.
The possibilities are really huge, and all you need is notepad, an application that can save PNG files and some time.
More details about creating own unit icons later, now we have more important things to do

[GeorgePatton]

btw how come the XXX and XX sizes are on the bottom instead of on top of the NATO symbol? Design issue?

[killroyishere]

ORIGINAL: SeaMonkey

Hope we'll see a better thought out design for "Bitter Glory".  Item:  If you want to allow gamers to enjoy the basis of a good game(the map) then don't obscure it with the unit icons.

Example not to follow: the AA series.  Beautiful maps....obtrusive, but informative unit icons.  There is a better way!

Screw the map I want more unit information and design. The map could be black and white as far as I am concerned. Give me more unit details always. Take a lesson from Schwerpunkts Anglo German War that game has unit detail and the maps are all they need to be.

[SeaMonkey]

Well let's see, there is always so much info to be presented for a unit that IMO it needs to be condensed.  The basics, unit size, the NATO icon defining the type, the designation/parent(its attachment) and then finally something about its effective status.
 
Looking at a radar map of precipitation over a land mass reveals the land underneath depending on the transparency of the rain clouds above.........does that give you any ideas?  Sure, you'll need a unit info panel activated as you mouse over the NATO icon that represents the unit to get further details.  But just imagine that unit influenced area like a cloud mass superimposed upon the map and further inconjunction with other friendly formations resulting in a front line.  Kind of reminds you of the WW2 maps you see in books showing the deployments of the various units involved in a campaign, now just imagine they are interactive.
 
Still drifting........

[Banquet]

ORIGINAL: SeaMonkey

But just imagine that unit influenced area like a cloud mass superimposed upon the map and further inconjunction with other friendly formations resulting in a front line. 

Between this and the AA system.. I'll stick with the AA system! [X(]

[Fintilgin]

Yeah, I've only had time to crush Poland and skim the manual a bit, and I'm having fun, but I'm not really sold on how the unit info is displayed. First off, it would be nicer if it were clearer to see at a glance if a unit had moved or not. Especially when there are so many. A tiny little green speck, which may only be a pixel or so when zoomed out, is hard to see. Maybe the national flag could disappear?

I also hope the mentioned modding is powerful enough to put the info on the counter, I find it easier to read that way. So... something like:

[Wolfe1759]

Rather than the main blinking dot (3 in the above diagram) being for co-ordinated attack it would be more useful if it were for AP remaining to be spent and also if it only blinked for the units of the active nation. Then at a glance you could see which of your units still had the capability to do something.

[willgamer]

It would also be helpful if that blinking blue dot would turn off if the unit has 0 AP left.

As it now stands, the blue dot seems too big, busy, and distracting.

Fintilgin: love your counter; I'd swap out the current ones immediately!

[Wolfe1759]

ORIGINAL: willgamer

It would also be helpful if that blinking blue dot would turn off if the unit has 0 AP left.

As it now stands, the blue dot seems too big, busy, and distracting.

Fintilgin: love your counter; I'd swap out the current ones immediately!

Yep thats the blinking blue dot (that is on all the units on the map happily blinking away whether they have moved or not and are yours or not) that I was talking about.

[Fintilgin]

ORIGINAL: willgamer
Fintilgin: love your counter; I'd swap out the current ones immediately!

Thanks. I'm still getting familiar with the game. Just invaded Finland as Russia in 1939. Going well until the snow came... I'm starting to think if it holds up this game has the potential to knock of SC2 as my favorite WW2 of this type.

But, ugh. I really dislike the way the counters work right now.

EDIT: Also, while I'm thinking of it, especially if it were possible to put the unit info on the counters, it might be best to round up/down the strength factor. Still display 3.7 in the unit info, but just round up to 4 to put on the counter. It's a bit cleaner. Or maybe just multiply strength by 10? 38-10 is easier to read at a glance then 3.8-10 I keep subconsciously reading the counter as 3 attack, 8 defend, 10 AP

[SeaMonkey]

Nice Fintilgin, all we need is the unit name on the lefthand side of the NATO icon in vertical format.
 
Your configuration has to less intrusive on the map terrain.

[willgamer]

ORIGINAL: Fintilgin

I keep subconsciously reading the counter as 3 attack, 8 defend, 10 AP

LOL! I thought I was the only one....[:D]

[GeorgePatton]

Nice counter art Fintlin....that was what I was imaging too as a much cleaner representation...obviously the values and circles on the counter do change frequently which is probably why it was done outside of the counter.

[Bleck]

About changing the blue dot to behave like the green one - it can be done in appearance.csv. With this file and info.png you can change a lot (really) in units display.

I suggest move this discussion to Mods thread