Suggestions for improvements in battles

rewandrewand Registered Users 588 Posts
Targeting:
We have two ways to target. The tap method where you first tap hero and then monster. The drag method where you tap-drag from hero to monster.

Drag method PROs
  1. Multi-touch can be used to drag multiple heroes to one or more targets simultaneously.
  2. Visual feedback on targeting.
Drag method CONS
  1. If you miss-target you trigger a move action and could send your ranged unit into the melee.
  2. When multiple drag actions converge on the same target it is very easy to have one miss the target because of fat fingers, small screens etc.

Touch method PROs
  1. It's fast. Tap hero with one finger and monster with another and you can target quickly.
  2. Selection is persistent. A ranged unit can target monster after monster with a selection tap followed by a target, target, target tap.
  3. If the targeting tap misses the monster the hero doesn't go for a stroll
Touch method CONs
  1. No multiselect. Two simultaneous selection taps only selects one hero. Tried double tap too but no dice.
  2. The target tap zone seems to be a lot smaller than what is used in the drag method.
  3. Missing a target tap (which is easy given the small zone) deselects the hero
  4. No visual feedback for success. The only indication that the monster was not targeted is that the hero is deselected but the user isn't looking at the hero s/he is looking at the monster being tapped.

Suggestions:
  1. Grow the targeting zone when multiple drags are happening at the same time.
  2. Allow for multi-select when using the tap method. This could be done by requiring simultaneous selection taps. Another methodology would be to split the heroes into two classes; fighters and healers.
    • first tap selects
    • second tap on a hero of the same class as the first multiselects. e.g. tap healer, then fighter and healer deselects. Tap another fighter and they multiselect.
    • Tapping a hero of a different class deselects heroes of the other class. i.e. tap fighter and then healer deselects
      fighter.
    • Double tap deselects all except the tapped hero
  3. Don't deselect selected heroes. Not on missed targeting taps, not when the current target dies, not when the hero is moved, not when the hero is pushed back, stunned or scared. Only deselect when the user directs it.
  4. Give visual feedback when a tap target event is successful by flashing the monster or flashing a targeting circle around the monster etc.
  5. Grow the tap target for monsters. Yes this may cause mistargeting but if you give visual feedback and don't deselect the heroes then it's easily fixed.
Screen real-estate:
Problems:
  1. The spell selection boxes are over active fight area.
    • It is common to trigger spells while trying to get a hero out from under the spell boxes.
    • When monsters enter from the top left there are targeting problems.
Suggestions:
  1. Given the large swaths of screen that you fill up with rocks, ice, air, an other non-walkable eye-candy pick an area which is never walkable on any fight screen and put the spell boxes there.
  2. Let the user move the spell boxes during the fight.
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