New waypoint markers

colorblind · Post by **colorblind** » 18 May 2006, 11:36

I guess everyone's seen the Supreme Commander movie where they drag the waypoints. If not, shame on you.
I thought to myself: "Wow, that is really sweet. Why doesn't Spring have that? Oh, that's probably because there are no waypoint markers to drag ... But that can be changed!"

So here are two of them:

I could do them all (capture, guard, patrol, reclaim, repair, revive, (un)load), but I thought it better to see what the developers think of this. I don't think that draggable waypoints are a pain to implement, and I do think they'd enhance the gameplay experience.

Acidd_UK · Post by **Acidd_UK** » 18 May 2006, 11:58

Great idea!

Zenka · Post by **Zenka** » 18 May 2006, 12:42

Indeed!
Only we have to wait for a new GUI to have it work.
I'll add it to the "new GUI feature request list"
http://taspring.clan-sy.com/wiki/New_GUI

colorblind · Post by **colorblind** » 18 May 2006, 12:59

Why wait for the new GUI? Why not implement it now? At least the drawing of the waypoints can be added, perhaps not the dragging of them. And really, that shouldn't be too much work.

Zenka · Post by **Zenka** » 18 May 2006, 13:40

Well, there are several reasons why not to make it in the current GUI.
The most severe one is. Who is going to do it? All devs are currently busy on various more important tasks then adding waypoints to an old GUI.
Also, as you migth noticed, this is one of many requested features. why should dis be implanted to the current GUI and not the rest?
A new GUI is being developed (well, the system is being worked on). It's silly to put time in upgrading the current GUI when a new one is being made.

Unless ofcourse you make it, then we will all cheer!

colorblind · Post by **colorblind** » 18 May 2006, 13:47

Start cheering then

But I'm not going to put time and energy into this when it's not going to get committed; that's why I'd like some feedback from the dev's.

PauloMorfeo · Post by **PauloMorfeo** » 18 May 2006, 13:52

... new GUI ...

Although a new GUI would be needed to allow for that, i doubt that the current engine has the ability to modify existing orders like that draging thing. That would have to be made, first, in the engine.

Tobi · Post by **Tobi** » 18 May 2006, 14:04

yes, I'm pretty sure just modifying the points will confuse (at least) the unit AIs.

Of course one could, transparently to the user, implement it by temporarily canceling all orders and readding them with the moved waypoint at the new location. Obviously this would increase network load quite a bit if people start dragging waypoints in long order queues.

Zenka · Post by **Zenka** » 18 May 2006, 14:25

Why can't the waypoint be altered? They are stored somewere right? Can't you just change the value of the adjusted waypoint and recalculate the path? (then send the changes to the other clients)

AF · Post by AF » 18 May 2006, 16:12

I disagree, and think waypoints shouldnt be bitmap sprites, but instead drawn lines like in supcom, with a waypoint simply being a bit where 2 lines join.

Unit AI's ahve a queue of commands, but those comamnds are expanded. For example a aptrol command to you is a mix of aptrol + move + attack and guard commands to the unitAI, the unitAI would need a structural redesign....

colorblind · Post by **colorblind** » 18 May 2006, 16:20

AF wrote:I disagree, and think waypoints shouldnt be bitmap sprites, but instead drawn lines like in supcom, with a waypoint simply being a bit where 2 lines join.

Again it seems like I haven't made myself clear enough for you, AF. The waypoint markers I have posted should go at the spot where you have queued up a command, with the traditional line already present in Spring connecting the marker with the unit or other markers.

Right now there are only lines in Spring; adding the markers at the spot of the given command would increase my ability to understand the bare lines we have now. Just to make it clear for you, my proposal is:

spring + markers => lines + markers = just the way it is in sup com.

As for the internal reshuffling of the commands needed for the dragging of the waypoints, I'm at a loss. But I do know that it would be very nice to do some dragging.

AF · Post by AF » 18 May 2006, 16:24

Can be done with GroupAI, although I'd prefer 3D line markers to those sprites ro any sprites

Lindir The Green · Post by **Lindir The Green** » 19 May 2006, 03:12

Every mod could choose between a 3d sphere and a custom bitmap.

Problem solved.

Egarwaen · Post by **Egarwaen** » 19 May 2006, 03:29

AF wrote:Can be done with GroupAI, although I'd prefer 3D line markers to those sprites ro any sprites

What do you mean by "3D line markers"? The way they're represented now, or something else?

AF · Post by AF » 19 May 2006, 14:30

A line based animation, something mod neutral.

unpossible · Post by **unpossible** » 19 May 2006, 17:09

AF wrote:A line based animation, something mod neutral.

aside from animation how is that different to what spring has atm?

AF · Post by AF » 19 May 2006, 20:37

Spring has nothing atm, the animated line markers are something

Spring RTS Engine

New waypoint markers

New waypoint markers