Hard Light Productions Forums
Modding, Mission Design, and Coding => FS2 Open Coding - The Source Code Project (SCP) => Topic started by: ZylonBane on January 01, 2003, 09:23:18 am
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Has anyone working on the SCP given any thought to implementing an auto-shield-equalize function? So that every time your shields took damage, they'd automatically be equalized.
This would best be implemented like the other Auto functions (auto speed match/auto target). Just press Alt-Q to enable/disable, and automatically disable if the player uses any of the manual shield-management keys.
As far as basic implementation, I suspect changes would only need to be made in three places-- keyboard processing, a hook into the shields-damaged routine, and the HUD to display "AUTO-EQ". Full implementation would require adding this option to the configurable mapping screens, pilot config, et al. Ugh.
And yes, this is basically a retread of this thread (http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,10182.0.html). I thought the scheme aldo proposed was needlessly complex.
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Personally, I wouldn't need it anyway. I ALWAYS keep my finger on the "E" key all the time when in Freespace 2.
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you know what's funny? one big shield bubble is superior to segmented ones in every way. it will always protect your whole ship as long as it's up.
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Originally posted by Carl
you know what's funny? one big shield bubble is superior to segmented ones in every way. it will always protect your whole ship as long as it's up.
Except when you lose that one shield projector due to a critical malf. ;) Then having segmented shields becomes so much more comforting. :D
Personally, I like segmented shields, but I also like ZBs suggestion. It makes good sense.
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Originally posted by Rampage
I ALWAYS keep my finger on the "E" key all the time when in Freespace 2.
"Target Next Escort Ship"?
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he probly changed it
this is something I think we should to, it wouls be an option, better pilots could turn it off if they want to manage the sheilds manualy
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:mad:SHIELDS!!! :mad:
I turn them off!
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Originally posted by Carl
you know what's funny? one big shield bubble is superior to segmented ones in every way. it will always protect your whole ship as long as it's up.
I have to disagree. If your shields are equalised across all four sections at only 25%, one good strong hit will punch right through them and impact your hull. If you put all the shield energy you have into the one necessary quadrant, you have full protection where you need it despite having only 25% of the shield energy necessary for full coverage.
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Dunno how good a Herc driver you are, Seqs, but I've never used the shield management system - there's no way I could fight and screw around adjusting the strength of my shields at the same time...
Idea --> How about have a function that automates the shunting of energy into a particular quadrant, so that as you are attacked from behind the shield will increase power to the rear quadrant at the expense of the other three (or two, if you are taking damage on two quadrants... you get the idea). This could be a replacement for the 'equalise shields' function, or an extra feature which only kicks in when you're taking damage - otherwise, the normal equalise effect is used.
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Don't make everything automatic! :)
Players have brains and arms, they should also use them.
Remapping keys can be handy if you are unable to fight and manage ship systems at same time.
But these automatic stuff could be handy for AI, which I'd like to be improved. Sure they can be deadly if they are 100% accurate and so on, but AI is not good at ship management.
Player usually can keep up fighting long enough, but AI pilots are dropping like flies because they just can't manage their ship systems, shields for example.
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Shields Suck! :ha:
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Originally posted by Mr. Fury
Don't make everything automatic! :)
Players have brains and arms, they should also use them.
Remapping keys can be handy if you are unable to fight and manage ship systems at same time.
But these automatic stuff could be handy for AI, which I'd like to be improved. Sure they can be deadly if they are 100% accurate and so on, but AI is not good at ship management.
Player usually can keep up fighting long enough, but AI pilots are dropping like flies because they just can't manage their ship systems, shields for example.
If you make it an option, not a requirement, then everyone is satisfied: you don't have to toggle AutoEqualize anymore than you have to toggle on AutoMatchSpeed. Those that want it, have it, those that don't can ignore it.
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I think AI at least needs to be better at shield management. You'd be surprised at the Unification War. It's balanced completely different than fs2 because your wingmen don't have to manage sheilds, and thus are almost on level playing turf with you.
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Originally posted by Mr. Fury
Don't make everything automatic! :)
Players have brains and arms, they should also use them.
But when you're just sitting there reflexively tapping "Q" every time you get hit, you're NOT using your brain. This is a prime indicator of a function that should be automated.
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before i say that shields suck, let me remind you that shield management has not changed much sence the great war. this obviosly means that the shield systems used by the gtva are so outdated that they need to be replaced, else be ripped out of ships in order to make a few m/s faster. i think that 4 segments is not a good number, i would much rather have 50 or just 1, but not 4, its just such a lame number. more segments mean that you can get a more precise idea of where shots are comming from, fewer means that they are easy to manage, i personally think that i am full of $}{!+ and should shut up, but what do you think?
p.s.
Shields Suck!
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I think there should be eight segments, octants, t'd be more realistic
but it would be a ***** to manage.
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This might piss off num-pad players, but we could have the num-pad work the octants. 1,2,3,6,7,8, and 9 change their respective areas.
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Hades, I think I can confidently say that that would piss everyone off.
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Originally posted by diamondgeezer
Dunno how good a Herc driver you are, Seqs, but I've never used the shield management system - there's no way I could fight and screw around adjusting the strength of my shields at the same time...
Mapped onto the hat switch. Easy as pie. And the Herc II is possibly my favorite ship to fly.
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I never really liked the Herc II. Always preferred the original.
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Originally posted by Hades
This might piss off num-pad players, but we could have the num-pad work the octants. 1,2,3,6,7,8, and 9 change their respective areas.
I like that idea, as long as I can press two buttons at the same time to equally focus my energy in those two octants, like 9 and 6 to cover the front right:)
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Or just the up arrow key to maximize you foward octants.
We could make them mappable though, that way people could change the controls. But we'd have to make new sheild icons...
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no, what I was talking aboout was two sets of quadrants four on top and four on bottom, I think it would be more acurate and cool but hard to implement well, I don't mean subdivideing the four current shield quadrants perpendicular to the z axis but along it
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There is at least one situation where you would want not to use auto-equalize (like when you strafe a cruiser, cruiser gun shots blast right through weaker shields and hit the hull somewhat too). However such an _option_ is a really good thing since it will be often used.
I like the idea to make it like the auto-settings where a manual adjustment turns it off.
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Originally posted by Nuke
Shields Suck! :ha:
I sense shield-angst...