Pinning & left hand UI questions

from Sins Forums

Hello,

I wonder if I'm missing a trick or two because I'm finding that managing my units and structures using that explorer-type interface down the left is less than ideal - maybe I'm just doing it badly?? For example, to move a whole fleet, I'll typically scroll up to the top and try and highlight it using the gold shield icon... but the focus always moves away ie if there's action elsewhere on the map. This drives me mad and I find myself fighting the UI as much as fighting the AI :). Also, I have 16 planets on one of my games and it's really hard to get to any particular planet with all that scrolling up and down. Ie you can't organise your planets into an expanding hierarchy, every planet is on the same level. What I've ended up resorting to is renaming planets in individual systems to start with the same letter just to be able to even find them. ie if I have 3 planets in a first system I'll change the first letter to A (makes for some insane names :) ) etc.

So really I was wondering how do you really experienced guys manage your mega campaigns over multiple planets & systems. For example how does pinning help (seems to do nothing for me at all???), and how does that "search by type work" (sometimes it highlights a planet with a white ring round it but for capital ships over multiple systems it never seems to do anything, I'm always hoping it'll show me where they are cause I forget where the heck I built them). Also those custom Ctr1 etc options -- how to use that? Sorry, definitely n00b questions, unfortunately the handbook is very badly done (handbooks should always give an example)

Thanks in advance!

 

12,959 views 4 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

okay, well, there are some problems with the UI (its called the Empire window just so you know) for instance it will show you what ships are in phase space at any one time, and alot of people dont really care about that

So, this is how i use it:

i leave it as auto un-pin planets. the only ones i pin are important planets... i.e. frontline strongholds, factory planets, my homeworld, etc etc (some MP players might also pin important allied planets) otherwise the Empire window gets very cluttered

also, Starbases are auto pinned, so to unclutter the empire window, you have to select the starbase in the empire window and manually unpin it. so SB's that arent frontline defenders can be unpinned and dont clutter the window

to be honest, its best to unpin any and all planets you dont use. 1st, because the fewer planet in the window, the less you have to scroll, 2nd, because any GW with your ships in it will be displayed, not to mention the more fleet groupings you have, the more cluttered the window is, and 3rd, if you are playing on a very large map, you may need to monitor alot of planets, so if you have a dead asteroid with only a trade port in the center of your empire that is not in any threat at all, you dont need it on you empire window

 

so, the control 1 options etc. i use it for my fleets and ship groupings, and sometimes for super weapons. to my understanding, you can assign any ship, structure or planet (not sure about grav well) to a control + number, though of course some are of more use than others...

if you want to know how to use it its simple, just select what you want assigned to that number then press control and a number

hope that answered most of your questions

Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top

Thanks TheRezonator, appreciated :)

You've really spelled out what I'm thinking - lose the clutter and just show the stuff that matters.I'll have a play with the pin stuff, I'm just being dim I suspect.

That phase thing drives me nuts btw - it's not really that useful for me. It'd be so great if it was optional, at the bottom and didn't take focus away :)

Seems to me like the Empire window is 80% there, it's pretty good but just needs a bit of work. Trust me, I've seen a lot worse!

Imnsho all UI developers should have this pinned to their desk: http://stuffthathappens.com/blog/2008/03/05/simplicity/

It's hanging on the wall of my office just to remind me 24/7

Offworld Trading Company
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

That phase thing drives me nuts btw - it's not really that useful for me. It'd be so great if it was optional, at the bottom and didn't take focus away
End of quote

alot of people have requested it be axed or at least be made optional... either in a patch or the next X-pack

Seems to me like the Empire window is 80% there, it's pretty good but just needs a bit of work. Trust me, I've seen a lot worse!
End of quote

again, i agree, and alot of people have requested changes... hopefully someone will listen