Away missions and camera controls

[Varrangian]

Given that we know away missions will usually involve us and several of our bridge crew, I realized that camera control will be important. In most MMO's I've play I switch between 1st person and 3rd person with no real issue because the camera follows my character just fine.

In STO though we will have a bridge crew and one I've learned from playing games with "parties" like Neverwinter Nights 2 and the Knights of the Old Republic series is that cameras with groups of NPC's following you can be a pain in the arse. I hope Cryptic can address some of these problems.

What kind of camera perspective do you usually play an MMO with? What perspective do you hope to use in STO?

[Manx]

I usually play in 1st person where available (except in FFXI, 1st person view was useless in that game); failing that, I like a 3rd person 'over the shoulder' view. However, if away teams are going to have to coordinate their efforts effectively to win then a wider view would be useful, so we can see what the rest of the team is up to.

I do wonder how independent NPC bridge crew members will be on away missions. If we actually need to order them around, rather than leaving them to do their own thing, then the ability to zoom out into a kind of top down view might be beneficial; it would add a squad based tactical element.

[Varrangian]

I do wonder how independent NPC bridge crew members will be on away missions. If we actually need to order them around, rather than leaving them to do their own thing, then the ability to zoom out into a kind of top down view might be beneficial; it would add a squad based tactical element.

While the comments that follow should probably be a separate post, your post sparked a question. How much autonomy do we want the bridge crew to have? Part of me would like to be able to control them individually, but the other part of me wants to be able to "set it and forget it".

[Ensign.Ricky]

I prefer 3rd person. I get to see my character and a little more of the surroundings that way. I forgot what game I was playing but it allowed you to preset camera angles to specific buttons so if you were playing and and hit that button you could see all around you instantly. Made good for screen shots too.

As for how autonomous should the bridge crew be, I want to be able to issue orders and control their influences. Like order them to scan the area, or take tactical positions. I really hope they aren't just the regular pets that are set to "follow me". There may be times where I just want them to disperse and enjoy the alien environment while I do the same.

[auutumn]

I hope that the away members have some intelligent AI behind them; I'm hoping that I can issue orders and they will carry them out. Now, if I member is a scientist, will he be able to *independently* conduct scientific research while on the mission? What about a security officer or a historian?

I know this can be asking a lot but if the team says their one thing but they all act alike, I'm gonna be SO bored.

[Vicelance]

Hopefully the bridge crew has some AI behind them. In a firefight having to control five characters at once could be difficult. I'd at least want my crew to take some basic survival actions on their own, but at the same time I'd like to be able to tell them what enemy to attack, and when to advance or fall back.

[Trekkie]

I definitely prefer third-person but I do switch camera angles from time to time, especially if I am making an in-game video or something like that. I really hope that the camera in the game is just focused on your character specifically and non-player characters do not determine it much at all, because I could see that becoming slightly annoying.

[Deyvid]

CAMERA VIEW

I usually play in third-person view, and constantly zoom in and out to be really close to my character like right over-the-shoulder and other times zoom as far out as possible to see more of my surrounding environment.

I also switch to first-person view at times, when I want to get a better look at something close up, or to look at a landscape or environment from the character's perspective. And most of my screenshots are first person. I love taking screenshots in Lord of the Rings Online. That game has some beautiful landscapes and scenery.

I can't wait to take lots of screenshots in STO.

AWAY TEAM NPC AI

I may be way off, but here's what I was thinking. Looking at other MMOs I've played that had pets or NPC-allies, they were mainly dependent on what you tell them to do. You'd have a "pet control bar" and give them commands and put them in "modes" or "states". For example, you could set your pet to a Passive state when you want them to just follow you and do nothing. Or you'd put them in Defensive state, where they will follow you and do nothing until you get attacked, then they would attack whatever attacked you, basically they just defend you. Then of course there's the Aggressive state where they will stay near you but they will pro-actively go attack anything that may be aggressive toward you or the pet.

I think with pets that should be more intelligent, maybe you could have a Passive command so they just follow you, the Defensive command, and then add Explore where they will stay relatively close to you but they will actively explore and scan etc. but then you can click on a particular team member then tell them what to do like stay here and scan this, while the rest of the party moves ahead.

I do want some measure of control over my NPC away team, but not where I have to micro-manage every step they take. On the other hand I wouldn't want my NPC team to wander around or shoot stuff that will get me in trouble or do things I don't want them to do. I don't want to have to send NPC bridge crew members flying out an airlock for doing something bad on an away mission.

[Silverspar]

Given that we know away missions will usually involve us and several of our bridge crew, I realized that camera control will be important. In most MMO's I've play I switch between 1st person and 3rd person with no real issue because the camera follows my character just fine.

In STO though we will have a bridge crew and one I've learned from playing games with "parties" like Neverwinter Nights 2 and the Knights of the Old Republic series is that cameras with groups of NPC's following you can be a pain in the arse. I hope Cryptic can address some of these problems.

What kind of camera perspective do you usually play an MMO with? What perspective do you hope to use in STO?

Bridge crew will be pets, you, as the captain, will be in the center chair directing your bridge crew. Thus, in situations that you are using your bridge crew, you will basically be from the captain's perspective, giving commands and orders to your crew, such as the medical to heal your security while the engineer repairs something. That's how it will work based on what I've read.

[Deyvid]

Bridge crew will be pets, you, as the captain, will be in the center chair directing your bridge crew. Thus, in situations that you are using your bridge crew, you will basically be from the captain's perspective, giving commands and orders to your crew, such as the medical to heal your security while the engineer repairs something. That's how it will work based on what I've read.

I think the main focus of this is when the player beams down to a planet with NPC crew members, you know in an away team, like the thread topic says.

[Silverspar]

And I answered the question. What makes you think it will change? You will still be on the perspective of the captain, telling your pets what to do. Think of it like a pet class from any other game that has them.

[Deyvid]

Yeah, we all assume and expect that we will always be playing from the perspective of the captain, and not switch over to play as the NPCs, and we will have control over them and give them commands and determine their state. The question is how much autonomy will they have, and how dependent will they be on us the player.

Another question also concerns the camera. Will the camera try to always keep every team member in the field of view like some games, or will the camera only focus on our captain.

Looking at some other MMOs that have pets, at times the pets can go off camera, either during a fight or even just running around. In both WOW and LOTRO, while playing a pet class there has occasionally been times where I think "where did my pet run off to?" That can be annoying at times.

On the other hand I've played some action-RPG style games where the camera always tries to keep every team member in the shot, and that can also be annoying when you are trying to position the camera manually or get a closer view of something and the game automatically zooms out to keep every team member in the shot.

The difference with the pet classes in other MMOs and the away teams in STO, is that the other pet classes had only one pet maybe 2, where STO will have probably closer to 4 or 5. Which starts leaning more toward the squad-based games like Rainbow Six etc.

[Silverspar]

What do you mean assume? These are questions that Jack answered from day one of the Vegas Video. I suggest watching that again.

[Freejack]

Bridge crew will be pets, you, as the captain, will be in the center chair directing your bridge crew. Thus, in situations that you are using your bridge crew, you will basically be from the captain's perspective, giving commands and orders to your crew, such as the medical to heal your security while the engineer repairs something. That's how it will work based on what I've read.

But Jack also mentioned and motioned that in space the camera will be behind you and you will see your ship maneuvering in front. I think it will be two very different perspectives depending on if you are in battle, or not in battle. I can envision a simple keystroke to go from 3rd person view to captain's chair view, but ship management will probably be handled with hotbuttons, etc., so that camera angle will be irrelevant or preferential at best.

I'm just guessing here. :cool:

[Nagilum]

I like playing in the 3rd person view most of the time and zooming in to get a better look at things when needed.

[Silverspar]

But Jack also mentioned and motioned that in space the camera will be behind you and you will see your ship maneuvering in front. I think it will be two very different perspectives depending on if you are in battle, or not in battle. I can envision a simple keystroke to go from 3rd person view to captain's chair view, but ship management will probably be handled with hotbuttons, etc., so that camera angle will be irrelevant or preferential at best.

I'm just guessing here. :cool:

Umm, I was referring to away teams, and yes you will always be captaining your ship from teh external view. I doubt there willb e a viewscreen view.

[Varrangian]

Bridge crew will be pets, you, as the captain, will be in the center chair directing your bridge crew. Thus, in situations that you are using your bridge crew, you will basically be from the captain's perspective, giving commands and orders to your crew, such as the medical to heal your security while the engineer repairs something. That's how it will work based on what I've read.

By saying "center chair" are you suggesting that when we have away missions we will be on the ship? This is not the case. I don't have time to look up the quotes, but they have specifically said we as captains will go down to the surface.

[Silverspar]

By saying "center chair" are you suggesting that when we have away missions we will be on the ship? This is not the case. I don't have time to look up the quotes, but they have specifically said we as captains will go down to the surface.

:rolleyes:

Wow, I dunno what to say anymore. Evidently trying to use analogies these days people take everything at face value now. No, I don't mena you will be stuck on the bridge, and you didn't read the post either evidently.

[Varrangian]

:rolleyes:

Wow, I dunno what to say anymore. Evidently trying to use analogies these days people take everything at face value now. No, I don't mena you will be stuck on the bridge, and you didn't read the post either evidently.

Yes, yes I did read the post. You used an analogy that was a poor choice of words and then failed to address the question. The question was not whose perspective you will view the game from, but what versions of camera would you like.

Have you ever played a game like Neverwinter Nights or Knights of the Old Republic? Camera angles and the ability for those angles to show you the entire "scene" can be issue. Hence the reason for this topic.

[Silverspar]

Evidently you didn't read then if you say I failed to adddress the question since the post right above the one where you said I was claiming to say you captain from your ship answered it. Maybe instead of trying to put words in people's mouths you actually do what you claim hrmm?

[Varrangian]

Evidently you didn't read then if you say I failed to adddress the question since the post right above the one where you said I was claiming to say you captain from your ship answered it. Maybe instead of trying to put words in people's mouths you actually do what you claim hrmm?

Your post that I quoted.

Bridge crew will be pets, you, as the captain, will be in the center chair directing your bridge crew. Thus, in situations that you are using your bridge crew, you will basically be from the captain's perspective, giving commands and orders to your crew, such as the medical to heal your security while the engineer repairs something. That's how it will work based on what I've read.

The Issues I brought up and the questions I asked.

In STO though we will have a bridge crew and one I've learned from playing games with "parties" like Neverwinter Nights 2 and the Knights of the Old Republic series is that cameras with groups of NPC's following you can be a pain in the arse. I hope Cryptic can address some of these problems.

What kind of camera perspective do you usually play an MMO with? What perspective do you hope to use in STO?

Sorry your post quoted, the one you said I didn't read. Did not address any of this.

[Silverspar]

And you still fail to read. What part of controlling them like pet classes from other games do you just not want to understand. The question was answered, you just want to make an issue of it. And pleas,e don't even pretend to tell me.

Again, you didn't read since I also stated much earlier int eh thread

And I answered the question. What makes you think it will change? You will still be on the perspective of the captain, telling your pets what to do. Think of it like a pet class from any other game that has them.

[Varrangian]

And you still fail to read. What part of controlling them like pet classes from other games do you just not want to understand. The question was answered, you just want to make an issue of it. And pleas,e don't even pretend to tell me.

Again, you didn't read since I also stated much earlier int eh thread

Ummmm again, this is not about "controlling" this is about cameras, but whatever you have the biggest epeen.

[DanSeale]

I think the main focus of this is when the player beams down to a planet with NPC crew members, you know in an away team, like the thread topic says.

shhhhh don't confuse anyone !

:D

The idea of changing the camera view is a good point. It can give you differnet vantage points of view that can often help to see and reslove a problem that you might not otherwise see.

[Varrangian]

While the comments that follow should probably be a separate post, your post sparked a question. How much autonomy do we want the bridge crew to have? Part of me would like to be able to control them individually, but the other part of me wants to be able to "set it and forget it".

Bridge crew will be pets, you, as the captain, will be in the center chair directing your bridge crew. Thus, in situations that you are using your bridge crew, you will basically be from the captain's perspective, giving commands and orders to your crew, such as the medical to heal your security while the engineer repairs something. That's how it will work based on what I've read.

If you're saying that this comment was about my above quote and not the one you actually quoted then I'll admit I'm rather stupid. But whatever I give up trying to prove or disprove my stupidity.

[Debaser]

While the comments that follow should probably be a separate post, your post sparked a question. How much autonomy do we want the bridge crew to have? Part of me would like to be able to control them individually, but the other part of me wants to be able to "set it and forget it".

Coming soon to a Star Trek mmo near you, the Ronco© Bridge Crew!

Scanning nebulae and minor spatial anomalies can be tedious, and take away time from more important things, like looking good in your captain`s chair, or shmoozing with the orion working tactical! Need to recrystallize that dilitium matrix, but it`s poker night in ten forward? Is defending the Federation leaving you feeling tired and worn out? Does working double shifts on the conn leave you with dry, chapped hands?

Well no more my friends! With the Ronco© Bridge Crew, you can effortlessly order people to do all this and more for you, just (say it with me now!) "set it, and forget it!" Yay!

:D