Request: Allow configuration of icons.

[PatrickAWlson]

The request is as it says.  At 55 I need Icons, but I would dearly love to be able to modify them. 

 

Aircraft and ground targets, for instance, I want only the triangle with no additional information, and a smaller triangle at that.  

I would like to get rid of the HuD instrument panel but keep waypoint markers.

I would like to make WP markers much smaller.

Stuff like that. 

 

I am not looking for some sort of fancy programatic interface.  Just expose the display/do not display flags and some sizing data in a text config file.

 

[Murleen]

11 minutes ago, PatrickAWlson said:

The request is as it says.  At 55 I need Icons, but I would dearly love to be able to modify them. 

 

Aircraft and ground targets, for instance, I want only the triangle with no additional information, and a smaller triangle at that.  

I would like to get rid of the HuD instrument panel but keep waypoint markers.

I would like to make WP markers much smaller.

Stuff like that. 

 

I am not looking for some sort of fancy programatic interface.  Just expose the display/do not display flags and some sizing data in a text config file.

 

 

You can have no HUD but with waypoint markers, but I haven't found a way to start in this state - I have HUD turned off by default, so I need to press "I" to enable icons/markers without turning the HUD on.

[sevenless]

23 minutes ago, PatrickAWlson said:

The request is as it says.  At 55 I need Icons, but I would dearly love to be able to modify them. 

 

Aircraft and ground targets, for instance, I want only the triangle with no additional information, and a smaller triangle at that.  

I would like to get rid of the HuD instrument panel but keep waypoint markers.

I would like to make WP markers much smaller.

Stuff like that. 

 

I am not looking for some sort of fancy programatic interface.  Just expose the display/do not display flags and some sizing data in a text config file.

 

 

I am with you on this topic. Would be really nice to have that "officially" integrated in the game.

 

Until this is done, I found the Icon Mod by PtK quiet helpfull:

 

 

[Nibbio]

I join this request

[dburne]

Agree it would certainly be nice to have.

[PatrickAWlson]

@sevenless Appreciate the mod post.  That is a lot of what I want.  I'll give it a try ASAP

1 hour ago, Murleen said:

 

You can have no HUD but with waypoint markers, but I haven't found a way to start in this state - I have HUD turned off by default, so I need to press "I" to enable icons/markers without turning the HUD on.

 

So it is press H to turn off HUD and then press I to turn on icons?

[Murleen]

2 minutes ago, PatrickAWlson said:

@sevenless Appreciate the mod post.  That is a lot of what I want.  I'll give it a try ASAP

 

So it is press H to turn off HUD and then press I to turn on icons?

 

Yep, or set HUD off by default in the game settings, then press I at the start of each mission to turn on icons.

[-TBC-AeroAce]

3 hours ago, PatrickAWlson said:

The request is as it says.  At 55 I need Icons, but I would dearly love to be able to modify them. 

 

Aircraft and ground targets, for instance, I want only the triangle with no additional information, and a smaller triangle at that.  

I would like to get rid of the HuD instrument panel but keep waypoint markers.

I would like to make WP markers much smaller.

Stuff like that. 

 

I am not looking for some sort of fancy programatic interface.  Just expose the display/do not display flags and some sizing data in a text config file.

 

 

@PatrickAWlson I have been asking for this since day one as there is really nothing between normal and hardcore atm. I feel really strongly about this and feel it would open up a whole new dynamic to the game but I have not seen one Dev comments.

 

I would like to be able to change size, colour(so that friends and enemies are the same), range that they appear (make this smaller), no arrows, no text/player names/range, icon transparency and also have the icons blocked by the cockpit and disappear when you black out.

 

In MP some of these thing are actually game breakers in a way such as the seeing the icons when blacked out. Another problem is knowing the player's name as it makes one react differently ie you fight a player based on your experience of the player and don't treat them as equal risk.

 

I'm obviously not expecting everything that I put in the list but this really needs to tweaked imo to allow people that don't want to go pixel hunting in hardcore but want to have an as close to real experience without going blind straining your eyes. 

 

Like I said I have been asking for years Pat with not even a comment on this matter from the devs. Maybe you could use your respect and influence in this community to get the devs to have a look. Even a comment from them on this matter would be cool.

 

Peace out.

 

 

 

Edited October 11, 2018 by AeroAce

[Guest deleted@134347]

1 hour ago, AeroAce said:

@PatrickAWlson

Another problem is knowing the player's name as it makes one react differently ie you fight a player based on your experience of the player and don't treat them as equal risk. 

 

 

 

on that one server when I see a spit way up high there's a very high chance that it's AeroAce.. ?

 

Then the spit gets closer than 1km and the name pops up. Yup. AeroAce. ?  Evade evade evade dive dive dive.. ?

[JG4_Sputnik]

You can have Icons without HUD - best thing is you can map a button on your joystick for icons on/off. I do fly in VR an use it all the time, especially for ground targeds. Icons on for spotting them, and then when I know where they are icons off and engage. Works pretty well.

 

However I'd also like to see sustomizable icons. Color, shape, and information and range as well (say for instance no icons below range x). I also think it is no wizardry to do that, I hope they^ll find some time to do it eventually.

 

Cheers

[4driano]

I asked for something similar sometime ago.

It is something that would improve the gameplay a lot (specially in VR) and it doens't seem to be that hard to do.

I think the developers should do it. I don't like to use mods.

[Muddy]

This has been asked for for years, only to be brushed aside by the purists and ignored by the Devs.

I am using the mod and its great but only as i have to, i do not like the whole mod thing in general but sometimes you have to.

DCS has just implemented such icons and i understand there are very well accepted.

Hate to throw DCS out there but hey,,,

[Albino]

7 hours ago, sevenless said:

 

I am with you on this topic. Would be really nice to have that "officially" integrated in the game.

 

Until this is done, I found the Icon Mod by PtK quiet helpfull:

 

 

Thanks for that link sevenless. Wasn't aware of that mod!

 

Also with you Pat (but c'mon, 55 is the new 35  ).

 

Further icons feature requests:

- icons that are obscured by clouds and the players plane.

 

 

 

[[N.O.G.F]_Cathal_Brugha]

4 minutes ago, Albino said:

Further icons feature requests:

- icons that are obscured by clouds and the players plane.

That is how IL-2 1946 works. Icons are blocked by clouds, your own plane, the ground, ect. That way the icons only help in the spotting, and not creating some kind of omniscient radar mode.  Also none of the arrows around the edge of the screen which are somewhat annoying.

 

I will have to try that icon mod out.

[sniperton]

Yep, what we need is basically the functionality if good old Il-2 1946.

I too requested it a few times.

FYI it's certainly feasible, lefuneste's Migoto mod can mask out icons when the LOS is blocked, so it wouldn't be a big fuss to implement this feature.

 

[Herne]

On 10/11/2018 at 1:44 PM, PatrickAWlson said:

The request is as it says.  At 55 I need Icons, but I would dearly love to be able to modify them. 

 

Aircraft and ground targets, for instance, I want only the triangle with no additional information, and a smaller triangle at that.  

I would like to get rid of the HuD instrument panel but keep waypoint markers.

I would like to make WP markers much smaller.

Stuff like that. 

 

I am not looking for some sort of fancy programatic interface.  Just expose the display/do not display flags and some sizing data in a text config file.

 

 

I think you might be able to get close with the gui options ? 

 

I know you can turn tech chat, and hud instruments off. would a custom difficulty setting allow you to keep the waypoint and target markers ?

[KaC_Furias]

Hello

I would also like to see icons in the style of il2 46. Small, discreet and functional.

Maybe IFF was not needed by color (blue and red), just icons in a single color for everyone and the ID would be made by visual recognition like it is done in realistic mode.

My English is not good I hope it was clear enough.

 

Good flights !

[-TBC-AeroAce]

@Jason_Williams hello. Can you comment at all on this topic?

 

Thanks 

[[TWB]Sauerkraut-]

+1

[PatrickAWlson]

The icon mod works great.  Last thing: can I get the mini map without the rest of the HUD?

 

[dburne]

2 hours ago, PatrickAWlson said:

The icon mod works great.  Last thing: can I get the mini map without the rest of the HUD?

 

 

I think so Pat, try the I key.

[PatrickAWlson]

1 hour ago, dburne said:

 

I think so Pat, try the I key.

 

H turns off hud and icons.

I gives me icons back, but no map.  I think the map is considered to be part of the HUD.

 

The reason I want the map outside of the icons is that  after a combat, having blown through ammo and fuel, I really don't want to continue the patrol.  It's a relatively small thing.  I can just flip the hud back on and deal with it when I want the mini map.  I know that O produces the larger map and that combined with straight-level autopilot is another option.

[yeikov]

Pat, I think you just have to enable the "Instrument panel" in the difficulty options. That should allow you to display the different map modes with the "M" key. You can still choose to keep the rest of the instrument panel hidden in the interface options.

Edited October 17, 2018 by yeikov

[dburne]

1 hour ago, yeikov said:

Pat, I think you just have to enable the "Instrument panel" in the difficulty options. That should allow you to display the different map modes with the "M" key. You can still choose to keep the rest of the instrument panel hidden in the interface options.

 

Yeah I have those assigned to buttons on my HOTAS, can't remember which is which but I know I can get the mini map with no HUD showing.

[69th_Panp]

If it could be done in 1946 as in the rcu file 

example 

((@alias a alias
@a h history
@a s show
@a fr mp_dotrange FRIENDLY COLOR 0.01 DOT 14 RANGE 2.0 TYPE 0.01 ID 0.01 NAME 0.01
@a fo mp_dotrange FOE COLOR 0.01 DOT 14 RANGE 0.01 TYPE 0.01 ID 0.01 NAME 0.01
@a d mp_dotrange default
@a fs fps START SHOW
@a fss fps STOP HIDE
@a us user STAT
@a g f gearup.il2script
@a gg f geardown.il2script
@a ielong mp_dotrange FOE DOT 24 COLOR 2 TYPE 3 NAME .005 ID 4 RANGE .005
@a iflong mp_dotrange FRIENDLY DOT 24 COLOR 2 TYPE 3 NAME .005 ID 4 RANGE .005
@a st mp_dotrange DOT 24 ID 5 COLOR 2 NAME 0.05 TYPE 0.05 RANGE 0.05
@a c mp_dotrange 

 

1.0 would = 1 k

I wonder why this cant be made into a server setting or a setting that can be used in offline play.

 

the setting above were often used in the 1946 SOV server, it was a good mix between the hardcore and icon settings. this setting helped populate the server with both experienced and new players.

I liked the fact that I could fly wing on people and know who I was with.

[-TBC-AeroAce]

Well I'm glad there is mod for SP. I guess for MP we will have to wait another 3 years to not get a comment. 

[DD_Crash]

or use a mods allowed server

 

[sniperton]

15 hours ago, AeroAce said:

Well I'm glad there is mod for SP. I guess for MP we will have to wait another 3 years to not get a comment. 

FYI Lefuneste's "mod" doesn't count as a mod, you can use it on any server, no matter whether you have VR or a flat screen. Options that you can set either as default or changeable during play are

- icons are blocked by airframe / unblocked

- label text (plane type, distance) is shown / not shown

- icon triangle is blue or red  / grey for both sides

- waypoints are shown / not shown

I know it's just a workaround, but it works at the cost of a few FPS.

[ironk79]

it should be an default ingame option, no question. in VR i dont want to toggle between immersion breaking giant arcadish rectanles, and icons off, like i am doing at the moment. small dots is all we are asking for, just enough to identify the position in a dogfight, no need to know the resume of the enemy pilot and what he had for breakfast.

come on devs, how hard can it be?

[SharpeXB]

The only way for this option to be workable is as a mod and in single player. Which sounds like is already done. There aren’t enough players online to have separate servers with settings to everyone’s taste. So no need for this to be an in game setting. 

[sniperton]

6 hours ago, SharpeXB said:

So no need for this to be an in game setting. 

I respectfully disagree. Now you can only choose between two extremes, no labels and full labels (not masked by the airframe). No reason to reinvent the wheel here, just to implement a few options in-between (as we all know them from the former titles of the franchise).

 

[Remontti]

I hope we get more options at some point. I wonder if mp servers that have icons disabled would consider a option where you see friendly pilots name when range is less than 100 meters. It would be nice to see who is by your side when starting engines

[SharpeXB]

8 hours ago, sniperton said:

I respectfully disagree. Now you can only choose between two extremes, no labels and full labels (not masked by the airframe). No reason to reinvent the wheel here, just to implement a few options in-between (as we all know them from the former titles of the franchise).

 

Right. But this sounds like it’s already accomplished as a mod.  

7 hours ago, Remontti said:

I hope we get more options at some point. I wonder if mp servers that have icons disabled would consider a option where you see friendly pilots name when range is less than 100 meters. It would be nice to see who is by your side when starting engines

I have hardly ever seen a server in any flight sim that runs icons. 

The majority of players seem to prefer playing without a glowing “shoot me” icon over their plane. 

[Remontti]

4 minutes ago, SharpeXB said:

Right. But this sounds like it’s already accomplished as a mod.  

I have hardly ever seen a server in any flight sim that runs icons. 

The majority of players seem to prefer playing without a glowing “shoot me” icon over their plane. 

Yes. And that is why it would be nice to see just those on the same team and only when close. Maybe even realistic as you would know pilots of your base.

 

But there are so many opinions how icons should be so it easier to just turn them totally on/off for all. But one can still dream...

[dburne]

47 minutes ago, SharpeXB said:

Right. But this sounds like it’s already accomplished as a mod.  

I have hardly ever seen a server in any flight sim that runs icons. 

The majority of players seem to prefer playing without a glowing “shoot me” icon over their plane. 

 

There is more than just MP.

 

As a SP guy ( and pretty sure the OP is talking about SP as well ), I would love to see some more icon options.

Just some small icons with no target info I think would be nice.

As far as Mod, I prefer not to run any mods in my game install.

 

And if they did something like this, make it to where for MP it was a server side setting so everyone playing MP would be on the same page. So no issue. Most servers don't use them anyway right?

 

[SharpeXB]

1 hour ago, dburne said:

And if they did something like this, make it to where for MP it was a server side setting so everyone playing MP would be on the same page.

The thing is that nobody would be able to agree on how to set them so it wouldn’t get used. 

[sniperton]

1 hour ago, SharpeXB said:

The thing is that nobody would be able to agree on how to set them so it wouldn’t get used. 

Look, there are two independent statements here:

1. Nobody would be able to agree how to set them. True

2. People who need some visual aid would use them when provided and as they are provided. True

[SharpeXB]

Right now there are 78 people playing online without icons on two servers and 7 playing with them on one. So there’s no way to have enough servers to give players a choice of how to have the icons. On or Off is the only choice there can ever be online. Offline you could have mods or whatever, sure the game could have icon options, I’m sure it’s not a difficult thing to accomplish. But if you ever want to play online and not be forced to use different settings, then you’d have to stick with the default. 

icons just don’t seem to be used enough to justify work on them. 

Edited October 22, 2018 by SharpeXB

[stupor-mundi]

+1