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IDProjectCategoryLast Update
0009153AI War 1 / ClassicSuggestion - Interface Ideas - Unit Selection, Management, and OrdersAug 8, 2012 3:19 pm
ReporterKahuna Assigned To 
Status consideringResolutionopen 
Summary0009153: Show firepower for selected ships
Descriptionhttp://www.arcengames.com/forums/index.php/topic,11298.msg114589.html#msg114589
Quote from TechSY730: "The "free everything" thing happens when the AI is out firepowered on that planet by at least 2:1. The problem is that most AI planets are so weakly defended, it is very easy to trip this cap. Plus, there is currently no way to get the firepower rating of one ship or of your currently selected ships."

Something like this (screenshot) would be handy. I would know whatever I'm going to alert the whole AI planet or get completely owned. Atm the only way to see the firepower is to use the galaxy map which only shows the firepower for the whole planet. Not currently selected ships.
Maybe the "Firepower" should be under the "Selected:x"
TagsNo tags attached.
Internal WeightFeature Suggestion

Activities

Kahuna

Aug 7, 2012 12:11 pm

reporter  

Firepower.jpg (673,950 bytes)

TechSY730

Aug 7, 2012 12:22 pm

reporter   ~0027435

Thanks. :)

doctorfrog

Aug 8, 2012 2:11 am

reporter   ~0027446

Last edited: Aug 8, 2012 12:33 pm

The firepower number always seemed kinda patchy to me, as a toss-off way for quasi-advanced players to precisely calculate things and get a predictable outcome. I remember the first time I saw it as an option, I just scratched my head and shrugged. You're going to get a similar response from other novice players.

The exposure of the firepower metric is a flawed idea IMO, and a more intuitive way to warn a player that he's about to wake the dead would not only be easier for a novice player to understand, but would add more value to the gameplay.

So I'm not against this idea, but I'd like for folks to also see it as an opportunity to suggest something more interesting and intuitive, even atmospheric, rather than as a patch for a patch.

A silent intel message: "Telemetry from AI monitoring in Murdoch indicates that they are agitated by the size your attack force on Gribble." (Kinda wordy.)

A variation of the above: "Murdoch AI Eye is agitated by your growing attack force on Gribble."

A direct message from the AI: "Go ahead, attack Murdoch with that much firepower. You'll be sorry."

Galaxy Map: Combine one of the above with a new indicator on the galaxy map indicating that the ships on an adjacent planet will trigger a major backlash. Currently, we have "Aware," meaning reinforcements are likely, and "Not aware," meaning that reinforcements are unlikely. A third indicator (Agitated|Worried|Disturbed|Roused) that indicates the likelihood of overwhelming response fits in here.

The above should only work if you have scouts on the relevant planet.

Hearteater

Aug 8, 2012 12:15 pm

reporter   ~0027453

I'm also of the opinion that firepower #s should be hidden. Its an entirely internal metric that effectively is like reading the AI's mind.

doctorfrog

Aug 8, 2012 12:31 pm

reporter   ~0027454

Yeah, succinctly put, and enough to sway my vote to be against. There should be a better way to deliver this information without magical mind reading.

TechSY730

Aug 8, 2012 12:38 pm

reporter   ~0027455

Last edited: Aug 8, 2012 12:38 pm

@Hearteater
Then in that case, all forms of numeric firepower display should be removed. Right now, you can still get the information through various means.

Hearteater

Aug 8, 2012 1:21 pm

reporter   ~0027457

@TechSY730
And that's exactly what I feel. The player should never see the term firepower or the number. And that's because we should never need to see it. I don't want to have to fiddle with adding and removing ships until I have the maximum possible firepower value to do something. It is already annoying enough with Eyes.

TechSY730

Aug 8, 2012 3:19 pm

reporter   ~0027459

@Hearteater

It sounds like sort of you would like it if the AI's responses were less "boolean".
I would support this, even though I personally still want firepower to be something the player should have data about.

I don't really have time to elaborate on this now, but I am planning on making a forum post later tonight on this topic of making the AI less "all or nothing" in how it responds.

Issue History

Date Modified Username Field Change
Aug 7, 2012 12:11 pm Kahuna New Issue
Aug 7, 2012 12:11 pm Kahuna File Added: Firepower.jpg
Aug 7, 2012 12:14 pm Kahuna Description Updated
Aug 7, 2012 12:15 pm Kahuna Description Updated
Aug 7, 2012 12:22 pm TechSY730 Note Added: 0027435
Aug 8, 2012 2:11 am doctorfrog Note Added: 0027446
Aug 8, 2012 2:13 am doctorfrog Note Edited: 0027446
Aug 8, 2012 7:50 am tigersfan Internal Weight => Feature Suggestion
Aug 8, 2012 7:50 am tigersfan Status new => considering
Aug 8, 2012 12:15 pm Hearteater Note Added: 0027453
Aug 8, 2012 12:31 pm doctorfrog Note Added: 0027454
Aug 8, 2012 12:33 pm doctorfrog Note Edited: 0027446
Aug 8, 2012 12:38 pm TechSY730 Note Added: 0027455
Aug 8, 2012 12:38 pm TechSY730 Note Edited: 0027455
Aug 8, 2012 1:21 pm Hearteater Note Added: 0027457
Aug 8, 2012 3:19 pm TechSY730 Note Added: 0027459