Threat Axis control in 3.8

[Shemar]

Since I upgraded to version 3.8 (from 3.7) the user interface part for setting the Threat Axis in the Formation Editor has grown completely disobedient. It will either completely ignore my change and revert back to where it was, it will only accept my change partially, or sometimes it will do something completely different than what I am telling it to. It was working perfectly in 3.7. Needless to say I have the AI management of Threat Axis permanently off.

Am I missing a setting somewhere? And if not, is there a work around? Some way to 'trick' the Threat Axis into obeying me?

[Herman Hum]

AFAIK, this problem has been around since 3.7.0 was publicly released. However, it seemed to only affect MP games. Solitaire games seemed to function normally.

What I have most often seen in MP is that when you use the Formation editor to assign ships to a patrol zone, they would sometimes be assigned a patrol zone XXX degrees off from where you wanted them. For example, if your Threat axis was facing due North and you tried to set a patrol zone on it, the zone might appear at 270 degrees instead of 0 degrees.

The fact that this would apply to all ships in the formation meant that it was a fairly easy work-around. All you have to do is compensate for it when you assign the patrol zone. Continuing from the previous example, just assign your ship to a patrol zone at 90 degrees and it will show up at the 0 degree position. It's weird and a bit awkward, but it can be managed sufficiently.

[Shemar]

Actually my problem is not with assigning ships to zones (although that may not work properly either) but with defining the Threat Axis themselves.

For example if the threat axis is 120 degrees wide and I want it to be 90 degrees wide, I will drag the line, the preview will look fine but as soon as I release the mouse button the axis will go back to 120 degrees. Or get to 30 degrees. Or even change direction. In general it will do something other than what I am telling it to most often than not. So often that it is impossible to define the Threat Axis as I want them.

The same thing happens with the direction of the Axis. Especially if it is wide it will not change direction. I can drag it all I want as soon as I release the mouse button it will jump back to its original direction. It seems the problem is more prelevant if the axis is wide. I can usually define the direction if the axis is only 30-45 degrees wide.

So what I am doing (and assuming the actual width of the axis does not really play a role as I can set patrols outside the axis anyway) is not bothering with the width of the axis but only with the direction. Of course that takes away my ability to spread or tighten my patrols just by changing the axis width, so it is still annoying.

[Herman Hum]

Okay, I can see the situation more clearly, now. I agree that trying to manipulate the direction of the ASuW and AAW threat axes can be a bit finicky, but I have not seen any problem in doing so. They will change to other directions.

If you are finding that the big ones are causing difficulties when you try to change direction, you idea to try and reduce them first sounds very good. I use it, too. Instead of moving an axis 120 degrees wide, it is often easier to handle one 30 degrees wide. I have seen them jump around a bit, too. However, it just takes a couple of additional tries to get them pointing in the direction I want.

I agree that it is sometimes difficult to change the breadth of a threat zone, too. I've never figured out an easy way to do this. I just keep trying until I get it reduced to the size I want. It does work. :)

I'd describe this one as "finicky" as opposed to a 'bug'. :cool:

[Shemar]

Computers are not supposed to be finicky! They are supposed to do what they are told! :laugh:

[Herman Hum]

And when computers do as they are 'told', you get that billion Euro bank fraud happening in France... :clown:

[eds]

Of course no-one else noticed 3 or so billion go missing. An easy oversight.