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xeno calligan
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Posted - 2003.08.10 06:48:00 -
[1]
Edited by: xeno calligan on 10/08/2003 06:53:45
A suggestion to how the drone interface could be improved:
Drones are arranged into "squadrons" that act as a unit. Each stack of drones in the drone bay represents a squadron (used drones must be made stackable). This makes for easy implementation and use, but prevents "mixed" squadrons.
The last thing I need in combat is being spammed with windows that obscure my view of the combat field (drone bay, launched drones and threats). Furthermore I think drones should be operated on the same principles as the ship slots. Thus I suggest adding a fourth "tab" on the ship hud and shift function key bindings to direct the drones squadrons. Each squadron will be represented by the drone icon of the particular drone type in the hud, like e.g. the turret icon. I think 8 squadrons should allow for sufficient flexibility.
Combat drones should have 3 operating modes: attack, orbit and scoop to drone bay. Mining drones should have 2 modes: mine and scoop to drone bay. Note: right-clicking on an uncontrolled (abandoned) drone, will allow the drone to be scooped to the cargo.
Default command (when pressed) is to attack/mine the target. This launches the drone squadron, if needed, and orders it to attack/mine the target until new orders are given.
Secondary commands are available though the right click context menu on the icon in the hud representing the drone squadron and global drone hot keys: "scoop all" and "all orbit" (to avoid too many key bindings).
Orbit, instructs a combat squadron to immidiately return to the mother ship and orbit, as fast as possible. While orbiting, the drones will engage any threats to themselves or the mother ship that are within range -- this includes missiles.
Scoop to drone bay, instructs a squadron to immidiately return and dock automatically with the mother ship. Mining drones should not wait for the current mining cycle to complete.
Damage indicators can be displayed on screen similarly to the ship readouts in a non intrusive fashion, possibly with a small hot spot, like the system navigation hot spot next to the system name. This will name it easier to target a squadron with shield transfer arrays and similar modules.
Comments on this interface layout would be appreciated 
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Baldour Ngarr
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Posted - 2003.08.10 09:54:00 -
[2]
Couldn't be bothered to try to understand it all, it's too early in the morning ... but I like the bit about drones adopting their usual work order on the current target immediately they are launched. Combat drones appear to do something similar: I know mine are often attacking *something* before I've had time to give them an order to attack, but I'm not sure what they decide to go after, because sometimes they do so while my active target is an asteroid. Maybe they're beating up on the rock to warn it not to deplete on me and tick me off 
Would be good if combat drones, on launching, automatically attacked the active target, and mining drones automatically mined repeatedly on it if it happens to be an asteroid.
_______
"Soon" is an ancient Icelandic word meaning "some time before the next Ice Age." |
r1kk1
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Posted - 2003.08.10 11:17:00 -
[3]
thats a very godo idea though tbh it woluld need to be implemnted in steps if players were hit with all of that it would confuse them quite a bit
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Gullan Coco
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Posted - 2003.08.10 16:41:00 -
[4]
well, lets confuse them then :-)
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Carfex
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Posted - 2003.08.10 18:22:00 -
[5]
A couple of things...
First and foremost, where is the DEFEND MY TARGET option? This type of programming for games has been around since Command And Conquer, for crying out loud.
Second, make the deployed drone mini-window just a tad higher, and include a status line...which would read what the Drone is currently doing.
MINING <asteroid type>
ATTACKING <name>
DEFENDING <name>
RETURNING TO ORBIT
ORBITING
etc etc.
On a related note, we need ECM drones and repair drones.
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Colibri
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Posted - 2003.08.10 19:06:00 -
[6]
I wouldn't mind a loot fetching drone. :)
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Mitticus Jnr
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Posted - 2003.08.10 19:24:00 -
[7]
The lack of Drone task status is unbelievable. Just who were doing the usability tests?
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Luc Boye
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Posted - 2003.08.10 20:46:00 -
[8]
probably a caldari 
--
2004.12.29 23:33:40combatMining Pollution Cloud hits you, doing 140.0 damage. |
Raskil
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Posted - 2003.08.16 05:50:00 -
[9]
This idea is great, minimizing the clutter. just a few more things if I may. Have an option to turn off the sticky view that happens when you take your cursor over the drone listing box, have the drone listing box keep its current size settings from usage to usage
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Sewell
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Posted - 2003.08.16 14:17:00 -
[10]
-> 1st poster
Great ideas!
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PropanElgen
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Posted - 2003.08.16 15:04:00 -
[11]
Heh I was about to pust some of the same ideas when I noticed this post.
If all that is too much for CCP to make at this point in time, at least make options in the dronebay to groupselect instead of just select all..
All the angels and the puny men of god looked away...
Frightened to death by the evil that was born on that day!
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Danton Marcellus
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Posted - 2003.08.16 16:45:00 -
[12]
Yes, at least divide the combat from the mining drones so that a stray mining drone don't halt the entire attack!
Convert Stations
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Dukath
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Posted - 2003.08.16 18:18:00 -
[13]
The one thing i would really like is more info on the drones. I want to know which drones are executing a command and which ones are simply orbiting. Sometimes its very hard to see when mining and your ship is close to the asteroid being mined.
Also better info on the max range of drones would be really appreciated.
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