Usability of the H key

[YokoZar]

I've seen a few newbies get a bit confused over how to share units. I tell them to use the H key, but after that it's not as quick or as simple as it could be.

Instead of checking a box for "share selected units" and then having to hit apply (or should I hit ok?), why don't we just have a share selected units button? That way, it's very quick and easy for the most common use case - just a single click to share.

After I click share selected units, the dialog could then close automatically - sharing both resources and units is rather uncommon, so we should prioritize getting out of the way in the main use case and make the user hit H again if he also wants to share resources.

In fact, I'd wager sharing resources through the H menu at all is a rather rare occurrence - excess resources are already shared, and lua UI overlays can provide an even more efficient method. With the BA allied resource bars widget enabled, for instance, you can see your teammates metal/energy bars and give them the needed resource by clicking/holding on it.

[el_matarife]

How about we just make the "Share selected units" box checked by default when there's units/buildings selected? If you just want to share economy, make sure no units are selected, or uncheck the box.

[YokoZar]

How about we just make the "Share selected units" box checked by default when there's units/buildings selected? If you just want to share economy, make sure no units are selected, or uncheck the box.

this would be as efficient as what I proposed, but in general it's better to have the button say what it's going to do when you click it (rather than "ok" which means I need to look elsewhere)

[el_matarife]

this would be as efficient as what I proposed, but in general it's better to have the button say what it's going to do when you click it (rather than "ok" which means I need to look elsewhere)

Diplomacy is usually done through a dialog in RTS, for instance Supreme Commander or Age of Empires. The OK / Cancel gives you a chance to back out if you hit the wrong key.

Meanwhile, how are people supposed to select WHO they're giving units to if there isn't a dialog?

[Beherith]

Just use the buttons on advplayerslist to share, much nicer imo.

[YokoZar]

Just use the buttons on advplayerslist to share, much nicer imo.

There's a button for it? We need to do way better than just an icon, it's not very learnable. Maybe it would help if the H key interface used the same icon, only bigger, next to the "share these units" text on the button. That way I could know instantly what the button does, and then I'd learn what the icon means, and then I'd know what to expect when I see that icon elsewhere in the user interface.

[Beherith]

Just use the buttons on advplayerslist to share, much nicer imo.

There's a button for it? We need to do way better than just an icon, it's not very learnable. Maybe it would help if the H key interface used the same icon, only bigger, next to the "share these units" text on the button. That way I could know instantly what the button does, and then I'd learn what the icon means, and then I'd know what to expect when I see that icon elsewhere in the user interface.

Mouseover on the advplayerslist buttons give instant tooltips. If you cant see the buttons, press ctrl+f11 for tweak mode and set them to visible, esc to exit tweak.

[AF]

As good as that widget may be, it is not bundled with spring or used in every game. Even then, it may not be obvious to suers ( huge usability bug) and some the H key still has a function when the widget is enabled.

The H key should be fixed, adn I agree with yokozar. I would also say it needs to be more obvious with who its being sent to. The player list is not as responsive as it should be and needs a background highlight too.

I would go as far to say that under every player name should be a 'send selected units button, and values for each resource with a send button next to them and a plus and minus

[REVENGE]

+1 since LuaUI can still be disabled by the user at this point.

[Jazcash]

I want some sort of hotkey so in mid battle and I can select units quickly and share a the press of one key and one mouse click or w/e...

For example. holding the 'H' key will display a drop down list of players on my team and I can quickly use the mouse to select who I want to share them too...

In mid battle, click 'H' which displays a giant box in the middle of your screen, blocking your view, then searching for your ally in a group of all players in the game, then checking a box, and click another button to confirm it in mid battle is ridiculous...

Sharing to enemies shouldn't even be allowed, it should be disabled completely.

[REVENGE]

I want some sort of hotkey so in mid battle and I can select units quickly and share a the press of one key and one mouse click or w/e...

For example. holding the 'H' key will display a drop down list of players on my team and I can quickly use the mouse to select who I want to share them too...

In mid battle, click 'H' which displays a giant box in the middle of your screen, blocking your view, then searching for your ally in a group of all players in the game, then checking a box, and click another button to confirm it in mid battle is ridiculous...

Sharing to enemies shouldn't even be allowed, it should be disabled completely.

I have been considering for a while now on making a good unit sharing interface with Lua. Hell, a good *sharing* interface in general. People could ask for units to be shared from the team, "buy and sell" units from each other, ask everyone for emergency energy, and assign a factory to autoshare stuff. All of this would be GUI of course. Haven't gotten around to it due to upcoming midterms and rl stuff.

[Jazcash]

Use tabs! I like tabs <3

[YokoZar]

Sharing to enemies shouldn't even be allowed, it should be disabled completely.

Moreover, unless cheats are on, enemies shouldn't even appear on the sharing menu. All they do is make it harder to find the player you're looking for and, at worse, cause a very very bad mistake when enemy-sharing isn't disabled.

[TheFatController]

Sharing to enemies shouldn't even be allowed, it should be disabled completely.

Moreover, unless cheats are on, enemies shouldn't even appear on the sharing menu. All they do is make it harder to find the player you're looking for and, at worse, cause a very very bad mistake when enemy-sharing isn't disabled.

Quoted for truth

[Neddie]

Sharing to enemies shouldn't even be allowed, it should be disabled completely.

Depends entirely on the game mode and content. In some situations, entirely legitimate, just not in many you use.

[Jazcash]

Sharing to enemies shouldn't even be allowed, it should be disabled completely.

Depends entirely on the game mode and content. In some situations, entirely legitimate, just not in many you use.

I can think of a few:

*Killing your allies
*Giving up complete hope
*You happen to be bum chums with someone on the enemy team
*"I pushed the wrong button"

[lurker]

FFA games, as part of a tech exchange, distraction tactics, XP farming, shield energy draining, to confuse, to test for AIs...

[BaNa]

Sharing to enemies shouldn't even be allowed, it should be disabled completely.

I like sharing llts when some dumbass ally is walking up to dgun me.

[CarRepairer]

As good as that widget may be, it is not bundled with spring or used in every game. Even then, it may not be obvious to suers ( huge usability bug) and some the H key still has a function when the widget is enabled.

Is Spring an engine for modders to make games in it, or is it a game itself that requires we discuss usability for players who play only certain types of games?

[Jazcash]

FFA games, as part of a tech exchange, distraction tactics, XP farming, shield energy draining, to confuse, to test for AIs...

This is done in less than 1% of games played. FFA games shouldn't even involve exchange anyway, there's enough problems with allying and whispering in an FFA. It's called 'Free For All' for a reason.

It's obvious you just came up with these ideas they could be used for in 10 seconds or so. If you were hoping to confuse an enemy by giving them units, you've got another thing coming.

For testing purposes, simply issue a cheat command. Sharing to enemies causes a lot more problems than good. I think most players will agree with me that it would be best if sharing to enemies should be disabled.