Problems with the interface

[Trousermonkey]

Probably the most frustrating thing with RTW is the fact they didn't include features that were useful in MTW. Their absence is made more frustrating because we know there's no reason for these things not to be included with newer games. It comes across as a step backwards. Here's a brief list of things that annoy me in the interface. I'd be interested in hearing about other problems people have the interface even if only to gather them together into a single list.

Why? Well, ideally to bring these things up (again) to the developers and/or whoever controls their schedule. Alternately it's so I can have a single place I can reference when I want to reflect on my impotence as a consumer.

Strategy Map interface issues
- My mouse is sluggish when the strategy map is shown. There should be a mouse speed slider for the strategy map. This is a fundamental option because without it, it adds insult to injury for all the operations we can no longer use the keyboard to navigate through.
- In MTW the spacebar would press the 'OK' button on popup windows (for example on the save popup window).
- In MTW the 'Enter' key could be used to end the turn. Why was this changed? Can we at least have the option of binding that function to a key?
- It's not possible to use the mouse scrollwheel to view tables. The focus remains on the strategy map even when the mouse is over the list to scroll.


Tactical Map interface issues
- assigning a number to a single unit was removed
- assigning a single unit multiple numbers was removed
- attempting to reassign a number to a new unit adds that unit to the previous group. This is really frustrating!
- routing units lose their group designation
- the camera options have changed giving the impression of less flexibility. I will probably get used to the way it is now, but I liked the option in MTW where moving the mouse to the bottom edge of the screen sidestepped the camera where moving it off near the top would rotate the view. I could also use an option to have freelook.
- the hud is always visible. Please give me the option of hiding the minimap and the control button portion of the HUD. I use neither of these and they just obstruct the battlefield.
- let me turn off the little battle messages that fall down the left side after battle events
- let me disable (hide) the advisor by default
- dragging grouped or multiple units seems buggy. Unless they're in the right setup at the beginning of battle, they will never click and drag into a cohesive line
- The results scroll that pops up after a battle has been dumbed down. Being able to see individual units stats is great but I'd like to see a more detailed list of battle statistics. ex. Men deployed, killed, friendly fire, battle time, location, and etc. Basically the top portion of MTW logfiles. Right now the window is so empty...

[DisruptorX]

You can hide the advisor in game options, I haven't seen him since playing the tutorial. I agree about the interface getting in the way, this ain't starcraft.

[Devastatin Dave]

I HATE the new tactical map interface along with the mini map within. I really wish that CA kept the original interface. Now as far as the campaign map, I LOVE it. Sure there are a few glitches here and there and sometimes it can be devestating if your army takes an unusual route, etc. but besides that, I really like the 3-D and the interface in on the campaign map.

[Trousermonkey]

You're right disruptorX. I double checked the game this morning and the advisor was still disabled. I could have sworn he reappeared even after I told him to take a hike but I must have been mistaken. In any case it looks like I'm in the minority here with my interface grievances.

The strategy map is an improvement graphics wise but I still think it could use some tweaking. In MTW you had time during the end turn to see the AI move troops. It moved slow enough you could get a sense of what they were up to. Now, AI movement flashes by so quickly it's very difficult to get anything out of this information. It's so fast that I fail to see the point of animating AI movement at all.

In other situations the movement is a little slow. I set up a diplomat with a long march and then ended turn. After the AI had moved at blinding speed I had to wait 5-6 seconds while my diplomat sauntered through his walk path. There was nothing else going on - just this one guy strolling. There's no option (that I've found) to speed up this strat map movement at the end of the turn. Ideally I'd like to skip through their movement (like I can when they're moving mid-turn)

I can agree the sum total of the game experience outweighs the downsides of the interface but their presence adds a disproportionate element of annoyance/amateureness. It's like an ingrown toenail; it's only a very small annoyance but it hurts like hell and is all you can think about.

[Obex]

I agree with the points you mentioned for the most part. I really like this game, but it could use some help. allow me to comment on a few of my main issues.

using the mouse scrollwheel to view tables would be useful. I'd also love to see the ability to cycle through my agents and ships like i can cities. micromanaging these units can be a real hassle.

the camera is far to limited. why not unlock it, -ian style?

the battlefield hud is too large. i actually use some of the buttons, but a reduced version would be super, or at least a way to hide parts of it like in MTW.

dragging grouped or multiple units is terrible. i came to realize that they keep the formation shape of the time that they were grouped. i dont like this, but fine. the problem is that sometimes they get stuck in a random orientation, meaning that you have to drag in a random angle to get them to line up.

sometimes the projected path of my troops doesnt display if the game is paused. this makes moving an army while paused difficult, and the terrible grouping makes it hard unpasued. damned if you do, damned if you dont.

as mentioned elsewhere, frequently keyboard keys are nonresponsive, such as Ctrl-T, and P.

the after battle report is week. if a more detailed report in game is not worth reworking, then at least add support for log files. it seems that we went through this once before...