Strategy Mode in three-dimensional environments?

Let's say I have evolved a sapient creature underwater. Now that I am beginning to form societies, I find myself beginning to use primarily Strategy Mode rather than Organism Mode to control my race. However, that means I need to navigate in three-dimensional space, rather than on the flat plane a terrestrial species would have to deal with. The same problems arise for organisms that float or fly rather than walking.

Is there any way to handle navigation in three-dimensional environments in Strategy Mode? If not, do we need to think of one?

Discuss.

Hmmmm good point...

Perhaps you operate entities on different planes which you can switch between...

IE

Select group. Hold '+' to dive down to plane (Could be represented with an altimeter/depth-meter). Right click to move to the marker on this plane.

For attacking or moving to an object, building, creature etc could be automatic depending on whatever 'plane' the said entity is on...

The same problem arises if you are a land dwelling civilization, and you start building underground bunkers/metro/sewers.

If you have a unit that can change altitude, clicking will make the unit move at the altitude it is now. If you hold the mouse button, an altitude slider is shown and you can move the mouse up or down to change the altitude the unit should move at.


That's a solution for water and air units, but I don't know how space or underground units could be controlled.

Commander Keen wrote:

If you have a unit that can change altitude, clicking will make the unit move at the altitude it is now. If you hold the mouse button, an altitude slider is shown and you can move the mouse up or down to change the altitude the unit should move at.


That's a solution for water and air units, but I don't know how space or underground units could be controlled.

I think that'd work for all situations.

In short: Fantazmastic idea!

Commander Keen wrote:

If you have a unit that can change altitude, clicking will make the unit move at the altitude it is now. If you hold the mouse button, an altitude slider is shown and you can move the mouse up or down to change the altitude the unit should move at.


That's a solution for water and air units, but I don't know how space or underground units could be controlled.

I like it. But the camera will move to a sort of side-view of your species'.. location, right? So you can make sure your species moves however high/low you want them to, right? But then we're doing that on a nearly 2D plane, so it..

..I'm confused.

But if I knew how it worked fully I'd probably approve.

the mouse wheel could take care of the zooming (unless is for something else)

So how is the camera going to work for three-dimensional navigation in Strategy Mode? Ideally the player would be able to see a compressed view of all layers of space at the same time, so as not to miss a threat coming up from below or above. Knowing how the camera would work would also help us come up with a control concept for this.

Xenopologist wrote:

So how is the camera going to work for three-dimensional navigation in Strategy Mode? Ideally the player would be able to see a compressed view of all layers of space at the same time, so as not to miss a threat coming up from below or above. Knowing how the camera would work would also help us come up with a control concept for this.

Mouse wheel.

And hotkeys. For those without the above mentioned mousewheel of mighty powerful awesomeness camera stuff. Yeah.
-Waap.

I thought mouse wheel was for camera zooming, and that +- can be used to increase and decrease layers.

Maybe mousewheel = zoom, and ctrl+mousewheel = altitude?

Also, altitude should not be in layers, but in actual units. Gives players more freedom and is less confusing (negative units also being possible for underground and space).

Commander Keen wrote:

Maybe mousewheel = zoom, and ctrl+mousewheel = altitude?

Also, altitude should not be in layers, but in actual units. Gives players more freedom and is less confusing (negative units also being possible for underground and space).

I like this.

yes, i think it's the best thing to do, but the scale should be selectable in meters or feet

eumesmo wrote:

yes, i think it's the best thing to do, but the scale should be selectable in meters or feet

Agreed, Here in NZ everything is in metric units (Which IMO are so much better and easier than feet, inches, yards etc)

It would make things easier for people who live in different countries :]

I think meters would be easier, and I don't live in a different country. I live in England, England's not different, but I still can't really visualise that sort of measurement...

I agree that metric units are simpler.
-Waap.

Metric is indeed more modern, but too many people still use the old fashioned obsolete imperial system. We have to include it.

if it was just me i'd simply say meters but some people like that other complicated method so....

eumesmo wrote:

if it was just me i'd simply say meters but some people like that other complicated method so....

... so we have an option? We wont be able to decide, otherwise.

Wouldn't metric/imperial be a general selection that applies to the whole game, rather than simply a depth-measuring issue? The game will need to measure things other than depth, such as the size of TOs. More of a main menu/settings thing, in my opinion.

Xenopologist wrote:

Wouldn't metric/imperial be a general selection that applies to the whole game, rather than simply a depth-measuring issue? The game will need to measure things other than depth, such as the size of TOs. More of a main menu/settings thing, in my opinion.

Of course.

So we won't be using cubits? Darn.

In all truth though. All games use metric go with that.

for distances in solar system we should use the AU and l.y. for distances between stars (i dont like parsecs)

eumesmo wrote:

for distances in solar system we should use the AU and l.y. for distances between stars (i dont like parsecs)

That will be of course also covered in options. If you think it needs further discussion, start a new topic.