Dark Avatar UI issues/improvement ideas

from GalCiv2 Forums
DA is out of beta so thought to bring my list to proper forum section.


UI Issues

-- When naming a ship, naming should start from the end of the name. IE. Colony 1, typing should beging after the 1 number , not from the beginning before C character.

-- Technology screen. Thank you for making a zooming possibility, but the zoom should zoom where the mouse cursor is. At the moment it always zooms on a selected tech.

-- Star bases/Constructors should be deselected when clicked elsewhere. Currently I have to select a solar system to deselct a star base/constructor.

-- Same class buildings should always be at the same spot in planetary building list. Current system with changing building names create confusion since the building list changes all the time. Also I would prefer that all wonders would be at the bottom of building queue. Photoshop example: Buildings

-- Right clicking a tech in technology window should give information what exactly does an improvement give. In example Laser II +1 beam damage, size 15 etc.

-- In rallypoint minimap, make the rallypoint different colour or something. It is very hard to spot since its almost the same as planet dot.

-- Selecting a trade route in financial manager/trade screen should make the trade route glow/different colour in the minimap.

-- Trade routes/Mining routes should not be shown in unexplored space. Especially with blind exploration ON. This is fixed in DA? Not sure but I think it is

-- ctrl + arrow camera movement does not work in ship intelligence window.

-- When you select "show ships" in minimap, they are coloured the same as your influence zone. When both of these are selected, naturally you cannot see your ships.


UI feature adds

-- In Financial manager screen the Approval rating should be coloured. Photoshop example:Aproval

-- Colony manager screen needs a minimap. Terrible example: Minimap

-- You should be able to select with multiple ships with ctrl/shift buttons from space port and launch many ships at the time.

-- You should be able to select multiple planets with ctrl/shift buttons in civilization manager/colony screen. This way you could easily set multiple rallypoints for multiple planets.

-- Ship building window should have similiar buttons for components (newest,old,all) as does the planetary screen for buildings. Photoshop example: Shipyard buttons

-- I would like to see planet surface on Invasion screen. This would make it easier to choose invasion method.

-- Having a "what do you want from this" choice in diplomacy would make diplomacy much easier. Or atleast give some indication how much your techs/planets/threaties are worth in diplomacy. Very frustrating trying to "quess" how to make a diplomacy deal happen!

-- In financial management screen I would like some more pop ups. In example Leases could use one, to tell how much and when certain leases end.

-- Population growth rate should be shown in pop up or with own box in colony management screen/colonies screen and in planetary screen.

-- A keyboard button for moving all autopilot moves would be more than welcome. Did not GC1 have this assigned to Space bar? Bring it back!

-- There should be a button in the "choose your civilization" screen, which allows you to reset all races to default.

-- Star base bonuses should be show on main UI when selected. Remove class, moves and range from the little box and replace them bonuses that the SB gives. You could even add (number) kinda thing after the bonuses to indicate how many additional components could be installed. Photoshop example: Starbase info

-- Holding down ctrl-button could act like pressing middle mouse button? Atleast in main map and in ship building screen. Pressing middle button is clunky with some mouses.

-- Ship upgrade button for ship yard screen would be nice. Photoshop example: Upgrade menu

-- I would like to see which planets are so called "extreme enviroment" ones in civ manager/colonies screen. Maybe put a little icon next to the mini planet gfx.

-- A way to give Fleets to AI in diplomacy screen or an option to mark your ships etc as gifts.

-- There should be graphical icon for ships that are in guard, survey or eplore mode. This when you have zoomed out of tactical view on the map.

Please feel free to add your own UI improvement ideas or comment myn. DA final has very limited UI improvements against GC2, something I hope can be tweaked with upcoming patches.
19,368 views 24 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Hi!
A lot of very good suggestions!   

BR, Iztok

Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Outstanding suggestions! I hope to see at least some of them implemented to DA via patches.
WindowBlinds - Free yourself of the default settings, customize your desktop.
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
signed
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
A lot of good ideas. The filter for weapons and equipment is really a good idea!
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
A hearty second to the suggestion for technology pop-ups to give you more information on what that tech provides. I find especially when tech trading that I have to exit and go to the tech screen to remind myself whether deflectors are better than shields etc. On the subject of tech trades, I do wish the AI would stop offering me patently ridiculous trades of one of their really low level techs for one of my high ones.

Another interface issue I just thought of, when ship trading there should be an option of right clicking to get a mini map highlighting where that ship is on the map, otherwise its pure guesswork or another case of exiting the trade screen to check on the main map. If I rememebr correctly this was a feature in Galciv1 so I wonder why it was removed . . .
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I thought right-clicking techs in the diplomacy/trade window popped up their description...have to double check to see if it gives exact bonuses. I think he's talking about having this happen in the research screen too, which would be nice. It'd also be nice to have this summary when research is complete, since I often forget everything a new tech brings do to hastily selecting (usually a tech that's part of a series).

I'd agree with most of that list, although some of those things are somewhat personal preference or not that essential. Generally speaking, the GalCiv2 UI gives you a tone of info and flexibility.

I wouldn't say that being able to trade fleets is a must. Accidentally giving away the wrong capital ship would be annoying, accidentally giving away a 50+ logistics sized fleet would be a disaster.

The only critical-to-me UI enhancement I'd ask for, is the ability to sort some ship parts when designing ships (or to have the current order changed). When I'm adding weapons to a ship I usually want them in descending order of damage value, then size or cost - having them in alphabetic order is pretty much totally useless.

I've sent ships flying across the galaxy by accident while slighly missing a right-click on the notification icons on the far right-hand side. No suggested change - other than I need to slow down and be more precise!
Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Here's my own wish list:

-The planet type icon should be displayed in the civ manager, so I can easily see which advanced planet techs I need.

-The bass for mass driver sound effects really needs to be turned down. I have to quickly kill the volume if I don't want to go deaf during planetary invasions or space battles.

-Speaking of sound effects, I'd like to hear a blaster or something whenever an agent is neutralized

-I'd like a way to randomly select a new track of music. It can take a long time for one year of game time to go by (plus I like how the tracks are dynamically chosen, so I don't want to just have a playlist in the background)

-Thumbnails for custom maps would be greatly appreciated.

I also have to agree with the need for buildings to be arranged by type, and not alphabetically.

Also, I would LOVE dual monitor support. I've been playing the Supreme Commander demo and its a seriously cool feature. Even if the second screen in GalCiv just displayed graphs, maps, or the civ manager (ie, no actual 3d rendering) it would own. (I'm guessing such a thing wouldn't be feasible . . . but I can dream, right?!)

And I gotta thank the devs for being so receptive to our suggestions, even if we're asking for more stuff right after the expansion's release
Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Heartily agree with the Planet habitat/type being displayed either in the Civ manager screen, or on the planet list (or both!). Its a bit tedious going planet by planet and writing down what they are for future tech research or trading.

It does seem, now, that since you often can't immediately reconvene diplomatic sessions with other races that popups or information concerning technology, that races stats, etc, should somehow be available . . . or links you can visit then return to the negotiations.

Reply #9 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Thanks for your input everybody


I wouldn't say that being able to trade fleets is a must. Accidentally giving away the wrong capital ship would be annoying, accidentally giving away a 50+ logistics sized fleet would be a disaster.


Its not totally must that you could give fleets to AI, but something like that would be nice. Having today disband a fleet and write down about 8 different ship numbers just so I give the right ships was bit tedious. If you would be able to give fleets to AI, I would have to memorize/write down only one fleet number.

Alternatively it would be cool if you could mark ships/fleets as "gifts". These gift fleets/ships would show up in different colour in diplomacy menu.


The only critical-to-me UI enhancement I'd ask for, is the ability to sort some ship parts when designing ships (or to have the current order changed). When I'm adding weapons to a ship I usually want them in descending order of damage value, then size or cost - having them in alphabetic order is pretty much totally useless.


Agreed completely on this one, its a REAL pain that everything in this game is sorted alphabetically and not by weapon stats/building type. Sorting everything alphabetically makes the games menus extemely hard to gaze at, everytime you discover a new tech the whole aphabetical order of weapons/building changes

Reply #10 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
-- Right clicking a tech in technology window should give information what exactly does an improvement give. In example Laser II +1 beam damage, size 15 etc.

Good idea, but showing size for components would be problematic. Doesn't component size vary somewhat according to what hull size you're using?

-- Ship building window should have similiar buttons for components (newest,old,all) as does the planetary screen for buildings. Photoshop example: Shipyard buttons

YES! This is something I hoped would already be added, and I hope the designers will consider it. There is absolutely no reason in the world that Laser 1 should be on the component list if I have Laser 5 or whatever - the older versions of a component are never cheaper, smaller, or anything else that might be worth using them.

-- There should be a two more buttons in the "choose your civilization" screen. One called "reset all races to default" and "delete all player made ship designs/templates". Rather akward having to deleted your designs/templates manually in windows.

This can be fixed by going to the options screen and turning off "Save user ships designs to hard drive" or whatever that option is. If that's off, then none of the ships you design will show up next game.

Reply #11 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
One feature i would really like to see added would be when looking at "Unowned" Planets being able to filter from all to possibly each type seperatly but most important would be at least filter out planets you can not colonize at the moment.

P.S. -- Ship building window should have similiar buttons for components (newest,old,all) as does the planetary screen for buildings. Is a great idea.
Reply #12 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
-- Holding down ctrl-button could act like pressing middle mouse button? Atleast in main map and in ship building screen. Pressing middle button is clunky with some mouses.

Yes, please. I hate having to click my wheel button. I invariably end up scrolling at the same time.

Excellent suggestions all around.
Reply #13 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Good idea, but showing size for components would be problematic. Doesn't component size vary somewhat according to what hull size you're using?


Yes indeed, did not think of that. Maybe it be shown as an average size or just by showing an own number for each ship size?

tiny: 5
small: 8
medium: 12

Hull components could be bit tricky, but I would like to see atleast building statistics for example Industrial sector:

Maintanance **bc
Production **mp

Glad to see that there are other people out there who think these tweaks are worth while. I know SD is reading forums, hopefully this one will catch their eye

Reply #14 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Not only does the colony manager screen need a minimap, but so do the planetary production screen and the ship production screen. Otherwise, on larger maps, players are reduced to gimmicky planet naming, and/or extra mouse clicking to get optimal production.

It would also be nice if the planet list and the colony management screen were linked so they were automatically sorted the same way.
Reply #15 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Actuarian Quote
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I disagree. I occasionally use Laser I instead of III when I only have a few more points of space and I is cheaper than III with the same damage output.

Otherwise, I like the suggestions here, particularly the minimap in the Colony Management page. I've had to close and reopen it so many times to see where those planets are when planning Starport placement.
Reply #16 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Hey, galenbd! I didn't say anything about Laser 1. My comment was infinitely more insightful.   
Reply #17 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I wish there was a way to limit the amount of space stations per sector or maybe not allow the other races to build space stations in your influence. I hate having to manuever around a maze of starbases.
Reply #18 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I think there should be a limit in place, which allows you to build 4 SB / sector. Though this only affects your own SB not the opponents, I think. Could somebody could confirm this one?
Reply #19 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I think there should be a limit in place, which allows you to build 4 SB / sector. Though this only affects your own SB not the opponents, I think. Could somebody could confirm this one?


This is correct. Resource mining bases are excepted from the limit as well.
Reply #20 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
A few ideas (which, now that I look at it, apply to DL as well) to add to all the ones thrown around in this thread:


1-Make the cursor appear closer to the letters when naming a new ship design. Right now, it can be tough to tell the difference between "Heavy Fighter" and "HeavyFighter" until after you're done typing.


2-I understand the reasoning behind not having a "make an offer" button in diplomacy, but it would still be nice to be able to open up the cash or influence sliders and just hit a "max" button to have it automatically go straight to the highest sum that the AI would accept. For example, say I'm trading a couple techs to the AI in exchange for Laser 3 and Ion Drive, and the text is green. Currently, if I want to top it off with a bit of cash, I click on "cash" and fiddle with the sliders for three minutes until I come up with some amount (say 233bc in this case) on top of the techs they're offering. But with a "max" button, I'd click "cash", click "max", and the slider would go straight to 233.

Even if you don't do this, it would still be REALLY nice to have some bigger adjustments available on the influence trade slider. Late-game, clicking and dragging the slider itself can change the offered sum by thousands of influence even for the smallest of movements, and fine-tuning that in units of 1 or 10 is so painful that it's pointless.


3-Give Fleet icons in the zoomed-out strategic view a marker or SOMETHING to make it possible to tell them apart from regular ships. It's a pain to have to mouseover a dozen identical icons to find which one is your big bad attack fleet, as opposed to just a lone Frigate headed home for repairs.


4-Add some way to reopen GNN. Oftentimes, I have to close it out to avoid problems caused by the game thinking I'm done reading it when I'm not and throwing even more event popups at me. When that happens, I'd like to see what I missed out on.


5-When launching a transport or colony ship, either make it possible to launch empty or else have the slider go down to a minimum of 1 (as opposed to 0). It's not exactly a big deal, but it can still be irritating.


6-Add an option to "Only show full battles when BOTH sides are ARMED." I like leaving the "if both sides are fleets" option off because I want to watch when my behemoth fleet-killers try to take down an enemy swarm single-handed, but DON'T want it going to the cinematic battle screen every time a pair of fighters picks off a transport.
Reply #21 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Heres a few suggestions from me

*Planet terraformer, when finised with terraforming tech should be a planet terraform that makes a planet livable, but ramdom quality and no way to inmprove it.

* a way to make your homeplanet like coruscant

*way to change a ai's difficulty mid-game so it can use more complex startegys

*expand map and a way to add more oponents to new areas of map....all the way to gigasntic

*a way to know how to improve moral on a planet if theres low moral and the people ask what they want on the planet

8 a way tom play7 dread lords on the parade as a diffrent civ
Reply #22 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Great suggestions!

I like the way DA improved the usability of the game, adding some of these would make the game even more enjoyable. Personally I'd rate these as more critical than most balance / AI improvements right now.
Reply #23 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I see my old thread is back from the dead!

Glad to see that people like some of the suggestions in this thread. I too would like the fact if dev team gave some much needed attention to UI. Guess we will find out soon enough, 1.6 beta is due next week
Reply #24 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Yeah,

And I have to admit that I don't usually post stuff like "great stuff, blahblah", I just wanted to bump the great suggestions a bit closer to the attention of the devs