Command Screens

from Sins Forums
Unfortantly I can find any images or infomation regarduing a topic that I think is important to any large scale RTS; Commanding Screens. Basically a screen dedicated a large amount of forces using simplifed graphics and stripped down infomation. Is there any screens of this kind?

Best example is the Sensor screen from the Homeworld series; I think it'd be extremely cool to have a screen that shows in 'Defcon' style graphics a simplified colour cordianted overview of the Galaxy - > Solar System - > Planets only showing the most vital of infomation. Maybe highlight the mouse over a fleet / ship icon brings up a list of ships, fleet name, destination, ETA, Combat orders. Similarly for planets and solar systems shows relvant infomation. Unkwon units should appear as blips untill idenitfied and even indentifed ships should only remain as blips untill somesort of recon is sent. Double clicking within the sensor screen should zoom to that sector of space or on that unit/planet.

Just a thought.
11,216 views 2 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
The whole game really helps you in this aspect, with smooth strategic zooming. As you zoom out, individual units are first indicated by icons, then disappear entirely into their respective planetary systems. When at this high level of zoom, each planet has a trio of display bars that shows the relative number of friendly ships, enemy ships, and structures. Mousing over these bars shows a detailed breakdown by ship type, damage status, and owning team.

There is also the "Empire List," the scrolling outline-style display at the left of the screen. It shows all planets you are aware of, and again an iconic view of the units at that planet. Look at this screenshot:

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2006/289/935993_20061017_screen004.jpg

At the top-left, you can quickly see via the Empire List that at the one planet, there are 4 structures owned by the orange team, 3 friendly ships owned by the orange team and no allied ships present (they would show up together with the second orange cluster), and 3 enemy ships, one from the light green team, one from the dark green team, and one from the cyan (sky blue) team. Again, mousing over any of the clusters would show a detailed breakdown.

Also in that screenshot, you can see the plus sign next to the planet icon in the list. If you click that, then the entry will expand like an outline, and show you individual icons for each ship and structure. Mousing over these individual icons will show details on the particular unit, and their current orders in the case of ships. You can see this expanded view a bit in this screenshot from the current beta. The plus/minus signs are now arrowheads that rotate. You can also see the zoomed out strategic view, with the display bars on the left, right, and below the icons for each planetary system:

http://www.bkorion.dk/sins/beta1/nvcplui%202007-05-15%2004-00-49-69.jpg

Icons can also be set to stack, so instead of seeing 8 "scout frigate" icons, you can see one icon with "x8" written next to it. Double-clicking any planet, ship, or star in the list instantly zooms your view to that item.
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
Here is another screenshot showing just how much information you can get from the Empire List while using your main view to admire one of your capital ships:

http://www.bkorion.dk/sins/beta1/Sins%20of%20a%20Solar%20Empire%202007-05-31%2001-08-58-95.jpg
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