The "right/left" click debate... where do you stand? :)

[Jacob]

I was just reading a "first impressions" post by a new player to WoM, and it made me wonder what if any concensus there may be regarding preferred mouse-interface style.

I also wanted to enquire/suggest to WI that they consider moving to a slightly more "standardized" RTS style. It's an area of the game that has recieved some criticism, so I'm thinking "why re-invent the wheel?"

In pretty much every major turn-based and RT strategy game I've played in the last decade or so operates on pretty much the same human interface standard:

• Left click selects a unit or object
  
• With a unit selected Right click on map to move to a location, or to interact with a location once arrived
  
• With a unit selected Right click and hold to bring up the pathing display - release to have unit move (and with r-click still held down, click left mouse button to cancel pathing move)
  
• Left click on the map (somewhere without a unit/object) to deselect
  
• Right click on unit/object (without another unit/object already selected) to bring up info panels, dialogue boxes to affect the object, etc.
  
• And I think the #1 thing that I don't see in the RTS-Style interface is WHY some people get so flustered... Once you have initated a move or interaction with a right click, it should DESELECT THE UNIT.

[edit]: I should have also mentioned that the RTS style interface doesn't appear to be consistent between the strategic map, and the tactical map - on the tac map, you move with left click regardless of setting.

Also - on what is, in fairness, a personal preference note, I have never liked the pathing indicator showing up as soon as you select a unit, and staying "on" the whole time... can't really justify that, it just bugs me... like I've got a string crazy-glued to my finger or something... lol.

I believe that h-interface concept evolved out of tablet/touch based concerns... but come on, we're PC gamers right?

Be interested to hear if I am alone in this idea, or if someone has better ones?

And hey, for the purists, the MoM style option is already there - so they should be happy I think! :)

[Elhazzared]

Now I dunno how about strategic combat, however there is in the option the option to chose the clicking method. You can either use the MoM method which I frankly prefer. Or you can use the classic system games now-a-days use.

[KellyR]

Unfortunately the RTS-like setting doesn't apply to combat, which makes it confusing having to switch back and forth. Personally I really don't like having "select unit" and "issue command to unit" be the same button.

[Jacob]

I agree Paladin, I don't like that either - I think the biggest thing that on occasion messes me up (and I also think this is the source of the concern critics of the game's interface have voiced) is that issuing a command SHOULD in my opinion deselect the unit automatically.

I have seen implementations where the deselect only occurs IF you have used up all that unit's movement, but the point remains... AND as we both agree it should be consistent across the entire game (based on the input setting you have selected.)

Example: If you move a unit to a node, and then click on "build siphon", it carries out the command and deselects the unit. Same thing is true of building a road.

If you cast a spell (an enchantment or the like) on a unit, or if you select a unit and move - it remains selected.

I can't tell you how many times I've cast an enchantment on a unit, then went to right click on a city to check out what's building/etc. and unintentionally moved the aforementioned unit back towards the city.

To me (and maybe it's only me), that's very counter-intuitive... In the example above, I've selected my unit and indicated where I want him to go... or I've selected my unit and cast the spell on him I wanted...

At the point, I'm done with my orders for that unit and am moving on to deal with other things... I'm not sure what the "upside"/purpose is to keeping that unit actively selected?

That's my 2 cents anyway... :)

[KellyR]

Eh, I actually don't like having the unit deselected after issuing an order of any kind... A lot of times I have a situation where I can have an army engage in multiple combats in a single turn, and I don't like having to re-select them after moving them to the first place and having them attack...

What I'd *really* like, would be the option to change the behavior of the game so that it takes two clicks to issue an order... Much like in Total War, the first click would just show the path the unit will take to follow that order, and only if you click in the same square again would the order be executed.

[Jacob]

Originally posted by DOLT Paladin:

Eh, I actually don't like having the unit deselected after issuing an order of any kind... A lot of times I have a situation where I can have an army engage in multiple combats in a single turn, and I don't like having to re-select them after moving them to the first place and having them attack...

Fair enough, although an interface where a unit "auto-deselects" after all movement is used might be a good median path to take - it would address your preference (above), but might also serve to cut down on the accidental moves I mentioned by not having the unit selected once it's move is done.

Originally posted by DOLT Paladin:

What I'd *really* like, would be the option to change the behavior of the game so that it takes two clicks to issue an order... Much like in Total War, the first click would just show the path the unit will take to follow that order, and only if you click in the same square again would the order be executed.

I agree with this 100% as an alternative as well.

Thinking about it, it might be a good idea to move the "open city interface" function to a double left click, that way (at least in the RTS setting), right click is used to issue move orders, and move orders alone - less confusion and mistakes?

[KellyR]

Yeah, I'd prefer to open the city screen with the left button, definitely.