Uboat's current beta, initial thoughts

[XLjedi]

Originally Posted by hombre al agua

If you press ALT while at side view some hidden selectors appear

If you press W, A, S, or D while plotting a line you make a straight (0, 90, 180, 270 ) line

If you press M to go to the map and then press M again you return where you were

PageUp and PageDown keys change the UI size

Side view (and most of the views and walking) moves faster whith shift key pressed

If you right click and drag the mouse in orbital view to the right or to the left of the bow you can change bearing

Those are some of the most hidden things i could think. The best thing to do in that sense is to read full the game manual and visit the keyboard hotkey section. There are a lot of mechanics that if you dont read the manual you will only find them by luck. For example, if you click first time in the red box with the wounded sailors numbers, the camera will center in the first wounded, if you click again the camera will go to the second one etc, same with the red box with broken things to repair.

I've been to hotkeys searching for various items and changing the key bindings. If I'm not specifically looking for something, it's pretty easy to graze over a mention of what the Alt key might be assigned to.

The manual... In fairness, it's what? a 200+ page manual that is currently only readable via the in-game interface? I'd happily read it cover-to-cover if I had the PDF. As it stands now, its only value is using it when on specific duties in the game and you get the "question mark" icon to click to read specific items. By the way, the manual pages for the TDC make no mention of the switch you need to know exists that actually turns on the AoB tracking motor for the C-series TDC. Worse, the default view of the TDC completely hides the knob so you don't know it's there, and the manual makes no mention of it.

W,A,S,D while plotting is good to know, thanks!
Edit: LOL, this is not a snap-to line, you're just telling me that WASD will scroll the screen as I draw. Really?

M-toggle, we are generally trained by most applications that a second press of an item and it toggles, so that one was intuitively known.

UI size, I believe I saw that one in the key bindings at some point. So I knew I could change it if I wanted to.

Shift key is another one that is common. We are trained by other games/apps that holding shift while moving is a way to speed things up. So another intuitive one.

The right-click in orbital view is a bit annoying, and probably contributes to the "Clunky-ness". Changing course by this manner is probably done accidentally a lot while people are just trying to rotate the camera. They inadvertently change their course. However, with time, you are forced to get used to it. So OK.

Keep in mind, this is all in direct response to a Dev asking "Do you have any specific examples of what needs to be worked on in the UI so it does not seem clunky."

If the general response to a new player is RTFM, then the UI is not intuitive. You get the "Clunky UI" label, and you'll probably lose a fair amount of active players just because they don't know how to efficiently manage their ship.

Again, I'm at 300+ hours, I have read a lot, watched a lot, played a lot of naval sims. The UI is not intuitive. There have been times (particulary when it comes to that undocumented AoB motor) where I almost shelved the game.

[hombre al agua]

Originally Posted by XLjedi

Again, I'm at 300+ hours, I have read a lot, watched a lot, played a lot of naval sims. The UI is not intuitive. There have been times (particulary when it comes to that undocumented AoB motor) where I almost shelved the game.

The motor part of the c-series torpedo computer is already documented, They have updated the manual several times.

It is true that is more confortable to read the manual in a pdf outside the game, but they say the manual is not complete and they will do the pdf when the game is released. Reading the manual can solve any doubt about how the game and the UI work (and use it better even if you think it is "clunky").

[XLjedi]

Originally Posted by hombre al agua

The motor part of the c-series torpedo computer is already documented, They have updated the manual several times.

It is true that is more confortable to read the manual in a pdf outside the game, but they say the manual is not complete and they will do the pdf when the game is released. Reading the manual can solve any doubt about how the game and the UI work (and use it better even if you think it is "clunky").

The manual update to document the TDC motor switches (poorly) has to have been only within the last couple weeks. Probably in response to one of my other posts on it, LOL. But it's definitely at least better now than it was; the docs on that one need to state a bit more specifically that the AoB motor allows the TDC to update for AoB tracking. Hopefully, they also have them set to default ON now instead of OFF, which would solve 99% of any reports related to the TDC being bugged.

RTFM is not a dev solution for being characterized as a "Clunky Interface". I'm among the few willing to be specific and document the reasons why their interface is clunky.

They can proceed to do nothing if they should so choose. I'll be fine, play happily, and try to teach folks how to adapt to it. I have only begun to scratch the surface though in terms of why their UI is clunky.

[s0cks]

Originally Posted by nihilcat

Would you be able to give us some hints, which parts of the UI would use most work? It would be very much appreciated

For sure, I can give you some feedback as a new player. Actually one issue I had was setting zoom in periscope but recently found you can right click, so solved that one (maybe needs to be made more clear?).

1. Also in the periscope view I very much miss the ability to use the periscope and set the TDC at the same time like you can in SH3. I understand that IRL you can't do that, but for sake of convenience in a videogame I really miss that feature for those of us who like manual setup. It feels clunky having to swap back and forth.

2. In SH3 I like love that I have my speed, heading, and depth all to hand in the bottom right at all times. Pressing ALT, then clicking the correct function, then clicking my new speed/depth/heading is clunky. I recently found you can alternatively press ALT+F# which is a little better, but it's still not as streamlined imo and I still can't just check it at a glance of the eyes.

Number 3 is a rather fundamental change so I doubt this will change but...

3. The views. I would much prefer if FPP, section, and orbit view were completely separate from each other and toggled via a button or keypress. I am always wishing I could zoom out more in sectional view, as well as wishing I could zoom in more on orbital view. And while the transition looks cool, it makes it feel clunky when you accidentally zoom in or out too far (which I seem to do a lot).

4. I'd also like to have common power controls to hand in the UI. Like turning on pumps and compressors. I know you can do it in the TAB menu, but then you are sacrificing that officer. Perhaps there are keyboard shortcuts that I can use that I haven't yet figured out.
EDIT: Ok, so somehow I missed these were all on the left side under TAB view. So this is resolved.


5. If I change my direction using gyrocompass or rudder control then I lose my plotted course. In SH3 I don't lose my plotted course when making changes in direction and can return to it at any point.


There are a couple of tools I really like having in modded SH3 too. The attack disk, and the RAOBF. They make my life easier when trying to position myself and manually calculate a solution. There may be mods that add these. I need to look into that.

There is also the fundamental difference of having to have a crew member at a station to use it. You are unlikely to change this, and I get why. But being able to hop into any station myself immediately on SH3 is very convenient I have to say.

Hope this was useful feedback.

[s0cks]

I've just realised that I'd rather ALT toggled the interface, not "hold to display". Something else I find clunky as I like to do a lot from the periscope view.


EDIT: Also, don't do what I did and hit ALT+F4, lol! It seems I can't hit F4, then ALT, my only option is to hold ALT and click it. As per above. Would much prefer a toggle.

[hombre al agua]

Originally Posted by s0cks

.

1. You can press ALT in periscope view

2. You can move them around the screen and put all of them at the same time where you want . Just drag them.

3. You can deactive in the settings mouse view activation. For a free camera with max zooming N hotkey.

There is a mod for The attack disk.

[Aktungbby]

s0cks!

[s0cks]

Originally Posted by hombre al agua

1. You can press ALT in periscope view

2. You can move them around the screen and put all of them at the same time where you want . Just drag them.

3. You can deactive in the settings mouse view activation. For a free camera with max zooming N hotkey.

There is a mod for The attack disk.

Many thanks!


Quite enjoying the game atm and this will make things even better.

[s0cks]

Well having the ability to move those UI elements around so they are always visible is sooooooo much better. It makes me wish we could move all UI elements.


Turning off the scroll wheel to change view wasn't quite as good as I'd hoped though, as it doesn't afford you any extra zoom in/out capability.


Attack disk is a welcome addition though! But again, wish I could move it to where I want.


Now I just need to find out how I can actually find some targets in this slow, low range, Type II.

[VolvicCH]

Has this happened to anyone? That is to say that once in port, when you go to mission selection, there aren't any available? I spent a reputation point to get a new set of orders and still nothing?

[XLjedi]

Originally Posted by VolvicCH

Has this happened to anyone? That is to say that once in port, when you go to mission selection, there aren't any available? I spent a reputation point to get a new set of orders and still nothing?

Have not seen that, however... a few questions.

Have you purchased the perk that allows you to leave the port without a mission?

Is it possible that when all missions of a flotilla have been completed, you end up in this situation and the expectation is you request transfer to a new flotilla?

Are you playing on an old save game?

[Ruby2000]

Originally Posted by VolvicCH

Has this happened to anyone? That is to say that once in port, when you go to mission selection, there aren't any available? I spent a reputation point to get a new set of orders and still nothing?

Hi VolvicCH,

send your savegame to the devs with F11. They will look at it. Thanks.

Cheers Ruby

[VolvicCH]

Thanks for the replies, I tried to send my save game as recommended by Ruby2000. This is what the mission selection screen looks like when I click the officer from BdU

[Threadfin]

Is there a nomograph in the game? If not can it be added?

Picked this game up recently and love it. Nice work

Looking forward to release.

[Ruby2000]

Originally Posted by VolvicCH

Thanks for the replies, I tried to send my save game as recommended by Ruby2000. This is what the mission selection screen looks like when I click the officer from BdU

Hi VolvicCH,

the devs have received your savegame and will analyse it. Thank you!


Cheers Ruby