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Player Features and Ideas Discussion

 
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Improvement of Directional Scan
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Andy Landen
Deep Core Mining Inc.
Caldari State
#1 - 2013-09-16 15:55:28 UTC
New directional scan (dscan) features request:
Auto-scan check box with slider for frequency of scans
DScan link to non-active overview filter
DScan sound alert when result deviates from baseline; Deviations are highlighted on dscan result.

These features will:
Save my finger and mouse from wearing out with all that clicking and free me up to do other things like fight.
Allow me to watch the overview of my choice and actually see space without filling my screen with a large, unfiltered dscan box.
Allow me to look at anything other than the dscan box without worrying about missing a change in the dscan results.

The features will basically allow me to execute normal operations without 100% focus on the process of dscanning.

"We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them." Albert Einstein 
Andy Landen
Deep Core Mining Inc.
Caldari State
#2 - 2013-09-16 17:29:13 UTC
This isn't just for w-space guys. It is just so hard to use that only those who absolutely need it use it.
k-space guys usually only absolutely need it once for each gate in null sec (to look for bubbles), but if dscan were easier to use, it would be used more even in k-space. All tools are used when they are useful and used more when they are more useful.

"We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them." Albert Einstein 
Ralph King-Griffin
New Eden Tech Support
#3 - 2013-09-16 17:40:02 UTC
All it needs is a visual denotation .

Murderers of Negotiable Motivations

=]|[=
Winter Archipelago
Autumn Industrial Enterprises
#4 - 2013-09-16 19:57:34 UTC
Sounds like you're vying for something that would make it significantly safer (and, by extension, easier) to AFK. No way, no how.

For the Newbies: The 8 Golden Rules - The Magic 14 Skills - Finding the Right Corp - EVE University Wiki
Legion40k
School of Applied Knowledge
Caldari State
#5 - 2013-09-17 01:21:42 UTC
+1 to not breaking another mouse

Curious extension to the Dscan discussion:
- I think when the Dscan gets updated, such as the way you describe, the whole system will get completely changed in the process. The more i think about it, the crazier it seems that we can retrieve information about our surroundings instantly when it can take light (being a form of information) up to two hours to travel 14AU [my maths is freaking awful, i know, shh]

I know EVE Science is amazing n'all, but it seems like the tool is currently wayy too perfect

A possible change could be that a constant ping of the directional scanner goes out to a certain range but much much less than what we have currently. Star systems would seem a whole lot bigger if we were limited to 1AU or less instant-intel retrieving scans.

On its own this 'update' would be crippling though, so maybe the scanner could detect warp signatures up to large ranges, which you can quickly pinpoint using the directional part of the scan. You may not get the hull and name of the thing, but its warping and your scan can roughly determine the mass of the warping ship (Now that would be interesting)

"theres something awful huge warping our way. balls."

Cloakies would be an exception to dscan warp detection, you'd hope.

I dunno. Information in this game seems awful easy to get Ugh

\o/
Oswaldos
University of Caille
Gallente Federation
#6 - 2013-09-17 04:54:54 UTC
I always thought an updated D-Scan with an additional graphical display would add a new perspective to the game.. heck you could practically remove active local if it was done right

**cough**
Updating D-Scan
Ganthrithor
School of Applied Knowledge
Caldari State
#7 - 2013-09-17 05:05:44 UTC
No. The ability to multitask (doing things while also handling scanning and parsing the scanner's results) is a large part of what separates skillful players from less-skilled players. Making the d-scanner an automated intel tool will only serve to dumb down the game and make people safer. The last thing EVE needs is more idiot-proofing.
Barrogh Habalu
Imperial Shipment
Amarr Empire
#8 - 2013-09-17 05:44:04 UTC
Ganthrithor wrote:
No. The ability to multitask (doing things while also handling scanning and parsing the scanner's results) is a large part of what separates skillful players from less-skilled players. Making the d-scanner an automated intel tool will only serve to dumb down the game and make people safer. The last thing EVE needs is more idiot-proofing.

Sad and pathetic is the game where mindless clicking passes for skill.

Future of T3 cruisers - multi-tool they aspired to be instead of sledgehammer they have become
NiGhTTraX
Deep Core Mining Inc.
Caldari State
#9 - 2013-09-17 08:50:29 UTC  |  Edited by: NiGhTTraX
Andy Landen wrote:
DScan sound alert when result deviates from baseline;

May I propose that the alert should be the Jaws theme song?


P.S.: you should search the forums for the gazillion threads with the same ideas and see why they have been rejected.

If you're gonna post here thinking your idea is the greatest thing since bacon and that it will save EVE and possibly all humankind with it, you're gonna have a bad time.
Starbuck05
Abiding Ormolus
#10 - 2013-09-17 11:17:54 UTC
Ganthrithor wrote:
No. The ability to multitask (doing things while also handling scanning and parsing the scanner's results) is a large part of what separates skillful players from less-skilled players. Making the d-scanner an automated intel tool will only serve to dumb down the game and make people safer. The last thing EVE needs is more idiot-proofing.


+1 , also this only encourages afk'ness . If u can't multitask in eve then all thats left for u is mining and imo thats what i think is great about the game,the fact that u NEED to play it.. not like other games where u click a button and go afk while ur char lvls up etc..

Just because i am blond does not make me stoopid !
Arya Regnar
Darwins Right Hand
#11 - 2013-09-18 11:26:04 UTC
Ganthrithor wrote:
No. The ability to multitask (doing things while also handling scanning and parsing the scanner's results) is a large part of what separates skillful players from less-skilled players. Making the d-scanner an automated intel tool will only serve to dumb down the game and make people safer. The last thing EVE needs is more idiot-proofing.

This, minimum auto dscan timer should be 1 minute.

EvE-Mail me if you need anything.
Edora Madullier
French Kiss Singularity
#12 - 2013-09-18 13:30:45 UTC
Ganthrithor wrote:
No. The ability to multitask (doing things while also handling scanning and parsing the scanner's results) is a large part of what separates skillful players from less-skilled players. Making the d-scanner an automated intel tool will only serve to dumb down the game and make people safer. The last thing EVE needs is more idiot-proofing.


Yeah, 'cause you know, spamming clicks on a button is skill, and not dumb at all ...

While the idea of an alert does make D-scan too easy, you can't possibly think that the D-scan "click click click click click ..." mechanic is a good one.
seth Hendar
I love you miners
#13 - 2013-09-18 13:50:06 UTC
Andy Landen wrote:
New directional scan (dscan) features request:
Auto-scan check box with slider for frequency of scans
DScan link to non-active overview filter
DScan sound alert when result deviates from baseline; Deviations are highlighted on dscan result.

These features will:
Save my finger and mouse from wearing out with all that clicking and free me up to do other things like fight.
Allow me to watch the overview of my choice and actually see space without filling my screen with a large, unfiltered dscan box.
Allow me to look at anything other than the dscan box without worrying about missing a change in the dscan results.

The features will basically allow me to execute normal operations without 100% focus on the process of dscanning.



Auto-scan check box with slider for frequency of scans
- no

DScan link to non-active overview filter
- not fan of it, but provided it is done for being as easy to use as the actual system, not uch to say against it

DScan sound alert when result deviates from baseline; Deviations are highlighted on dscan result.
-not sure about this


reason for no autoscan: stop being a carebear, you already have crazy instant intel from the local channel, wich is already OP, plus as long as you are on a mission / site with a gate, you can't even get dropped, a competent pilot is already 100% safe in low (except when he passes gates), so clearly, no need for making them even safer......
Barrogh Habalu
Imperial Shipment
Amarr Empire
#14 - 2013-09-19 08:16:48 UTC  |  Edited by: Barrogh Habalu
One thing to remember is that d-scanning uses server resources. Remember talks about issues with aura-like mech in EVE (like, with range-based link boosts)? Same applies here, although on a lesser scale most of the time. That means that there should be some means to limit automatic usage no matter how we agree or disagree with gameplay effects it could inflict. Among other ideas it could be something like what was done to local - you can have your automatic scans (not every second ofc) and warnings, but if you hover your mouse over the d-scan window. Or something.

That is, of course, conservative idea. It will still be a quality of life improvement. Other aspects of d-scanning (manual narrowing of object's location and the like) should stay IMO, but I wouldn't mind, say, better range inputs.

Future of T3 cruisers - multi-tool they aspired to be instead of sledgehammer they have become
Edora Madullier
French Kiss Singularity
#15 - 2013-09-19 15:38:24 UTC
seth Hendar wrote:
[quote=Andy Landen]reason for no autoscan: stop being a carebear, you already have crazy instant intel from the local channel, wich is already OP, plus as long as you are on a mission / site with a gate, you can't even get dropped, a competent pilot is already 100% safe in low (except when he passes gates), so clearly, no need for making them even safer......


Have you ever heard of Wormspace? You know, the Solar Systems without local, where for almost every activity you have to be in an anomaly?
Roime
Mea Culpa.
Shadow Cartel
#16 - 2013-09-19 15:58:57 UTC
I'm not against automatic cycling, if it's much less frequent than current minimum cycle. A minute would be fine.

However more important fixes:

- Proper scan width slider with a meaty sized thumb and ability to click directly on the scale to set width (and keyboard shortcuts to inc/dec range)
- x number of preset width buttons (keyboard shortcuts)
- km/au switch
- range slider and/or preset buttons
- visual indication selected range on your main screen

ability to decouple overview and dscanner is a great idea, having your overview presets as dropdown in dscanner would be lovely.

Functionally I might experiment with the idea of changing the accuracry of list information it gives to be less specific at max range, and only give shipname and type when closer. ie. something like this:

14 AU = something
10 AU = ship
7 AU = large ship
4 AU = battleship
2 AU = Gallente battleship
1 AU = Romulus - Megathron (like current)

Just a bonus idea.

.
Oswaldos
University of Caille
Gallente Federation
#17 - 2013-09-19 16:07:00 UTC  |  Edited by: Oswaldos
Whats your thoughts for filtering by "active". So for example while cruising null sec and mashing D-SCAN with active filter off you spot 30 ships on d-scan. After enabling active scan filter you would see only the 2 that are online atm in system. It wouldn't be as useful in wh space but i could defiantly see it as useful in null sec when some systems are just littered with poses with empty ships at them.

And i like the idea of the level of quality of the D-Scan is determined by range adds more opportunity to surprise someone
Hyacinthine
The Scope
Gallente Federation
#18 - 2013-09-22 15:31:57 UTC
Dislike the idea of autoscanning. That turns any ship in a fleet (or every ship) into a full time scout vessel. A representative from Wormhole Scouts Union 435 will be over to visit you shortly...

Everything else sounds great. Being able to scan only for ships and probes while I'm still looking at collidable structures and wrecks would be incredibly helpful.