Map Icons: NTDS/NATO or Stylized?

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Map Icons: NTDS/NATO or Stylized? - 3/5/2017 10:05:56 PM

HalfLifeExpert

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From: California, United States
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Just a simple thread asking:

Do you use NATO icons or the Stylized Icons in Command: Modern Air/Naval Operations?

I personally use the NTDS/NATO symbols, and find them much more helpful and informative than the stylized icons. They may not be that helpful for newer players, but in my opinion it really is worth it to learn NATO symbols, as they are very informative.

Post #: 1

RE: Map Icons: NTDS/NATO or Stylized? - 3/5/2017 11:22:55 PM

Sigma8510

Posts: 167
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NTDS all the way! Trained to them, so can't teach an old dog new tricks.

(in reply to HalfLifeExpert)

Post #: 2

RE: Map Icons: NTDS/NATO or Stylized? - 3/6/2017 12:16:52 AM

Primarchx

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I used to run Harpoon with stylized but Command has been NTDS from Day 1.

(in reply to Sigma8510)

Post #: 3

RE: Map Icons: NTDS/NATO or Stylized? - 3/6/2017 12:37:12 AM

DWReese

Posts: 1824
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From: Miami, Florida
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Not that this is an official poll, and just so the other side is represented, I use the stylized. My eyes find it easier to actually "see" what is what using the stylized over the NTDS.

Doug

(in reply to Primarchx)

Post #: 4

RE: Map Icons: NTDS/NATO or Stylized? - 3/6/2017 1:25:50 AM

Eggstor

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NTDS because recognition is simpler.

(in reply to DWReese)

Post #: 5

RE: Map Icons: NTDS/NATO or Stylized? - 3/6/2017 1:42:56 AM

Gunner98

Posts: 5508
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From: The Great White North!
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NTDS, once you're used to them they are quite efficient.

B

(in reply to Eggstor)

Post #: 6

RE: Map Icons: NTDS/NATO or Stylized? - 3/6/2017 2:29:58 AM

ExNusquam

Posts: 513
Joined: 3/4/2014
From: Washington, D.C.
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NTDS. I used stylized once and hated it.

(in reply to Gunner98)

Post #: 7

RE: Map Icons: NTDS/NATO or Stylized? - 3/6/2017 3:44:36 AM

Rory Noonan

Posts: 2816
Joined: 12/18/2014
From: Brooklyn, NY
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NTDS all the way.

I have no issue deciphering it, it's quite intuitive.

(in reply to ExNusquam)

Post #: 8

RE: Map Icons: NTDS/NATO or Stylized? - 3/6/2017 8:55:14 AM

AlGrant

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Joined: 8/18/2015
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quote:

NTDS all the way! Trained to them, so can't teach an old dog new tricks.

+1

It never even occurs to me to use anything else but NTDS.
The stylized ones just look a bit too 'gamey' to me ... but I did spend 20+ years using the NTDS ones so no great shock there

(in reply to Sigma8510)

Post #: 9

RE: Map Icons: NTDS/NATO or Stylized? - 3/6/2017 9:17:51 AM

Dysta

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High crescent = air
Full circle = land/surface
Low crescent = submerged/underground
With 2 lines = airport/runway/carrier
With 'horns' = VTOL/Rotor
With M = Missile
With T = Torpedo
With T upside down = Fixed buoy/seamine

Easy enough.

_____________________________

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Post #: 10

RE: Map Icons: NTDS/NATO or Stylized? - 3/6/2017 10:32:56 AM

Peter66

Posts: 104
Joined: 11/13/2016
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NTDS for me. I tried stylized and while there's nothing wrong with them I just prefer to use NTDS. Makes it feel more immersive in my opinion.

(in reply to Dysta)

Post #: 11

RE: Map Icons: NTDS/NATO or Stylized? - 3/6/2017 10:48:40 AM

Filitch

Posts: 423
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From: St. Petersburg, Russia
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Fully agree with Dysta - NTDS icons are very simple and informative.
I hope - sometimes will ever be able to use Soviet/Russians map symbols.

(in reply to Peter66)

Post #: 12

RE: Map Icons: NTDS/NATO or Stylized? - 3/6/2017 12:06:27 PM

Coiler12

Posts: 1203
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NTDS.

They just look appropriate somehow.

(in reply to Filitch)

Post #: 13

RE: Map Icons: NTDS/NATO or Stylized? - 3/6/2017 12:31:14 PM

mikmykWS

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Filitch

Fully agree with Dysta - NTDS icons are very simple and informative.
I hope - sometimes will ever be able to use Soviet/Russians map symbols.

This is a modable part of the game. If you have the symbols just replace the images.

M

_____________________________

(in reply to Filitch)

Post #: 14

RE: Map Icons: NTDS/NATO or Stylized? - 3/6/2017 12:48:18 PM

Sardaukar

Posts: 9847
Joined: 11/28/2001
From: Finland/Israel
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NTDS here too.

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"To meaningless French Idealism, Liberty, Fraternity and Equality...we answer with German Realism, Infantry, Cavalry and Artillery" -Prince von B�lov, 1870-

(in reply to mikmykWS)

Post #: 15

RE: Map Icons: NTDS/NATO or Stylized? - 3/6/2017 1:22:27 PM

stilesw

Posts: 1497
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From: Hansville, WA, USA
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I prefer the NTDS/NATO symbols probably due to my military background.

-Wayne

(in reply to HalfLifeExpert)

Post #: 16

RE: Map Icons: NTDS/NATO or Stylized? - 3/6/2017 2:00:10 PM

Filitch

Posts: 423
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From: St. Petersburg, Russia
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quote:

ORIGINAL: mikmyk

quote:

ORIGINAL: Filitch

Fully agree with Dysta - NTDS icons are very simple and informative.
I hope - sometimes will ever be able to use Soviet/Russians map symbols.

This is a modable part of the game. If you have the symbols just replace the images.

M

quote:

This is a modable part of the game. If you have the symbols just replace the images.

I have tried to make it. The main problem is a colors. The Soviet/Russian map symbols have different colors for allies and hostile forces than Western. Allies forces are specified as red color and hostile as blue. CMANO UI uses so named 'bearing line' that shows move direction of the unit. And color of this line is not customisable. So colors of the symbol and line are not matched. SR7 has new feature - directional unit icons. Using of this feature with turning bearing line off - could solve color inconsistency problem. But I don't know how turn this line off (without hacking the application :) )

(in reply to mikmykWS)

Post #: 17

RE: Map Icons: NTDS/NATO or Stylized? - 3/6/2017 4:04:30 PM

Dysta

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Joined: 8/8/2015
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Maybe we should add even more variety, and slightly bigger icon sizes for directional symbols, that'll be more favorable in customization.

Anyway, this is the only NTDS icons references published in PDF, and summarized in a picture below:

http://cradpdf.drdc-rddc.gc.ca/PDFS/unc68/p528987.pdf (Take your time, there's a LOT to learn!)

_____________________________

(in reply to Filitch)

Post #: 18

RE: Map Icons: NTDS/NATO or Stylized? - 3/6/2017 4:30:09 PM

mikmykWS

Posts: 11524
Joined: 3/22/2005
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Filitch

quote:

ORIGINAL: mikmyk

quote:

ORIGINAL: Filitch

Fully agree with Dysta - NTDS icons are very simple and informative.
I hope - sometimes will ever be able to use Soviet/Russians map symbols.

This is a modable part of the game. If you have the symbols just replace the images.

M

quote:

This is a modable part of the game. If you have the symbols just replace the images.

I have tried to make it. The main problem is a colors. The Soviet/Russian map symbols have different colors for allies and hostile forces than Western. Allies forces are specified as red color and hostile as blue. CMANO UI uses so named 'bearing line' that shows move direction of the unit. And color of this line is not customisable. So colors of the symbol and line are not matched. SR7 has new feature - directional unit icons. Using of this feature with turning bearing line off - could solve color inconsistency problem. But I don't know how turn this line off (without hacking the application :) )

Nobody cares if you can hack the application. This childish threat is a guaranteed way to get yourself ignored.

Mike

< Message edited by mikmyk -- 3/6/2017 4:31:26 PM >

_____________________________

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Post #: 19

RE: Map Icons: NTDS/NATO or Stylized? - 3/6/2017 4:33:13 PM

mikmykWS

Posts: 11524
Joined: 3/22/2005
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Dysta

Maybe we should add even more variety, and slightly bigger icon sizes for directional symbols, that'll be more favorable in customization.

Anyway, this is the only NTDS icons references published in PDF, and summarized in a picture below:

http://cradpdf.drdc-rddc.gc.ca/PDFS/unc68/p528987.pdf (Take your time, there's a LOT to learn!)

If somebody comes up with a nice looking set we'll be happy to add to the game. Its been done before.

Mike

_____________________________

(in reply to Dysta)

Post #: 20

RE: Map Icons: NTDS/NATO or Stylized? - 3/6/2017 4:45:23 PM

Filitch

Posts: 423
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From: St. Petersburg, Russia
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quote:

ORIGINAL: mikmyk
Nobody cares if you can hack the application. This childish threat is a guaranteed way to get yourself ignored.
Mike

I specially wrote a smiley. It's just a joke.

(in reply to mikmykWS)

Post #: 21

RE: Map Icons: NTDS/NATO or Stylized? - 3/6/2017 9:09:10 PM

AndrewJ

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NTDS for me.

(in reply to Filitch)

Post #: 22

RE: Map Icons: NTDS/NATO or Stylized? - 3/7/2017 6:16:44 AM

Lunex

Posts: 49
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From: Bavaria, Germany
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NTDS - I think it became standard for a reason :)

(in reply to AndrewJ)

Post #: 23

RE: Map Icons: NTDS/NATO or Stylized? - 3/7/2017 7:26:17 AM

Galahad78

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Joined: 9/28/2009
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Primarchx

I used to run Harpoon with stylized but Command has been NTDS from Day 1.

Same here. I cannot play old Harpoon with NATO icons, and playing CMANO with Stylized seems like...heretic. It's absurd, I know

quote:

Nobody cares if you can hack the application. This childish threat is a guaranteed way to get yourself ignored.

Mike

< Message edited by Galahad78 -- 3/7/2017 7:29:45 AM >

(in reply to Primarchx)

Post #: 24

RE: Map Icons: NTDS/NATO or Stylized? - 3/8/2017 7:21:08 AM

Filitch

Posts: 423
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From: St. Petersburg, Russia
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My first attempt to use custom symbols in CMANO failed due color inconsistency between color of symbol and color of bearing line. In SR7 the new feature - directional symbols - appears (thanks to Baloogan). I made new attempt to use Soviet map symbols. I created set of symbols in PNG format with dimensions 96x96 px. Without bearing line they look better. For example: surface group and helo symbols look enough good. Some image defects may be caused by the imperfection of the original symbol. But the surface contact symbol is heavy corrupted. And main misfortune. Colors of symbols and lines drew by CMANO UI engine are not match. For example: color of the hostile surface contact is blue, but color of the contact area around the symbol is drew red. Is it possible to make colors of lines customizable?

< Message edited by Filitch -- 3/8/2017 7:34:39 AM >

(in reply to Galahad78)

Post #: 25

RE: Map Icons: NTDS/NATO or Stylized? - 3/8/2017 7:21:51 AM

Filitch

Posts: 423
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Surface group and helos look enough good

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by Filitch -- 3/8/2017 7:23:33 AM >

(in reply to Filitch)

Post #: 26

RE: Map Icons: NTDS/NATO or Stylized? - 3/8/2017 7:23:10 AM

Filitch

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From: St. Petersburg, Russia
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Surface contact symbol is heavy corrupted

Attachment (1)

(in reply to Filitch)

Post #: 27

RE: Map Icons: NTDS/NATO or Stylized? - 3/8/2017 7:24:23 AM

Filitch

Posts: 423
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From: St. Petersburg, Russia
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Colors of symbols and lines drew by CMANO UI engine are not match

Attachment (1)

(in reply to Filitch)

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RE: Map Icons: NTDS/NATO or Stylized? - 3/8/2017 10:07:09 AM

LordFlashheart

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Oddly enough, I was privileged to have a look inside a professional distributed military training centre recently (think CMANO + DCS)for virtual Red Flag type exercises.

On their display screens I expected to see NATO symbology for the assets in play - but it turns out they are using not only stylised symbols, - but platform-specific top-down silhouettes for ease of comprehension...

Stylised then isn't any less realistic, in some regards....(!)

(in reply to Filitch)

Post #: 29

RE: Map Icons: NTDS/NATO or Stylized? - 3/8/2017 10:18:03 AM

Dysta

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