Suggested UI tweak

[alstein]

On the relations screen, have left arrow and right arrow scroll counterclockwise and clockwise among the races. This would save me some clicking.

[Crisses]

Awesome!

[eidolad]

more UI tweaks:

1. when I install a weapon, do NOT automagically populate the hot bar slots with the weapon.

this applies for my Drakk carrier configuration: where I'm constantly swapping in/out the bomber/fighter/interceptors so that I can get my 15 escorts. The game constantly sets the fighter weapon to key number 2...when I'm stubborn and want it on key number 1.

or allow the player to assign a particular ship slot to N hot key...so *any* weapon placed in that slot will always be assigned to the same hot key...if applicable.

2. how about an auto-launch of fighter slot if there is less than 5 of this type? or auto-launch timer (settable for every N seconds) for a particular weapon slot?

3. reduce the click load with an auto-identify button (perhaps as a crew engineering trait) that just goes through each item and identifies it? Let's face it: it is a just a bunch of right-clicking on each item and not really any more than a convenience to have a trader do it... or just get rid of item identification altogether.

4. On the various screens, such as "solve quests": once I've answered/cleared each item...just leave that window. No need for player to sit there looking at an empty table that have an obvious "cancel" button. would save some clicks/ESC keys.

5. Oh and abbreviate the active escort list on the left such that 11+ escorts can be viewed. Perhaps use semi-solid fighter/interceptor/bomber etc. ship icons that decrease as each loses health. i cannot see the third category of escorts presently.

This is quick post and I'm sure some/all of this is known/covered/being addressed...

In fact, anything that reduces the click workload would be appreciated.

Speaking as an old Diablo II fan who's right index finger is pretty much toast after left-clicking so much during years of playing that game...

[Crisses]

[quote=eidolad;39405]1. when I install a weapon, do NOT automagically populate the hot bar slots with the weapon.[quote]

This is something you can turn off in the settings for the game. Look under Game Options.

#2 - only if it's something set per-user. It can be quite an energy drain in a big battle, which may be a really bad time for your weapons to malfunction due to no energy.

#3 - it's the "identify tax" -- either you click a lot when you're bored or waiting for components to install -- or you pay for a merchant to do it. It is silly....from a click perspective anyway.

#4 - Disagree -- only leave the window when all items are cleared. Or if that's what you meant, it wasn't clear (you said "each item").

#5 - this was mentioned elsewhere.

In fact, anything that reduces the click workload would be appreciated.

See also my recent post on Includification: http://www.soldak.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8489

People with RSI (repetitive stress injury) still like to play games (that'd be me)....and people with mobility issues, etc. So overall I agree -- less clicking is better. Much less nonsensical clicking is best.

[eidolad]

1. Ah missed that option: however if I turn off Auto-Fill: it it worse for the carrier-jock: the mandatory auto-fill will populate the slot one with a weapon. so the player has to drag and drop the fighter component back to slot N. and if tired after a long day: said player drags the component into space by accident and then runs back to set Auto-Fill to "on"

2. Yes i want the auto-attack (well, launch) option to be toggle-able. and then to shut off when the max fighters for that type are deployed. perhaps tie this into a Crew trait?

3. Boo to identity tax

4. Ya actually that is what i meant: just clear me out of that window one all quests are solved. Or, perish the thought, just auto-alert the player on solved quest and make just a status message about the reward?

[Crisses]

Originally Posted by eidolad

4. Ya actually that is what i meant: just clear me out of that window one all quests are solved. Or, perish the thought, just auto-alert the player on solved quest and make just a status message about the reward?

No, that's not a good idea. There are times you do NOT want to cash in a quest. Say you kill Named Baddie and X race holds the quest to kill him. You are trying to build relations with 3 other races at war with X, so you can get an alliance.

If the quest auto-completes with just a notification, then 3 races are now at lowered relations with you for working with their enemy... If X holds many of these quests, and they auto-complete, you can fill the quests just exploring territory or going from system-to-system and it can ruin your target win conditions.

With the new notifications toggles, you COULD have a checkbox for "autocomplete friend quests" though.

Another bad time is when there's a "reward dropped in space". Don't need that crew or gift chest left in the dust while you're being chased across the multiverse by a huge horde.

However, I do find cashing quests to be pretty cumbersome on the hands -- so I agree overall with your ideas in trying to slenderize the # of clicks. Some have asked for a consolidated quest screen. Also, if you can instantly contact a race and cash quests, and there's never a circumstance when you cannot -- why can't we get our rewards from our own Quests screen? It seems silly that it isn't a list where you can click a "Cash in All Quests" button or cash in individual quests one at a time (in case you don't want to fill a specific race's quests right now).

The only problem with that that I can tell is that not all filled quests show up there -- only the filled quests that we've accepted. That could be changed, and the quests filled incidentally could also show up there, allowing the "cash all" and "cash in this quest" button options....

[eidolad]

well considered and i agree. maybe in a later version just have "ignore dialog" and "ignore quests" options added to the Relations screen.