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Player Features and Ideas Discussion

 
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[Feature] Faux-North on Tactical Overlay
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Jessica Danikov
Network Danikov
#1 - 2012-11-08 23:11:10 UTC
While in space, directions are pretty arbitrary, it really helps to have an agreed point of reference to let people communicate what direction things are in. EVE already does a bit of this by having an arbitrary sense of up/down (it'd be very disorientating without it). EVE also already has a 'faux' north for all star systems- every time you check the solar system map, it will be orientated the same way.

I propose that this be made visible on the tactical overlay as an arrow or some-such indicating this faux-north. Savvy players can then communicate what direction objects are in quickly and intuitively without having to do so relative to other objects in space (i.e. towards the sun), which can change depending on where you are. I suspect the tactical overlay already orientates itself in a standard manner, so it'd just be a very quick change to the graphic and a quick check to ensure that is the case.
Deena Amaj
Native Freshfood
Minmatar Republic
#2 - 2012-11-08 23:56:05 UTC
Anything that helps with orientation sounds good. I recall the 360° compass ring from a different game aligned to something like the galactic core.

It's not asking for much.
Might want to add in other viable features to this, while you're at it.

confirthisposmed

I'm probably typing on a Tablet too, which means the auto-correct is silly and fixing typos is a pain. I ain't fixing them.
BlakPhoenix
Load Up Blast Everything
DARKNESS.
#3 - 2012-11-09 01:21:41 UTC
I like this idea a lot, but since in space north has no bearing may I suggest a directional attribute based on the location of the sun? That was you can say "Towards the sun," "away from the sun" or "9 o'clock from the sun." Just a little more interesting and space-esque.
JP Nakamura
Union of Intergalactic Miners and Nano Assemblers
#4 - 2012-11-09 12:04:41 UTC
East of the sun and west of the moon?

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Jessica Danikov
Network Danikov
#5 - 2012-11-10 01:18:41 UTC
The problem with 'toward the sun' is that it's still relative. If two people are either side of the sun, it's going to point in different directions.

The point of a faux-north is to have an arbitrary and absolute direction that doesn't change- you still have to compensate for position and elevation, but the game naturally has a sense of up-down and humans are very capable of thinking in a cartesian coordinate space once they have that agreed axis (e.g. a north) to reference.
BlakPhoenix
Load Up Blast Everything
DARKNESS.
#6 - 2012-12-27 23:55:55 UTC
Jessica Danikov wrote:
The problem with 'toward the sun' is that it's still relative. If two people are either side of the sun, it's going to point in different directions.

The point of a faux-north is to have an arbitrary and absolute direction that doesn't change- you still have to compensate for position and elevation, but the game naturally has a sense of up-down and humans are very capable of thinking in a cartesian coordinate space once they have that agreed axis (e.g. a north) to reference.


This doesn't make sense though because real north is relative. If you stand 100m from the north pole and someone else stands 100m on the other side of the north pole then your compass's will be pointing at each other, just as in your example. Another option though if you don't want that level of realism is to base it off a stars position (not the local sun). This would be a more absolute positioning for everyone in the solar system.
Gilbaron
The Scope
Gallente Federation
#7 - 2012-12-28 00:33:18 UTC
X Y Z axis !
Draconus Lofwyr
The Scope
Gallente Federation
#8 - 2012-12-28 00:38:06 UTC
all compasses point to jita, just by the shear gravitational force of the mass of freighters.
Seranova Farreach
Biomass Negative
#9 - 2012-12-28 09:01:12 UTC
BlakPhoenix wrote:
I like this idea a lot, but since in space north has no bearing may I suggest a directional attribute based on the location of the sun? That was you can say "Towards the sun," "away from the sun" or "9 o'clock from the sun." Just a little more interesting and space-esque.

i like that, the compas can lock onto the biggest "near" gravity signature aka the sun.

[u]___________________ http://i.imgur.com/d9Ee2ik.jpg[/u]
Seranova Farreach
Biomass Negative
#10 - 2012-12-28 09:03:09 UTC
Draconus Lofwyr wrote:
all compasses point to jita, just by the shear gravitational force of the mass of freighters.

oh god.. that would just be like "all wormholes lead to K162" :P and on that note if in a wormhole it wouldnt work if it was to point toward jita.

[u]___________________ http://i.imgur.com/d9Ee2ik.jpg[/u]