Unit Icons

[Largus_Means]

Now heres a really biggy thats pure eye candy, yet a function that would make sense. I see that the unit icons have been improved and that each nation gets unique icons according to what weapons they used in the war. How about each nation having the icons change when certain tech upgrades happen. So for example the German tanks would go from PzI icon to PzIII to Panther to Tiger to King Tiger. [:D] Fighters would be the Bf109 but at a certain tech level change to the Focke Wolfe icon. Ships could do the same. Showning the Graf Spee, Scharnhorst and Bismark. Now each tech level increased wouldn't have to promote a new icon, but at certain levels the change could be shown to reflect the new level of expertise gained. Just a very small thing, but an increase in the bling value. [&o] [&o] [&o]

[Joel Billings]

ORIGINAL: Largus_Means

Now heres a really biggy thats pure eye candy, yet a function that would make sense. I see that the unit icons have been improved and that each nation gets unique icons according to what weapons they used in the war. How about each nation having the icons change when certain tech upgrades happen. So for example the German tanks would go from PzI icon to PzIII to Panther to Tiger to King Tiger. [:D] Fighters would be the Bf109 but at a certain tech level change to the Focke Wolfe icon. Ships could do the same. Showning the Graf Spee, Scharnhorst and Bismark. Now each tech level increased wouldn't have to promote a new icon, but at certain levels the change could be shown to reflect the new level of expertise gained. Just a very small thing, but an increase in the bling value. [&o] [&o] [&o]

We considered it early on and discarded it as too much art. Plus, keep in mind that units don't change overnight in all ratings. The way the game works, there are 5-10 ratings that can change over time for each unit, and often only 1 or 2 of these will change during a game. What constitutes enough of a change to warrent a new symbol would have to be simplified. Even with that, I'd love if if we could do this for graphics like we are doing for sound (we expect different sounds based on different attack ratings as they fire), but doing a few hundred extra sound effects is a whole lot easier than doing a few hundred unit graphics. Maybe we'll get some modder to do this down the road and we'll find a way to integrate it into the data files that drive the graphics in the game (but don't count on it).

[SeaMonkey]

Don't fret Largus,

You can be sure the modders will take care of this simple changes to the bitmaps. Only took a few months for the SC modders to complete the task you ask for. Hope J Brunnelle is reading this.

[Hanal]

I guess if you select one tech area, such as land attack for armor, and be able to trigger an icon change after this level is increased, then it may be doable...the trick will be having the unit change programed into the game...

[lparkh]

As mentioned, the key would be for developers to put the hooks into the game. Then they get effectively free enhancements of their products via modders. Open system and all that good stuff.

[YohanTM2]

Sure, they spend 2+ years on the game and hope for a neat patch...

Somebody shoot me before I cut the near guy down $%@#$%#$%#$

[solops]

After reviewing the latest screenshots I am mildly disappointed in the way the game looks. Some of the color combos are a bit blah, but a real problem for me is the unit icons. I had thought that there would be an option for standard military symbols rather than icons, yet I see no option for them in the set-up screen. I find the icons uninformative and sometimes obstructive. They are certainly distracting and detrimental to information displayed in a spreadsheet format. The SSG game Reach for the Stars was a real bust for me just because of the lousy, icon-based information displays.

Is there going to be an option for real, military-style unit symbols or are we going to be offered only Milton-Bradley style icons?

[Joel Billings]

Icons is all we have planned, but I would bet that modders will come up with different graphics to sub in for these. It's easy to figure out how to change the graphics. It will just take someone to provide the art. We've tried to make it easy to modify parts of the game so there is an opportunity to expand on the game.

[VI66_slith]

I like it just the way it is. I am not a fan of Nato symbology, which always seems to end up as the set being implemented. I agree with what was said above in that the modders out there will surely take care of this issue. They are a dedicated bunch.

[Fred98]

What unit icons?

All Britich airfirce squadrons are represented by B17's.

All German armoured units are represented by Tiger tanks.

What unit icons?

[Marc von Martial]

ORIGINAL: Joe 98

What unit icons?

All Britich airfirce squadrons are represented by B17's.

All German armoured units are represented by Tiger tanks.

What unit icons?

The british will have their own set of unit icons in about a 2 weeks [;)]


What´s the problem with the Tiger?

[solops]

ORIGINAL: VI66

I like it just the way it is. I am not a fan of Nato symbology, which always seems to end up as the set being implemented. I agree with what was said above in that the modders out there will surely take care of this issue. They are a dedicated bunch.

I belong to the other side of the topic. I much prefer standard military symbology, which I find far easier to digest and more informative ( which is, of course, why militaries across the globe use them instead of little men). And if the interface is designed with the symbols in mind the results is an even more powerful data representation in a clean and concise manner.

I note that Hearts of Iron II will have both methods of data representation available, if the screenshots are accurate.

[VI66_slith]

I do appreciate your desire for additional information, however; will there be a need for it?