Suggestion for gangs/gang tags.

DarkIceX · #1 05-09-2009, 06:01 PM

Yeah, so we're at our base defending, go into the elevator and there's guys from BB in there lined along the sides and however many we had - not sure of the numbers. I take out 1 but then die - during the period between where I died and where I took out the first guy I'm not even sure I hit anyone.. Why?

BECAUSE: If there's 5 from one gang and 5 from another in one small elevator and all their names are there, that's a lot of names and long ones. Consider the normal length for names when you're in a gang - take mine for example which is relatively short: "Bush Ninja, Relic of (Los Carteles)". If all the names are like that or longer, that's a lot of disorienting letters blocking your view and throwing you off.

I could limit the length of nicknames so I can just go by the colors of names - but that's annoying and then if I'm not sure who somebody is I have to right click to figure it out.

I could make it so you only see names on mouse over, but then I'm wasting precious second in a offense/defense situation figuring out who's on what side by mousing over each person that I don't recognize.

To the point:
My suggestion is to implement some sort of system that would allow players to recognize a gang member when they're on tag, without involving their nicknames in it at all. I've come up with a few ways to do this:

Symbols: A symbol is displayed over the gang member's head when they are on tag. This could be anything ranging from 1 symbol per gang, to a symbol modified a little like color or such based on the member's rank or simply the gang's "initials" such as "BB" or "LC". Cons are that if somebody is trying to hide, it makes it a little obvious where they are when you see a big "LC LOLOLOL IM RITE HERE" over their head.

Symbols for your gang: Similar to the idea listed above, but the symbols are displayed ONLY for your gang when both you and they are on tag. This would solve the problem of somebody's symbol giving them away - but would bring back the whole problem of having to identify people you don't recognize, assuming you aren't just planning to PK everything that moves.

Outlines: Some sort of outline which would be displayed around the player, or their gun or some part of them with a pattern or color for their specific gang. Cons are that it would probably look ugly with bad color choices - or many even in general because of the colors some players choose with their outfits.

Crests: Some sort of crest that is easy to see, displayed somewhere on the member. Cons are that I'm not so sure it would even be POSSIBLE to make a crest like that that is easy to see.

As you can see, these choices all help to solve the problem but all have some sort of con/s to go with them. Anyone who has anymore or ideas - or any feedback based on what I am suggesting feel free to comment. I'm not entirely sure anyone else has had a problem with this or what anyone else's solutions are - but I just thought I'd mention it.

Thank you.

TLDR: Names are getting in my way - find a way to identify other gangs without them.

BlueMelon · #2 05-09-2009, 06:32 PM

kay? :S

salesman · #3 05-09-2009, 06:39 PM

Why don't you just enable the "limit the length of nicknames to: __" option? You should still be able to differentiate between gang members because of their nickname color.

EDIT: Oh nevermind I missed the part where you covered that. It would solve your problem though, and your only reason for not doing it is laziness. My suggestions: Make your font smaller or limit nicknames.

DarkIceX · #4 05-09-2009, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by salesman

Why don't you just enable the "limit the length of nicknames to: __" option? You should still be able to differentiate between gang members because of their nickname color.

EDIT: Oh nevermind I missed the part where you covered that. It would solve your problem though, and your only reason for not doing it is laziness. My suggestions: Make your font smaller or limit nicknames.

Reducing font size could work, however that's still a lot of names - in response to laziness, do you really think I want to be right clicking people figuring out who they are so if they're a buddy that happens to have the same color nick as a gang member during a raid so I don't shoot them?

That's what raids boil down to in a lot of cases - precious seconds where you have to do what you can and get cover/get control of an area - not precious seconds where you right click everyone in the room to figure out who's in BB and who's your 3 friends that have black nicknames.

That's why I'm suggesting this - I can live with limiting length of nicknames, but if someone can do something to make this more convenient - then I'm going to suggest it and I'm going to push for it to be made more convenient.

Edit: and It's not like its hard to do - the symbol one is just a few lines in a script placing an image above a player's head and taking it away when they put on or take off their gang tag.

Frankie9011 · #5 05-27-2009, 11:12 AM

I don't think nicknames are a problem at all while fighting.
The only color nickname that "blocks" bullets for me is a shade of white.

Vman13x · #6 05-27-2009, 04:52 PM

Its true in an elevator is is hard to tell whose who and by then your probably dead because youve been shooting your own members and not knowing it.

Thanatoses · #7 05-29-2009, 11:53 PM

Limit length of nicknames to 5-7, short enough to see, long enough to recognize the name or atleast the rank to have an idea who it is.

An icon overhead is a good idea, more of a "plus", than a necessity. Nicknames aren't that major a problem. Icons would just look cool, people hardly "hide" on tag because there's really no way or where to. So that is not a significant con. Hiding on tag, your nickname still gives you away.