How to know which ship has what number when you change ships

[RPC]

-Katami- Sent 12 hours and 49 minutes ago: <Atarlost> An all ship strategy in Star Genesis is greatly complicated by the inability to know which ship will have which number in the 'C' menu. It would help if they included their class in their name. At least then if you use one class exclusively for mine defense you could maybe avoid grabbing them by mistake.

What title says. I need to know because player change ships very frequently in Star Genesis and I want to keep the numbers in the 'C' menu consistent.

[george moromisato]

I'm not sure exactly what you mean. Doesn't the number show up right underneath each ship? Can you describe what you would like to see?

[RPC]

In my adventure, Star Genesis, the player can spawn ships to defend mining rigs that are far away from the home base. This makes it impossible to see what number is assigned to each ship, and after changing ships I want to make each ship's associated 'C' number consistent.

(okay I have to play the game a bit so I can get some screenshots that show what I mean)

[RPC]

Ok, screenies:
The problem is that we can switch ships with the nvoke screen:
Start:
[attachment=2]bug2.png[/attachment]
Switch to Ewiak:
[attachment=3]bug.png[/attachment]
Switch to Hevuegra:
[attachment=1]bug3.png[/attachment]
at Hevuegra
[attachment=0]bug4.png[/attachment]

Okay, derp, answered my own question (why didn't I figure this out before D:)
After ship changing the 'C' number associated with the new ship is replaced with the old ship. This means that after ship changing a few times a ship might be assigned with a 'C' menu of 1 but then after X ship changes it's now assigned with a 'C' menu of 5.

My new question is: How can I keep their 'C' menu keys consistent? (as in ship Y is assigned to key 6 after countless times of ship changing?)

[george moromisato]

That's helpful--thanks.

Unfortunately, currently the number assigned to a ship is non-deterministic. I believe it just the order in the list. We need a mode to fix those numbers (or some other way to make the numbers consistent). But it's tricky if ships come and go. You either end up with holes or you end up renumbering after a while.

Can you suggest an algorithm for setting numbers?

Note that in the future this should get solved by mouse selection.

[Atarlost]

Mouse is not a good sole solution because playing the game already takes two hands. Mouse will work in a pure RTS where you're not controlling a ship directly, but for Star Genesis a keyboard only solution needs to exist.

I would favor having holes in the list. This is essentially what RPC does with the I menu. You can select the ship you're already commanding and it will tell you you're already piloting it.

[george moromisato]

Mouse is not a good sole solution because playing the game already takes two hands. Mouse will work in a pure RTS where you're not controlling a ship directly, but for Star Genesis a keyboard only solution needs to exist.

I would favor having holes in the list. This is essentially what RPC does with the I menu. You can select the ship you're already commanding and it will tell you you're already piloting it.

That's cool. I thought Star Genesis was trying to be an RTS.

[Atarlost]

It's an RTS in the sense of being real time and strategic, and I suppose it might morph into a traditional RTS when the engine comes to support that, but right now assuming direct control of your ships is important.

[FourFire]

I did not realize that this is what star genesis was!

Looks Awesome, keep at it RPC!