Minor enhancements

RightOnCommander · Post by **RightOnCommander** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 10:23 pm

How about (for a price) displaying the percentage damage of the target ship, when you have the advanced targetting add-on? I notice the ship entity already has a "damage" field that is calculated based on current energy / maximum. Knowing how close an enemy vessel is to destruction would really help with the "fight or flight" decisions.

aegidian · Post by **aegidian** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 10:29 pm

I've been asked a few times for an onscreen damage indicator or energy bar for the targetted ship. While I can understand the appeal, I don't really like the idea — it makes it too much like an arcade game for my tastes.

Instead I opted for a more realistic approach:

Carefully observe the exhaust plume of the antagonist. Flicker in the flames indicate a degree of damage; plasma fires burning off indicate the ship is badly damaged; escape pods being ejected mean critical damage to the lifesupport.

RightOnCommander · Post by **RightOnCommander** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 11:11 pm

Good point - I have indeed noticed those.

I guess the only time this doesn't work is with things like Thargoids, which don't seem to have a visible exhaust.

Lyx · Post by **Lyx** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 7:41 pm

Since even advanced equipment couldn't *exactly* determine how damaged another ship is, how about going the RPG-way: no numbers, no bars, but words.... i.e. you could have 4 words describe the status of the other ship: okay(75-100%), damaged(50-75%), heavily damaged(25-50%), nearly breaking appart(0-25%). Optionally replace the stupid "okay" with something better sounding :)

TGHC · Post by **TGHC** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 12:07 pm

Xelite has a targeting computer (for only 900Cr) which shows:-

Ship type
Shields
Velocity
Missiles
Distance
Laser power

The shield % indicates how much damage you have inflicted.

RightOnCommander · Post by **RightOnCommander** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 6:12 pm

This looks like a great version too - where can I get it? The first hit in Google seems to be down.

Selezen · Post by **Selezen** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 6:18 pm

I thought xElite had been taken down by the Breadbin?

gus3 · Post by **gus3** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 2:19 am

I believe it's no longer available on the web, but even the breadbin can't go back in time and erase it from people's hard-drives. Sadly I never downloaded it as my browser objected strongly to the execrable website it was hosted on

TGHC · Post by **TGHC** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 3:38 pm

It's the dogs bollocks, (pm me if you are interested.....)

I think Oolite will eventually be better with all the addons, extra missions etc, I'm just waiting for a beta version and an idiots guide to load it.

I used to play the original Amstrad version, then TNK. What I like about Xelite in particular (apart from the graphics) is the spec of the Cougar ship, it enables a different type of gameplay with its speed and manouverability, and fuel capacity - 14 light years !!!

TGHC

mocbo · Post by **mocbo** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 11:49 pm

oops wrong thread i have moved the reply

Greetings

Moc