Any chance of a compass?

[deadlyhabit]

Been ages since I played, but have been on a bender recently and the one thing that I think is needed atm is a compass of sorts since navigating the barren deserts is a pain since there isn't many landmarks to use.
Who's with me?

[hbrown]

I believe a lot are considering there is a lot of requests about this, i fnd easy to find the dirctions tho one would help a lot, even if would be a item needed to be bought xD, but till now sen no reply to it.

[PnzrNorm]

I'm liking the idea. Should post this up in Feature Requests and see if its put in next patch.

[antarek]

I brought this game on Desura a couple of days ago and i must say that i agree that a compass would be a great addition.

But i don't think that this is an item that should be given to you when starting. It should be something that you craft, something that you buy or something that would be offered for the wanderer starting choice for exemple.

[Jamaica Jones]

There really should be a compass. It should be a matter of minutes to implement a display of the direction the camera is facing. A little more work if you add a graphical more pleasing representation.

And it shouldn't be something you have to craft since you already have a map and a display of your actual position - so you already can determine which way is which. It's just annoying to open the map and drive the camera around to figure out where my guys should be heading to.

[antarek]

Ahhh nowdays lazy gamers

Having a map of your current area doesn't provide you the direction you re facing IRL. So, no, your argument is wrong. Having a map and having a compass are 2 different things.

[Tolwrath]

There really should be a compass. It should be a matter of minutes to implement a display of the direction the camera is facing. A little more work if you add a graphical more pleasing representation.

Just because you can say the logic doesn't mean that logic is easily implemented into the game's engine. Plus you didn't even go over the subtleties of the design. For example, when should the compass/direction display appear? Should it be only when you have a character holding one selected, when just one person in your entire faction has one, or do you have to use it from the inventory? If the first or third, how do you prevent abuse in the form of having one character give you the direction, and then use that to move a far-away squad? Do you have to have the character take the time to figure out his position from looking at the compass, landmarks, and maps? Should the compass be displayed above the HUD, in the HUD, or on the map?

Don't just assume that programming something in is as easy as saying how it should work.

[Jamaica Jones]

Just because you can say the logic doesn't mean that logic is easily implemented into the game's engine. Plus you didn't even go over the subtleties of the design. For example, when should the compass/direction display appear? Should it be only when you have a character holding one selected, when just one person in your entire faction has one, or do you have to use it from the inventory? If the first or third, how do you prevent abuse in the form of having one character give you the direction, and then use that to move a far-away squad? Do you have to have the character take the time to figure out his position from looking at the compass, landmarks, and maps? Should the compass be displayed above the HUD, in the HUD, or on the map?

Well, I should have been more clear on that because your questions are exactly the reason I don't want a compass to be craftable. It should not be an item that one of your characters has in his inventory because it needs to be a function that is accessible to you independently of who is selected. At the moment - like I wrote before - you can open the map and get a display of your actual camera position, you just have to move it around in order to determine the direction you are facing. So a compass-like display wouldn't add any functionality it would just remove some cumbersomeness. I don't care if it's displayed always or only when the map is opened and the same for the place of the display. Why would I?

Don't just assume that programming something in is as easy as saying how it should work.

I've actually got a degree in computer science (okay, I could also just be pretending to, so that shall not be my point here), just notice that e.g. every time you press the up arrow key the camera surprisingly is moving in exactly the direction it is facing? The game (as any 3D engine) is of course always aware of the direction (internally represented numerically) and no matter which way this vector is defined it is indeed very easy to translate that into a numerical 360 degree representation. Then you just have to display said number. Absolute beginner's work and a matter of a few minutes if you are familiar with the engine which I assume the developers are. I don't want it to be the final solution I'm just suggesting this as an intermediate provisorial stage because it's that easy to do and thus wouldn't really take time off more important matters.

[Jamaica Jones]

Ahhh nowdays lazy gamers

Having a map of your current area doesn't provide you the direction you re facing IRL. So, no, your argument is wrong. Having a map and having a compass are 2 different things.

I'm sure you've now noticed it by yourself. Just in case you didn't: There's a blue X on the map marking your actual position. So at the moment you don't just have "real life map" but a much more powerful tool which obviously includes the functionality of a compass (I'd be interested in the way you navigate through the game), but in a quite inconvenient way.

[Someguy]

Yes on compass. nearly started this thread myself more times than I care to remember.

Findable/purchasable and ultimately craftable one tile inventory object. When owned creates a tiny gui window with an arrow indicating camera angle. I like the gui only displaying on character with compass. Exploits be damned. It's needed, simple, and adds to gameplay.

Chris should throw it in with a less flashy update to give us a little tangible fun thing on that cycle.

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[Santaissick]

Findable/purchasable and ultimately craftable one tile inventory object. When owned creates a tiny gui window with an arrow indicating camera angle. I like the gui only displaying on character with compass. Exploits be damned. It's needed, simple, and adds to gameplay.
>

Didn't really read the earlier posts so I might be just repeating someones words exactly but wanted to say something.

Yes, we need a compass and I believe we will have a compass but I don't see why we would have to buy or craft it in able to use it. I mean, we already have a map!! Why couldn't we just have the compass as well? Simple thingy on top of the screen to show which way is which is enough. Familiar from many games( ex. Skyrim)

I definitely see no point in having the compass as a solid object in our inventory. Does it mean we have to give one for every character we have in order to see it all the time? Or do we give it to only one who we selected every time we need to see the way? Nah. I don't see how it would work or bring anything new to the game. It would only be either annoying or exploitable or both IMHO.

[hbrown]

I definitely see no point in having the compass as a solid object in our inventory. Does it mean we have to give one for every character we have in order to see it all the time? Or do we give it to only one who we selected every time we need to see the way? Nah. I don't see how it would work or bring anything new to the game. It would only be either annoying or exploitable or both IMHO.

And then to do that from the map would have to come on the same form or would made no sense in have a compass as an object and an "inexistent" map, what would fit your char the compass without a map?

[Someguy]

Frankly, I don't give a damn. We've been requesting an arrow on that damn map for a year now, maybe longer for those following longer than I. One can only assume he has other plans, like making it a craftable...

In the case of a craftable, have it put an arrow on the map too. Even if anyone owns one. The craftable isn't what's important, the direction arrow is.