COTA menus

[Jane Doe]

OK, I just posted this in the COTA forum, but will post it here anyway for maximum exposure cause i think it would make the game better than it already is, gameplay wise AND graphically speaking.

After visioning the screenies Arjuna posted, I noticed there was a menu at the bottom of the HTTR screen, but that it was only used for cmd lines, intel, surrender, etc.
Well, i have a better use for that menu[;)]Why not use it in a way that possible unit orders appears in that menu only when a unit is selected. That way, it'll clean some space in the sidebar to add the selected unit icon or whatever. So what you think?
I think this would be a step forward to make AA the ultimate wargaming engine.[8D]

iExemple; it'll be more clear that it is a mortar unit that is selected and not a selfpropelled artillery unit.

[Arjuna]

Of course another option for removing the orders tools from the side bar would be to enable context menus on right clicking which displayed only the orders relevant for the selected unit(s). [:)]

[Jane Doe]

Nah, i think that for giving orders, it would still be best in the bottom menu. There's plenty of space. A right clicks context menu would not be that appropriate due to the continuous time nature of the game and also because of the potential for error by the user coupled with the order delays. In most games (I played) where there is a right clicking context menu, the game is either turn-based, wego, or when it's a rts, the game is paused each time you right click. So i don't think AA games could integrate this feature.

A good idea for the right-click though would be to replace the terrain info box by a LOS tool. We would get rid of the LOS button in the menu and the game would be much more fluid gameplay-wise. I think the LOS tool is really important in the game and will be particularly in the greek theater where the terrain is broken.
For the terrain info box, a popup 2-3 sec after the pointer is over a terrain could do the trick.

Opinions?