5 replies to this topic

[Lavrenti]

I imagine it's clear to everyone who's played a few matches that MWO is a game where teamwork and coordination is rewarded. I'm sure it's also clear that, as it is right now, there are very few tools integrated into the game to enhance that aspect. So, trying to be productive here, what in-match tools would be the most helpful towards enabling that role?
My current thoughts, in no particular order:

1) Integrated VOIP for all team members. I don't want this to turn into yet another "get on TS n00b" thread, so if that's all you have to say then please refrain from doing so; but I think the increased effectiveness of groups using TS or C3 speaks for itself here. It's obvious that this makes a team much more effective, and allowing randomly thrown together teams to use it as well would probably help significantly.

2) Improved text chat. Currently the chat window fades very quickly, sometimes disappears while a message is being typed, and can be spammed by an enemy team to prevent it's effective use for team communication. Keeping it up and in on corner of the screen would be a big help.

3) A comm-rose, similar to that found in BF2. Being able to quickly and easily submit sighting reports, report status, request assistance, or acknowledge orders is useful. If this was integrated with the HUD and map, it could be a powerful tool for both commanders and players alike. This could incorporate pre-recorded messages.

4) Better command interface. Currently the commanders role is very limited - order icons do not appear on the HUD, just the compass line (making them hard to see), and only one can be in play at a time. If the commander had the ability to designate focus-fire targets, set waypoints, or any of a host of other functions, their role would be enhanced.

I think the above items are the most critical, but another idea is deployable sensor modules. Currently the only sensor in the game is visual sighting combined with a thermal imaging mode. If mechs could drop radar units as they traversed the map, this would allow situational awareness of areas not under direct observation and enhance the role of scouts. They should have a limited sensor range (and only be effective on targets they have LOS to), be able to be spotted and destroyed by enemy mechs of all types, and only limited numbers should be carried by each mech - perhaps they should weigh as much as a NARC beacon, and require a similarly specialised tool for deployment.

I await the inevitable civil discussion of this topic with great eagerness.

[Lavrenti]

Bumping this, because I'd like to hear people's opinions.

[CobraFive]

A better command interface is uselss until commanders actually have something to do.

In every match I've been in where a commander was, he either A: was just putting orders for what people were already doing or B: Actually that's the only thing I've seen a commander do.

Its not because commanders suck, really... its that there really isn't much command to give. The maps are not large enough and the objectives not complex enough to warrant any type of strategy other then "stay together". And then even beyond this, a "commander" has all of the same information available ot him that any normal player has available to him. THe best a commander can do is tell a player something he already knows... which has been exactly my experience with commander thus far (Putting an go here waypoint to where we are already going, putting a stop here waypoint when we are already stopped and defending... etc).

I think a better idea altogether would be if every player could place command markers. Since everyone has access to the same information, marking one player as the "commander" is redundant. Until more sophisticated information warfare is available.

I will say this though: PGI REALLY needs to remove friendly player names form the battlegrid. The names and their arrows are so huge you can't actually see the map and whats under them...

Comma rose would be cool. Putting a focus fire marker over targets would be a huge help in PUGs. It would integrate well with giving eveyrone command markers as I've mentioned above. being able to put a "Warning" marker on the fly or something.

And integrated VOIP is paramount to this game's success. Simple as that. Not much else to say there.

Overall, until the game has a more sophisticated information warfare segment there isn't much use to a "commander" system, but facilitating impromptu co-operation is important.

Edit: A huge improvement would be to see what mechs your allies are in. Or use a system similar to WOT, how each class of tank (mech) has a different icon on the map/over their head. At the least, you should be able to see what mechs allies are using from the tab leaderboard.

Edited by CobraFive, 31 October 2012 - 09:31 PM.

[MagicHamsta]

Lavrenti, on 31 October 2012 - 02:30 PM, said:

4) Better command interface. Currently the commanders role is very limited - order icons do not appear on the HUD, just the compass line (making them hard to see), and only one can be in play at a time. If the commander had the ability to designate focus-fire targets, set waypoints, or any of a host of other functions, their role would be enhanced.

Me prefer it as is.
If me recall, the icons actually appear on your minimap/map with a directional marker appearing on your HUD compass which be acceptable.

It annoys me when commander designations blot out portions of my interface making it harder to aim. (Such as in Planetside 2 when you have ethereal icons all over the place literally in your face.)

[Lavrenti]

MagicHamsta, on 31 October 2012 - 09:44 PM, said:

It annoys me when commander designations blot out portions of my interface making it harder to aim. (Such as in Planetside 2 when you have ethereal icons all over the place literally in your face.)

That's a fair point, we don't want to obscure the view. Still, I feel that the markers on the compass are too hard to see at the moment.

[Card]

The game will eventually involve 3 lances of 4 'Mechs each for 12v12 battles. In Battletech lore, that's a company, so I'll use the terms Company Commander and Lance Commander.

Company Commanders need the ability to give individual orders to each of the 3 lances, and we need a more comprehensive set of orders than are currently available. In addition to the basic Attack and Defend we need things like Hide, Harass and Scout, and we need to be able to delineate areas for these orders - not just points. Speaking of areas, I'd love to have the ability to draw lines on the map. So this line from Point A to Point B is, for example, your forward line of advance, or this is your defensive line, or whatever.

We need to be able to issue more than one order to each lance, and stack them in sequence like waypoints - so it's Go Here and then Go Here and then Attack Here. We also need directional orders, as in, not just Attack, but Attack From This Direction.

For Lance Commanders the most important (and most needed) command should be Target My Target. In addition, Stop and Seek Cover would be handy. The Company Commander's orders should show up in that specific lance's HUDs, but they should be able to see everyone else's orders in the Battlegrid.

Last, the Battlegrid needs major improvements. It shouldn't just display the names of friendly 'Mechs, but it should show the pilot name, condition (%) and what type of 'Mech it is. Enemy 'Mechs who aren't targeted should show as a red arrow on the Battlegrid. Ones that are targeted should show 'Mech type, condition (%), and if that 'Mech is NARCed or TAGed.