Engineer-Assist Problem

[Sakhari]

So, last patch, changes were made to engineer assist mechanics which, when they work, are a welcome improvement. Trouble is, there are some issues with consistency that make it so you still have to micromanage engineers to get useful results.

Example:

1) Select 5 un-grouped engineers.

2) Issue a build order for several structures (refineries, in my case).

3) The engineers will form an army and begin building. The first structure in the queue will be built faster with an appropriate cost for each assisting engineer (which you can see in your resource panel with an 'Assist' label).

4) Once the structure is complete, the engineer group will move on to the next in the queue. They will all 'appear' to be working on it with the build-beams running but if you mouse over the resource income panel, there won't be any 'Assist' costs and only one engineer will actually be doing the work. The only way I've been able to consistently make use of the assist mechanic is to disband the group after each completed item and build structures one-by-one.

Anyway, that may not be the only situation where it's happening but I was able to consistently reproduce the issue in this situation several times so... you know. Worth a look.

[Sakhari]

Also, on the subject of things not working properly, I'll just include my quarterly-ish reminder of this attack-move cursor issue:

https://steamcommunity.com/app/228880/discussions/4/412448792356586875/

[centaurianmudpig]

I'm glad to know I am not the only one with this engi-assist problem. Which race do you play? I think PHC engi works fine, but I mainly play Substrate.

[Sakhari]

Actually, I've only taken the time to test it with the PHC so I know it's a problem with them but it wouldn't surprise me if the Substrate were having the same issue.

Good question, though. I should have mentioned that.

[GGTheMachine]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Sakhari:

Also, on the subject of things not working properly, I'll just include my quarterly-ish reminder of this attack-move cursor issue:

https://steamcommunity.com/app/228880/discussions/4/412448792356586875/

You don't need to keep nagging us. We are aware of that issue and it's on the list, hopefully next fixed next update. Fixing little things like that isn't so simple when we have so many other things to do.

Thanks for this post though, I'll look into the assisting. I know Mudpig mentioned something before but I wasn't able to reproduce at the time.

[GGTheMachine]

Yeah... you're definitely right about this. I was able to confirm the first structure builds fine but then subsequent ones build slower.

[Sakhari]

Oprindeligt skrevet af GGTheMachine:

You don't need to keep nagging us. We are aware of that issue and it's on the list, hopefully next fixed next update.

I hope you'll pardon my frustration with this issue but this is the first time that I've heard that it's on the to-do list since the original Ashes beta over a year and a half ago. It literally hits me about a dozen times per game (at a conservative estimate) so it's been a fairly persistent nuisance. You sounded sympathetic in the last patch cycle but it wasn't clear that you'd been able to reproduce the issue or that sympathy would translate to action.

Anyway, again, I do appreciate you and the team checking these things out and if this one's on the list, I'll leave it alone for a while.

[Goffender]

I can't even find the assist command. In SC the first engineer to pop out could be givin a long list Todo than the the 9 that popped out in the meantime can assist the 1. Or they could assist the factory....

[centaurianmudpig]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Goffender:

I can't even find the assist command. In SC the first engineer to pop out could be givin a long list Todo than the the 9 that popped out in the meantime can assist the 1. Or they could assist the factory....

There is no specific assist command. If you want an engineer to assist another in constructing buildings where has multiple buildings queued up: 1) Select an engineer that is already in the process of completing the build queue. 2) Shift click/drag to select any additional engineers. 3) Press the v key to form army. That will add the engineers to an army and continue the build process.

For assisting unit production, just select the engineer and perform a move order click on the desired building (i.e. factory/armoury).

Note:
If the additional engineer is far away the other engineers may wait for it to arrive before contining constructions.
If you select in reverse, i.e. new engineer then the constructing engineer it will use the first engineers build queue or cancel all construction from the added engineer if the primary has none.
Selecting a group of engineers and instructing them to build soethign will automatically assign them into an army.

[Goffender]

Thanks, ill give that a try.