Allies Requests?

[Hard Sarge]

ORIGINAL: tblersch

While we're adding wishes...

I still want to enter altitudes by keystroke. Too many mouse clicks.

Yeah, I know...not gonna happen. Won't stop me from wanting it.

well, our right now, you got 3 arrows on either side, 100, 1000, or 10,000 (+ or -), so it is not really that HARD or that many clicks to set up the Alt you want

so, you want a B-25 raid to go in at 12,000 ft, click to plot a raid, pick the target and the plane types, numbers, then under Alt, it starts at 20,000, you click once on the -10,000, and then twices on the +1000, and you are 12,000, the next raid will start at 12,000, adjust as you want

not sure if that is what you want to hear, but that is how it basicly works

[Hard Sarge]

ORIGINAL: Morgan60

While on the subject of Allies requests ... what do you all think about things for the Luftwaffe? I have never played BTR but did have two versions of BoB. I found that the RAF player had it way to easy ... even when playing against a human it is easy to win .. the poor old LW doesn't really stand a chance.

In my (faulty I'm sure) opinion the English can repair damage much much faster than seems reasonable. I know that the RAF did on occaiion perform miracles, like getting Biggin Hill's Sector Control Room operational after in was bombed.
But bombing factories vs. repair rates seems to be completely inadequate.

And I agree, the best thing you can say about the UI is that it is clunky any improvements in that area would be fantastic.

Radar and AF's are very quick repairers, the runways are very HARD to shut down, (well, to be honest, not HARD to shut down, HARD to keep shut down)

[Hard Sarge]

t seems there are two types of people designing wargames:

- The war freak who knows all about the tanks, aircraft, soldiers etc. and who can design perfect scenarios and OOBs. hmmm, think that one is me, only I not sure the perfect can be made for either of those two
- The programmer. A tech freak able to code complex simulations.
that sounds like my buddy Harley, but even though he says he don't, he knows more then a thing or two about the other stuff

And one type (of course the more unimportant, compared to the first two) is always missing:

- The guy who knows nothing about history, and has no idea about how computers work, but who knows something about design / human interfaces. These guys simply do not exist in the wargame industry
I think this sounds like our friend Steve, from SSG, he offered lots if ideas and stuff for the improvements to the UI, really, he was the Artist, but he offered lots of advice, that helped alot

is it prefect, no, but it is much better then before, while using the same engine

[tblersch]

ORIGINAL: Hard Sarge

well, our right now, you got 3 arrows on either side, 100, 1000, or 10,000 (+ or -), so it is not really that HARD or that many clicks to set up the Alt you want

so, you want a B-25 raid to go in at 12,000 ft, click to plot a raid, pick the target and the plane types, numbers, then under Alt, it starts at 20,000, you click once on the -10,000, and then twices on the +1000, and you are 12,000, the next raid will start at 12,000, adjust as you want

not sure if that is what you want to hear, but that is how it basicly works

I'd still rather have key entry...but that's just me.

What you just described is a big improvement over the "move up to 30k, then click down a thousand feet 18 times" or "Move down to 500, click up a thousand 12 times then down a hundred 5 times", so I won't complain.

[TechSgt]

ORIGINAL: tblersch

While we're adding wishes...

I still want to enter altitudes by keystroke.  Too many mouse clicks.

Yeah, I know...not gonna happen.  Won't stop me from wanting it. 

This would be nice.

You figure it takes at least 15x mouse clicks to send a Spit XI on a high altitude recon.

With keystrokes -- using 100 feet intervals -- this would be five, ie one to get to the box, then 44.0.

How about making Lauch Time the same, too!

TS

[Hard Sarge]

launch time is based on last raid plotted, of course going back and forth, say between plotting a bomb raid and then a Night intruder mission will change everything

[TechSgt]

Yea, I know.

What I try to do is, to plot similar missions together, to reduce the overall interfacing.

IMHO, this game really could use a "smooooother" interface, but I don't know what that would be. There is so many variables that the player can control. Everytime I think I have a "great" idea, by working through the problem I discover some other area(s) has gotten way worse.

TS

[Brutus]

ORIGINAL: harley

Brutus - I have tried my best with the UI to make it consistent and easy to use. There are still some buttons in odd places, and I've been haraunging the testers to give me ideas for easier access. We will probably still have a few odd ones for a while yet.

hi harley,

I'm happy to hear that [:)] For me, interface improvements are the best reason to buy the new version. And I'm glad you are aware of the problem.


I have one major wish:

- In the old game, you can hit C and S to continue/pause the game. These shortcuts are very important because you can "play" the game without using the mouse all the time. My left hand is always lying on C and S, and I only touch the mouse when necessary. Please keep this as it is (don't care which keys are used, just allow to use keys).
- I was never sure if it is a bug or wanted, but in the old version, if the game is running and showing messages and you press C again, it begins to "run". The messages flash up shortly and everything is moving fast. You can stop this by pressing S and C again. This is GREAT, because I can speed up and slow down the game this way without changing the message level and without using the mouse. I love to play this way, it's much better then setting the message level down or setting the speed to 2x/4x/8x because you see much more and can react much better and faster. If that was intended, please keep it, and if that's a bug, please don't fix it [:D]


Minor wishes:

- The altitude setting in the old version was limited to 30k, from where you had to use the +1000 buttons to increase alt, resulting in click orgies. Just removing the limit or setting it to 50k would help a lot.

- If major wish 2 (see above) is not possible, it would be nice to let the player set the time a message is displayed.

- A simple way to change patrols points for all the small groups of nightfighters at once.

- A way to deactivate auto upgrade. I WANT to burn up the old Me-110 nightfighters, P-47C or whatever. [&o]

[Hard Sarge]

think those were standard shortcuts (that I didn't know about they still there, the button on top is stop and continue, so would believe it was a short cut for S and C key, it works and still there

Max alt is 50,000 (not sure if we got anything that can get there, but that is the max)

[TechSgt]

HS;

Last night while plotting & planning...

Per the rules, an allied fighter can fly two missions per day. These can be a bombing or sweep as one, with the other mission as an escort; or two escorts.
Three items:

1) Why not two missions of any types? Two bombing, two sweeps, etc.

2) Currently, you have to plot the bombing or sweep mission first, then go back and plot the escort. Not knowing the code, IMHO can't this be "smoothed" into plotting any mission regardless?

3) As a bonus question: Why can't fighter/bombers be plotted for two missions per day?

TS

[Hard Sarge]

ORIGINAL: TechSgt

HS;

Last night while plotting & planning...

Per the rules, an allied fighter can fly two missions per day. These can be a bombing or sweep as one, with the other mission as an escort; or two escorts.
Three items:

1) Why not two missions of any types? Two bombing, two sweeps, etc.

I think you are misreading/misdoing, I thought it was it couldn't lead two missions (I thought if the 79th and 80th FG flew a bombing missions, with the 79th in the lead, the 2nd mission couldn't have the 79th lead the 2nd mission, I'll double check)

2) Currently, you have to plot the bombing or sweep mission first, then go back and plot the escort. Not knowing the code, IMHO can't this be "smoothed" into plotting any mission regardless?

3) As a bonus question: Why can't fighter/bombers be plotted for two missions per day?

depends on the size of the plane, lights and Meds flew double missions (sometimes more when importent and weather was good) in new game, lights and Meds can fly double missions

Heavies took too long to set up and circle to form a misson (and that is the biggest thing we can't model that I wish we could) so there was massive planning the whole way, just to get a raid up into the air, besides the timeing, which unit formed the lead, the follow up, the timing to have the fighters join and where, where to break off, route to and route back, sub and 2ndary targets, really a Heavy raid was a massive thing

BC, just too much stress on the crews to fly a 2nd mission

so, fighters and Light/Meds can flew two missions, Heavy, BC can fly one

TS

[Hard Sarge]

My Bad, I got to be thinking about something else, but you are right, FB can only fly on one bombing mission a day

(I may be used to sending out fighters, on close escourt they will attack with the lead and then can be sent along as close escourt on another mission)

Light and Med Bombers can lead both missions

(really HARD to remember all 4 verisons of the same game)

I will put on the list for later on, FB should be able to fly double missions also (could of swoarn Tiffies could ?)

[TechSgt]

ORIGINAL: Hard Sarge

ORIGINAL: TechSgt

HS;

Last night while plotting & planning...

Per the rules, an allied fighter can fly two missions per day. These can be a bombing or sweep as one, with the other mission as an escort; or two escorts.
Three items:

1) Why not two missions of any types? Two bombing, two sweeps, etc.

I think you are misreading/misdoing, I thought it was it couldn't lead two missions (I thought if the 79th and 80th FG flew a bombing missions, with the 79th in the lead, the 2nd mission couldn't have the 79th lead the 2nd mission, I'll double check)

2) Currently, you have to plot the bombing or sweep mission first, then go back and plot the escort. Not knowing the code, IMHO can't this be "smoothed" into plotting any mission regardless?

3) As a bonus question: Why can't fighter/bombers be plotted for two missions per day?

depends on the size of the plane, lights and Meds flew double missions (sometimes more when importent and weather was good) in new game, lights and Meds can fly double missions

Heavies took too long to set up and circle to form a misson (and that is the biggest thing we can't model that I wish we could) so there was massive planning the whole way, just to get a raid up into the air, besides the timeing, which unit formed the lead, the follow up, the timing to have the fighters join and where, where to break off, route to and route back, sub and 2ndary targets, really a Heavy raid was a massive thing

BC, just too much stress on the crews to fly a 2nd mission

so, fighters and Light/Meds can flew two missions, Heavy, BC can fly one

TS

1) My mistake, I should have "read" lead! [:-]

2) This is the main question. Think of how we plot the two missions described above.
a) Plot 79th to lead,
b) Plot 80th to lead, add 79th as escort,
c) Go back to 79th and add 80th as escort.

Currently, if you add the 80th as an escort in step a),
it will not display in Select Lead -- #80FG -- in step b).
Can this be made "smooother"?

3) That was the answer I was hoping for... and IMHO for the "right" reasons. Thanks!

TS

[fochinell]

TechSgt, nice list. I'd like to add my voice to the chorus for being able to save and load plotted missions. This would really help with plotting night intruders, which is the bit of the game that I love to hate at the moment.

[wernerpruckner]

GAVIN!!!
welcome back!!

[TechSgt]

ORIGINAL: fochinell

TechSgt, nice list. I'd like to add my voice to the chorus for being able to save and load plotted missions. This would really help with plotting night intruders, which is the bit of the game that I love to hate at the moment.

Fochinell;

Thanks for the remark!

I too, wish for a better way to face the drudgery of plotting night intruders.

TS