A better GUI, - please look Vic

[BodyBag]

Love the game, but there is a couple of issues that makes things harder for the player than it should be.

1. Range: Other games has units that automaticly shows their movement-range (shaded) when you click on them,- here you have to click on the unit, then on the movement-button, and then remember to click on the cancel-button, if you were just checking the range. A lot of players forget that last bit, and I think we have all tried (and still do) to move some units by mistake. Why is that made so hard and time-consuming?

With all the modifikation on movement (terrain, ZOC etc.), it is vital to see the movement-range for several units before you move, especially for the German player who has most of the initiative and wants to make combined attacks. Please fix that.

2. Cycling through units: With so many units, it's hard not to forget a couple that still have AP's and can make an attack or a movement. We need an "Next-button" so we can cycle through the units, that can still make an action. Why is that not possible now?

It's been pretty normal for turn-based games for years, and it's the only way to make sure that the player really is finished with his turn, and have used all his units to the best of his abillity.

This game is time-consuming enough but with changes like these, I'm sure that the game will be more attractive for players who don´t like to click through 200+ units to find out if they have forgotten a move or not [:)]

Cheers,

[Josh]

Yeah I understand your problem with the range thing. Except that I've played AT for so long that using the M (for movement) and Spacebar (cancelling movement) has become a second nature for me. I rarely press any of the lower row buttons, but use the shortkeys instead. Much faster and convenient. So click on unit, and your left hand for pressing M and spacebar, easy peasy. The way you do it would drive me crazy I think.

Cycle units, would be nice if implemented, but personally I tend to move the units per division, so I do not miss it really. The units grey out, but that can be hard to discern sometimes.

[BodyBag]

No matter if you use M and Spacebar, you are still using 3 processes every time to show a simple range, something other games show with one click.

Same with the cycle of units, it has been used by other games, so it should not be missing in this.

What makes it important in this game, is the high number of units you have to manage every turn. At some point, you will not move in div. but in single units, and fight in single units due to stacking, if you want to use your units right.

It all add up to a lot of unnessesary micro-managing, so I dont really buy your excuses.

Cheers,

[TPM]

1. Not a problem for me...in fact, I like that I have the choice to show the range or not. I wouldn't like it if every time I clicked on a unit, it automatically showed the range...I want to be able to click on a unit, and still have a "clean" map to look at. Pressing M is not too much of an effort for me, I don't mind it.

2. A "Next unit" button is definitely needed and would be appreciated!

[borsook79]

ORIGINAL: TPM

1. Not a problem for me...in fact, I like that I have the choice to show the range or not. I wouldn't like it if every time I clicked on a unit, it automatically showed the range...I want to be able to click on a unit, and still have a "clean" map to look at. Pressing M is not too much of an effort for me, I don't mind it.

2. A "Next unit" button is definitely needed and would be appreciated!

1 this is what options are for, it doesn't have to be a default. Anyway I concur both ideas!

[GlobalExplorer]

a few points how I think the UI could be improved:

1. option to move small map to the border of the screen (like the mini map)
2. if doubleclick on a unit on the oob window, make sure the unit is really visible (right now it nigh useless).
3. allow configuring different types of NATO counters (e.g. currently my favorite is to use the graphical counters on the map, but I prefer the NATO counters in the interface (oob window, unit panel), and I must very often switch ween them.
4. when I switch between different counter types it takes several seconds until the counters in the bottom panel are updated.
5. settings like counter types / zoom should be stored in savegames , now I must set them every time I load the game

this one is driving me nuts: when I press CTRL-S, it should open the Save Game Window, not Strategic Transfer!

Another thing, seems I will never learn this: when I click a unit, select move (only to see where the unit move) and then forget that I need to hit ESC before I klick another unit, I often move units by accident. And I have to make a lot of savegames just for that reason!!

[Tordan69]

Undo last move-button?

[patchogue]

Although I've had plenty of cases when the undo button would be handy it does help to simulate the possibility of misunderstood orders or bad staff work...as I tell myself when my best panzer unit heads away from the fight...again!

[GlobalExplorer]

I could think of better ways to simulate that [;)]

[BodyBag]

But its all because of the clumsy UI, wich is my point.

Cheers,

[dougb]

One thing I'd really like to see in the interface is quite a bit more space devoted to the map - perhaps the info bars could be downsized a bit?

Best wishes,

Doug

[Hexagon]

All are good adds to the game another "minor" add could be made at medium zoom more visible the corp/army colour, sometimes is hard know what is the superior HQ and even changing the colour dont help because many colours are to dark (red of pink need more light) i think that add more parts in the counter with the unit colour + more strong colours could help... maybe the colour in the OTAN/symbol as in HPS games or add the colour behind the unit name... but the true help is select a unit and higlight the superior subordinate units is a great help.

[bairdlander2]

ORIGINAL: dougb

One thing I'd really like to see in the interface is quite a bit more space devoted to the map - perhaps the info bars could be downsized a bit?

Best wishes,

Doug

agree,perhaps an option to close the bottom unit info/bar.

[hank]

Now that I've been playing a few days I find one feature I would really like.

When you click on a HQ unit all units under its command highlight. Or the hex those units are in, highlight a fairly bright color.

This helps you keep your forces organized under its HQ. SSG games have had this for a few releases now and it really helps keep track of where forces under the selected HQ are on the map.

[dougb]

I'd like to see a button in the preferences that would display the VP's on the map so you could glance at those - it would be extremely helpful rather than having to click on the city hexes to see whether they are worth any vps.

Best wishes,

Doug

[GlobalExplorer]

^Now that you mention it, I also thought that the victory points should be shown on the map.

[bairdlander2]

ORIGINAL: hank

Now that I've been playing a few days I find one feature I would really like.

When you click on a HQ unit all units under its command highlight. Or the hex those units are in, highlight a fairly bright color.

This helps you keep your forces organized under its HQ. SSG games have had this for a few releases now and it really helps keep track of where forces under the selected HQ are on the map.

I just tried this and nothing changed,no highlights of hex or units.[&:][&:]

[dougb]

ORIGINAL: bairdlander

ORIGINAL: hank

Now that I've been playing a few days I find one feature I would really like.

When you click on a HQ unit all units under its command highlight. Or the hex those units are in, highlight a fairly bright color.

This helps you keep your forces organized under its HQ. SSG games have had this for a few releases now and it really helps keep track of where forces under the selected HQ are on the map.

I just tried this and nothing changed,no highlights of hex or units.[&:][&:]

Select the Hq and then in the info bar click on the color stripe on the left hand side of the counter. It'll bring up a selection of colors and when you select one of then your units will all show with that color. I usually use yellow which works quite effectively. Think I'd still prefer a unit highlighting system but this does work as well.

Best wishes,

Doug

[rjh1971]

How about a hotkey that would center the map on the currently selected unit.

[Vic]

Just letting everybody know I read this thread and will very probably implement a number of things in the upcomming patch.