Whacky UI...

[Werewolf13]

Good point, Meyer.

I think I'll try reinstalling it 1st.

[Meyer1]

I would do a cleaning and reinstall of the graphic drivers http://www.guru3d.com/files-details/dis ... nload.html

Just an idea...

[Werewolf13]

OKAY...

I uninstalled and reinstalled. Original install must have been corrupt.
Of the 5 issues I noted 3 remain - only the black box would I consider a real bug. One is a simple error of omission and the ability to move out of a sub report back to the calling report is probably a design decision. Issues number 1 and 4 went away with the reinstall. Summary below.

Black Box is still an issue but only in the editor.

Scenario descriptions omitting whether or not a PO was present is still an issue.

Not being able to return from a subreport to the calling report is - up in the air - still there but I think it is working exactly as designed because that's the way the devs wanted it to work. Not the way I would do it but - it's their game.

[Meyer1]

Nice... as you say the tooltip is the only game issue that you are having, there were several guys reporting the very same problem in the tech support forum.
I'm sure (or hope [:)]) the game will be improving on those other things that you mentioned.

[sPzAbt653]

in the 'Advanced Player Options' screen, the list of option descriptors on the left is vertically displaced from the corresponding buttons on the right.

I get that when I use 1024 x 768, is that the screen resolution that you are using ?

In the main game, are the panels moveable/ dockable?

Yes, but you have to grab the very edge to move them.

the map area unencumbered by a thick, red movement arrow attached to a unit.

Can't get around that, but I also find it annoying. I made these different colored Movement Arrows and they help me a little. If you want to try them, extract them into 'Documents/My Games/The Operational Art of War IV/'Graphics Override'. If you don't like them, you can delete them.

[sPzAbt653]

What they look like:

[Mordwand]

sPzAbt653 and Meyer1, thank you gentlemen for your replies and advice.

The 'black box' solution (turn off tooltips) - being new to the game/ series, I feel I need the tooltips at the moment, so I'll just live with the glitch.

The vertical displacement UI issue - strangely, this is an intermittent thing. Sometimes it's ok, other times not. My laptop is 1366x768 resolution, so I'm guessing that's what the maximized game window is using?

I may try the 'borderless gaming' tool for full screen, but I'm a wee bit reluctant to use a 3rd party solution for that. Is it something that is likely to get added as a native game option by the devs? Pretty please...

The movement arrow - I'll live with it (my right eye is twitching slighty now...)

The 'jerky' counter movement - to explain a little more clearly, it feels like a slow re-draw issue ie. the moving counters seem to leave a brief blurry graphical trail going from A to B. Again, no big deal, but it adds to the feeling that the UI could do with a little more optimization. It feels very 'beta' to me.

Once again, thanks. I'm very obliged for the responses.

[Meyer1]

ORIGINAL: Mordwand

The 'jerky' counter movement - to explain a little more clearly, it feels like a slow re-draw issue ie. the moving counters seem to leave a brief blurry graphical trail going from A to B. Again, no big deal, but it adds to the feeling that the UI could do with a little more optimization. It feels very 'beta' to me.

Hmm it doesn't feel that way in my PC, but I don't know. You could watch some videos to compare with what are you experiencing at your end https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=toaw+iv

Also a graphic driver cleaning and reinstall couldn't hurt [:)]

[Meyer1]

And don't forget to install the beta patch, if you didn't already tm.asp?m=4385645

[Mordwand]

Meyer1, I've just watched the first video from your link and see the same thing as I see in-game - the moving counters seem to redraw a little slowly, leading to a slightly jittery 'graphics trail' effect. I know I'm being OCD with this one, but I like to see counters skip cleanly from one place to another. I'll try the driver reinstall, but my laptop is not exactly cutting edge (6+ years old) so not sure if it will help. [edit - yes, I've installed the beta patch]

I own, play and enjoy several other hex wargames (Grigsby's WitW, Panzer Corps, Unity of Command, Commander: The Great War) and all these have precise, functional and aesthetically pleasing UI. TOAW is the first that has had such irksome issues. Not game breakers, but to me shows lack of polish for a final, full-priced release. Hopefully, future updates will improve my experience so far...

Again, I'm conscious of sounding like a moaning so-and-so, but supposing I'd bought a car and the windscreen wipers didn't work, the headlights flickered on and off, and selecting 3rd gear actually gave you reverse, I'd take it back. Sure, small annoyances; the car might still get me from A to B (unless I select 3rd gear!), but I've still bought something far less functional than I would reasonably expect.

I appreciate your taking the time to respond, Meyer1 - bless you, sir.

[JPJ]

ORIGINAL: Mordwand

the moving counters seem to redraw a little slowly, leading to a slightly jittery 'graphics trail' effect. I know I'm being OCD with this one, but I like to see counters skip cleanly from one place to another. I'll try the driver reinstall, but my laptop is not exactly cutting edge (6+ years old) so not sure if it will help. [edit - yes, I've installed the beta patch]

I don't know your laptop's specs but if that trailing effect is not intentional then I agree it shouldn't occur on supported hardware when just counters move.
Does it help if you change your player settings (Play > Player Options) for No Delay, Animation Movement Timer and Animation Combat Timer?

Manual page 14:
- No Delay: This removes the animation delay, the Shift and Caps Lock key do the same thing during play.
- Movement Animation Timer: How many milliseconds between frames during movement.
- Combat Animation Timer: How many milliseconds between frames during combat.

My settings in the screenshot are an example, perhaps not what is best for you.

Also, just in case, make sure that No Update (in same screenshot) is Off if you don't need it. That one causes many screen issues for me, even when used as intended(?), both in the game and in the editor.

Edit:
For your reference, there was also this discussion about the timing of movement animation recently:
tm.asp?m=4399539

[Mordwand]

JPJ, I've just tried your settings and it makes a huge difference... wonderful! Counter movement is much cleaner now.

Ironically though, I still had to be careful in the 'Player Settings' as there was still the vertical displacement issue (ie. in your screenshot, to change the 'animation movement timer' option, I have to click on the 'PO random seed' button. Every button is one row above the corresponding descriptor... very off-putting)

A thousand thanks, sir.