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Phase I of Alpha Two testing will occur on weekends. Each weekend is scheduled to start on Fridays at 10 AM PT and end on Sundays at 10 PM PT. Find out more here.
Check out Alpha Two Announcements here to see the latest Alpha Two news and update notes.
Our quickest Alpha Two updates are in Discord. Testers with Alpha Two access can chat in Alpha Two channels by connecting your Discord and Intrepid accounts here.
Map Ping Mechanic
Ludullu
Member, Alpha Two
Iirc Intrepid decided to move away from the cartography part of the game, so we probably won't get player-made maps, which is why I'd like to ask for a Ping mechanic, so that party/guild/raid leaders could point people to where they want them to go (ideally with availability of several pings at a time, and numbered ones as well).
I mostly want this mechanic so that I could hold mount races and create a "track" by pinging the map in certain locations. In a perfect world players would be able to create a map that's superimposed over our standard map, where we'd have some additional info, but I understand that this would be way harder to implement and could be an expansion thing.
But if we'll have any type of quest pings on our map - we should definitely have that feature on the player side as well imo. And as I pointed out above, it could be used in multiple ways that are really beneficial not only for specific situations (like sieges), but also for player-driven content that will give the game more longevity.
p.s. 4th reference here does imply that this is something at least already considered, but I'd definitely like if it was not just a guild thing and not just a minimap thing
https://ashesofcreation.wiki/Minimap
I mostly want this mechanic so that I could hold mount races and create a "track" by pinging the map in certain locations. In a perfect world players would be able to create a map that's superimposed over our standard map, where we'd have some additional info, but I understand that this would be way harder to implement and could be an expansion thing.
But if we'll have any type of quest pings on our map - we should definitely have that feature on the player side as well imo. And as I pointed out above, it could be used in multiple ways that are really beneficial not only for specific situations (like sieges), but also for player-driven content that will give the game more longevity.
p.s. 4th reference here does imply that this is something at least already considered, but I'd definitely like if it was not just a guild thing and not just a minimap thing
https://ashesofcreation.wiki/Minimap
4
Comments
Also, settings for who can/can't draw/ping/etc on the map.
I dunno, if you trust your group, it can be beneficial to let them do it too.
The way I want it to work is: right click on the world map and a pin is placed. If you shift + left click it an option appears where you can share the POI in a specific chat you choose.
What is not to happen is a marker around the character that shows the way and distance to the POI. Not even on minimap it should appear. This is just babysitting and stupid.
Visual markers on the ground are a necessity too. Is it for raiding a boss, castle sieges, or mount runs it is a feature that creates immersion for the player. I have experience of this in WoW which I think does a good job.
This goes for marking targets as well. Either have the specific markers key bound or make an easy marking tool like many MOBAs have.
Pinging the minimap should be a feature too with the player's name. Could make a short animation and sound to alert the player.
I realize my view of 'arcane realism' in a computer game is in the minority, and I will be happy with whatever AoC ends up doing, but just wanted to opine.
well, not having it in the game doesn't mean it wont happen, I know 2 groups that are already working on third party interactive maps that most players will have opened on their second monitor with all the tech you can think off..
This is also why I'd prefer if we could have player-made maps that we can use to superimpose on top of our own. This way the fantasy is kept, cause this map would be made before time and wouldn't seem as unrealistic. GLs could just put numbered points on the siege map and then simply reference them when commanding people.
agree
Is there something special/more to them in GW2 that relates to the pingability of the map? Obviously following someone into the fight would be great, but, from my experience, best siege leaders just oversee the battlefield and give orders. So seeing that your leader sits in the back of the field would in no way help you know where to go.
I know that I'm most likely overcomplicating this particular situation, but still. Just seeing leaders would not be enough imo.
Node sieges will be even worse than castle stuff, cause I'm more than sure that a lot of people won't be in the same discord (especially considering that anyone can register for defense/attack), so having a ping system would help them drastically.
What I'm talking about in the ideal design is stuff like the numbered locations in this video. And you can hear leaders calling out those points as movement directions.
I guess this could be a default thing on our map during sieges, but then I'll just go back to the OP and say that I want a way to have an in-game way to create a race "track".
So basically, an addon...
Honestly, if the devs are trying to build the "next generation MMO" they should just have all the best stuff from the best addons. Map pings, map notes, saved note transfer to other characters, etc.
Like when I think "next generation MMO" I'm not just thinking about the combat and game systems, but also the UI. AOC should come out best in class with regards to these types of details, especially if they want to go hard on addons. They have a responsibility to do it better (or provide the versatility to the user) than addons do.
At the very least, a temporary or permanent ping option. With different placeholder markers which might represent different tactical objectives. Just have a bunch of different icon options kind of like how WoW allowed you to have party markers i.e. skull, cross circle. But add other things which could represent different things. A fish, a little farm, a sword, whatever.
Agree with ways to moderate it. Maybe lock it to leader by default, but allow you to grant access to members/whole group etc.
Drawing is also fine, but for me the markers will be what I would use.
It would be more engaing using war horns, church bells, or gongs, or even sending messages via carrier pigeons. If you're too far from the sound source, such as horns, bells, gongs, drums, or fireworks, you wouldn't receive any map ping at all. For longer distances, pings could be sent by birds or other creatures, but if these creatures are attacked and killed, your people wouldn't receive any pings either, long pings could be done from node to node and such pings would take a few minutes to go through.
It's a shame cartography won't come to fruition, if it was merely a matter of trading notes on the world map from player to player or from guild to guildies or within a party, it would be satisfying and enjoyable. It would be amazing in fact, sorry for saying that.