True tactical pause

[HRYB]

With the level of possible micromanagement, I believe this game would be much deserving of a true tactical pause. Meaning I can pause the battle, issue orders and see the visual feedback of the orders I placed. What is currently in place is very bizarre and uncomfortable to use. It feels very half implemented.

Cheers

[Saxhorn]

It's an RTS pausing and issuing orders is more like turn based.

[HRYB]

Originally posted by Saxhorn:

It's an RTS pausing and issuing orders is more like turn based.

I can think of many real time strategy games that have a real time pause. Steel Division 2 being the best example since it is also WW2 and a competitor.

But Gates of Hell at times feels as demanding as a crpg with its micromanagement.

[postatos]

OP is right in my opinion. Since the game is not easy (playing exclusively conquest on heroic/hard), there is no place for mistakes. In late conquest, there is too much going on. Plus the AI of my own unit is not helpful at all. How many times my flak exploded by my truck's fault when trying to tow it.

We should have the ability to dispatch orders on pause.

[HRYB]

Originally posted by postatos:

OP is right in my opinion. Since the game is not easy (playing exclusively conquest on heroic/hard), there is no place for mistakes. In late conquest, there is too much going on. Plus the AI of my own unit is not helpful at all. How many times my flak exploded by my truck's fault when trying to tow it.

We should have the ability to dispatch orders on pause.

A fine example, we are the same type of player!

[Pdguru]

This is a challenging game for a number of reasons - and this is one of them! With the ability of the AI to attack from off the map (invisible to you) with relentless spawning, the micromanagement is painful. I've lost count of the number of times I have been busy on one area and looked back and my entire force there has been obliterated by an off map gun and/or attack. You have to load up a strong defensive line as soon as you are ready to start looking at another area to take.

[struckat]

I agree, i would like to issue orders when paused. I will never be able to keep track of everything and I havent even made it to mid game as I am still learning the controls and abilities.

I see pause as a must have.

[HRYB]

Originally posted by struckat:

I agree, i would like to issue orders when paused. I will never be able to keep track of everything and I havent even made it to mid game as I am still learning the controls and abilities.

I see pause as a must have.

Agreed, its the only thing holding me back from sinking more time into the game.

[Saxhorn]

OK seems like a few people would like some options.
So here's my tips for "pause" or "time management".

In solo Conquest (which uses the multiplayer engine) you just pause multiple times and get basically the same.

You can NOT issue orders whilst paused but there are things you can do
you can assign unit numbers (shift + number key)
you can scroll around the map
you can select a unit

You can't actually order that unit to do anything until you unpause the game but just the above allowed things can help immensely.

I find I spend a lot of my time scrolling around the map and getting the screen to display what I need to see.
It takes a lot of time to get the camera at the correct elevation, azimuth and zoom.

Until you can see what is happening where to whom by whom how can you decide what orders to give.

So if it's time critical and important I'll do get my camera where I need it whilst the game is paused.

If I pause the game 30 times in a single minute to get the view correct, evaluate the terrain or to select my units then in solo play that isn't stuffing up the enjoyment for anyone else.

Don't get comfortable doing this if you want to PvP. That's where everything becomes time critical in a different way. Humans don't execute code as fast as the bots. So whilst you are slow your opponents are pretty slow as well.

It's all about being able to react to what happens in real time.


In single player I'm pretty sure you can issue orders to units whilst the game is paused. SHIFT key will queue orders together.

[HRYB]

Originally posted by Saxhorn:

OK seems like a few people would like some options.
So here's my tips for "pause" or "time management".

In solo Conquest (which uses the multiplayer engine) you just pause multiple times and get basically the same.

You can NOT issue orders whilst paused but there are things you can do
you can assign unit numbers (shift + number key)
you can scroll around the map
you can select a unit

You can't actually order that unit to do anything until you unpause the game but just the above allowed things can help immensely.

I find I spend a lot of my time scrolling around the map and getting the screen to display what I need to see.
It takes a lot of time to get the camera at the correct elevation, azimuth and zoom.

Until you can see what is happening where to whom by whom how can you decide what orders to give.

So if it's time critical and important I'll do get my camera where I need it whilst the game is paused.

If I pause the game 30 times in a single minute to get the view correct, evaluate the terrain or to select my units then in solo play that isn't stuffing up the enjoyment for anyone else.

Don't get comfortable doing this if you want to PvP. That's where everything becomes time critical in a different way. Humans don't execute code as fast as the bots. So whilst you are slow your opponents are pretty slow as well.

It's all about being able to react to what happens in real time.


In single player I'm pretty sure you can issue orders to units whilst the game is paused. SHIFT key will queue orders together.

You're completely correct about its implementation in the game, but it feels very half baked and your reply reinforces that. As for the multiplayer aspect, I completely agree.
Pause has no place for pvp and developing pvp skills, but I am not a pvp player.

[aK]

OP has a good suggestion, the question is, do the developers have the skill and ability to do it within the engine. More importantly, do they want to put in this effort.

There is a lot that can be improved.

[FlashBurn]

Pause could work in PVP. Sort of you get X number and only for so long...say 45 seconds or something that does not totally mangle the flow. Combine with only 2 or 3... Might be a nice option.

But in single.... I rebound the space bar to pause. There is no freaking way you can do this on hard or above without a pause and order/micro manage units. And shift is your friend, its clunky but it gets it done. Often have to briefly unpause and then repause again to get menus to open for like inventory management. That's annoying.

[HRYB]

I'm glad so many other people agree, I am no game developer but I hope this is something they'd consider adding

[HRYB]

Originally posted by FlashBurn:

Pause could work in PVP. Sort of you get X number and only for so long...say 45 seconds or something that does not totally mangle the flow. Combine with only 2 or 3... Might be a nice option.

But in single.... I rebound the space bar to pause. There is no freaking way you can do this on hard or above without a pause and order/micro manage units. And shift is your friend, its clunky but it gets it done. Often have to briefly unpause and then repause again to get menus to open for like inventory management. That's annoying.

You're talking about a wego system pretty much! That would be A LOT to ask for, but would work very well for this game. Think of how combat mission works!

[Wooly]

Originally posted by HRYB:

Originally posted by postatos:

OP is right in my opinion. Since the game is not easy (playing exclusively conquest on heroic/hard), there is no place for mistakes. In late conquest, there is too much going on. Plus the AI of my own unit is not helpful at all. How many times my flak exploded by my truck's fault when trying to tow it.

We should have the ability to dispatch orders on pause.

A fine example, we are the same type of player!

+1 enjoy the game, but struggling to issue orders and quickly see who is carrying which weapon, who is out of bandages etc.

[ComЯade⛧]

+1. I was surprised this game didn't have a tactical pause with all the micromanagement when I first got the game.