20 year old RTS controls...

[JigPappy]

in a brand new game. How does this keep happening? I'm sure there's a better way to do it. Putting camera control, unit movement, and skill targeting all on the mouse doesn't seem very efficient. The game seems like it would be fun but this cumbersome UI baggage gets in the way.

[colemanpants]

Hi Magic,

Thanks for the feedback. We mostly tried to support just about every control for RTS or MOBA. What would you like to see?

[JigPappy]

Just zooming the camera out a bit would reduce player inputs. There would be more time spent on managing the rigs instead of the camera, or taking time to move the mouse to the minimap then back to the playfield. This would also solve the problem of the GUI blocking clickable ground to the south of the focused unit. Moving the camera because the HUD is in the way takes away from where the focus should be. The battle needs to be with the enemies, not the interface. Maybe allow set formations for moving rigs as a group so your weaker units will stay behind the tank without having to micro-manage move commands. Click and hold, drag a direction to set facing, release.

[colemanpants]

Moving the camera back is a long-standing debate among both players and developers. The big issue is that it becomes a major competitive advantage, based partly on hardware. As developers of Rise of Nations, we hear you on the facing but facing isn't really a design concept in Dropzone and the game is definitely about creating the feel of an RTS with a few units. That means needing to content with all 3. So it really is in the player's hands. When we take away some of that necessity (and even the 'b' key for return to base was a lot of experimentation), it changes the feel substantially.

There are a number of options in preferences which might benefit you. For example, you can independently scale most of the HUD. Many players, including me, tend to reduce the size of the command grid since I don't generally use it for issuing commands but instead use the hotkeys.

Thanks again for the feedback!

[Auni[TExP]]

okay the thing about the Camera, i can understand why people want to scroll out a little bit more.
But on the other Hand, i like the Camera at the moment, i wouldn't scroll out anyway.

Scale down the HUD with the skills/Icons from the Rigs.
And then you have with Dropzone a normal handling like every other RTS!

You have, attack command, you can shift up commands, you can play over hotkey's.
1,2,3 for rigs, 4 for all Rigs.
I miss the Option that i can put on 5 Two rigs , and on 6 two other rigs.
Thats the only issue for me at the moment, but i hope this will comming back soon.
There was a bug in closed beta about the Hotkeys, thats why they remove this !

I really like the Handling from Dropzone, i was comming from Starcaft 2, and also some different Moba's.
And i was able to just jump into Dropzone without any knowledge about the Hotkeys.
Cause its really similiar to any other Game.

What RTS or Moba do you play before, that you find Dropzone has a bad handling?
Cause Dota2,lol,Starcraft 2, warcraft 3 all of this Games have similiar hotkeys to Dropzone.
So if you have troubles with the Interface+hotkey's, i wounder what you play before ?

Ah and you can send the Tank in front, and the other 2 Rigs behind and so on, all this Things allready possible, but you need to do this by your own, and this is good so!

[Varivox]

I haven't looked at if you can rebind the keys, but in games like Dota2 I rebind the keys to WASD for the camera (hate side scrolling RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!) and then rebound the skill keys to QER and whatever else I needed (I think X was in there too for those rare 4th skills). Then I used my mouse for targeting orders and such (and with a Razor Naga, the numpad on the mouse for items and such).

OH! And space, I also used the spacebar for some skills.

[PR PUNISHER]

Originally posted by Varivox:

I haven't looked at if you can rebind the keys, but in games like Dota2 I rebind the keys to WASD for the camera (hate side scrolling RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!) and then rebound the skill keys to QER and whatever else I needed (I think X was in there too for those rare 4th skills). Then I used my mouse for targeting orders and such (and with a Razor Naga, the numpad on the mouse for items and such).

OH! And space, I also used the spacebar for some skills.

Same, I hate having to move my cursor from side to side, just to see what's in front of me.... Its not rts controls but I prefer to have an option to move my mechs with wasd and keybind attack powers to my mouse buttons.......

[Auni[TExP]]

@varivox all this stuff, you can change in hotkey's.
skillabilitys, cameramovement.

Still im surprised how you use the Horse correkt in dota 2, or how you play charakters with Summoned pets to scout a little bit into the Jungle, or play meepo.
And if you move your Camera alltime with WASD, how you watch fast into other lanes, or fast to a ward if someone popup shortly there?

@PR Punisher, i NEVER saw a RTS game or a Moba with the view of Dropzone(not third person like smite) who use wasd for movement.
i mean you have to lasthit with your mouse, why you would use now for movement your keyboard?
That cost you way more clicks/time.

[Kordesh]

Are people here suggesting they're not using edge scroll to move the camera? Edge scroll is life...

[Sindbad]

I hardly scroll at all. Just press 1,2 or 3 two times to get to the rig you want. Press Space to get to the rig you are currently controlling and keep pressing it if you want to follow it.

Or use the middle mouse button to scroll.

Besides you can change your key bindings so what's the problem?

[Connatic]

I haven't looked at if you can rebind the keys, but in games like Dota2 I rebind the keys to WASD for the camera (hate side scrolling RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Well most RTS Pros will tell you that's a bad thing to do. Your left hand should be totally free for using hotkeys, not spending time trying to perfectly frame the action with WASD.

That being said, there is nothing wrong with having the option to bind camera controls to hotkeys. For personal preference, or even for playres with certain disabilities.

[Varivox]

Originally posted by Connatic:

I haven't looked at if you can rebind the keys, but in games like Dota2 I rebind the keys to WASD for the camera (hate side scrolling RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Well most RTS Pros will tell you that's a bad thing to do. Your left hand should be totally free for using hotkeys, not spending time trying to perfectly frame the action with WASD.

That being said, there is nothing wrong with having the option to bind camera controls to hotkeys. For personal preference, or even for playres with certain disabilities.

I actually rebound the keys last night and was WAY better than I've been. I still use the screen scroll for smaller movements, but I find WASD to be way more comfortable for me. To each their own though, for me, WASD camera controls made the game way more playable for me. Maybe pro's in Dota/DZ/LoL/etc wouldn't use it, but I'm not going pro.

[Garm]

Originally posted by Connatic:

I haven't looked at if you can rebind the keys, but in games like Dota2 I rebind the keys to WASD for the camera (hate side scrolling RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Well most RTS Pros will tell you that's a bad thing to do. Your left hand should be totally free for using hotkeys, not spending time trying to perfectly frame the action with WASD.

That being said, there is nothing wrong with having the option to bind camera controls to hotkeys. For personal preference, or even for playres with certain disabilities.

Uh, no? WASD is pretty viable in variety of games, just not in sc/wc.

[Connatic]

Originally posted by Garm:

Originally posted by Connatic:

Well most RTS Pros will tell you that's a bad thing to do. Your left hand should be totally free for using hotkeys, not spending time trying to perfectly frame the action with WASD.

That being said, there is nothing wrong with having the option to bind camera controls to hotkeys. For personal preference, or even for playres with certain disabilities.

Uh, no? WASD is pretty viable in variety of games, just not in sc/wc.

Uh, yes? We are talking pure effecient mechanical actions per minute. And it's just an opinion, not what is technically "viable".

You know typing on a keyboard using only two fingers is defintely viable...but it's not the best