Petition For Bases

[Krasny]

Kharkov is totally locked as far as features go at this point, so not in this release. If we continue to get requests for bases as an option though, we'll definitely add it to our development plan.

Regards,

- Erik

Fair enough.

If you would like a bases option to be included, please reply.

I think coins spoil the verisimilitude of the game experience.

[ravinhood]

/signed We want bases we want bases all your bases are belong to us.

[freeboy]

what are bases?

[ravinhood]

those things at the bottom of minature counters and yah paint them in stuff. Mainly it's to get rid of the unimmersive coins over the tops of the units heads, but, still be able to tell where your unit is when it's in heavy cover. I don't know why they didn't do the terrain like CM or Mad Minutes Manassas games where there's dense forests but the game engine allows you to tone them down or even turn them off.

[freeboy]

yep, after I posted it I went "oops DAH"
TU

[Erik Rutins]

There is a feature that turns on the terrain map, but it doesn't turn all the terrain off, just the ground textures. This can be handy for informational purposes, but it's not pretty. Stridor commented on this earlier. Here's a couple of comparison shots with normal terrain and terrain map on.

As for why we don't have every feature in yet, well what would you put on the wish list if we had? [;)]

Regards,

- Erik

[Erik Rutins]

And here's the terrain map for the same view...

[ravinhood]

You still ain't getting what I want or am driving at with the trees Erik. A feature that "turns them completely off" would be what I'd like to see and you use the T or t key to toggle them on or off or just a little bit. Maybe 3 settings where you get NONE, A Few or ALL of them. Then units can have bases and they can be LIME green like our old army men days in the 60's. We can see where they are, give them movement or fire or whatever orders and then toggle the trees back on again.

[Erik Rutins]

I do understand, I just figured it might be worth showing the terrain map since it had been previously discussed. Transparent/invisible trees is on the list.

[ravinhood]

Ahhh ok thanks One wish down 100 more to go.

[Stridor]

ORIGINAL: ravinhood

Ahhh ok thanks One wish down 100 more to go.

Whoops my mistake I was sure the ins key turned off the trees as well [:-] Faulty memory!

[Mad Russian]

I would use the bases more than coins I think.

Good Hunting.

MR

[Grell]

Yeah bases would be nice.

Regards,

Grell

[Erik Rutins]

Ok, consider bases as an option added to the development list for the next release. Thanks for your input, now how do you think the bases should look?

[Mobius]

I definitely can see the verisimilitude of bases. It just like being there. [8|]

[jamespcrowley]

I think the coins work extremely well when you are viewing the map from higher elevations; you get a clear picture of the overall situation very quickly.
 
However, as your viewpoint drops lower, the coins become ever more obtrusive until, at ground level and just above they become a nuisance, blocking the view.
 
It would be good if the coins could gradually fade as the viewpoint gets lower, diminishing completely by ground level. At that point, maybe, they could be automatically replaced with coloured bases. The bases would need to be toggleable, on or off.
 
Getting the colour balance right with the bases could be quite tricky. The current red of the coins would be effective for the Russians but the German gray would be very hard to see. Overall, I never had a problem with the colours used in CM for bases.

[ravinhood]

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins

Ok, consider bases as an option added to the development list for the next release. Thanks for your input, now how do you think the bases should look?

I think a nice red or something that highly contrasts the ground terrain would be best. I don't need the realism of the base blending in with the terrain to have fun an enjoy the game, but, if these bases could be more solid and perhaps like 1/8" off the terrain like a minature base would be we'd all be able to tell where our units are with the contrast and perhaps some surrounding aura on the bases. Being able to turn the terrain off like trees, bushes, etc the things that would hide the units would be a great option as well. I don't know why, but, the bases would be less noticeable than these floating coins. I just can't get used to these floating coins. Maybe after I get the game and play it a bit.

[Prince of Eckmühl]

I have no problem with bases at all, so long as they're done in such a way as to blend in with the other terrain, AS IS ROUTINELY DONE WITH MILITARY MINIATURES.

As depicted in Mobius' post above, however, they are, IMO, out-and-out ugly. They also make the rest of the artwork appear undesirable and amateurish. Very bad idea.

PoE (aka ivanmoe)

[jamespcrowley]

ORIGINAL: Prince of Eckmühl

I have no problem with bases at all, so long as they're done in such a way as to blend in with the other terrain, AS IS ROUTINELY DONE WITH MILITARY MINIATURES.

As depicted in Mobius' post above, however, they are, IMO, out-and-out ugly. They also make the rest of the artwork appear undesirable and amateurish. Very bad idea.

PoE (aka ivanmoe)

I play with miniatures and the "blended" bases do work well but only because you are physically close to them.

I'm not at all sure that it would work with a PC, especially when viewed from higher elevations, which would defeat the object of having them in the first place.

[Prince of Eckmühl]

ORIGINAL: James Crowley

I play with miniatures and the "blended" bases do work well but only because you are physically close to them.

I'm not at all sure that it would work with a PC, especially when viewed from higher elevations, which would defeat the object of having them in the first place.

Jim,

I understand what you're saying completely. And I suspect that's why the developer went with overhead icons, instead of terrain-matching bases.

Surely, you can't fault them for not using that gosh-awful, day-glow stuff like in some other games, can you? After all, it's not 1998, and gaming graphics have come a considerable way.

Someone correct me, if I'm wrong, but can't the art on the icons themselves be redone, with stuff like insignia, and so on?

PoE (aka ivanmoe)