- Yes
- No
Right now, when you use “Follow me” and “Cover me” quick messages (T 4 1 and T 4 2 with default key bindings), it only provides your teammates with positional info (i.e. your position on the map). It doesn’t provide directional info (i.e. Your heading or the direction of the threat relative to your position).
This is also the case when marking a point on the map using left-click (“Attention to the map”).
I suggest adding directional info to these two quick messages (“Follow me” and “Cover me”) as well as when marking a point on the map (“Attention to map”).
The directional info could be displayed in the form of an arrow on the mark circle/shield (Of course this is my 2 minute attempt in MS Paint and perhaps a proper redesign of the mark circle/shield would be required):
And perhaps the arrow could be on the outside of the circle/shield:
16 compass directions (with 22.5 degrees spacing) should be enough, and easy to implement:
1- As for the “Attention to the map” (marking a point on the map window using mouse left-click), the directional info will be provided if the player holds down the left mouse button after pressing it, and drags the mouse to the desired direction. e.g. If he presses and holds the left click and drags the mouse to the left, then the direction arrow on the mark circle will be to the left, and if he presses and holds the left click and drags the mouse to down-right direction then the direction arrow on the mark circle will be to the down-right direction.
2- As for “Follow me” and “Cover me” quick messages (T 4 1 and T 4 2 with default key bindings), the directional info could be either:
A: where the aircraft’s nose or tank’s hull is pointed at, or it could be
B: where the player’s (free look) view is pointed at.
I argue that providing the direction that the player’s (free look) view is pointed at (Implementation B), will be more useful.
Because not only can it be used as a substitute of Implementation A, by simply sending these quick messages while looking to the front of your vehicle (nose of your aircraft or front of the hull on your tank), but can also provide more useful information, that the implementation A cannot provide.
For example, in aircrafts, by looking at an arbitrary direction while sending the “Cover me” message, you can for example indicate the direction of the enemy aircraft that is engaging you or the direction that you are getting radar locked from.
And by looking at an arbitrary direction while sending the “Follow me” message, you can for example indicate the direction of the hostile or unidentified contacts that you have spotted and are going to engage/investigate.
And by dragging the left click in the desired direction while marking a point in the map window, you can indicate to which direction the hostile/unidentified aircraft that you have spotted, is headed to.
In a tank when sending “Follow me” message, by looking at the direction that you are watching/guarding while sending the message, your teammates will know which direction is actively guarded and covered by you. Or when sending “Cover me” message, by looking at the direction of the enemy tank that is shooting at you while sending the message, they will know where to look for the threat and from which direction the enemy tank is shooting at you.
And by dragging the left click in the desired direction while marking a point in the map window, you can indicate to which direction the hostile/unidentified tank that you have spotted, is headed to or his turret is pointed at.
In all cases, the directional info will also be provided in the text chat along with the positional info that is currently provided, when you send one of these quick messages (Or mark a point in the map window while dragging the left click). It will be provided in terms of compass directions (N, SW, SSW etc and/or additionally/alternatively 0 deg, 135 deg, 157 deg etc):
3- This could/should also be extended to the “Returning to the base” and “Leading for landing” quick messages (To give both positional and directional info, when sent).