UI Suggestion: Middle mouse unit-rotation method adjustment

[SlappyMoose]

As of now, middle clicking a unit causes a box representing the units formation to spin, letting the player rotate them left/right.

I simply propose that middle clicking a unit makes them face wherever the player drags the mouse. With this change, for example, if I want to reorient a big lump of units to face outwards in all directions, I click and drag outwards, causing the units to face outwards. With the old system, I have to middle click, figure out which way the units are facing, then drag left/right while making sure I'm not making my units face further in the wrong direction.

It's a intuitive and simple change, matching the very elegant left-click drag unit movement system currently in place. It's also faster and doesn't require that the player even look at the unit they are selecting: they grab a unit and tell them to face THIS direction with the flick of their hand, that's it.

 

[admin]

thanks for suggestions.. we will discuss this internally and try to test

[majormauser]

This sounds like a good idea. I can't even access the current Middle mouse rotation because I'm on a Laptop with a trackpad that has no middle mouse controls. A keyboard command will hopefully be added as well.

[HAZBONES]

The suggested concept is OK but the only thing I'd like to change is the use of the middle mouse button.

I didn't even realize that there was a feature available to adjust the facing of your units until just the other day when someone in this forum mentioned it.

 

For those that travel a lot, many of the mini travel mouse you buy do not come with a middle mouse button. There is usually only a left/right mouse button with a little side toggle that allows you to zoom in/out (sometimes not even that). Some mouse devices don't have a middle button but only a "wheel" which makes it easy to zoom in/out but trying to use it to hold and move around a unit is nearly impossible.

 

I suggest to use the right mouse button to click-hold and drag to get the unit to face in the direction I want. I know that there are a zillion hardware configurations out there and you can't cover them all but something like this is basic control of the game and should be considered.

[Tormidal]

Personally, Id like to see some sort of arrows to indicate the front of the brigade when changing the rotation of them.

[CptBanzai]

Yes the new idea is way better. I'm 10 hours in the game and turning your army around 180 degrees when facing backwards to the enemy is very difficult.

[Whitenoise71]

Would a hot key or set of keys be better for unit facing? it does seem a long way to rotate. 

[David Fair]

Personally I'd like to be able to left click and hold then right click on the map the direction I'd like the unit to face.

 

It is fast and easy and ubiquitously available on H/W.

[Tarfman]

Click and drag for facing would be best. I understand that this maybe an issue with future tablet users but a click drag for facing would be great. Maybe just holding down Ctrl or alt while doing it would suffice. Once you hit either key the colour of arrow could change to indicate that you are about to change facing.

[ZootAlors]

The current system works well for me, but a direction facing arrow would be good as you can rotate the units facing the wrong way.

[Cerebus]

I don't find it too much of a problem, but an arrow showing which way they are facing would be good.

[elicas]

I'd prefer right click and drag for facing over middle button.

[Myes!]

Very good idea.

[squishband]

I'd like to add something. I understand the issue being discussed and think that the suggestion being made might work, except that perhaps it would move one's troops.

Anyway... I'd like to see the direction of facing relate to the way the arrow points when you give a movement order. That way my reinforcements can arrive and form up facing in the right direction, or I can give a movement command to flank a unit without having to wait till it's in place before I change it's facing. Hope that makes sense, and I guess it's a variant of the suggestion being made.

Also, I'd like a facing arrow too.

[David Fair]

Note that the waving flag instead of the current flat design would make it clear which way the unit was facing.

[Feretier]

As of now, middle clicking a unit causes a box representing the units formation to spin, letting the player rotate them left/right.

I simply propose that middle clicking a unit makes them face wherever the player drags the mouse. With this change, for example, if I want to reorient a big lump of units to face outwards in all directions, I click and drag outwards, causing the units to face outwards. With the old system, I have to middle click, figure out which way the units are facing, then drag left/right while making sure I'm not making my units face further in the wrong direction.

It's a intuitive and simple change, matching the very elegant left-click drag unit movement system currently in place. It's also faster and doesn't require that the player even look at the unit they are selecting: they grab a unit and tell them to face THIS direction with the flick of their hand, that's it.

 

I agree this is a very good idea, the current system is hard too handle and not smooth enought .

[rommel22]

My middle mouse button is my scroll buttoon. So when i try to change the angle of the line my map moves all over the place. I think it should be changed to right mouse button.

[python]

I'd prefer right click and drag for facing over middle button.

 

totally agree

[Riekopo]

Why isn't there a button on the screen for this? Right click is far better than middle mouse click to begin with.

[The Great Dane II]

I simply can't understand why we don't get two possebilities:

 

The current / or the above suggested

 

or as my own which is absolutely great

 

When clicking on a unit:

Q = rotate left

E = rotate right

[sharky0922]

New idea would be good too. And shape of that square when you choosing which way unit is facing could be bit more visible.

Maybe arrow sticking out that square? or something. When unit is very small sometimes is hard to see straight away what's the right direction of that green square.

[Husserl]

After last update you can use alternatively Tab key and move your mouse left/right to rotate. Now the box shows the unit facing and the function is much smoother.