Toggle vs Radio Buttons for the Toolbar groups

[AndHub]

I want to request a UI feature refinement regarding the Toolbars.

I like the idea of being able to select a specific group of buttons to display in the toolbar. But, I never really use them. This is primarily because I like to use tools from different groups, so I leave all of them on.

Now, if the toolbar selection buttons were toggle buttons instead of radio buttons, you could select multiple groups to display, like Unit Specific and Combat Specific, and hide the others. You could have any combination of toolbar button groups available to use without switching groups.

I don't know the coding of the Toolbar button groups, and this may be opening a "can of worms", however, I think it would be a worthwhile refinement to the UI to at least investigate.

Just a thought.

AndHub

[AndHub]

No Opinions? Did I post in the wrong place? I've been thinking about this for about a year and finally posted it and "crickets". Even telling me it's a terrible idea would at least start a conversation.

This is one of the few times I have publicly posted an opinion, and I know this issue is not a high priority.

I love these games. I spent hundreds of hours in the 1970s playing wargames by myself. I also designed a few mainly for myself, one of them I pitched to Kevin Zucker at OSG in NY called "Race to the Muse" (nothing came of it but, he did like my "Hitler Paranoia Table" that could trigger events like the "Halt order" and that the Allied player and the Axis player had their own set of game rules and mechanic's to reflect their vastly different doctrines).

I have a lot of ideas about these games and would like to share them from time to time.

So if anyone has some thoughts on this, please let me know as it's discouraging to hear nothing from 99 viewers.

Thank you

Andrew
Retired Web and Software developer, Historian, and a lifelong wargamer.
"We can only see the future by looking at our past"

[LarkinVB]

I would prefer to be able to customize the toolbar and select which elements to display. But coding time is a scarse resource and I guess there are a lot more pressing task in the queue.

[rahamy]

Hi Andrew, from my perspective I just leave all the buttons displayed - and then I primarily use hotkeys and my mouse to issue most commands. There's maybe a half dozen buttons in total I use from all groups. So, for me personally, I don't have a need for further refinement to this aspect.

Not terribly helpful to your question, but I didn't want to be yet another read with no reply.

[AndHub]

LarkinVB & Rich, I thank both of you.

You both make good points.
Yes I understand resources are limited, and you are right fine-tuning the toolbar into a custom configuration is a great idea. But I fear that would be quite a revision fraught with the possibility of introducing unforeseen consequences. But it would be nice. As for leaving them all on that is what I do now. I need to improve my hotkey familiarity (at least they are fairly consistent across the titles).

I put this idea out there hoping it might be one of those "simple" things to do.

Again Thank you for your feedback.

A

[Typhoon]

The great thing about all this is of course the choice. I use the combat buttons for artillery and aircraft early in the turn then switch to units and have reachable hexes always shaded using also the save movement change to travel mode and the digging in buttons. For organisation and such I tend to use the highlights menu and we are even lucky enough to have hot keys as well but I’ve never got the hang of them. My point is there is already much choice. And sorry for not replying I’m more of a lurker but when I post it is must satisfying to create a bit of chit chat

[Plain Ian]

Hi Andy. I think Rich nailed it for me. To get through most games especially the monsters I will stick to maybe 6 'buttons' at most. Most of which are hotkeys really. Occasionally I may use some 'exotic' game features but again I'll try to memorise and use hot keys if they are easy to use.

So I just leave all the toolbars showing when I play.

Unless you are a left handed player and hold the mouse with your left hand, I would suggest that you try to learn the hot keys as it really makes a big difference in playing.

Apologies if this isn't the answer you want to hear.

Ian

[AndHub]

Hi Typhoon and Ian. First, this is very satisfying and I thank all of you for responding, you all make great points.

When I start a scenario I look at the map and the report to get the lay of the land, Where the high and low areas are, rivers, etc., and the best way to approach objectives. Then it's the Highlights and Reports to understand my forces and what limited information I can get about the enemy forces. Once the play begins it's pretty much Unit, Combat, and Highlights. This is a generalization but it is close enough. I want to use the hotkeys throughout this but tend to default to the button (roll over the button to see the hotkey... and while I'm there I press the button). The one thing I don't do is select a button group, I leave them all on.

I wanted to float this idea out there to see what other players thought (maybe a key you hold down that displayed all the buttons with the hotkey instead of the icons? That would help one learn them).

I feel these are great wargames just what I thought the transition to computers from paper needed. I like the uncertainty of what the results of your attacks are going to be. You have an idea of what to expect but the algorithms are such that you are not certain of the results. I like the fact that you can find the reachable hexes, but may not get there if you try to avoid an enemy unit. Yes, you can crunch the numbers to get a better idea of what will happen, but in the end, you need to know your troops, how far you can push them, and take some risks.

Sorry to rattle on,

Andrew

[Dion]

AndHub, like you say, a help key that would display all the hotkeys is an excellent idea, and I hope it's implemented someday if it isn't already.

Similarly, you could open the rule book, scroll to the hotkey definition page and minimize it, opening it from the last point you looked at it last whenever you like during the game. This would have the added advantage being able to access the entire rule book, being able to look up obscure rules and such.

Hotkeys make the game twice as accessible - twice the productivity, twice the enjoyment. I don't know if I would even play without them.

[PaulSan]

I use hot keys a lot. I recommend using hot keys as it speeds the game up.