Adding Text to Map [SPLIT]

[watusimoto]

Visual beacons, either as arrows or on the commander's map

What if players could add text to the map visible only to their team? Functionally, it would appear just as team-text added by the level designer.

I like that idea, along with even having Neutral Text work like that-- though we'd want to expand the developing ignore function to cover that kind of thing as well.

Wouldn't you have to go to that specific spot to read the text? Or would it show up on the commander's map?

Also, how would you know to look on the commander's map (if the latter)? Would they have to speak something?

[karamazovapy]

How long would the text stay there?

I'm imagining conversations that look like a bitfighter machinima webtoon...or a map covered in mostly-useless text.

I think it'd be cool to write stuff like "this is a common enemy hideout" but I don't see it as being a system for emergencies ("help I'm being attacked!").

[watusimoto]

I figured it would just stay until the level was done.

Might that get a little crowded? Maybe after two minutes, but I'm not sure for the entire duration.

Would it show up on the commander's map, in the level, or both?
If you make a typo or mistake, could you edit/delete it?

[watusimoto]

Would it show up on the commander's map, in the level, or both?
If you make a typo or mistake, could you edit/delete it?

1. Don't know

2. No. Players will want quick here, not perfection.

[karamazovapy]

I'm *guessing* this would turn maps ugly, real fast.

[watusimoto]

They might get ugly if everyone sits there adding graffiti rather than playing! But all text would be somewhat standardized in size and appearance -- you couldn't make big or small text, or text at odd angles or whatnot...

If it got too bad we could always add a mute command!

Or you could add it into the potential ignore command...

I think the problem with the help message is that it would fill up the map fast, and you wouldn't be able to know where the current help is needed: Thus, a delete button would be useful. Obviously you could only delete your own text.

On the other hand, you could just make messages temporary on the commander's map, but permanent on the actual map. Temporary meaning twenty seconds or so. Going even further, the messages could "follow" the player around (on the commander's map), so you'd know, up to date, the location of the help requesting player. They'd still vanish after twenty seconds.

The only way to not ugly up the map is to have the messages be deleted or temporary. Maybe the messages could be temporary on the actual map for two minutes (this is not the same as being temporary for twenty seconds on the commander's map).

So, recap:

- There'd be too many "Help!" messages.
- Delete text option?
- Temporary on commander's map (20 sec)?
- Temporary on actual map (2 min)?
- Follow player around?

[bobdaduck]

In a game I play, we have a function called "Pinging" the minimap. You press G, and then click on the minimap, and a blip shows up accompanied by a distinct sound, disappearing after about 5 seconds. Works well. We could do this with the effect lasting 10 seconds or so.

Everyone available need help here

[karamazovapy]

In a game I play, we have a function called "Pinging" the minimap. You press G, and then click on the minimap, and a blip shows up accompanied by a distinct sound, disappearing after about 5 seconds. Works well. We could do this with the effect lasting 10 seconds or so.

I think it sounds like a good idea, but it'd be nice if there was an alternate method of pinging for controller players.

We'd need a mini-map, or could we use it with the commander's map?