Maintaining enchantments (GUI suggestion)

Undivine

Undivine

of Brackenwood

Join Date: Oct 2005

Ontario, Canada

Hello. First time poster here. I'm not sure if this has been suggested before, but here goes.

More often than not I play a protection monk. For me this means I'm maintaining lots of enchantments at once, like 4-7 usually, sometimes 8 or 9 temporarily.

But there's an annoying GUI issue which becomes most apparent when enemies start to remove my enchantments: I can't tell whose got removed. At least, not right away. I should be able to mouse over each maintained enchantment at the botton of the screen, but right now that flickers the name for only a split second due to a bug . So I have to click on each enchantment icon to see who it targets. Even this sometimes doesn't work, as it doesn't always seem to acknowledge that you clicked on it.

But putting the bugs aside, it would be far easier if they just put the maintained enchantments right next to the person's name who they are affecting. That way I can tell who is under the effect of my enchantments and who isn't right at a glance without having to mouse around for the answer, which is crucial in the heat of battle. Then I could get right on top of reapplying them lickity split. As a monk my eyes are glued to the health bars most of the time anyway . As a protection monk, my maintained enchantments should be there too.

Your thoughts?

Align

Align

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Oct 2005

Protectors of Awesome[AWE]

W/

Like so?

Obviously look nicer... Sounds like a plan.

Undivine

Undivine

of Brackenwood

Join Date: Oct 2005

Ontario, Canada

Exactly what I mean.

Praetor

Praetor

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2005

Somewhere over the rainbow

Devil Me [DEvM]

E/D

That helps a lot, however, next thing you know, ppl will be screaming to add the avatar of regular enchantments, hexes, conditions, whoever is targeting them, etc.
While you already can "see" what's on them yellow/purple/brown arrows for enchantments/hexes/conditions respectively, putting more things there serves to clutter the party window.

twicky_kid

twicky_kid

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jun 2005

Quite Vulgar [FUN]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Praetor
That helps a lot, however, next thing you know, ppl will be screaming to add the avatar of regular enchantments, hexes, conditions, whoever is targeting them, etc.
While you already can "see" what's on them yellow/purple/brown arrows for enchantments/hexes/conditions respectively, putting more things there serves to clutter the party window.
since it doesn't cover any names or prevent me from targeting an ally i don't see a problem with this.

you can always move and adjust the party window to fit your needs. only problem i have is canceling the damn things, but that's another issue.

thumbs WAY up on this idea. btw i wouldn't mind being able to see what enchantments are on my allies not just maintained. i think its important to know when something gets stripped from who. usually means life or death.

Undivine

Undivine

of Brackenwood

Join Date: Oct 2005

Ontario, Canada

It would be convenient if you could see all the enchantments a person has on them, but that is going too far, since it would clutter up the GUI. That'd do more harm than good.

If people do start requesting to see *all* enchantments it's easy to say "no" and clutter is a good reason to justify it. Confusion is another. Imagine a newbie trying to make sense of it; which ones he's maintaining and which ones are time-based. That'd be a little confusing for even veterans.

But my request isn't any more clutter, it's moving something from one position to another, making the GUI easier to use in the process. Mind you, some of them would still have to be at the bottom for characters who are not part of your group. Like if you cast an enchantment on those dwarves who follow the king in the Thunderhead Keep mission.

And it would be nice if double clicking on the icon to remove it would work every time. But that's secondary to the problem I've mentioned.

Undivine

Undivine

of Brackenwood

Join Date: Oct 2005

Ontario, Canada

I know this is a small suggestion with very little controversy surrounding it. Small suggestions don't get much attention in forums. And low-attention topics never get noticed. So small suggestions don't get implimented.

Thus... bump.

Mumoto

Mumoto

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Sep 2005

The Netherlands

N/Mo

Another possibility could be that it would say in the chatbar:

Name-here's enchantment-name has been removed/canceled.


With it's own color so that it's easy to recognize.

Zhou Feng

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Aug 2005

CATS

Mo/Me

Quote:
Originally Posted by Undivine
Hello. First time poster here. I'm not sure if this has been suggested before, but here goes.

More often than not I play a protection monk. For me this means I'm maintaining lots of enchantments at once, like 4-7 usually, sometimes 8 or 9 temporarily.

But there's an annoying GUI issue which becomes most apparent when enemies start to remove my enchantments: I can't tell whose got removed. At least, not right away. I should be able to mouse over each maintained enchantment at the botton of the screen, but right now that flickers the name for only a split second due to a bug . So I have to click on each enchantment icon to see who it targets. Even this sometimes doesn't work, as it doesn't always seem to acknowledge that you clicked on it.

But putting the bugs aside, it would be far easier if they just put the maintained enchantments right next to the person's name who they are affecting. That way I can tell who is under the effect of my enchantments and who isn't right at a glance without having to mouse around for the answer, which is crucial in the heat of battle. Then I could get right on top of reapplying them lickity split. As a monk my eyes are glued to the health bars most of the time anyway . As a protection monk, my maintained enchantments should be there too.

Your thoughts?
wouldnt it be simpler to get a message of mantained enchantments eliminated? what i would really like though is to improve the current GUI system. IF I could tell whose got enchants by moving the mouse over the icon AND IMMEDIATLY a GOOD WINDOW WILL SHOW the name of whose enchanted with what itd be easier...

Mumoto

Mumoto

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Sep 2005

The Netherlands

N/Mo

Quote:
Originally Posted by Zhou Feng
wouldnt it be simpler to get a message of mantained enchantments eliminated? what i would really like though is to improve the current GUI system. IF I could tell whose got enchants by moving the mouse over the icon AND IMMEDIATLY a GOOD WINDOW WILL SHOW the name of whose enchanted with what itd be easier...
Did you even read my post? <_<

Undivine

Undivine

of Brackenwood

Join Date: Oct 2005

Ontario, Canada

That's a good alternative to my specific problem, but the truth is, it's not just an inconvenience when enchantments are removed. I maintain lots of enchantments and sometimes I forget who I enchanted and who I left out. Sometimes you have to switch enchantment targets, you know. Like take Life Bond off of someone who isn't getting attacked then put it on someone who is so that you don't have too much mana degen penalty but get the protection on the people who need it.

However it's accomplished, I need a convenient way to see who has my enchantments on them. What could be more convenient that just sticking them beside the names?

Rico Carridan

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Aug 2005

Eternal Comrades

E/Mo

Maybe something like if you hold shift over a player's name (or shift click) or something on a player's name, you can see a list of what enchantments that player has.

As mentioned earlier, although it is slightly off topic, I would *really* love a hotkey to cancel the top enchantment on my deck.

Rico

Zhou Feng

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Aug 2005

CATS

Mo/Me

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mumoto
Did you even read my post? <_<
Nope lol just the OPs one.

Navaros

Forge Runner

Join Date: Apr 2005

Mo/Me

Quote:
Originally Posted by Align
Like so?

Obviously look nicer... Sounds like a plan.

This is a great idea and they should definitely put it in.

It would come in especially handy in PVP.

It could be an Interface option just like all the other interface options that already exist. Those who don't want it, don't have to have it on their interface.

For those who do want it, they should be able to have it. It would be tremendously useful.

IxChel

IxChel

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Apr 2005

http://sof-guild.com/

Servants of Fortuna

Mo/R

/signed

JL_99

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: May 2005

/signed

I think its a great idea. Like somebody else said, make it something you can toggle on and off so people that don't care as much about enchantments can un-clutter their screen a bit. But anything that makes playing a life-bonder in PvP easier is ok in my book!

Zakarr

Zakarr

Jungle Guide

Join Date: May 2005

Finland

Image says more than thousand words. No texts which says something. Usually people can react to visual chances a lot faster than reading text which eats precious time you don't have during the chaotic battle.

/signed

ghezbora

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Nov 2005

Texas

There Is No Cow Level [cow]

That is EXACTLY what we need for maintained enchants! I agree it should be an option though, people should be able to do whatever works best for them.

/signed

The Acolyte

The Acolyte

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Nov 2005

Seekers of Justice ~ SoJ

/signed

Would greatly increase the value of a spell like watchful spirit. I.E. while experimenting with this spell, the only problem I have is that I can't find the right one to "end" to give the quick hp boost. Also, as Undivine has stated, it's a real pita many times to figure out who has been disspelled and who hasn't. I've died a couple of times (much the fool) because I was trying to sort out where I was with maintaining buffs. I always try to cast in a sequential order top to bottom, but in the heat of battle as things are being removed and recast it's easy to get behind and distracted...

Anyway, would be a great addition to the game (and I completely disagree that the enemy should know what specific buffs the other team is holding).

DeanBB

DeanBB

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jul 2005

Arizona

Wizardry Players Guild, http://4guildwars.7.forumer.com

/signed

Good idea, seeing just your enchantments. And do fix the cancelling, it is a pain when you are clicking on them and nothing is happening.

Dizzy Obeah

Dizzy Obeah

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Nov 2005

/signed

1337haXXor

Academy Page

Join Date: Aug 2005

/not signed

Healing/Protection is already incredibly powerful in this game and this would only make it moreso. When a necro or mesmer takes away your enchantments it is meant to disrupt his healing efforts, having this would make those skills futile. Enchantemnts are already very powerful, and should be kept the way they are. I would just be happy Anet nerfed NR for you, or you wouldnt even ahve any enchantments to use.

Undivine

Undivine

of Brackenwood

Join Date: Oct 2005

Ontario, Canada

If you think enchantments are too powerful then you're better off arguing to nerf them in other ways. Making a clumsy interface is not a nerf. Games that are "challenging" to play because they are simply hard to control are considered bad games.

Now I wouldn't ever go so far as to call this a bad game, or say that this flaw is a game-breaker in any way, but the point is that interface should never be a limitation.

Undivine

Undivine

of Brackenwood

Join Date: Oct 2005

Ontario, Canada

Oh, and thanks for bumping my thread for me, ghezbora.

Dundur

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Oct 2005

Perilous Feathers

Mo/

/signed

Hells Vengeance

Hells Vengeance

Academy Page

Join Date: Dec 2005

Eight Deadly Sins

W/Mo

Very good idea, while they are at it put in how much energy they have at bottom of their health bar. (For the batteries)



/signed

swordfisher

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Sep 2005

I would rather have icons on your -target monitor- where anytime you target someone, if you're maintaining an enchant on them, it's displayed next to their name. That's giving you enough information to quickly put 2 and 2 together, without being spoonfed. If you see that an enchant has dropped, you can quickly go to your likely suspects, instead of having to hover over your other seven enchants, trying to figure out which name is missing.

twicky_kid

twicky_kid

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jun 2005

Quite Vulgar [FUN]

If they do make the GUI to appear next to name of target then they should implement a cancel hotkey.

Canceling enchantments is way too difficult. I should be able to choose target then hit hotkey. Having to double click and NOT move the mouse while I do it is next to impossible. I end up just going mad clicking on the icon till it disappears.

tafy69

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Sep 2005

N/Me

this is so /signed

Cold

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Dec 2005

UK

/signed

As a bonder I LOVE the idea
I usualliy maintain 8 enchantments and knowing which one was removed would help me a lot.

Undivine

Undivine

of Brackenwood

Join Date: Oct 2005

Ontario, Canada

Quote:
Originally Posted by swordfisher
I would rather have icons on your -target monitor- where anytime you target someone, if you're maintaining an enchant on them, it's displayed next to their name. That's giving you enough information to quickly put 2 and 2 together, without being spoonfed. If you see that an enchant has dropped, you can quickly go to your likely suspects, instead of having to hover over your other seven enchants, trying to figure out which name is missing.
While that is nice in keeping the interface clean, I don't really see what's wrong with being spoonfed in this situation. Micromanagement isn't something that one should have to engage in while in the heat of battle.

And it's not just about seeing who's enchantments were removed. At-a-glance enchantments makes removing them easier too. You can still do the double-click (or cancel button) thing with all enchantments displayed at once. If it only shows enchantments for your target, then that's two actions that you have to make, one to target him and one to remove the enchantment. It's also easier having it at-a-glance b/c you sometimes need to weigh your options of whos enchantments to remove, and seeing them all at once helps you make a decision quickly.

Elurian

Elurian

Academy Page

Join Date: May 2005

Infection X [HacK]

Mo/

/signed

I'd like the idea of being able to see all enchantments/conditions/hexes on a player when they are targeted showing up under their name just above the casting icons. I would be for seeing all the enchantments at once next to names but, I could see it quickly getting out of hand with 3-4 enchantments sticking out from the party bar which is big enough as is.

Borin Durin

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Nov 2005

/signed

Jessyi

Jessyi

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Dec 2005

Mo/

/double signed .... with a small caveat

Icon displays should apply to bond enchants only, not conditions/hexes/time-based enchants. They already have a "display" for that - it's called communication. For example *ahem*: "I have Blind on me!". Unfortunately, you can't yell out (without typing) "I DON'T have Life Bond on me!"

Perhaps another idea to satisfy both us monks as well as those with balance concerns would be this: perhaps after a bond enchantment is removed, the icon representing it should be greyed out for a small duration of time (instead of immediately disappearing), giving the previously enchanted character 10-15 seconds to Ctrl-click it which would display a message like "My [enchantment] has been removed!", forcing communication between other characters and the monks. Well...I don't see anything wrong with the idea, but maybe someone else does.

That aside...I definetly agree to a better GUI for the bond display - just putting the bond icons next to the party window would suffice.

-Jess

thegame2009

thegame2009

Academy Page

Join Date: Sep 2005

Forsaken Sanctuary [FoSa]

Mo/Me

Quote:
Originally Posted by twicky_kid
If they do make the GUI to appear next to name of target then they should implement a cancel hotkey.
/Signed.

Undivine

Undivine

of Brackenwood

Join Date: Oct 2005

Ontario, Canada

Well, bond enchantments is my only concern. I personally don't care to see other's enchantments if it's going to clutter the interface.

Sister Spice

Academy Page

Join Date: Nov 2005

UK

Dracos Paladin

Mo/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Navaros
This is a great idea and they should definitely put it in.

It would come in especially handy in PVP.

It could be an Interface option just like all the other interface options that already exist. Those who don't want it, don't have to have it on their interface.

For those who do want it, they should be able to have it. It would be tremendously useful.
Another monk voting for this excellent suggestion

Sister Spice

Mesti Arcanus

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Dec 2005

Zealots of Shiverpeak

Me/E

/signed

Bonding has always been a pain to reapply. It's not bad if you have another enchant to alternate with, but maintained enchantments should definitely be done this way.

Skuld

Skuld

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Sep 2005

Thousend Tigers Apund Ur Head [Ttgr]

A/

signed

this is just what i've been wanting ^^

Mezmo

Mezmo

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jan 2006

Mo/W

[QUOTE=Jessyi
Icon displays should apply to bond enchants only, not conditions/hexes/time-based enchants. They already have a "display" for that - it's called communication. For example *ahem*: "I have Blind on me!". Unfortunately, you can't yell out (without typing) "I DON'T have Life Bond on me!"


-Jess[/QUOTE]

i agree with this. also i belive it should only show the enchnts your holding, not what everyone on your team is holding. that could make it confusing trying to figure out which enchants are your and which are someone else's.

/sighned