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Player Features and Ideas Discussion

 
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Drone control buttons on GUI?
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Toramii
Le Moulin Rouge
#1 - 2012-09-19 12:02:38 UTC
I have suggested this before in previous idea thread feedback over the years but feel it needs it's own thread to get some player feedback on pros / cons and raise visibility in the hope that CCP will consider for future improvement.

Its about time drones were made as easily usable as other primary weapons and modules instead of being hamstrung by fiddly menus.

I'd like to propose CCP add drone control buttons to the GUI similar to the high slot missile / turret module activation buttons that currently exist.

Some ideas for button functions

  • Attack current target
  • Return to orbit
  • Return to drone bay
  • Switch drone auto aggression ON/OFF

If there is a shortage of screen estate consider making buttons configurable by a right click drop down list, or consider putting the first two functions under one button - Attack current target / return to orbit (activate/deactivate).

If anyone likes this idea, show your support. If you have other ideas for drone button functions, post them below. If you think this idea is bad, then give reasons why.
Vi'ach
#2 - 2012-09-19 12:24:28 UTC
Use keyboard shortcuts like the rest of us?
Seranova Farreach
Biomass Negative
#3 - 2012-09-19 12:30:54 UTC
the only one i know of is (F) drone attack target

[u]___________________ http://i.imgur.com/d9Ee2ik.jpg[/u]
Vi'ach
#4 - 2012-09-19 12:32:42 UTC
Seranova Farreach wrote:
the only one i know of is (F) drone attack target


You can map many actions: http://vxv.so/clip7401609_48Kb.jpg
Nikk Narrel
Moonlit Bonsai
#5 - 2012-09-19 13:54:38 UTC
Vi'ach wrote:
Seranova Farreach wrote:
the only one i know of is (F) drone attack target


You can map many actions: http://vxv.so/clip7401609_48Kb.jpg

That's a very useful tip, and I appreciate you pointing it out.

I would propose the following to enhance drone use.

Change the current UI for drones into two parts. It is conflicting with itself too often right now.

Part one: a watch list relating only to drones actively controlled. No in bay drones.
Possibly have disconnected drones appear as grayed out if you can reconnect them.
Put a button next to the window, that works similarly to high slot weapon buttons.
*Green or green cycling: drones are either fighting or mining. Includes travelling to target.
**Yellow with rough cycle estimate: Drones are returning to ship, drones will arrive roughly when cycle completes
***Blue solid: drones are in local orbit of host ship

Part two: A status sheet on drones in bay, showing either health bars or a percentage of damage needing repair.

I would also suggest a drone repair module, slot requirement based on CCP balance decision, that takes action on drones stored inside the bay. Since this only works on drones stored internally, it won't conflict with remote repair modules.

Upgrading Local to Eliminate All AFK Influence What if Local Chat changed, Hunting the Cloaked...
Vi'ach
#6 - 2012-09-19 14:14:15 UTC
Don't we have this already?

Watch list:
http://vxv.so/clip2252621_22Kb.jpg
http://vxv.so/clip5281339_24Kb.jpg

I agree with Part 2, there should be something similar to "stored" drones showing their HP status. I often move drones to a "DAMAGED" group to help me separate them out, but I can only do this one I have launched them to see their status.
Utsen Dari
Sebiestor Tribe
Minmatar Republic
#7 - 2012-09-19 14:56:55 UTC
The big one is that there's no shortcut to launch the drones.

IMO when a drone group is created, player should get the option to put a button representing that group onto his HUD alongside the weapons. So you'd have buttons for launch warriors - launch hammerheads - launch EC-300s etc.


The other problem IMO is not being able to see the health of damaged drones when they are inside the bay. Say I have ten drones and four just got damaged and I want to relaunch the remaining healthy ones first. Currently I have no control over that.
Nikk Narrel
Moonlit Bonsai
#8 - 2012-09-19 16:03:09 UTC
Vi'ach wrote:
Don't we have this already?

Watch list:
http://vxv.so/clip2252621_22Kb.jpg
http://vxv.so/clip5281339_24Kb.jpg

I agree with Part 2, there should be something similar to "stored" drones showing their HP status. I often move drones to a "DAMAGED" group to help me separate them out, but I can only do this one I have launched them to see their status.

Negative on that for part one, although the status serves almost as well to keep a pilot informed.

Nikk Narrel wrote:
Put a button next to the window, that works similarly to high slot weapon buttons.
*Green or green cycling: drones are either fighting or mining. Includes travelling to target.
**Yellow with rough cycle estimate: Drones are returning to ship, drones will arrive roughly when cycle completes
***Blue solid: drones are in local orbit of host ship

No, I see I explained this assuming people read minds more than I should.

The button I described gives status as a secondary function, the main purpose is to toggle on and off the drones primary function, just like the high slot weapon buttons do.
For fighting drones, they would attack the current target, the toggle telling them to return and orbit.
(Instead of right clicking to offline a module, right click to recall them to drone bay)

If you highlight drones in the display window, the button would affect them alone instead of all drones.

The only time I think you should right click on the drone itself is to change what group folder it is assigned to.

Upgrading Local to Eliminate All AFK Influence What if Local Chat changed, Hunting the Cloaked...
Loius Woo
Sebiestor Tribe
Minmatar Republic
#9 - 2012-09-19 20:04:50 UTC
Wasn't this the original impetus for team Game of Drones anyway?

I thought CCP showed something like this at fanfest or something and then realized that there were some changes to the game that had to happen first (like inventory overhaul, ship balance changes, and UI updates) before we could have a module button for drones and that they are working all of those (hence why Game of Drones is such a ubiquitous team atm).

I think its coming soon(TM)
ThisIsntMyMain
Doomheim
#10 - 2012-09-19 20:10:32 UTC
Utsen Dari wrote:
The big one is that there's no shortcut to launch drones


Because when you have 500 drones in your carrier drone bay ( hopefully organized into groups by type ) you don't want your shortcut to launch Ogre II onto your mate instead of armor reps.