Suggestion: Better UI for activating Squad Abilities.

It's fine where it is in the menu, but I'm sure players would appreciate a better (read: easier and more intuitive) way to activate the Squad Leader's abilities. A key bind is probably the simplest and most effective idea. However, this implementation would be lacking several features of a full the UI representation.

I was thinking that we could take a page out of PlanetSide. For those unfamiliar with the game, Commanders (equivalent of Empires' Squad Leaders) had a tool that allowed them to activate various commander-only abilities.

How about implementing a similar tool, that when "fired" by the squad leader would give a pop-up menu (like the Engineer's calculator does on "alt fire") with a choice of available abilities. The choices would be grayed out if the tool is used by a non-SL, or if there aren't enough Squad Points available. Also, the "Artillery"-type abilities would be easier to activate if the said tool had a crosshair for aiming.

I understand the difficulties in designing, modeling and animating such a tool, but it doesn't need to be anything elaborate. Perhaps a flat, rectangular, electronic notepad-looking device, textured with some map, and using the same "hand pressing buttons" animation as the Engie's repair tool.

 

It's in the popup menu so that it was quick enough to add for 1.08. If you want something elaborate, then it'll be removed from 1.08.

 

Wouldn't it be easier to put it in the C menu?

 

I can't quite picture this.

what i can picture is that when you have used the squad skill menu, then instead of becoming active imidiately, you then press E to activate it. this means that you can use it in the middle of the action. for instance, you can prepare an arty strike and then use it in the middle of combat.

i picture pressing "e" would make you do a funny hand signal

 

Popup menu is fine. Can the keybind make it into 1.08?

The other idea is more like for 1.09 I guess. I only put it in this forum instead of the Suggestions because the subject is about an RC feature.

 

it would make more sense to throw down some red smoke, or a beacon. the cannons need targeting coordinates after all.

 

aight i had an idea that i didnt want to create a new thread for so sry for the revive...

but basically the squad powers are usally activated in a rush(like the arty shells) you usally dont have time to sit there and do everything with out getting killed

my main problem with that is i accidently end up leaving the sqaud im in.. and usally with my luck when i rejoin the squad the new leader is a noob who doesnt understand how to leave the squad or use the powers

my suggestion is to take the leave squad button off the F menu and make it only accessed thru the C menu thing

 

you can already bind your squad powers to a key, I have them bound and they work fine.

 

That post was made before the popup menu binds were added.

 

how about having them setup as binds by default for the client, similar to the seat changing commands (f1-f?)? wouldn't this be easy to do considering activating the squad abilities for each class is the same?

i completely agree with no elaborate changes, but as sandbag pointed out it's a tad unwieldy going thru the pop-up menu when u're in the middle of a battle, trying to survive.

 

hah didn't notice that, but yeh I guess something better is needed, not necessarily for 2.0 though, I have mine bound to keys anyway.

 

Someone put the lack of being able to bind all the voice commands from the config panel as a bug. It would take too much changing around of the config panel to be an easy addition, but just adding two binds for the squad powers wouldn't be hard.

 

yeah i do that all the time.... i totally agree with this.

 

since some ppl bind the squad powers, it would be nice if the SL had a small transparent addon to the squad list in the hud that showed what the squad powers are, and how many points they take. when i bound mine, i frequently didnt use the binds because i didnt know what SP 1 was and what SP 2 was on a class-by-class basis

 

would also be nice if there was a description of what the squad powers do, like squad hide, cloaks entire squad for xx seconds even if they are standing up or something like that, oh uh, btw, does squad arty dmg vehicles? cause i used it on a comm and it didnt do much

 

It's the equivalent of 5 RPG's. Takes out turrets, vehicles and buildings if you use enough of them.

 

Squad Arty is invaluable on Escort for NF, especially at the last flag. It takes out those annoying nuke tanks in 2-3 volleys.