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Moridrex
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Posted - 2008.05.22 16:00:00 -
[1] - Quote
I think the UI is long overdue for mass love. The little tid-bits CCP throws it every once in a while isn't doing it much good, and in one of the recent patches they outright broke it with Drone/Fleet windows pushing overview and selection off the screen.
I'd like to propose the following:
- LUA scripting added, to allow creation of custom windows using game data, and custom key bindings (so I can assign drone squads to launch buttons or keys!)
- LUA scripting should not be capable of doing things such as targetting, issuing ship move or combat orders (to keep the macros from having in-game macro systems)
- Firing groups - to allow one-key turn on of multiple modules simultaneously
This way features like cooldown timers on the buttons can be implemented into the UI by players instead of waiting 10,000,000 years for CCP to get around to it because they're fixing more important bugs. The idea here is to give the scripting enough power to make useful aesthetic or informational changes to the UI, reduce some UI tedium, but NOT give someone an advantage in combat or the ability to macro.
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Moridrex
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Posted - 2008.05.22 20:24:00 -
[2] - Quote
 Originally by: Ishina Fel
I don't like a game where you have to learn to script to be able to play well.
Thumbs down.
The idea is NOT to make scripting necessary to play well. And the scripting in this context is not meant to be akin to Star Wars Galaxies scripting which allows you to automate functions to play the game.
The context in which I meant scripting is solely for interface/visual enhancements, and should be done ala (I'm going to say the evil word...hate the game but love the scripting component) WoW...player made addons that enhance the interface but do not give you an advantage.
I specifically blocked the ability for the script language used to target things or open fire on them...the two abilities most needed for an automated macro type script but NOT needed by interface enhancing scripts.
For instance, I would love to be able to re-write my asteroid scanner interface to color the roids I have targetted differently. It makes it easier to take a glance and know what roids *not* to relock. Additionally I'd like to do the cooldown effect common in other games for my mining lasers.
I'd like to be able to rebuild the drone interface so it's more functional...the thing is crap right now even with the Trinity enhancements.
I in no way want to make it so that an add-on script has the abilities to auto-suicide-gank people, auto-stripmine a belt, auto-mission farm, auto-warp-to-zero-afk-autopiloting, etc...and definitely want it to be so that people who choose no add-ons can still play. Just that those of us who will go get an addon or write our own can have our interfaces made more useful to the way we play.
And to mention evil games again...I know lots of people who played WoW with no addons and loved the game as is, and were competent. I myself played SWG (pre NGE) without using any macros (didn't even know how) until after level 80, and then I only bothered for the sake of saying I had. Proper introduction of a UI add-on scripting system does NOT mean requiring it to play or handing evil macros i-win buttons.
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Moridrex
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Posted - 2008.05.23 20:39:00 -
[3] - Quote
Originally by: Sariyah
Not sure why one would need scripting and such, unless some hidden desire to be able to cheat even more. It's clear really. If you think a certain game is better, well, feel free to choose. You won't be missed. Not everyone likes eve and it's fine.
I think the big problem is most people think I meant scripting as in scripting actions in the game. Not so. I meant scripting as in script language for modifying the UI. I specifically ruled out tools that make the game automated. I *don't* want the scripting to be able to fly your ship, auto target, activate weapons, etc...specifically to *not* let people cheat.
I want things like the ability to add in-game calculators for cost of producing something. Highlight certain things in my overview or asteroid scanner window. Move or redesign my HUD so it is easier to read/takes less space. Sure, some things like calculators can be gotten in IGB websites produced by other people, but with the lag the IGB has that's not always feasible. Maybe I want the healthbars for my locked targets to overlay the bottom of the locked target's image instead of being underneath it. Maybe, I want my chat windows to show the people in them as a list rather than having their avatars next to it (most of which I don't bother clicking and caching anyway, resulting in a lot of wasted screen space).
These things don't constitute cheating. They just make life easier for some of us who have an array of spreadsheets and websites that we work with to give us better info, or have really cluttered screens with having Local/Corp/Alliance chats up, maybe cargo hold, fleet windows, locked targets, drones, overview, etc....EVE is a game about information but it doesn't give most of us efficient tools for displaying the information we have.
And so far, none of what has been suggested gives an advantage to the UI in the form of an edge other people, so those of you who are resistant to change, don't like christmas trees, etc...don't have to use it and are still just as competent as those with.
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