Ship Design Feedback (some editing suggestions)

from GalCiv3 Forums

So, I like all the little features provided in the ship designer. I spent about an hour working on making linear motion from rotational motion when I realized that you had a movement animation. So after I created a walking spaceship (moving legs and such, inspired me to possibly create a walking AT-AT)

I like the symmetry, but I do not necessarily like the fact with symmetry comes any component placed on a symmetric object automatically gets duplicated. (Although, I don't think you should change how you are doing it... design quirk is how I look at this feature)

I found when placing components like the chaff system or deflector, I look at the scale options, because I would like to scale it... then I find that it is scaled in an interesting fashion already. Problem is now I have to futz with this scale percentage wise myself. I say this is not a desirable outcome. I know you created these objects from grouping things together and made the scale fit your designs. I think when you save such an object that the scale gets reset to 100 on this piece (if possible), so I can click on proportional scaling and it will keep the scale you set it at and it will scale proportionally.

Proposal to the proportional scaling button: If I click on proportional scaling it should not set the scaling to X = Y = Z, it should set up another variable W that when moved up or down will scale X, Y, and Z by the scale factor of W (a percentage if you will, so it would be X*W, Y*W, Z*W)

Hence, if you set X to 50, and Y to 100 and Z to 130, then I press proportional scaling, I get a W = 100, then I reduce to W = 50... then the scaling should end with

X = 25, Y = 50 and Z = 75. This is how I think proportional scaling should be used (I set up the way the object looks, then I scale keeping the relative percentages the same on the object. It will solve the problem I described above. See the screen shot of the deflector shield scaling... It will be difficult for me to keep that shape and reduce its scale proportionally as it must be done manually.

 

say I want this half size, I would have to manually set X to 50, Y to 12 and Z to 22. This would work, but problem is the object grouping doesn't do this very well... The attachments of these objects are not being respected. (Look you see a separation)

I would expect that the scaling should attach the object to the hard-point of the other. There is no particular way for me to scale this object down, although it does look "half" as large as the original in scale. (note: I did move the component up to see the offset)

Liking the editor, look forward to some of the changes.

9,411 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Note: I would hope that when I move from the design tag from equip to design mode that the default screen is not the hulls, but the parts. Not looking to restart when I'm in the middle of putting in equipment.

Reply #2 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Also, would like a pop-up when you press cancel on the ship editor... lost the ship I created above by accident ;)

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Reply #3 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Quoting parrottmath, reply 2
Also, would like a pop-up when you press cancel on the ship editor... lost the ship I created above by accident

I second this :)  k1

Reply #4 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Thanks for the Feedback.

In the Next Build you will be able to “break” symmetry, so if you has something symmetrical and you want to add something that is not to it, you will be able to do that. You will also be able to take a symmetrical and create a combined object that can be treated like any other part.

The Proportional scaling has several problems at the moment, first, the Palette does not remember whether a part has been scaled Proportionally or not, Second Grouped objects, such as the Chaff in your example, do are not accounting for there offsets, which is what you are seeing.

Once these items are fixed, i think most of your issues will be resolved, Let us know if they are not, we can consider a W scaler, my biggest concern with such an idea, is that it might be a bit too advanced for the casual designer. Which is why we default to Proportional.

PS. Yes a popup if a player leaves a design without saving is definitely needed, and will be in for Beta.

Reply #5 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Quoting mormegil, reply 4
PS. Yes a popup if a player leaves a design without saving is definitely needed, and will be in for Beta.

Nice.

The other bit about the proportional scaling is mostly to scale proportionally from the users presets vs. the original object definitions preset. i.e. you drew an object that is twice as long as tall, then I modify this object that is half as long as tall. If I select proportional scaling, it would revert the object to the original proportions and not scale with my defined proportional scaling. I would expect the later rather than the former, but you are probably right that this is an advanced feature and I can easily do the later.

When you set the designer from the start menu, is there going to be any sort of switch for research available options. For example, you have your three major research area of progress, will you have an option to limit the abilities based on what these levels.

Say initial research... beginning of the exploration research (early research)... the diplomatic accord research (middle research)... the domination of the galaxy research (late game research)... All research done. I know this is more of a polish issue, just curious if this was a planned or not? Or will this be a sort option for things to help design early game to late game ships.

Reply #6 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Quoting parrottmath, reply 5
The other bit about the proportional scaling is mostly to scale proportionally from the users presets vs. the original object definitions preset.


This is part of the problem i mentioned above, this has been fixed in the local build but it is part of Larger changes that will be coming in Beta. 

We will have to play with different ways to let the player control modules available, in the "standalone" ship designer, traditionally we just let the player have access to everything. But i realize this is not always ideal.