My own color, forever

by **Piestar** on Tue Oct 16, 2007 10:42 pm

Suggestion Idea: It would help me if I saw myself as the same color in every game.

Specifics: I am not sure how difficult this would be to program, but it would be nice if players could (1) pick a color they like, and (2) whenever they logged on, the site would adjust the personal view of each player to allow them to see their own own armies in their color of choice.

Why it is needed: Not needed obviously, but it would make things easier, especially if you're playing a lot of games on a few maps. I'm sure there are more important front-burner issues out there, but it might be a nice back-burner project, perhaps even a benefit you give to the paying customers.

by **misterman10** on Tue Oct 16, 2007 10:47 pm

This would be really hard in game chats. I know that I refer to other people as colors. For example, I might say, "Guys, green is getting way too strong". However, with your idea, green may be viewed as a different player by the other players. This wouldn't work that well IMO :wink:

by **Aerial Attack** on Tue Oct 16, 2007 10:53 pm

This is on Lack's To Do List - Please check the Suggestion Box stickied at the top of this forum.

Choose Army Color at Start

by **misterman10** on Tue Oct 16, 2007 10:56 pm

Aerial Attack wrote:This is on Lack's To Do List - Please check the Suggestion Box stickied at the top of this forum.

Choose Army Color at Start

His suggestion is different though. He wants it so that ALL OF HIS GAMES make it so that he is the same color, no matter what. It doesn't necessarily mean he is this actual color, but that he sees himself as this color so he doesn't confuse his armies with his opponents armies.

by **muy_thaiguy** on Tue Oct 16, 2007 11:02 pm

Makes some sense, but I don't think it would be worth doing, for the simple reason that other players may want the exact same color. :wink:

by **Piestar** on Tue Oct 16, 2007 11:04 pm

I can see why that might be an issue, though I still like my idea. It would simply require a change of format, during discussion.

From the looks of Aerial Attacks link, it's an option a lot of people would enjoy, as well.

Still, the 'pick your own color' option would be a nice step in the right direction, expecially if there were more colors to choose from.

by **Optimus Prime** on Tue Oct 16, 2007 11:18 pm

146,619 registered users.....think about it. :wink:

My Conquer Club Scripts · by **Aerial Attack** on Tue Oct 16, 2007 11:21 pm

Unfortunately, I doubt there will be additional colors available. Disclaimer: I don't speak for lack and I could quite possibly be wrong.

When maps are created and tested - the army locations (typically circles) are tested for size, placement, and readability against the 6 colors currently in play [usually just the ones that might be questionable]. There would be no guarantees that new army colors would maintain good visibility against map backgrounds. In addition, a new colorblind lettering schema would need to be developed to match the influx of colors [this would max out at 26 possible colors].

Here would be a sample color palette:

a for (a)methyst
b for (b)lue
c for (c)yan
d for gol(d)
e for (e)merald
f for (?)
g for (g)reen
h for (?)
i for (i)ndigo
j for (j)ade
k for blac(k)
l for (l)avender
m for (m)agenta
n for (n)avy
o for (o)range
p for (p)ink
q for (q)uartz
r for (r)ed
s for (s)ilver
t for (t)eal
u for (u)mber
v for (v)iolet
w for (w)hite
x for ony(x)
y for (y)ellow
z for a(z)ure

by **Piestar** on Tue Oct 16, 2007 11:26 pm

Optimus Prime - Sorry, I don't understand your point. I'm not suggesting we would each get our own unique color, is that what you thought I meant? No, it would still be a set number of colors, though a few more then the current set would be nice.

Aerial Attack - Two things, one the testing was done by people with better eyes then me. Dark blue vanishes for me in a lot of places. Dark green almost as much.
Second, if the background for the army number was in White (an easy fix I would imagine) then a lot more colors would be visible. If this modification was done gradually with the old maps, and standard for new maps, I think the whole list, in all it's magnificent, multitudinous glory, could be switched over within 3-4 months.

by **Aerial Attack** on Tue Oct 16, 2007 11:35 pm

Unfortunately white backgrounds for the army circles don't always fit with the motif of the map in question. Many times the background itself is actually translucent or only very slightly opaque. Making them white would hide necessary elements of the map.

There is also the scope of the change you would want done. If you assume and average of 50 terrs per map. There are currently 54 maps in production and another 5 or 6 that will probably be quenched in the next several weeks. There are also 20+ maps in the pipeline to be launched in the next 6 months or so. Let's just make it an even 80 maps. 80 maps times 50 territories = 4000 army circles that would need to be adjusted to white backgrounds and then have the affected portions of the map retouched so as to not look too glaringly out of place. That is a LOT of work.

EDIT: Don't misunderstand me, I'm all for having a consistent color every time I play. Sometimes in my 30 or so games, I forget who I am until I start my move !!

by **Piestar** on Tue Oct 16, 2007 11:53 pm

Okay, I'll give you the motif point, however the fill doesn't always have to be flat white, it simply has to be something the colors show up clearly on.

Obviously white would be easiest (Navajo White of course. Sorry, painters joke.) but an artist who cared could create other looks.

As to the difficulty of task, all circles on a map are the same size, cut and paste, and you could do fifty territories in under 10 minutes.

Heck, I'll pitch in, given some training.

My suggestion is not 'close the place down till it's done' of course.

I am simply suggesting (1) make it defacto for new maps. (Perhaps even maps that haven't even made it into the forge yet.)
and (2) old maps are gradually updated, even one at a time, starting with the most popular maps first.

I wouldn't even care, if I wasn't missing nations with 8 armies every once in awhile, and, as stressed previously, it's just a suggestion. Not a demand, not even a complaint, just a suggestion.

by **BaldAdonis** on Wed Oct 17, 2007 1:20 pm

Suppose the game only changed your colour to, lets say, black. Any game where you are green changes all the green troops to black. Everyone else sees your troops as green, and their own as black. Outside observers see no black troops. Game chat proceeds as usual, because everyone still sees their opponents in original colours. The only thing you have to be wary of is when they start plotting to attack green, and you don't see any green troops.

My Conquer Club Scripts · by **Aerial Attack** on Wed Oct 17, 2007 1:26 pm

BaldAdonis wrote:Suppose the game only changed your colour to, lets say, black. Any game where you are green changes all the green troops to black. Everyone else sees your troops as green, and their own as black. Outside observers see no black troops. Game chat proceeds as usual, because everyone still sees their opponents in original colours. The only thing you have to be wary of is when they start plotting to attack green, and you don't see any green troops.

Yeah, that's a good idea Bald.

I especially like the ending - I'll steal from a gambling motif. "If you don't see the sucker in your game ... you're the sucker."

by **Piestar** on Wed Oct 17, 2007 4:07 pm

Bald has a nice idea. It would certainly be easier to program. Still, I like being Green, and everyone has a favorite Monolopy piece. Maybe Bald's idea soon, and the more complex idea in the wish list, for some-day-down-the-road.

I still like the white circles though...

by **Coleman** on Wed Oct 17, 2007 4:46 pm

I'd like it if in My Settings you had something like this:

by **Optimus Prime** on Wed Oct 17, 2007 5:11 pm

Coleman wrote:I'd like it if in My Settings you had something like this:

That would work really nicely if you ask me.

My Conquer Club Scripts · by **Aerial Attack** on Wed Oct 17, 2007 5:52 pm

Coleman wrote:I'd like it if in My Settings you had something like this:

That looks sweet, stays within the same basic guidelines. Not only that, it encourages people (who don't want to be red) to start games.

by **Coleman** on Mon Oct 22, 2007 2:37 pm

*coughs* Oh, excuse me. :oops:

by **Anarkistsdream** on Mon Oct 22, 2007 2:39 pm

misterman10 wrote:This would be really hard in game chats. I know that I refer to other people as colors. For example, I might say, "Guys, green is getting way too strong". However, with your idea, green may be viewed as a different player by the other players. This wouldn't work that well IMO

Agreed.

by **Piestar** on Mon Oct 22, 2007 3:26 pm

It's just not that hard to learn to plot gang attacks by the name of the victim.

If you read the later suggestions however, you could try and get the color you want, AND everyone would see the same thing.

I don't think that's AS good as always being the same color, but it is certainly a livable compromise, and I suspect easier to program.

by **Coleman** on Mon Oct 22, 2007 5:58 pm

Piestar wrote:I don't think that's AS good as always being the same color, but it is certainly a livable compromise, and I suspect easier to program.

That's what I was thinking. I'd like to see some forward progress. It isn't that inconceivable that you could eventually add more colors on the interface I suggested.

The only big problem is that many maps are designed to only handle these 6 colors and neutral. It may be possible to get a good army circle revamp on all the maps to deal with new colors should the need arise though, and I hope it eventually does.