The Beacon Button
Heyman
Join Date: 2005-03-29 Member: 46895Members
Join Date: 2005-03-29 Member: 46895Members
Fairly simple idea: Instead of specifically having to access the observatory/whatever the appropriate building is, allow the beacon to be accessed from the main commander GUI.
If the building is destroyed/unbuilt, the button would either be "inactive" (dulled colors, no highlight on mouse-over) or simply disappear.
Pros: <ul><li>Simplifies Commander Interface</li><li>Moar bacon</li></ul>
Cons:<ul><li>May make responding to a base attack too easy</li><li>May lead to abuse</li></ul>
I do believe that the first Con can be addressed by tweaking beacon duration/speed, and honestly I'd deal with a longer beacon if I could click on it as soon as my entire team starts screaming that there's a horde of skulks and fades destroying the base, and then I won't have to deal with pressing 1 to access the observatory but then realizing the first one got destroyed and I forgot to control group the new one and ohmygodtheresanonosstompingmeandI'mbeinghealsprayedtodeath.
If the building is destroyed/unbuilt, the button would either be "inactive" (dulled colors, no highlight on mouse-over) or simply disappear.
Pros: <ul><li>Simplifies Commander Interface</li><li>Moar bacon</li></ul>
Cons:<ul><li>May make responding to a base attack too easy</li><li>May lead to abuse</li></ul>
I do believe that the first Con can be addressed by tweaking beacon duration/speed, and honestly I'd deal with a longer beacon if I could click on it as soon as my entire team starts screaming that there's a horde of skulks and fades destroying the base, and then I won't have to deal with pressing 1 to access the observatory but then realizing the first one got destroyed and I forgot to control group the new one and ohmygodtheresanonosstompingmeandI'mbeinghealsprayedtodeath.
Comments
me too, it goes great on anything!
If we have a beacon, make it user friendly. Just good game design.
So maybe the button appears more specifically when buildings such as comm chair/portal/nearby buildings are being attacked or similar? Any ideas?
How about the button appears as a 'floating decal' above a structure, so clicking on the button associated with the portal say brings up possible options next to it, rather than on the GUI.
Not sure?
So maybe the button appears more specifically when buildings such as comm chair/portal/nearby buildings are being attacked or similar? Any ideas?
How about the button appears as a 'floating decal' above a structure, so clicking on the button associated with the portal say brings up possible options next to it, rather than on the GUI.
Not sure?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
well on that note, lets take it a step further. in ns1 you have a hotkey to "go to request" right? so a marine would be all like "commander, i need ammo" and you could click a button to respond and jump to their location where you could then drop medpacks or ammo.
why not have that same function for a base under attack? the obs already has an range associated with (for motion sens), so have it also monitor the buildings around it. if they get attacked, that obs will give an alert that you can jump to and then easily click a button.
why not have that same function for a base under attack? the obs already has an range associated with (for motion sens), so have it also monitor the buildings around it. if they get attacked, that obs will give an alert that you can jump to and then easily click a button.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Way too complicated. Coding for activation conditions will NEVER be a better judge of what is under attack and requires player hotkey attention than a blanket warning activation whenever buildings are under attack and hotkey always ready.
People, one extra icon is not GUI clutter. See: SC2 warpgate icon.
It's an important icon. It deserves the real estate.
this would be useful considering it's entirely possible to have multiple fully functional bases. plus is beacon even in ns2? and if so under the same functionalities? recalling to marine start just seems like a silly idea, there's probably a more intuitive plan in effect to actually warp to a tech point or to an obs or something.
It's an important icon. It deserves the real estate.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
+1
this would be useful considering it's entirely possible to have multiple fully functional bases. plus is beacon even in ns2? and if so under the same functionalities? recalling to marine start just seems like a silly idea, there's probably a more intuitive plan in effect to actually warp to a tech point or to an obs or something.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
marine start is a tech point.
this would be useful considering it's entirely possible to have multiple fully functional bases. plus is beacon even in ns2? and if so under the same functionalities? recalling to marine start just seems like a silly idea, there's probably a more intuitive plan in effect to actually warp to a tech point or to an obs or something.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
One idea: Pick the obs with the least ability to use its other resources. That way less possible resources are likely to be spent. So if you have two observatories and one has more scans saved than the other, the obs with less scans is the one made busy doing the beacon. Every beacon always warps marine to home base. I don't like this idea because NS2 has multiple bases for both teams.
Other idea: Observatories can only be made in tech points and only one observatory can be made per tech point. Then a two-hotkey press would activate a particular tech point's observatory and marines would be warped there. Example: Hold "B" for beacon and then press "1" for tech point 1 (home base). Hold "B" for beacon then press "2" for tech point 2 (a tech point outside home base). I like this idea more.
I disagree, it is clutter.
Also, any Beacon button on the dash has absolutely no relation to the location you will beacon to on the map.
As was suggested, a beacon 'button/decal' could appear on the map within a location that is being attacked. Double clicking on it could activate.
Cons
- Possible to accidentally click on it (but it is double click so unlikely)
Pros
- Location specific (you'll be at that location before you beacon)
- Helps players to understand usage more effectively
- Is right where you need it, when you need it
- Less GUI clutter/ No menu searching
- Concentrating on action, not dash
Other idea: Observatories can only be made in tech points and only one observatory can be made per tech point. Then a two-hotkey press would activate a particular tech point's beacon and marines would be warped there. Example: Hold "B" for beacon and then press "1" for tech point 1 (home base). Hold "B" for beacon then press "2" for tech point 2 (a tech point outside home base). I like this idea more.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
-1 on not building obs anywhere. if its just in tech points then you've killed effective siege defenses.
- Possible to accidentally click on it (but it is double click so unlikely)
Pros
- Location specific (you'll be at that location before you beacon)
- Helps players to understand usage more effectively
- Is right where you need it, when you need it
- Less GUI clutter/ No menu searching
- Concentrating on action, not dash<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
i agree, there's already a mechanic in the game for a comm to jump to something (double click the MAC icon to go to an idle MAC).
just add a flashing blue text alert in the corner in a big enough but not too big button that when clicked will jump to the obs that is alerting the attack and automatically selects the obs for you.
then all you have to do is hit the hotkey associated with beacon and bam, you have beaconed the team to the assaulted base.
then its simply "click flashing alert button" + "hit one hotkey"
that would work, but if they implemented the alert button list then commanders could respond to pretty much anything.
ARMORY ALERT: RESEARCH COMPLETE.
(click and it takes you to that armory on screen and selects it so its menu is displayed and you can quickly click another upgrade)
PLAYER ALERT: LOW AMMO.
(click and it takes you to the player that asked for ammo and selects him so you can hotkey drop bullets on his head)
MASC ALERT: SIEGE READY.
(click and it takes you to the siege cannon that's ready to fire and selects it so you can fire the cannon at something)
OBS ALERT: BASE UNDER ATTACK.
(click and it takes you to the obs and selects the obs so you can hit the BEACON key to beacon your marines to the base)