Communication
kingmob
Join Date: 2002-11-01 Member: 3650Members, Constellation
Join Date: 2002-11-01 Member: 3650Members, Constellation
Let me open up by saying the point I am driving home on is communication WITHOUT talking.
It is ten times better that a commander talk to the troops, but it is better if he is given tools so he doesn't have to.
I have watched my RTS friends and they do NOT talk to their units. It is hard for them to talk about everything.
Okay I think the communication has improved greatly for the marines.
The waypoints do the trick ...not everyone follows them ...but we knew not everyone would.
There could be a little polish in this area because some people do not SEE them. I actually have no suggestion here just an observation.
It does work and I have built and defended because my commander said so.
The mini-map
Yeah that guy who ran around the corner...he went that-a-way.
Again a little polish might be nice (friendlies blend against the wall color...i am going on movement)
But it does work...I LOVE it.
I have been on winning marine teams where the commander said next to nothing...but did use waypoints...and I used the minimap.
These mechanisms can turn any mild mannered commander into a winner.
The aliens really NEED these or similar mechanisms.
The frustrating losses because of lack of coordination and team splitting are way to common.
The waypoints (call them pheremones, global waypoints, whatever)
I have been on alien teams which lost simply because most people did not hear the commander...or did not know WHERE they talking about. Sometimes I forget where crossover is.
The mini-map ...just give it to me as alien ...my hand has a cramp from holding C.
I know the aliens are supposed to be different...but the mini-map helps me avoid dead ends and I can follow others so much easier.
I would include a photo of me begging on my knees ...but i am afraid of it ending up on 4chan.
So that's my little rant.
UWE keep the content coming, keep the performance improving, and I will keep playing.
It is ten times better that a commander talk to the troops, but it is better if he is given tools so he doesn't have to.
I have watched my RTS friends and they do NOT talk to their units. It is hard for them to talk about everything.
Okay I think the communication has improved greatly for the marines.
The waypoints do the trick ...not everyone follows them ...but we knew not everyone would.
There could be a little polish in this area because some people do not SEE them. I actually have no suggestion here just an observation.
It does work and I have built and defended because my commander said so.
The mini-map
Yeah that guy who ran around the corner...he went that-a-way.
Again a little polish might be nice (friendlies blend against the wall color...i am going on movement)
But it does work...I LOVE it.
I have been on winning marine teams where the commander said next to nothing...but did use waypoints...and I used the minimap.
These mechanisms can turn any mild mannered commander into a winner.
The aliens really NEED these or similar mechanisms.
The frustrating losses because of lack of coordination and team splitting are way to common.
The waypoints (call them pheremones, global waypoints, whatever)
I have been on alien teams which lost simply because most people did not hear the commander...or did not know WHERE they talking about. Sometimes I forget where crossover is.
The mini-map ...just give it to me as alien ...my hand has a cramp from holding C.
I know the aliens are supposed to be different...but the mini-map helps me avoid dead ends and I can follow others so much easier.
I would include a photo of me begging on my knees ...but i am afraid of it ending up on 4chan.
So that's my little rant.
UWE keep the content coming, keep the performance improving, and I will keep playing.
Comments
no!! i already want that useless thing removed from my precious screen real estate! its useless compared to the map, and only shows whats going on in that room alone, not the skulk chomping on my RT across the map, PLUS it is highly opaque! i need every inch of my peripheral when im vulnerable building (or in this case chomping)
how can looking at the map be a bad thing? i do it constantly, its so crucial especially for aliens seeing marines on infestation.
i agree hive sight should be WAY better and more obvious... but how else would you know how to get to crossroads from atrium? your minimap that you desire wouldnt show that far! maybe with phermones a lot of these issues will be resolved..
i agree about other things tho.
a suggestion for waypoints:
<u>have them show up on the friggin map!!</u> its so frustrating to see a blue line go off into the void with some distance in numbers, not knowing which room it wants me to go to, who knows maybe i have to side step a room filled with hydras.. the waypoint wouldnt know that!
Hell! What an idea.
Well in the 7 years of playing NS1 it was ok to have it on the cbutton, because the icons let you instantly see what happened where. Now you have to look longer, because not everything is right yet. Dammit. Leaving for binding ;)
+1
Natural Selection is about communication, best way to do that is with a mic. Hell I'm a female gamer on NS and get called a little boy/ made fun of more times than I can count, and still I could care less, I use my mic constantly in games because I want to win; because you can't really play this game without using your mic. In this day and age there is really not much excuse to not have a mic, and to not use it :P
but to your point, they have said they are going to be working on alien pheramones heavily in upcomming patches, and I'm sure some aspects of the comm/Khamm are going to get reworked before release to better smooth out non-verbal communication.
+1 to waypoints (and maybe even a thin line for the route?) on the map.
Personally I have minimap bound to my mouse's thumb button. The small minimap in the corner of the screen... I never ever even look at it. I completely forget its existence because on a large resolution monitor it's way out there in the corner and unnoticable.
Try out Dghelneshi's minimap mod for transparency and better readability, btw:
<a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/forums/index.php?showtopic=116254" target="_blank">http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/forums/in...howtopic=116254</a>
Natural Selection is about communication, best way to do that is with a mic. Hell I'm a female gamer on NS and get called a little boy/ made fun of more times than I can count, and still I could care less, I use my mic constantly in games because I want to win; because you can't really play this game without using your mic. In this day and age there is really not much excuse to not have a mic, and to not use it :P
but to your point, they have said they are going to be working on alien pheramones heavily in upcomming patches, and I'm sure some aspects of the comm/Khamm are going to get reworked before release to better smooth out non-verbal communication.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I agree with the little boy. ;p
A team that uses the microphone a lot is noticeably stronger than one that doesn't. And it's more fun too.
My point on the NOT needing the mic was more for the commander.
The microphone of course helps more.
But if you invite your RTS playing buddy to play this game...don't be surprised if HE/SHE is not talking on it.
The waypoint is a clearer persistent mechanism for communicating...and the RTS playing people are used to that.
My point on the mini-map was that I don't use the C button as much as a marine now.
I use it occasionally.
As an alien I am pressing it constantly because there is no mini-map.
The mini-map is extremely helpful when traveling in a pack...you stop to shoot something...and where did they go.
As a marine a quick glance usually answers the question and off I go.
As an alien I hold C while running until I catch up.
Do I get shot while holding C? ...of course I do I can barely see.
People also abuse their mics and voice channel so badly that I end up muting a lot while many others simply disable the whole voice traffic while pubbing. It would be nice if had some sure way of getting the message through rather than hoping that the guy hears your voice comm.
So yeah, good and varied communication methods are awesome.
+1
<!--quoteo(post=1905543:date=Feb 21 2012, 03:35 PM:name=kingmob)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (kingmob @ Feb 21 2012, 03:35 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1905543"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->The mini-map ...just give it to me as alien ...my hand has a cramp from holding C.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I have a feeling this (aliens not having an all the time minimap) is one of Charlie's darlings.
90% of the population want this feature, just give it to us.
To quote Steven King "kill your <a href="http://www.killyourdarlingsatl.com/2010/06/01/the-meaning-of-literary-expression-kill-your-darlings/" target="_blank">darlings</a>, kill your darlings, even when it breaks your egocentric little scribbler’s heart, kill your darlings".
Microphones win games.