Ack, I'm blind!

Shaithis · Post by **Shaithis** » Tue May 20, 2003 9:14 am

Or at least I'm going blind, trying to examine those tiny hexes and icons closely enough to deduce anything useful. I know this is basically a freeware/beta program, so I'm not really that upset here, but really... Very user-unfriendly.

Make things big enough for me to see what the heck is going on, and use fewer and larger icons. IE, instead of 12 tiny icons, make 3 large ones: Movement, Fire Control, and Miscellaneous. Then have submenus under each of those icons. Don't display "stand up" unless I'm down, or "crouch" unless I'm standing. Things like that.

And improve the graphics. I don't mean make them prettier, I just mean make them more descriptive. I don't care if they're stick figures, as long as I can look at them and quickly realize what's happening.

Shaithis · Post by **Shaithis** » Tue May 20, 2003 11:03 am

OMFG, who designed this interface? Firing your gun is worse than filing income tax.

LarkinVB · Post by **LarkinVB** » Tue May 20, 2003 12:14 pm

I designed the interface. I like it.

tarendelcymir · Post by **tarendelcymir** » Tue May 20, 2003 6:43 pm

So do I, and it's alway seemed pretty easy to follow to me.

And if you're playing it fullscreen, the icons shouldn't seem that small, unless you're using a 14 inch monitor or something.

Iskandar · Post by **Iskandar** » Wed May 21, 2003 12:20 am

shrug, yes the icons are a mite on the small side. Nothing I couldn't live with. And yes, the interface can get kinda obscure and obfuscated. However, both problems are quickly overcome after you play a while.
This is a great game,tons of depth, and all that wonderful TBS giant 'bot playing I've been missing since Cyberstorm.
It just simply has a fairly steep learning curve.
Now if you are not fond of depth, are afraid of the learning curve, or worse are a Mechwarrior fanboy, you are really in the wrong place.

LarkinVB · Post by **LarkinVB** » Wed May 21, 2003 12:25 am

That does sum it up quite correctly. The interface is a bit obscure if you are NOT willing to check it out. After 3 battles it will become second nature. TOS: WS is deep and the interface can't make it more shallow. Buy TOS: WS if you can accept its not a beer and bretzel game. There is meat to discover.

whitefirefox · Post by **whitefirefox** » Wed May 21, 2003 11:59 pm

Larkin: whats a bretzel taste like?

Shaithis: i can pretty much guarentee you the interface will not change just because you don't like small icons in different places

they way they are set up is so you can move and shoot at the same time (with obvious negative and positive effects) giving you up to 2 actions per second doable

on the note of "don't show something not used" remark i can understand why you wouldn't want it shown but consider this which is more confusing: seeing some of the commands some of the time or: seeing all of the commands all of the time (also all commands have a key assainged to them so you don't nessecarily need a mouse)

i know i probably don't make a whole lot of sense but i do have a heard time explaining things like this to newer players (im horrible at explaninations) but if you couldn't see the icons you'd probably be just as annoyed

all the commands can be executed very quickly once you know how to do it alls you need is a little combat experience

and if you doubt any of us telling you this go battle hetzer online and tell me that the interface doesn't work (so it isn't user friendly at last it doesn't crash 5 or 6 times a week like windows)

Iskander: i resent that mechwarrior remark :p
unless you mean mechcommander which does kinda suck compared to ToS (unless you consider all the fun of watching mechs duke it out in real time and explode and all that other good fun of things blowing up in real time)

but either way ToS and MW both stem from BT if im not mistaken and therefore both are related in a sorta stretched way

Iskandar · Post by **Iskandar** » Thu May 22, 2003 2:23 am

shrug, about that Mechwarrior remark I just resent having, that, that, FPS associated with Battletech in any way shape or form. Mechwarrior 2 was okay, but from 3 onward, they mangled the rules just too much to call it Battletech in any thing but name.

whitefirefox · Post by **whitefirefox** » Thu May 22, 2003 4:41 pm

oh well opinions are your own thing

but whats so wrong with mechwarrior?

i mean fps's are fun

Iskandar · Post by **Iskandar** » Fri May 23, 2003 12:01 am

Sure FPS's are fun. I enjoyed the first couple of Mechwarrior games. I also like Earthseige. I just kinda get really miffed when they take a license and only use the names.
Look at Classic Battletech, and then look at Mechwarrior 4. They distorted everything. weapons don't weigh the same, heat and armor is off, and don't even talk to me about the way you can build mechs in that game.
Its all about them bending the rules to fit their game, instead of bending the game to fit the rules.
Mechwarrior 2 got it right, or as nearly right as it can probably get.

Thorgrim · Post by **Thorgrim** » Fri May 23, 2003 3:07 am

Heh, you're wasting your time. Wff, like (most?) people that play MW4, don't even know what BT is. MW4 is just another FPS where you can blow things up, and so all that really matters is there being potent weapons and stuff. They don't have the "depth" perception, and don't care. Not judging anyone here, just stating a fact. For us CBT hardcore fans, that is just incomprehensible. Heh.

whitefirefox · Post by **whitefirefox** » Thu May 29, 2003 11:56 pm

whats wrong with blowing things up?

and if you wanna blame some one for "potent weapons" blame Id software for starting it with there BFG 2000 or whatever

"depth" isn't always liked by FPS players.....personnally i do kinda like having mid game briefings and all but ah when all 4 enemies are firing at you "depth" isn't going to help a whole lot (no offense on any of this undeerstand)

but bottom line im your run of the mill grunt gettin my but shot off for some snobby nosed commander sitting behind a desk taking all the credit and glory

P.S.: the saying "whatever floats your boat" is about right in this situation agreed?

Thorgrim · Post by **Thorgrim** » Fri May 30, 2003 1:36 am

You need to read things carefully before replying.

Voidhawk · Post by **Voidhawk** » Fri May 30, 2003 2:04 am

I love the UI! One game, and one relatively brief reading session was all it took for me to catch on. Few dozen games later and it's beyond second nature. More like... a neural link. Hehe.

Now, if I can just figure out how to come out of a battle with a whole titan intact (or still sporting at least 2 limbs), I'm all set.

Thorgrim · Post by **Thorgrim** » Fri May 30, 2003 2:44 am

Concentrate your fire on one titan at a time. Use terrain to your advantage, and prevent the AI from benefiting from it. Ambush he AI. Don't destroy engines when one of your titans is within 2 hexes from them. Watch your heat, especially in ammo dependent titans. Instead of destroying the AI, try to disable it in a way that it can't hurt you - you'll get more salvage too. Stay away from fires, acid and lava. Set woods the AI is standing in on fire. Use smoke screens (firing ACs at hexes) or steam to cover your advances, or to block LoFs when standing ground. Dodge if you need to evade fire. Use the defensive systems when available. Water cools your titan down faster, but requires skill checks.
And so much more. Use common sense / standard tactics, it'll work most of the time.

whitefirefox · Post by **whitefirefox** » Fri May 30, 2003 3:31 am

Thor: sorry bout that was end of the day at school and had to catch a bus

Coyote27 · Post by **Coyote27** » Sat May 31, 2003 1:58 am

<<<BLATANT PLUG ALERT>>>

What do you think about One Must Fall: Battlegrounds?
http://www.omf.com

I played the original One Must Fall on my old 486 and loved it.

It looks like it has plenty of eye candy - the screenshots shown on the site are kinda old, it looks a lot better than that now.

I guess if you like fighting it out with power axes then you'll love this.

whitefirefox · Post by **whitefirefox** » Sat May 31, 2003 3:36 am

NNNNNNIIIIIIIIICCCCCCCCCEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D

Coyote27 · Post by **Coyote27** » Fri Jun 06, 2003 10:16 am

Gahh. You know, looking at the screenshots reminds me I really need a new comp... this cyrix 300mhz just ain't got what it needs. Maybe Rosary can buy me a computer too! Please? I'll be good...