View Full Version : Genius or Insanity?
ralphtrickey
11 Jul 07, 14:41
I wanted to try the War of the Rings scenario the other day, but I couldn't get a clue on what I needed to do.:paperbag:
I've decided that I might try adding some things for those of us that don't know where to start with a new scenario. :nervous:
The obvious thing is to add two additional levels of zoom, Tiny and Ultra-Tiny. You can zoom out with the mousewheel, hover over a unit and zoom back in. :smoke: It's a little bigger than the micromap.
The less obvious thing I decided to try adding is to allow you to ask 'What would Elmer do<tm>'?:eek:
This is quite simply hitting the / key to see the objectives for the current formation, or hitting the ? key to see the objectives for all formations. Hitting the space bar repaints the screen.:crosseye:
Obviously, anyone that follows the advice blindly is probably going to be creamed, and it's only useful at the start of a scenario, but it may help to give a place to start.
The less obvious thing I decided to try adding is to allow you to ask 'What would Elmer do<tm>'?:eek:
This is quite simply hitting the / key to see the objectives for the current formation, or hitting the ? key to see the objectives for all formations. Hitting the space bar repaints the screen.:crosseye:
I see this as useful for scenario design work, or if we ever incorporate an ability to turn over control of formations to the AI. As a means of determining where I should place my units though...:bite:
I wanted to try the War of the Rings scenario the other day, but I couldn't get a clue on what I needed to do.:paperbag:
I've decided that I might try adding some things for those of us that don't know where to start with a new scenario. :nervous:
The obvious thing is to add two additional levels of zoom, Tiny and Ultra-Tiny. You can zoom out with the mousewheel, hover over a unit and zoom back in. :smoke: It's a little bigger than the micromap.
The less obvious thing I decided to try adding is to allow you to ask 'What would Elmer do<tm>'?:eek:
This is quite simply hitting the / key to see the objectives for the current formation, or hitting the ? key to see the objectives for all formations. Hitting the space bar repaints the screen.:crosseye:
Obviously, anyone that follows the advice blindly is probably going to be creamed, and it's only useful at the start of a scenario, but it may help to give a place to start.
Good plan, Ralph. I wouldn't go so far as genious, but definately good. :laugh:
ralphtrickey
11 Jul 07, 16:32
Good plan, Ralph. I wouldn't go so far as genious, but definately good. :laugh:
Hey, I wouldn't either:lier: , but I know that forums and newsgroups tend to hyperbole:blab:
My only concern is that I don't remember seeing anything like this in other games. :nervous: I think it's a great idea, but...
ralphtrickey
11 Jul 07, 16:34
I see this as useful for scenario design work, or if we ever incorporate an ability to turn over control of formations to the AI. As a means of determining where I should place my units though...:bite:
What, don't you trust Elmer's decisions?:cry:
What, don't you trust Elmer's decisions?:cry:
I'm just a notorious micromanager. What can I say?
I think this would help one get the feel for a scenario that he might never have seen before... I won't let anything decide where my units are placed either (move over Jam! :D ), but it would help me more quickly develop my overall first impression of just what is going on...
Since there was (conveniently? :devious: ) no middle ground, I decided to give Ralph the benefit of the doubt, and ranked him an out-an-out genius.
:laugh:
(I also noticed that the genius option is italicized, which draws the eyes to it right away - none of the other options are in italics. Perhaps unintentional, but methinks perhaps Ralph subconsciously wants to be hailed as a brain-of-the-ages! :D )
Menschenfresser
11 Jul 07, 20:34
The zoom feature definitely. And I also think the objective display will help scenario design. Anything to unpack the editor a little more is good news.
ralphtrickey
11 Jul 07, 23:07
The zoom feature definitely. And I also think the objective display will help scenario design. Anything to unpack the editor a little more is good news.
I posted a screenshot somewhere. I believe that it's absolutely going to help scenario design. You can actually tell now what the objective tracks are!:eek: It's still a bit awkward, but at least it's usable now for laying out the AI tracks.
Ralph
Silvanski
11 Jul 07, 23:27
The zoom feature souns great. The "what would Elmer do?" can be handy and faster than going under the to see if/how PO tracks are set up
Well, if not genius it's surely dmn cunning, eh?
We likes it, precious! Especially the zoom bit (which I've felt would be extremely handy to me personally for some time).
Good on ya, Ralph!
Silvanski
12 Jul 07, 02:13
You posted this screenie a few weeks ago Ralph, 'objective tracks geo routing' I'd call it
The 'What would Elmer do?' will be something similar?
You posted this screenie a few weeks ago Ralph, 'objective tracks geo routing' I'd call it
The 'What would Elmer do?' will be something similar?
Gee, Silvain, that shot looks frightenly familiar.
I'm sure it has absoluty nothing to do with (cough) Trot....(cough), eh?
I guess that would be the one down point, eh? ie: the ability to 'read elmer's mind....'
Of course, anyone that does that against the PO probably needs another hobby anyways, eh?
This sort o' thing should prolly come with a 'caveat' along the lines of a spoiler warning, eh?
ralphtrickey
12 Jul 07, 11:47
Gee, Silvain, that shot looks frightenly familiar.
I'm sure it has absoluty nothing to do with (cough) Trot....(cough), eh?
I guess that would be the one down point, eh? ie: the ability to 'read elmer's mind....'
Of course, anyone that does that against the PO probably needs another hobby anyways, eh?
This sort o' thing should prolly come with a 'caveat' along the lines of a spoiler warning, eh?
You do have to modify the ini fille first, so it isn't something you can stumble across accidentally.:devious: It's meant for designers.
ralphtrickey
12 Jul 07, 12:00
You posted this screenie a few weeks ago Ralph, 'objective tracks geo routing' I'd call it
The 'What would Elmer do?' will be something similar?
Yes, it's the same. There's also something similar for designing objective tracks for people that don't like to keep paper maps.:rolleyes: I'm hoping that one will lead to better AI programming in scenarios.
Silvanski
12 Jul 07, 18:34
Yes, it's the same. There's also something similar for designing objective tracks for people that don't like to keep paper maps.:rolleyes: I'm hoping that one will lead to better AI programming in scenarios.
Hey yeah it sure will, believe me! :D
You do have to modify the ini fille first, so it isn't something you can stumble across accidentally.:devious: It's meant for designers.
Ralph rules!
Anyone else ever 'experienced' a coder this cool?
Codes by night, answers questions by day: delightful, eh? ;)
ralphtrickey
12 Jul 07, 20:28
Hey yeah it sure will, believe me! :D
Did I mention that I just found out that the scroll wheel somehow seems to work in the editor now to zoom in and out too? It makes mincemeat of the boxes on the right:rifle:, but for things like AI programming, it might be helpful.:D At 1920x1200, I think that EA will fit in the editor on one screen.:halo: Whether it's workable at that resolution, however...:nuts:
Next patch, I may try for Draggable Objectives. I have to wonder that if I add Draggable Objectives while playing, if people might use them for planning and AARs? Even more, I wonder if I could save them after the game is over for later replays or something. I think they should be useful for something.:rolleyes:
Ralph
I think that EA will fit in the editor on one screen
Awe some.
0
Silvanski
12 Jul 07, 22:31
Gee, Silvain, that shot looks frightenly familiar.
I'm sure it has absoluty nothing to do with (cough) Trot....(cough), eh?
sure looks like it :cheeky:
Did I mention that I just found out that the scroll wheel somehow seems to work in the editor now to zoom in and out too? It makes mincemeat of the boxes on the right:rifle:, but for things like AI programming, it might be helpful.:D At 1920x1200, I think that EA will fit in the editor on one screen.:halo: Whether it's workable at that resolution, however...:nuts:
Next patch, I may try for Draggable Objectives. I have to wonder that if I add Draggable Objectives while playing, if people might use them for planning and AARs? Even more, I wonder if I could save them after the game is over for later replays or something. I think they should be useful for something.:rolleyes:
Ralph
Draggab le objectives? DOn't quite undrestand what you mean...
Anyways, since I am somewhat into the AAR bussines, one thing I'd like to see is turn-by-turn casualties. Simple CSV file should do.
Anyways, since I am somewhat into the AAR bussines, one thing I'd like to see is turn-by-turn casualties. Simple CSV file should do.
Yeah, that'd be sweet for AARs.
Great idea with the zoom ability I think!
ralphtrickey
20 Jul 07, 09:43
Draggab le objectives? DOn't quite undrestand what you mean...
It means being able to move objectives by clicking on them and dragging them instead of deleting them and re-adding them.
Anyways, since I am somewhat into the AAR bussines, one thing I'd like to see is turn-by-turn casualties. Simple CSV file should do.
I'll see what I can do. I do want to make AARs easier to create.
Ralph
Something truly neat would be a planning window with an attached notepad for players as well as designers.
Essentially, a copy of the main window but that would allow the player to draw on the display, lift units and deposit them somewhere else (to check if that hill on which you're planning to plonk your artillery actually gives you the range you require rather than having to count off the hexes every time), a general notepad for players to write notes to themselves and possibly another notepad that you could attach to individual units and which are able to be opened in the planning window and in the main game window.
The ability to save the planning window as a bit map (or other graphic format) would help with the production of AARs as well.
I know this is off topic a bit and certainly not trivial but I have voted for Ralph as a genius and that must make a difference! ;)
Heya, Troops:
Anyone have a link to the 'master wishlist', LOL?
Beginning to think some of this is repetitive, eh? (not that I don't have my own hobby-horses to ride at the event...) :yummy:
Heya, Troops:
Anyone have a link to the 'master wishlist', LOL?
Beginning to think some of this is repetitive, eh? (not that I don't have my own hobby-horses to ride at the event...) :yummy:
It used to be stickied, but not anymore...
Pity, tho it would take a good 'editor' to boil it all down to what's likely and what's gonna be ToaW5-6 or 7, lol......
I'm just getting antsy for the 'patch', so never mind me, eh?
PS: All health and wellbeing come upon Ralph, and may all your efforts come to fruition......SOON!
Bob Cross
04 Aug 07, 12:13
Heya, Troops:
Anyone have a link to the 'master wishlist', LOL?
Beginning to think some of this is repetitive, eh? (not that I don't have my own hobby-horses to ride at the event...) :yummy:
Jarek and I have compiled a (sort of) comprehensive document summarizing all the wishes listed here and there. We'll post it somewhere eventually. It's kind of sensitive in that we need to find a way to make it clear that it doesn't represent any sort of commitment by Matrix. And, yes, there is a lot of repetition that it might prevent.
Jarek and I have compiled a (sort of) comprehensive document summarizing all the wishes listed here and there. We'll post it somewhere eventually. It's kind of sensitive in that we need to find a way to make it clear that it doesn't represent any sort of commitment by Matrix. And, yes, there is a lot of repetition that it might prevent.
*shrug* Just say that at the top and bottom of the list. :D
*shrug* Just say that at the top and bottom of the list. :D
And about eighteen spots within the body of it. It is a pretty large, substantial, and extremely well organized list.
And about eighteen spots within the body of it. It is a pretty large, substantial, and extremely well organized list.
You could have it at the bottom of every 'page'...
I just don't know if it should be kept from the light of day because of fear that someone with less then half a brain will come along and not read the Disclaimer.
In short, it's so well-written that one could very easily mistake it for a leaked, professionally drafted, design document. Major kudos to Bob and Jarek for the work that went into it.
I just don't know if it should be kept from the light of day because of fear that someone with less then half a brain will come along and not read the Disclaimer.
We're still a little gun shy, since the bug and feature list that was stickied at this site for so many months has been used by some who claimed that we "promised" to fix all those real and imagined bugs, and implement every feature. Even though IIRC it was pretty prominently displayed that was NOT to be the case.
Then again...it might have been due to the qualifier that you state in the second half of the sentence...:devious:
In short, it's so well-written that one could very easily mistake it for a leaked, professionally drafted, design document. Major kudos to Bob and Jarek for the work that went into it.
Seconded!
Haven't seen the final list, but followed the discussion at the tdg where i also saw the initial(?) version of the list.
We're still a little gun shy, since the bug and feature list that was stickied at this site for so many months has been used by some who claimed that we "promised" to fix all those real and imagined bugs, and implement every feature. Even though IIRC it was pretty prominently displayed that was NOT to be the case.
Then again...it might have been due to the qualifier that you state in the second half of the sentence...:devious:
It would be due to the qualifier I put in, James.
Anyone who thought that that stikied thread from 3-5 years ago was a promise by Matrix of anything was obviously a few men short of a squad.
ralphtrickey
04 Aug 07, 21:38
It would be due to the qualifier I put in, James.
Anyone who thought that that stikied thread from 3-5 years ago was a promise by Matrix of anything was obviously a few men short of a squad.
Squad... Gamesquad...<chuckle>
Maybe we can put a great big red watermark across it?
Squad... Gamesquad...<chuckle>
With the setting, I thought a military analogy would be better than any of the regular ones. :laugh:
We're still a little gun shy, since the bug and feature list that was stickied at this site for so many months has been used by some who claimed that we "promised" to fix all those real and imagined bugs, and implement every feature. Even though IIRC it was pretty prominently displayed that was NOT to be the case.
Then again...it might have been due to the qualifier that you state in the second half of the sentence...:devious:
Any chance of having 'it' emailed to the obvious fanboys? I'd like to see what has made it onto the maybe list, eh? :halo:
General Staff
05 Aug 07, 19:44
I appreciate all the efforts that go in here. But can't we get a list together along the lines of what Bob and Jarek seem to have done (though I haven't seen it), prioritize it somehow, then carry through thick and thin with marginal deviation?
Different zoom levels elicit a yawn from me, but that's just me. If we can get agreement on what, why, where, who, when and whow we'd maybe start riding that sweet spot between genius and insanity instead of having to decide among the two.
Bob Cross
06 Aug 07, 09:57
I appreciate all the efforts that go in here. But can't we get a list together along the lines of what Bob and Jarek seem to have done (though I haven't seen it), prioritize it somehow, then carry through thick and thin with marginal deviation?
But you have seen it. And commented on it. It's posted on the private development board.
We'll get it out soon. But right now TOAD Tuesday takes priority.
But you have seen it. And commented on it. It's posted on the private development board.
Yes, but was that before, or after he hit the Bushmills?:devious:
General Staff
07 Aug 07, 12:22
Yes, but was that before, or after he hit the Bushmills?:devious:Before, or I wouldn't have remembered it. Now, where were we?
Bob Cross
13 Aug 07, 12:01
Jarek and I have compiled a (sort of) comprehensive document summarizing all the wishes listed here and there. We'll post it somewhere eventually. It's kind of sensitive in that we need to find a way to make it clear that it doesn't represent any sort of commitment by Matrix. And, yes, there is a lot of repetition that it might prevent.
The document has finally been posted on the Matrix board here:
http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=1540287
Sweet! :yummy::yummy::yummy:
http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=1540287
NEEDS to be stickied, eh?
But you have seen it. And commented on it. It's posted on the private development board.
We'll get it out soon. But right now TOAD Tuesday takes priority.
Here, here!!!
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