24 replies to this topic

[Lunoe]

I've been playing MWO for quite a while now, and for the most part I've been satisfied with the execution, be it aesthetic, gameplay, or otherwise. However, there is one feature that has driven me to frustration time and again, and that is the damage readouts.

The default mech-representation damage readout is fine for starting out, and provides a quick reference for where you're getting hit, sure. But the problem is that the colors are incredibly vague about just how much damage you're taking, which is an especially large problem with Assaults. If I step into enemy fire, I need to know how quickly I'm taking damage, and how much. Is that yellow outline telling me I just got my paint scratched? Or did I just lose a quarter of my armor in one salvo?

It used to be in earlier mechwarrior games that you could toggle between layout-oriented damage readouts, and bar-oriented damage readouts. I propose that MWO would benefit from a similar feature, giving the oppertunity for clearer feedback on just how much damage you're taking in a fight.



See how clear that is? Left arm gone, left front torso armor stripped. center torso doing fine. Under the yellow/orange/red system, all this would be far less obvious, at least to me.

In any event, since the game has to track these values regardless, and bar graphs are fairly modest in terms of artistic investment, I think it's a small tweak that could benefit gameplay greatly.

[Draykin]

While that may be more clear for you, I find that layout a bit confusing at first glance. I can only guess that it would confuse other people as well, but it could make a nice additional option.

[luigi256]

I liked having the option of switching to the bar style and it would be great if they can bring it back.

[Dark DeLaurel]

Draykin, on 24 September 2014 - 12:59 PM, said:

While that may be more clear for you, I find that layout a bit confusing at first glance. I can only guess that it would confuse other people as well, but it could make a nice additional option.

it takes a bit to get used to but in the end once you understand it, you will never want to use anything else. At a quick glance you see exactly what is wrong with your `Mech with no guessing involved.

[beartraps]

Good Ides although they need to make some other markers and designations as well

[Vandul]

This would look great on one of the many unused displays in the cockpit. Allow a key to focus on it for those that want the data.

[Bront]

I'd much rather the lines of armor get thinner on the doll. Much easier to understand. The colors are indeed hard to tell though.

[xeromynd]

There have been many posts from users who want the HTAL style mech readout for their targets. I believe it was even in a feature suggestion poll started by the Devs. Maybe it'll happen sometime, but I bet it's on the backburner until CW comes out (until the new year)

[Sudden]

I would love this too

[Zephonarch II]

I would like the ability to choose between bars, the general-body diagram, AND the live front viewof my Mech. I know it wouldn't be immerse enough like the 3rd person view camera they already have in-game. BUT; it's a game. Maybe you could just see the unedited oblique lines of our mechs simulating our movement. LIKE MW2. Simply when you get hit, the more detailed 3D-blueprint-like oblique lines of our mechs would be highlighted red rather than blue, or white. Whatever the devs finds appealing. That specific 3D-mech damage display would be great. You could figure out even whether you can pivot damage away from your ct with this display.

[a gaijin]

PGI,
Give me back my HTAL!!


Please!

[NullZeal]

It should be like hmm... MWLL "cough" "cough"

[LuInRei]

I'd prefer color-coded integer numeric values instead of bars, even.
But, alas, unless PGI would allow modding
and some kind soul would make such a mod,
we are stuck with "pretty colours".

[Reitrix]

I'd like both at once

I always used the HTAL bars because they give you a much more clear picture of how much armor/internals health is remaining than "I think its kinda orange, i took .. maybe some damage?"

[TyphonCh]

MW3 did so many things right. Yes, I want that option

[VixNix]

Options are always nice to have.

I'd like to see numbers, and have the numbers change as damage is delivered...
At least the read out for my mech.

ie
H 18
CT F 50
CT R xx
etc

[wamX]

I liked the damage readouts from MW4/MW4Mercs and I especially liked the bars. Too often in game the armor will read dark red so I try to run out of the fight, but then I take two AC/5's to that very spot and it still sits at "red" and barely changes. Something like this definitely needs to be worked on/added.

[LiquidDivide]

I'd almost prefer something more like this:



Don't be too critical. I just did a quick image search and spent all of 10 seconds editing it. First, this image shows the targeted mech rather than the pilot's mech. I believe this level of detail should only be provided for your own mech, not the target mech. I like the current vague information about target mechs.

I only modified the arms in the image, but you get the Idea. As you take damage, the border or fill rises from the bottom up, showing the percentage of damage taken. So, in this image, the Right arm has lost about 30% of its armor while the left has lost closer to 70%

This way, you get the detailed information you want, but the readout still looks pretty and you don't lose that immersion. The color can still change as the bar fills up too, giving you a quick and accurate picture of your mech's state. I think this is the best of both worlds.

Edited by LiquidDivide, 17 October 2014 - 09:41 AM.

[Colby Boucher]

LiquidDivide, on 17 October 2014 - 09:12 AM, said:

I'd almost prefer something more like this:



Don't be too critical. I just did a quick image search and spent all of 10 seconds editing it. First, this image shows the targeted mech rather than the pilot's mech. I believe this level of detail should only be provided for your own mech, not the target mech. I like the current vague information about target mechs.

I only modified the arms in the image, but you get the Idea. As you take damage, the border or fill rises from the bottom up, showing the percentage of damage taken. So, in this image, the Right arm has lost about 30% of its armor while the left has lost closer to 70%
u
This way, you get the detailed information you want, but the readout still looks pretty and you don't lose that immersion. The color can still change as the bar fills up too, giving you a quick and accurate picture of your mech's state. I think this is the best of both worlds.

That seems like a cool idea, though I'd make the armor outline start to dissapear, basically the visual opposite of your picture.

[LiquidDivide]

Colby Boucher, on 17 October 2014 - 10:39 AM, said:

That seems like a cool idea, though I'd make the armor outline start to dissapear, basically the visual opposite of your picture.

You could do this, but I think having a bunch of colors draws your attention to it more than having a mostly gray model. That way instead of flashing less and getting darker, the more you take damage it gets brighter and draws your focus to it more. Either way works, I suppose. I just think my original method is closer to what we have today and seems more realistic. It's not like your gas gauge empty light in your car is on normally and shuts off when you get near empty. As a problem occurs, it tries to draw your attention, not the other way around.

Edited by LiquidDivide, 17 October 2014 - 12:02 PM.