Sitrep/Task List

[Hayoo]

Post from Development Forums:

I'm working on two new things at the moment: the much-discussed (at least in 2003) Galaxy supply drop idea, and a visual Sitrep/Task List concept. Here is an extremely rough screen grab from a week-old flash demo (a lot has changed from this, but I don't want to spoil how far it's gotten).



There's two modes: Base-specifc sitreps and tasks, accessable from the Status Window: "Gunuku - CC - under attack - need reinforcements - 02:33". And Location-specific sitrep, accessed by pressing "Ctrl+S", which will bring up macro windows relevant to your region to make reports like "12:34 - H7 - Spotted - AMS - need - assault - enemy defenses nearby". All sitreps will be stored in a database sortable by time reported, location, need, time left, etc. Borrowing from Tieom's reprted/relay idea, each entry in the list can be flagged as Unread, Read, Relayed, Urgent, Tasked, Completed, Failed, etc. With the click of a button, a commander can turn a Sitrep into a Task for the Task List, which can be viewed as a Base-specific (right clicking on a base and pressing the Tasks button) or Continent-specific objective (pressing Ctrl+T). The computer will also track sitrep macros to avoid duplicate warnings, instead displaying number of times the same macro has been reported for that base or area. Typed sitreps (for more details) can also be added to the sitrep list.

Tasks can be deligated in the same way, clicking location, need, timelimit, manpower requirements, etc. and added to a Task List for easy reference where players can sign up for a task and see how many others have done so as well.

This system is designed to augment the current command chats and the coming squad leader chat, providing a history of reports and tasks in case players missed them in the kill-spam window.

Expanded Base Status window for Outfit Headquarters...

[NeoPhoenixTE]

I like the idea. I just see a large learning curve comin for something like this. The /b spam wont stop.

But with enemy bases and out in the middle of nowhere, this could be useful. It could just get cumbersome in the heat of battle, you know?

Plus, how does one view this list of reported things? This just gonna pop up on some poor CR4/5s HUD, or what?

[Hayoo]

Originally Posted by NeoPhoenixTE

I like the idea. I just see a large learning curve comin for something like this. The /b spam wont stop.

But with enemy bases and out in the middle of nowhere, this could be useful. It could just get cumbersome in the heat of battle, you know?

Plus, how does one view this list of reported things? This just gonna pop up on some poor CR4/5s HUD, or what?

It's not so much stopping the /b spam as having a record of what was reported and the reporter knowing it was looked at/passed on/used.

To access the Sitrep window, a player presses "Ctrl+S". Depending on their role, they can either make a sitrep, view their own sitreps, or view all sitreps. Similar to the Friends monitor, a player can pop up a small window that notifies when a new sitrep has been sent. Players can also toggle a "center of the screen" message to appear (in blue).

To access the Task window, a player can 'task' a sitrep and automatically go to that pane, or press "Ctrl+T". Depending on their role (soldier or leader), they can either make a task, view their own tasks, or view all tasks for an area or entire continent. There's a seperate bulletin for global objectives. A player can choose to open a small monitor pane for listing

Much like the voice macros, there will be a learning curve. And there will be certain sitrep macros used more than others, such as the CC under attack need reinforcements. When in the base SOI, the player simply types Ctrl+S, C, A, R and the sitrep is sent. Or he can double click the base, hit sitrep, then C, A, R to report the same message.

A CR can then turn that into a task by clicking on the sitrep and tasking it, or he can double click on the base, click Task, then C, D, or something like that and the Task will go out "Defend Gunuku CC" or whatever. That CR can then see how many individuals or squads accepted the mission. The sitrep sender can look at his sitrep list and see that the report was read and turned into a task. He can then acknowledge the mission or recon elsewhere to deliver more sitreps.

[NeoPhoenixTE]

Aha, that clears is up a bit.

I would personally add in the ability for all soldiers to see the task list with a count of how many soldiers are on that task (not necessarily who, but just a count of how many soldiers are on it). That way they can stop at a fulfilled task and go take up a new one that needs doing.

Solving the "we don't need 20 of you shitheads guarding the CC, we can use at least half of you topside" dilemma

[Hayoo]

Originally Posted by NeoPhoenixTE

I would personally add in the ability for all soldiers to see the task list with a count of how many soldiers are on that task (not necessarily who, but just a count of how many soldiers are on it). That way they can stop at a fulfilled task and go take up a new one that needs doing.

Yup, that'll be available for any grunt, the list and number of mission-takers :)...unless someone can convince me that spying will be a major problem (but even restricting it to squad leaders won't help since two spies can create a squad). Eventually, I'd love to restrict the detailed task lists to Task Forces only, since they'd be large enough to justify the exclusivity. Until the larger organizations are put in though, this list will be available to all.

[Hayoo]

Added new Base Window to show location of Sitrep and Task List buttons.

[Earlydawn]

As usual, Hayoo delivers the goods. This stuff is great. Seems like a wonderful system to keep Task Forces the command centers of the battle, but give them the ability to coordinate.

[Edit: I also can't shake the feeling that while any unit leader should be able to broadcast these needs, comtechs should be more essential to the process.]