[BirdofPrey]

I think 2D radar could use a bit of a touch up on the tabling side and 3D radar needs to be burnt to the ground and remade.

2D radar:
Add the ability to scale radar icons based on resolution/HUD scale
have the radar icon of the currently selected item indicated in some way such as drawing it at full brightness
indicate attackers (flash icon)
Move radar icons to HUD table or its own table.
Add flag: $Radar 3d Image Size (sets size of radar icon on the 3D radar.  If not present default to $Radar Image Size)

Radar section of the HUD table (or separate radar table) functions as follows:
Holds the radar icon parameters.  Top level is ship type (as defined in ship flags) and has parameters for a generic radar icon for the ship and any associated sizing parameters.  Individual Classes can be named as sub items.  Missing items filled in from parent (ship type).  Can also have subclass defined, but if not present will use class (Orion#Galatea will use Galatea entry if one exists, if not will use Orion entry).  If an entry is not present will use the next highest entry (Orion#Galatea will use Galatea entry within orion if it exists, otherwise uses Orion entry, if that also does not exist, uses capital entry).

Possible: can be overridden by radar entry in ships.tbl

Separates icon from the ships table and provides a fallback option for ships without an icon defined (eg. when playing a mod).  Also lets generic icons be quickly updated without duplicating the same parameters dozens of times providing easier maintenance and potential future expansion.

Sample table fragment:

Code: [Select]

$Ship Type: Capital
$Radar 2d Image: Capital
$Radar Image Size: 30
$Radar 3d Image Size: 24
$3D Radar Blip Multiplier: 1.0

$Ship Class: Orion
$Radar 2D Image: Orion
$Radar Image Size: 28
$Radar 3d Image Size: 24
$3D Radar Blip Multiplier: 1.0

$Ship subclass: Galatea
$Radar 2D Image: Galatea


$Ship Class: Hecate
$Radar Image Size: 30
$Radar 3d Image Size: 24
$3D Radar Blip Multiplier: 1.0

$Ship Type: Cruiser
$Radar 2D Image: Cruiser
$Radar Image Size: 16
$Radar 3D Image Size: 14
$3D Radar Blip Multiplier: .75
In this Orion#Galatea would use the Galatea radar icon (with the size parameters given in orion) while Orion#Bastion would use Orion Icon.  A Typhon, lacking an entry would fall back to using the generic Capital ship icon.  Top level in this table is ship type flag in ships.tbm, lower levels taken from $Name: in ships.tbm


3D radar.  This needs redone in a bad way.  It's old, it looks old and the rings never line up, plus it doesn't play nice with the radar icons.
Replace the whole thing.  (would love if someone could do a mock up of this)

For the replacement my thought is, when the 3D radar is active, disable the 2D background.  In it's place draw a Sphere,  Semi-transparent (takes radar gauge color), possibly with longitude and latitude drawn at regular intervals (30 degrees maybe).  Bottom half (points towards mission down) is drawn at a different brightness, so functions as artificial horizon, also has marker for mission north on the surface (everything except for just drawing a sphere is optional really).

In the center have a white dot representing the ship.  Alternatively, draw the ship's radar icon.

The Sphere represents a distance of a few hundred meters from your ship.  Accordingly draw blips or radar icons for each contact at a distance from the sphere based on the distance from the ship.  contacts within a certain range may be drawn inside the sphere.  Connect each contact to the surface of the sphere with a line to better show exact angle and distance.  Another invisible sphere surrounds the visible one and marks the furthest out radar icons can be drawn regardless of actual distance  If the radar distance is not set to infinite, max range ships will draw at the perimeter sphere.


Additional options:  Cone or arrow outside the perimeter sphere that points towards any set waypoints.
Threat indicator  yellow line(s)  and blip(s) connected directly to the center ship icon (rather than just the radar sphere) that indicates the range and direction of incoming missile(s)
Possibly have the draw range of ship icons on a logarithmic scale; the upside is it's easier to differentiate distances of ships close enough to affect you, but the downside is it may be harder to tell closing speed or the distances of far ships.

[jr2]

1) How will this affect scrambled radar (due to stealth ships or EMP) -- that needs to work as well.   (e.g., it wouldn't do to have a scrambled radar but you can still see the icons in the correct spots, they need to scramble like normal).

2) For 3D distance drawing of targets, the radar range (both 2D and 3D) currently can be cycled.  I forget the key but it cycles between a couple of preset distances and infinity as well.

Dunno if these would affect your suggestions, but, if they might, there they are. 

[BirdofPrey]

Well I already mentioned radar ranges, max distance should probably be drawn at the periphery of the radar on 2k and 10k.  Past that range it won't show up.  For infinity anything past a certain range will still show up but will always be drawn at the perimeter, though I couldn't say what the best range for that would be.

I would say the 3D radar should get scrambled and overall exhibit similar behavior to the 2D.

[BirdofPrey]

So I wanted to add: it would also be nice if, instead of the standard jiggly dots for unlockable targets, if a jiggly unknown icon could be displayed.

Another thing that could be nice to have  (though admittedly, would likely have to be done specifically used by the mission designers) would be to set a radar icon for certain ships in certain missions.  Specifically, in the missions where something new has shown up that we have never seen before (to the point command is all, "We've never seen THAT before, could you please scan it Alpha One") have it use an unknown icon since it doesn't make sense for your fighter upon first encountering something, to immediately be able to classify it.

[BirdofPrey]

SOOOOO, with your recent changes to the HUD code for ShivanHunter, what are the chances you guys could add a flag to properly scale radar icons on the 3D radar and not just the blips?