23 replies to this topic

[MoonUnitBeta]

I'm just wondering what your guys' thoughts are about auto-targeting people? Read the bullet points for a kind of TL;DR version of how I'd like to see the system automate.

MAIN INTRIGUE:
I see quite a few lately through spectating that don't target enemies by pressing R. I suppose the reason is because the either don't know how, or that you could (new players?), are lazy, or don't fully understand the benefits of the system.

THE WORKS:
So I suppose what could work is something that is... intelligent:

• If an enemy enters your LOS, it'll simply target them for you. (it will not cycle through as more enemies enter. But it will switch when you lose line of sight)
  
• If a target is acquired by someone else not in your vision, and you have no other targets acquired, it will target them for you.
  
• If you shoot someone when no one else is targeted, it WILL target them for you. (this is a fail safe should the above rules for some reason not work.)
  
• If you have a mech targeted (acquired automatically), yet you sustain damage for at least 2 seconds on a different target, it'll auto target the one you're damaging for you.
  
• If your target dies and there are other enemies around, it'll either give you the next target based on proximity, damage done to you, letter designation, etc. This could be shorted down to one rule, or be defined through a series of customizable targeting options inside the mechlab, and be tuned differently for each mech. More targeting options or behaviors could be utilized to aid in different play styles.

MANUAL OVERRIDE (any manually acquired targets override the automated system until that specific targeting data is lost for 5 seconds. This is here for those who wish to assume control, but you lose the benefits of the automated system.)

• If a target is manually acquired, no automated system can override this to switch you to a new target, regardless of damage dealt.
  
• If no targets are acquired, and the target reappears into LOS, or is acquired by someone else, he is automatically targeted.
  
• If within those 5 seconds you acquire a new target (manually), you will not automatically acquire the previously lost target should be return in LOS or by friendly acquisition.
  
• If 5 seconds pass without acquiring any targets, the automated system will take control again until you wish to manually acquire a new target.
  
• If you manually target the only enemy in range and then manually disable the targeting, no targets will be automatically acquired until the enemy dies or until you lose line of sight (for the whole team) for 5 seconds. (This is here for those who don't want to draw attention to themselves, lest their kill gets "stolen". It's done by targeting the enemy, then pressing R again to untarget him. I only really included this people I know this would be a concern for some people, but this forces them to make it an intentional act against the team.)

NEW USERS:
The new user experience is a little lacking, and since the targeting is incredibly helpful with sharing target data and location. I feel like this can only improve new players by lending a helping hand. If target data was automatically acquired, I think showing a simple "Cycle Targets with "R"" underneath the paperdoll will be a friendly reminder for them.

WRONG TARGETING DATA:
I know I've had moments where I'm hitting a target, and I'm reading the paperdoll for something else. If that happens with 4 other enemies around you, it's really distracting to cycle through all of them so you get the right data. I hope that with an automated system, you won't have to manually target enemies again, just focus on the task at hand and the system will show you the most relevant information.

THOUGHTS:
What is everyone's thoughts? Do you want to see a type of auto-targeting system, or would it just be too "cheesy"? If it's smart enough, it could prove to be more beneficial than a nuisance, and actually help new players, and your team out to a great degree. Personally I'm for it for the simple fact that it can almost guarantee that my team will have lots of targeting infos.

Other discussion points:

Would you dislike it if the automated targeting system acquired targets by lowest %?
Would you dislike it the automated targeting system acquired targets by the most "popular" targeted enemy?
How far would be too far in terms of automated targeting?

Edited by MoonUnitBeta, 17 November 2014 - 08:03 PM.

[MoonUnitBeta]

Not a single thought?

[Karl Marlow]

Meh, It wouldn't matter to me either way. With regards to targeting I would just like a button that targets what I am looking at instead of oly having the cycle select option.

[Tekadept]

Interesting concept but too many people would complain about it. Just let the steering wheel underhive carry on as they are not targeting people and whining about kill stealing if you save their bacon by killing an enemy.

[kuangmk11]

I would hate losing my target when they duck behind a hill and have to re target them as they come back into view. as long as full manual is still available I don't care

[Xetelian]

I support this idea. It should be automatic it is the future after all.

[Deathlike]

ThomasMarik, on 17 November 2014 - 09:53 PM, said:

Meh, It wouldn't matter to me either way. With regards to targeting I would just like a button that targets what I am looking at instead of oly having the cycle select option.

I believe the game actually tries to do that when your targeting reticule is near the red dorito in question (especially if it's blocked by structures, but still spotted by teammates and/or the UAV), but occasionally fails to select it.

It's not exactly reliable nor perfect at the moment.

[Javenri]

I don't like the "automatic" so much, more of a manual person. But I would like the ability to target a specific target with a keyboard combination (provided it is targetable of course). For example, pressing CTRL + B would target the enemy mech designated as B.

[MechWarrior849305]

I would just LOVE to have blue crosses (like it was in MechWarrior4) to get the clue for my stupid teammies that there is FRIENDLY mech infront of them. Obviously they can't tell if friend or foe if I'm dying mostly from friendly fire

[Alex Warden]

actually there IS already autotargeting in game, for some weird reason it just doesn´t work very often... but NORMALLY, the targeting system would lock a mech when your reticule points at him... happens sometimes, sometimes not...ask PGI why that is like that

what could be added would be a way to tell the system you want to clear targets after target loss... (which you can do, by pressing R while no other targets are in range...)

shouldnt be default, because i like to keep the last target locked even if i lose it for a while, that way i know which one it was when it re-appears...

Edited by Alex Warden, 17 November 2014 - 10:21 PM.

[PappySmurf]

How about NO! MW:0 is so dumbed down enough now by a magic {R} key and it is pathetic. I could not imagine MWO becoming so easy mode a 5 year old could be a master pilot by just pointing the reticule and hit fire.If anything we need to get rid of automatic targeting and the OP {R} key as it is and go back to individual targeting and LOS.

And only allowing group targeting if a command mech like a Atlas-DDC or a scout mech with group target module is in a battle.

[HBizzle]

So you basically want people to auto target folks so you can rain LRMs on them while they soak up all the damage the other team is dealing?

[GreyNovember]

PappySmurf, on 17 November 2014 - 10:18 PM, said:

How about NO! MW:0 is so dumbed down enough now by a magic {R} key and it is pathetic. I could not imagine MWO becoming so easy mode a 5 year old could be a master pilot by just pointing the reticule and hit fire.If anything we need to get rid of automatic targeting and the OP {R} key as it is and go back to individual targeting and LOS.

And only allowing group targeting if a command mech like a Atlas-DDC or a scout mech with group target module is in a battle.

That's quite a harsh opinion of autolock. Something that would exist for convenience. Seems unwarranted.

[Cyborne Elemental]

There is a passive auto targeting already in the game.

How and when it works is still misunderstood to me.

When it does work, it happens If you have an enemy close enough and in your crosshair, seems like when you land damage it just locks on, same as pressing R.

I think it disables or something though if you press R to unlock after the mech has been targeted one time.

[PappySmurf]

Eonai said (That's quite a harsh opinion of auto lock. Something that would exist for convenience. Seems unwarranted)

And I say go pick up a copy of MechAssault or MAchAssault2 for Xbox or watch the Utube videos.In those MechWarrior games even the PPC's were auto targeting and followed players even around buildings. What do you want a game so dumbed down all you have to do is press the fire button no skill required?

MWO is a simple pathetic FPS already don't give the brain dead devs any more bad ideas MR.OP

[The Boz]

Methinks PappySmurf should uninstall, for the sake of his nerves.

[Roadbuster]

ThomasMarik, on 17 November 2014 - 09:53 PM, said:

Meh, It wouldn't matter to me either way. With regards to targeting I would just like a button that targets what I am looking at instead of oly having the cycle select option.

That's how it currently works.

Regarding auto targetting...got mixed feelings about it.
Pressing a button is not really hard and requires very little effort.
Also, I wouldn't like my target to switch when I shoot at another target (example: shooting LRMs at one target behind cover and shoot lasers at a mech with LoS)
I'd rather not have some kind of system messing around with my target selection.

[GreyNovember]

PappySmurf, on 17 November 2014 - 10:59 PM, said:

Eonai said (That's quite a harsh opinion of auto lock. Something that would exist for convenience. Seems unwarranted)

And I say go pick up a copy of MechAssault or MAchAssault2 for Xbox or watch the Utube videos.In those MechWarrior games even the PPC's were auto targeting and followed players even around buildings. What do you want a game so dumbed down all you have to do is press the fire button no skill required?

MWO is a simple pathetic FPS already don't give the brain dead devs any more bad ideas MR.OP

Played Mech Assault 2. I actually found the PPCs nice.

Seems like we have a completely different preference. I wouldn't call it a dumbing down mechanism given that macros are allowed.

[Tarogato]

I say no, because I want to lock the target I want to lock. If I'm brawling and a light jumps between me and my target and the computer switches to the light, that would be annoying.

Yes, it can be an option alongside "Manual Targeting" so you can choose one or the other, but honestly probably not worth PGI's time, since players need to develop proper targeting habits on their own (ie. target cycling, single target tracking, memorising enemy paperdolls, use of the Q key, etc. stuff that we REALLY need a well made official simple tutorial for)

[MoonUnitBeta]

Quote

I say no, because I want to lock the target I want to lock. If I'm brawling and a light jumps between me and my target and the computer switches to the light, that would be annoying.

Yes, it can be an option alongside "Manual Targeting" so you can choose one or the other, but honestly probably not worth PGI's time, since players need to develop proper targeting habits on their own (ie. target cycling, single target tracking, memorising enemy paperdolls, use of the Q key, etc. stuff that we REALLY need a well made official simple tutorial for)

Manually targeting someone sets that target as your primary target, won't change unless they run away. If a light runs infront of you and you were shooting a different target that was automatically given to you, it won't switch unless you continually fire at the light mech for more than 2 seconds. one shot's not going to make it switch. Any damage to your already targeted mech will keep it targeted.

I dunno if this changes your mind or not, but there you have it.

In terms of time spent other places, well I guess I agree. I guess it's a wish light thing, but I just wish targeting would be better in a lot of aspects. Like targeting a target that one of your lance mates are targeting, or even just a indicator displaying how many other people are targeting the same target as you... stuff like that.

The targeting system right now is really bare bones... It kinda bothers me.

Roadbuster, on 17 November 2014 - 11:28 PM, said:

That's how it currently works.

Regarding auto targetting...got mixed feelings about it.
Pressing a button is not really hard and requires very little effort.
Also, I wouldn't like my target to switch when I shoot at another target (example: shooting LRMs at one target behind cover and shoot lasers at a mech with LoS)
I'd rather not have some kind of system messing around with my target selection.

Nothing would change if you continue to target things manually. The automatic system is a backend system that's overriden by your manual actions, and the automated system is there to assist new players who forget, or lazy people who couldn't be bothered and cripple your team in a couple of ways because of it.

I know it's not very hard to press a button, so why isn't everyone?? The benefits are huge, but people just aren't doing it. There's something wrong.

Edit: Something got buggered up...

Edited by MoonUnitBeta, 17 November 2014 - 11:59 PM.