Lookout needs one small tweak

[Dennis]

Currently, if a "hostile" npc was knocked out by a Cleaner, he still shows up with the same icon as before. It's a bit annoying to wait a long time for a NPC to move just to realize he was unconscious all the time.

Maybe change the icon color, or have a small Z next to it?

[The Passion of the Gibson]

I personally like the not knowing.

[DividedByZer0]

I think that's an interesting idea but maybe there should be some realworld justification as to why the lookout is able to detect that they're asleep. Maybe they have a slower heartbeat when they're asleep?

[AndyN.]

I never thought of that. That's a good idea. For now, I would encourage the Cleaner to communicate who he is knocking out to the team.

[little buddy]

Wow that is a really interesting suggestion. Thanks for that.!

Like Andy said, it would be best to communicate.

We actually had the same issue a while back in the beta, where the mole would destroy a wall but it doesn't update on the blueprint (it would be too much refreshing to do in real-time)... the only true solution was for them to communicate and stay aware of each others actions.

Utilize that steam voice chat wherever possible!

[Serity]

It doesn't update the blueprint right now when the Mole smashes walls...... but it will if you alt-tab out and back in ;)

[little buddy]

Heh that's classy.

I personally enjoy th realism of talking to your teammates: "How you doing over there Mole?"

[Serity]

Mole got great tunnel built with help of FREEDOM SPOON. Gentleman needs come look at arc texture. To get here, go to copy machine then take a left, first left, second right, go to end and take left.

[Serity]

After thinking about it some more, it really feels like blueprint really should update; especially because C4 blows up walls and objects and lasers and cameras and doors and, knowing those are gone would be really useful. You'd only need to update the blueprint A) when the mole busts something down and B) when C4 blows up. You wouldn't need to do it "real-time", I think..?

Right now I just run up a ladder on Diamond Quarter after a explosives spree and alt-tab out and back in, but it shouldn't be necessary to do this.. Especially considering the blueprint doesn't update if you're the mole or set off C4.

[AndyN.]

The reason the blueprint doesn't update every frame is a technical issue. The blueprint is actually a single image that is rendered when the floor loads. If you change floors, it will update. At one point, it used to update per frame, but the game would lag every time a wall was destroyed. We optimized for performance. For now, let's just say that it's the Moles job to tell people where the holes are :)

[Serity]

Redhead blew up a wall across the map with C4 so there weren't any lasers there anymore, why didn't you tell me, Mole?!? :p

[hug]

Is it possible to make a "ping" system, where you can leave a mark on the map for a limited time, like some sort of particle that is visible through fog? I usually play as Mole, and even though I use voice chat while playing with my friends, sometimes its kind of hard to tell them where I made escape routes while running, for example - so it would be nice to be able to leave a trail so they can see the path.

[Serity]

A major problem with adding a ping would be controls.

Firstly, this game has no sort of targetting system built in unless you have a long-range weapon. Wrenches, C4, etc. do not bring up a targetting system, and you don't have a crosshair if you're out of gun ammo. It would be annoying/disorienting for a cursor to be up on your screen 24/7 for no reason just for a ping system.

Secondly, left-click, middle-click, and right-click are already all used, so that leaves a keyboard control for ping. Keyboard keys can accidentally be hit, so anything you do here.. you'd have to have a threshold so people don't accidentally ping for no reason.

There's two things I can think of that meet both of those criteria:
1) "Hold down a button to bring up a cursor, move mouse to location, release button" (you'd have to hold it for at least 1 second or something), but that would probably be awkward and annoying to use..
2) Make a specific gear that lets you ping routes/paths.. but this would be entirely useless in single-player and not really that useful that you'd take it over a bandage/wrench/etc. A terribad solution.

Everything in this game is either a passive ability, activated by walking into it, or activated as a left-click/spacebar gear. Adding something to allow pings wouldn't be easy..

[hug]

It would be possible if the ping was made in your location, so you just could leave a path from where you step. Also, the ping could be temporary, so there won't be issues with spam.

[Dennis]

First, thanks for all the answers, guys!

Now, about the other things being discussed here:

-Isn't updating the blueprint ONLY when a Mole 'changes' the map less demanding? I have no idea how you guys made it work and I don't know ♥♥♥♥ about programming, so I'm probably wrong.

-hug's ping idea is interesting, but leaving a 'path' would be spammy by itself. Maybe limit it to only one or two on screen? Still, there's still the problem with the controls as Trapped Firefly pointed out.

[Serity]

Yeah, "place a ping where you are" would work, but it wouldn't be too useful, you couldn't point out enemies or objectives or anything else, you'd literally just use it to mark where you're walking.

@Dennis: It might be "less demanding" but that doesn't mean it still wouldn't lag as it has to rebuild the entire map image every time he makes a hole.