Suggestion: make it intuitive to upload land units onto transports

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Suggestion: make it intuitive to upload land units onto transports

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Suggestion: make it intuitive to upload land units ont... - 10/2/2015 8:25:54 PM

billcorr

Posts: 32
Joined: 10/2/2015
Status: offline

Suggestion: Make it oh-so-easy to load land units onto and off of transports. My apologies if this has been already covered. Some would suggest to read the manual. I disagree. It should be intuitive (e.g. click and drag) regarding how to load troops onto transports.

Post #: 1

RE: Suggestion: make it intuitive to upload land units... - 10/2/2015 8:38:53 PM

palne

Posts: 73
Joined: 9/18/2007
Status: offline

I didn't find this difficult at all. Here are a couple of twists:

1. to upload 2 div's onto a transport, you must select "load" twice...once for each unit. You may not select two div's at the same time.
2. I don't believe it is possible in the computer game to move a transport, then load a transport, then keep moving a transport. The rules allow for this, but not the game.

(in reply to billcorr)

Post #: 2

RE: Suggestion: make it intuitive to upload land units... - 10/3/2015 1:14:34 AM

juntoalmar

Posts: 601
Joined: 9/29/2013
From: Valencia
Status: offline

Click the land unit, then click the transport. I think it�s quite intuitive. Given the fact that there is no drag and drop in the game, implementing it only for this seems unnecessary (easy enough at the moment, imho).

Have you tried from the Naval Review Details form? It's pretty easy from there. Click on the land unit, then on the transport.

If loading into a transport at sea, when you move the transport to a sea area, there is a "Load from coastal hex" button. Click it and you will be able to choose the land unit to load into the transport.

Both ways are pretty simple. If you have problems with interface, I suggest to check the tutorial videos. They are very helpful.

"Some would suggest to read the manual. I disagree". Well, that would be the first step in a complex wargame like MWiF. If you are not happy to read the player�s manual, it may be impossible for you to learn to play this game or, probably, any complex one.

< Message edited by juntoalmar -- 10/3/2015 2:19:05 AM >

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Post #: 3

RE: Suggestion: make it intuitive to upload land units... - 10/3/2015 9:31:18 AM

nilssone85

Posts: 57
Joined: 5/29/2015
Status: offline

There are many things that could be done to increase the intuitivity(?) of the game. Nice things, but not crucial.

1. Making sure the OK button is in about the same place on each form.
2. Ensuring language, sometimes OK is next phase, some times it is something else (declare war form for instance).
3. Having the most common actions available straight at the right click, instead of in sub-menues. (Fly as bomber, load)
4. How to access the naval naval review form and some other forms. Double click on a hex and then hover? WTF :P
5. Having the possible movement paths highlighted when you pick up a unit.
6. Making the status bar bigger (the bar that tells you what is happening).
7. Making the next phase easier.
8. Making switching between major powers more intuative.

That is a few things I thought of from the top of my head. Not really any things that should be prioritized over bug-fixing but still nice things.

(in reply to juntoalmar)

Post #: 4

RE: Suggestion: make it intuitive to upload land units... - 10/3/2015 12:25:31 PM

AlbertN

Posts: 3693
Joined: 10/5/2010
From: Italy
Status: offline

Meanwhile it could be nice - I see this as a potential delay for more optional rules and other things; usually gets used to the game and where buttons are after a short time.

But that is my opinion, especially as our only coder has hands full already.

(in reply to nilssone85)

Post #: 5

RE: Suggestion: make it intuitive to upload land units... - 10/4/2015 2:45:38 AM

juntoalmar

Posts: 601
Joined: 9/29/2013
From: Valencia
Status: offline

I think sometimes intuitive doesn't mean practical. For instance, some professional SW like Photoshop can be contra-intuitive compared to Paint, but once you learn how to use it, it's quite practical. Sometime I have that feeling with MWiF, some options are designed for making easier for players to play although may seem strange in the beginning.

Having the fly-over activated by double clicking an empty hex instead of activating a button in the main menu, may not be intuitive. But, in my opinion, makes it more usable and faster for player (once he knows how to use it).

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RE: Suggestion: make it intuitive to upload land units... - 10/4/2015 10:04:23 PM

billcorr

Posts: 32
Joined: 10/2/2015
Status: offline

Thanks all for your responses. I think I've mastered the art of loading ships. My obstacle was that the skills honed by playing other war games and PC games interfered with the mechanics of WiF. The skills were not transferable and biased my approach to problem solving. Again, thanks and muchas gracias.

(in reply to billcorr)

Post #: 7

RE: Suggestion: make it intuitive to upload land units... - 10/5/2015 6:07:35 AM

nilssone85

Posts: 57
Joined: 5/29/2015
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: juntoalmar

I think sometimes intuitive doesn't mean practical. For instance, some professional SW like Photoshop can be contra-intuitive compared to Paint, but once you learn how to use it, it's quite practical. Sometime I have that feeling with MWiF, some options are designed for making easier for players to play although may seem strange in the beginning.

Having the fly-over activated by double clicking an empty hex instead of activating a button in the main menu, may not be intuitive. But, in my opinion, makes it more usable and faster for player (once he knows how to use it).

Absolutely! However some things are just inaccessible and counter-intuitive. I'm not arguing about the fly-out for land units. The one I don't like is the naval form.
The other major one would be the OK buttons. Having them in roughly the same location on each form would help new players. Also rewording some of them to more reflect what they mean. As an example, "OK" on "declaration of war"-form is not ok, it is "move to next phase" or something.

(in reply to juntoalmar)

Post #: 8