Cross-posting this from Reddit:
Here are five issues in the new update regarding the markers and how the devs might fix them:
1. The marker update is now really clunky to use.
Placing markers on the map using numbers was actually a lot easier than this turn-dial thing — it took a split-second to command your squad previously and you could easily do it on the run.
The main issue now is that you can’t do it while moving; you have to stand still in a field with binoculars out fiddling around with 20 different icons on a scroll wheel hoping not to get shot in the head, while you’re frozen in position. It’s impossible now to mark enemy placements.
Now it takes seconds to place one marker, which when you’re updating these every 10 seconds is massive. Placing a marker via the map in the previous system again took less than a second, providing an officer can map read. Now they have to go through a drop down list with far too many options, rather than simply holding down a number while on the move and clicking it onto the map.
If you want to keep the 20 or so options, why not revert the change but make extra icons available in the map view. An officer could still “observe” a location in game and then change his marker in the map to something specific to the request. Having this scroll wheel dial only available once you’ve clicked and are standing in enemy view makes no sense at all (reverse the process at least).
Many of these new markers seem redundant also; to get an air strike in a timely way you still need to use VOIP to ask your commander. Also, is a commander really going to respond meaningfully to 20 different symbols on the map, and now every officer sees these too?
It’s better imo to just have VOIP doing these things. You could instead have certain marks visible to only specific groups: bombing requests to commander – squad movements to squad members, etc.
On top of that, the markers are now visible to your squad for just a few seconds, making it almost entirely pointless to put down markers without in addition to that telling your squad to look at the map for them. It’s honestly a bit of a clusterf*** right now.
These new markers add complexity to a game that is already challenging for new players.
Ping’s a great touch though (y).
2. It’s impossible now to mark falling supplies.
Yes, there’s a skill involved in estimating positions when things are falling but I think when supplies are dropped behind your lines, you need to respond quickly. I think this was an unintentional consequence of the update (hopefully!)
Making enemy supplies impossible to track (for instance, when dropped 500m from the main force) will prevent the defending team from being able to meaningfully counter solo officers running behind the lines to make sneaky garrisons.
It’s going to totally change the meta of the game for the worse imo. Right now you get a sense of defensive lines and an ebb and flow as teams push or get pushed back. If a spawn can easily be placed behind lines without a viable counter, I fear you’re going to lose that feature, which is I think what a lot of people play HLL for over other shoot’em up focused games.
3. The dots for squad members are too small
Aside from the garry/OP display issue (discussed by others and apparently being fixed), it seems the markers (including squad markers) have been made tiny.
Aside from general clutter, the dots for my squad members are tiny too.
This makes it near impossible to mouse-over to find out who is who (say my guy says MG 280 100m, or tank near me – I can’t make what he’s calling out to be an attack marker without having to zoom in and out on each green dot on the map to work out who’s who).
It again adds considerably to the time it takes to give orders – I used to be able to do this on the move. Pre-update was better.
Why not go one step further and have the names of your squad visible on the map next to their icons.
4. The default opacity for the markers is too high and now they contain color, rather than being transparent – they now block your squad’s vision
This means marking an enemy location with a marker actually encumbers the people in your squad, in blocking their view, rather than highlighting where to look. Graphically I don’t know why this was necessary. Put the colored ones on the map if you wanna keep em but keep the in-game visuals clear.
I would revert this. This change seems wholly unnecessary and blocks view of the map.
5. Clutter – seeing other squads’ markers on the map
I understand the need for one squad to occasionally see another squads’ markers, but why make them all visible?
Why not just make “observe” visible to other officers (and nothing else), and request supplies visible to all support players (and not officers, etc.)?
As I’ve seen in other peoples’ post in the same, this seems to be an ineffective fix to the lack of communication between officers. It won’t fix this. It only clutters the map, creating an even greater wall to those learning the officer role.
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Overall changes need to be made to make the marking process take less than a second for officers and make it able for them to do this on the move. For non-officers, markers should be clear on the map and not obscure your in-game view, please.
This latest update broke what was a good officer interface, making effectively communicating with your squad and commander impossible without spending your whole game fiddling around with turn-dials and redundant options. Please fix!
