Unfortunately I don't have the time to go through all 16 pages of the forums and see if this may be a repost to a degree but below are some changes I would like to see to Steel Division's in-game UI, controls, and gameplay after playing a few matches against the AI
UI suggestions:
1) When a transport unit is selected, the only indication of what sort of unit that is being transported is on the map next to the unit icon. The information should be displayed in the lower right. I don't care much for what kind of transport I'm using, but rather what unit is inside of it. This can be especially confusing at the beginning of a new phase if I've been saving points and want to call in a variety of units.
2) When a unit is selected, the information in the bottom right of the screen presents all of the crucial information except for the range of the weapons. At least in this early stage, having the information about weapon ranges immediately available (as opposed to having to go into the Requisition Menu is extremely helpful.
3) When a unit is selected, the information in the bottom right of the screen should also show the current personnel / maximum personnel. Again, this may be because I have minimal experience playing the wargame series and/or Steel Division (like most people, for the latter), but having this immediately available would also be a huge help.
4) When notifications appear to the left of the minimap, they should be click-able and bring the player's camera to where the relevant unit is/was. For example, if I get a notification that a Universal Carrier was destroyed, it would be helpful if I could click on the notification to see where this particular UC of 5 was destroyed. Also, highlighting it on the map itself would be great and super helpful, especially as they can be so small when the camera is zoomed out.
Control Suggestions:
1) In the "controls" tab under options, not all of the controls in-game are presented.
examples:
a) Left shift shows where a unit has been ordered to do (this should be present 100% of the time when you have a unit selected, not simply when holding down left shift.
b) Space bar does...something; it cycles between units in combat?
2) The abilities in the bottom right should be easily modified so that they can fit into an easily-learned system, preferably "grid keys".
Explanation: in Company of Heroes 2, there is a 4x4 grid on the bottom right of the UI that displays all of the action that the currently selected unit can do. For all of those buttons, there is an assigned hotkey. In the absence of third party software, there are two options for those keys. The first option is "classic" where the letter key assigned is based off of the title of the unit (A=attack move). The second option is "grid keys" were the 4x4 grid represents the left hand on a standard English keyboard, arranged as QWER ASDF ZXCV. This is what I have used for 1900+ hours of CoH2 and it's super easy to learn. If this system could be implemented it would make using hotkeys so unbelieveably easier.
Gameplay:
1) Is there some way that vehicles can be repaired? If not, there should be!
example: I had a Churchill AVRE get its tracks knocked out, but eveyrthing else was working properly. I didn't check to see in the lower right if there was a repair button, but adding one would be great. Alternatively, having squads of engineers or even repair vehicles in the support class of units would also be great.
2) Units should have a maximum firing range in addition to their current maximum effective firing range. The standard range of a bolt-action rifle in game is 300m which is well below the maximum firing range of rifles at the time. If units could have the option to fire at will at a certain range (the minimum being their current "maximum" firing range) within their realistic (or balanced) maximum firing range, that would be great. Of course, the fire would be less accurate, but it would allow infantry squads to engage at longer ranges.
Thank you for reading! These changes, especially with the controls/UI, would lower the learning time for myself/new players.
I hope my input can make some helpful changes when the game officially goes live or even in the open beta!
UI suggestions:
1) When a transport unit is selected, the only indication of what sort of unit that is being transported is on the map next to the unit icon. The information should be displayed in the lower right. I don't care much for what kind of transport I'm using, but rather what unit is inside of it. This can be especially confusing at the beginning of a new phase if I've been saving points and want to call in a variety of units.
2) When a unit is selected, the information in the bottom right of the screen presents all of the crucial information except for the range of the weapons. At least in this early stage, having the information about weapon ranges immediately available (as opposed to having to go into the Requisition Menu is extremely helpful.
3) When a unit is selected, the information in the bottom right of the screen should also show the current personnel / maximum personnel. Again, this may be because I have minimal experience playing the wargame series and/or Steel Division (like most people, for the latter), but having this immediately available would also be a huge help.
4) When notifications appear to the left of the minimap, they should be click-able and bring the player's camera to where the relevant unit is/was. For example, if I get a notification that a Universal Carrier was destroyed, it would be helpful if I could click on the notification to see where this particular UC of 5 was destroyed. Also, highlighting it on the map itself would be great and super helpful, especially as they can be so small when the camera is zoomed out.
Control Suggestions:
1) In the "controls" tab under options, not all of the controls in-game are presented.
examples:
a) Left shift shows where a unit has been ordered to do (this should be present 100% of the time when you have a unit selected, not simply when holding down left shift.
b) Space bar does...something; it cycles between units in combat?
2) The abilities in the bottom right should be easily modified so that they can fit into an easily-learned system, preferably "grid keys".
Explanation: in Company of Heroes 2, there is a 4x4 grid on the bottom right of the UI that displays all of the action that the currently selected unit can do. For all of those buttons, there is an assigned hotkey. In the absence of third party software, there are two options for those keys. The first option is "classic" where the letter key assigned is based off of the title of the unit (A=attack move). The second option is "grid keys" were the 4x4 grid represents the left hand on a standard English keyboard, arranged as QWER ASDF ZXCV. This is what I have used for 1900+ hours of CoH2 and it's super easy to learn. If this system could be implemented it would make using hotkeys so unbelieveably easier.
Gameplay:
1) Is there some way that vehicles can be repaired? If not, there should be!
example: I had a Churchill AVRE get its tracks knocked out, but eveyrthing else was working properly. I didn't check to see in the lower right if there was a repair button, but adding one would be great. Alternatively, having squads of engineers or even repair vehicles in the support class of units would also be great.
2) Units should have a maximum firing range in addition to their current maximum effective firing range. The standard range of a bolt-action rifle in game is 300m which is well below the maximum firing range of rifles at the time. If units could have the option to fire at will at a certain range (the minimum being their current "maximum" firing range) within their realistic (or balanced) maximum firing range, that would be great. Of course, the fire would be less accurate, but it would allow infantry squads to engage at longer ranges.
Thank you for reading! These changes, especially with the controls/UI, would lower the learning time for myself/new players.
I hope my input can make some helpful changes when the game officially goes live or even in the open beta!
