Here is the draft of a message I am planning on sending to Firaxis sometime later today. It is about stack movement, tell me what you think. Comments, Suggestions. Just make it quick, I am sending this at 9:30 - 10:00PM est.
"Dear Firaxis,
Before I write my suggestion I just want to take this opportunity to thank you *very* much for a very fun and enjoyable game. No matter how hard I try, I just can't stop playing Civ 3
. You and the people who have spent many hours on this computer program have definitely earned your pay, and have also renewed my belief that there are still *some* companies out there that do care for the most important people to their business, the gamers.
Well, now on to the good stuff . . .
Stacked Movement of units, - (not stacked combat, that's already in the game via armies) - is something that many casual and hard core gamers alike have cried out for, due to the painfully long time it can take to move hundreds of units around the map during war time. I hope you realize the importance of Stacked Movement and understand how GREATLY it will improve gameplay.
Here is a really simple, Age-of-Empires type way, of handling stacked movement:
After right-clicking on a big ole' stack of units, there is a list of units in that stack that pops up. So make the ability to Alt-Select *multiple* units in that list.
NOTE: I would use shift-select, but holding down shift and selecting units already has a different function in this menu.
Once you have highlighted/selected the units you want grouped, you hit Ctrl/1-9 to form the group and its number.
Following me so far?
Now when you hit 1-9, the group of that number is selected. The map automatically centers on that group. When you give that group an order, they move together (at the speed of the slowest unit), but do not attack together!
If you order them to attack, then the strongest attack unit goes first, and if it wins, the WHOLE stack moves into the square together.
If it dies, the next most powerful attack unit is selected BUT DOES NOT ATTACK, it waits for you to tell it to attack again.
You can always right-click the group and manually select the unit you want, but if you don't, the unit with the strongest attack value always goes in first.
Removing Units From Group:
Well if we are going to have groups, we need a way to ungroup, right?
No problemo:
Pressing Shift-O ungroups *only the selected* unit from it's group, and Ctrl-Shift-O will ungroup all units in it's group.
Adding Units to Group:
Want to add a unit to a group without remaking the entire thing? Select the unit(s) you want to add and press Alt-Ctrl 1-9 to add a unit to a pre-existing group.
Thanks for your time, and if the teams has any questions or comments, PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO SEND THEM TO ME!!
Best of intentions,
- Perry Williams
E-mail Here"
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