Why is it too hard to implement a 'follow' unit camera mode?

[Adam Beckett]

Coming back to this title, I keep forgetting that they lack one of the most basic common RTS language camera options.

... and the devs have not addressed it, nor seem to be interested to add this option.

//btw, I am not seeking for random user "this game does not need it" comments. I have seen plenty of those in the threads, already. Thank you.

Two lines of code would do? Optional for users who want to use it. Others can ignore it.

Too hard?

[Lepidus Stupidius]

I doubt it would be "two lines of code", but nonetheless the feature would never be used. Why would I ever want to lock my camera to a unit in this game? It would make sense in say, Starcraft, but here? Can you name even a single instance in which camera lock would actually be helpful?

A lot of this game is based on a hard-coded and old engine that is extremely difficult to crack.

[Ch53dVet]

Originally posted by Lepidus Stupidius:

I Can you name even a single instance in which camera lock would actually be helpful?

When in DC mode, where you have to move a vehicle to a specific position it can't get there on it's own accord, the camera speed and the vehicle speed move at different rates, if you are driving towards the camera, the camera view gets pushed farther away from the vehicle and you constantly have to re-position the camera back to the vehicle.

[thupreem gent]

Originally posted by Lepidus Stupidius:

I doubt it would be "two lines of code", but nonetheless the feature would never be used. Why would I ever want to lock my camera to a unit in this game? It would make sense in say, Starcraft, but here? Can you name even a single instance in which camera lock would actually be helpful?

A lot of this game is based on a hard-coded and old engine that is extremely difficult to crack.

What are you basing your estimate for how many lines of code would be needed?

[Saxhorn]

I've played the game "a lot" and whilst I wouldn't use a follow unit mode every match it is something I'd like available to use.

Following a vehicle as it moves somewhere or just sitting on the battlefield watching and waiting for a unit fire or reload.

In early defence missions for Conquest I can usually just sit and watch the enemy attack my lines without a lot of micro. This gives me the opportunity to sit back, crack open a cold one and watch the game more like a movie than a clickfest.

I think movie makers and streamers would love the idea.

The best you can do now is select the unit and keep thumping the "centre unit on" screen button. Its 'jerky' the screen jumps about but it works.


It would be a valid enhancement to the game and no it's not just two lines of code but it shouldn't be a massive amount of work either. Because whatever "centre unit on screen" does already has almost all the code required. Place that code into a repetitive loop that the player can choose to activate. We just need to find an unused key on the keyboard. With so many keybinds I'm running out of unused keys on my keyboard.

My concern is performance. If the CPU is busy running yet another "thread" that loops and follows a unit it's not running all those hit/miss/damage calculations.

[thupreem gent]

Is that Saxhorn not replyguying the OP and instead agreeing with a suggestion to enhance the game?

I don't even recognize him anymore =/

[Saxhorn]

Isn't replying to the OP about the topic the whole idea of a forum?