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Player Features and Ideas Discussion

 
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Audible cloaking/decloaking notice
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Penny Ibramovic
Wormhole Engineers
#1 - 2011-09-06 17:08:50 UTC
There are times when a visual UI cue is not sufficient warning for an event. A good example would be the warning of low shields or armour, where a combat situation demands attention on what's happening and not on the UI, so an alarm sounds to alert the pilot of a situation that demands attention.

It's not just in combat that pilots need to take care. Scouting requires skill and patience, as well as plenty of focus, as does stalking prey, both tasks often performed in ships that can cloak. There are times, however, when a ship will drift too close to a structure, or warp through it accidentally, and the cloak will drop. The pilot really needs to know this as soon as possible, and a simple toggle icon that vaguely glows green is not always clear enough in to recognise.

It would beneficial to have an audible signal to alert the pilot of the status of her cloak, a distinct sound for the cloak engaging and one for disengaging. This could be enabled on a per account basis in the system settings, in case it irritates. But I think it would be a useful cue that some pilots will find indispensable.
Penny Ibramovic
Wormhole Engineers
#2 - 2011-09-06 19:05:06 UTC
Oh, hello. A colleague jumping through a wormhole moved, shedding the session cloak, then cloaked. And there seemed to be a sound indicator, just as I suggest.

It's very quiet, though, and easily missed. Can this sound be improved, please?
Ingvar Angst
Nasty Pope Holding Corp
#3 - 2011-09-06 19:35:01 UTC
Wear headphones, turn the volume up, pay attention. Works with the wormhole thing nicely.

Six months in the hole... it changes a man.
Penny Ibramovic
Wormhole Engineers
#4 - 2011-09-06 20:43:37 UTC
Thanks for the suggestion to 'pay attention'.

I make sure i listen for wormhole flares, and they are nice and obvious. I have no problems with that. I was referring to my colleague decloaking then cloaking, and the barely noticeable sound that accompanies it. I could hear the cloaking sound when zoomed in and nothing much else was happening, but that is a rare occasion.

I would prefer a cloaking activation/deactivation sound that is clearly audible above, for example, combat, warp effects, or wormhole flares, and associated also with the module and not just proximity to the ship, so that it can be heard when the view is zoomed out. This is of particular importance, because when zoomed out it is less obvious that your ship's cloak has dropped. I would also prefer this to be audible without having to wear headphones.
Rees Noturana
Red Rock Mining Company
#5 - 2011-09-06 21:19:43 UTC
I listen for the cloaking sound as well but I'd like for an audible alert for your own cloak dropping as well. I've had fleet members bump me when I was busy scanning and didn't hear the subtle decloak sound over the scanning sounds.

The alert should only be when a cloak drops that was originally initiated by a cloaking device (not gate cloak) and you did not stop the cloaking device manually.

_ _
Marcus Gideon
Triglavian Assembly
#6 - 2011-09-07 03:13:52 UTC
I don't believe I've ever had a problem knowing when someone is/isn't cloaked.

The sound a cloak makes is quite distinct, and if you don't play with the view completely zoomed out, you can hear it just fine.

Sure, I'll agree other sounds could muffle it. But even then...

Too many buzzers, klaxons, bells, whistles, beeps, chirps, warbles, hoots, and hollars... and you'll be too busy trying to remember what it means to remember what to do about it.


Cloaks make you sneaky. Sneaky is the opposite of Obvious.
Nicolo da'Vicenza
Viziam
Amarr Empire
#7 - 2011-09-07 05:51:34 UTC
rarely used eve tactic - turn sound on
Aisha Kropotkin
Brutor Tribe
#8 - 2011-09-07 06:44:59 UTC
I think a beep or buzzer would be a good idea. If modern jet aircraft can beep and buzz and boop their state changes, why cant my spaceship? Just like the excellent shield/armor/hull alerts this should be customizable.

Heck, even my car goes ding-ding-ding if i forget to turn off the lights!
Rek Seven
University of Caille
Gallente Federation
#9 - 2011-09-07 11:36:58 UTC
I want the female AI voice to be more active in the game personally...

"Cloak deactivated"
"Your warp drive is being disrupted"
"Target destroyed" when you get the final blow in pvp

The wishlist is pretty much complete...
Signal11th
#10 - 2011-09-07 14:42:31 UTC
Personally I would prefer a text box to show I never have eve sound on so audible sounds are pointless, also what if your deaf?

God Said "Come Forth and receive eternal life!" I came fifth and won a toaster!
Ingvar Angst
Nasty Pope Holding Corp
#11 - 2011-09-07 16:07:49 UTC
Signal11th wrote:
Personally I would prefer a text box to show I never have eve sound on so audible sounds are pointless, also what if your deaf?


If someone plays that's deaf, I think it's safe to assume they have enough reliance on the overview to see someone pop up on there. Can't say for sure... seems logical though. You do have the visual already... they suddenly appear on overview.

Six months in the hole... it changes a man.
Dani Future
Republic University
Minmatar Republic
#12 - 2011-09-07 16:29:25 UTC
I would like that you should be able to select what to get an audible signal for,
I would like for Mail, Chat not much but enough to make one notice.

Kindly Dani Future

Fly Safe Dani Future (noobie extraordinaire)