How about a zoom?

[Dr Zaius]

I wonder if Jim has considered including a zoom function into DA. I just finished with a huge project which completely re-worked all the map symbols plus added elevation relief for Point of Attack 2. That was a big project, but it seems to me that adding a zoom for DA would be a snap.

DA already scales the terrain "grid" according to the size of the map being used. Why not include a second zoom level which is exactly half the current level? Icons could remain the way they are as they are already fairly small. Each "map" would include two files: the regular size map (let's call it zoom 1) and a half-size map (zoom 2). All Jim would have to do is include a "+" and "-" button on the DA interface and that would be it.

This could really come in handy at times. In larger, low density battles which may have the action spread out over several locations on the map, a feature that allowed the player to "zoom out" would be a welcome way to get a bird's eye view. The alternative is to shrink the maps down to the point where almost the entire map fits on the screen at the same time (where's the fun in that...). :devious:

I'm working on several maps right now and a few of them are significantly larger than the ones that shipped on the CD. Could I simply resize them and make the whole map a lot smaller? Sure, but that tends to shrink the unit footprints down to almost the same size as the icons due to the scale. The original SWA1 and SWA2 scenarios have this same issue. It would be a lot more useful if DA had two zoom modes. It really seems like this would be a piece of cake for Jim to incorporate into the system.

[Deltapooh]

Yes, a zoom feature would be nice.

[switch_back]

Zoom..... now that would be great!!!

The amount of times ive not been able to just click on the unit icon I want, because its been stuck under a SEAD marker or a TAI, or even under the footprint of another unit. I do realise that clicking on the units several times does bring the lower ones up, but sometimes this is in-effective, and those units have to wait till the next turn.

It would also be useful for studying the terrain a bit better, when units are close together. Not that it is wise to have units close together, but sometimes I find it a tactical necessity.

Oh and one final point, it might make placing bridges a bit easier.

[CPangracs]

Zoom..... now that would be great!!!

The amount of times ive not been able to just click on the unit icon I want, because its been stuck under a SEAD marker or a TAI, or even under the footprint of another unit. I do realise that clicking on the units several times does bring the lower ones up, but sometimes this is in-effective, and those units have to wait till the next turn.

It would also be useful for studying the terrain a bit better, when units are close together. Not that it is wise to have units close together, but sometimes I find it a tactical necessity.

Oh and one final point, it might make placing bridges a bit easier.
You can also use the "+" and "-" feature and scroll through the units until you get to the one you want, or you can open-up the USR for the unit you already have highlighted, then type the first letter or number in the unit name box.

Also, I have logged probably 200-300 hours working with DA, and have yet been unable to get a unit under another unit to come to the top of the "stack".

[switch_back]

Also, I have logged probably 200-300 hours working with DA, and have yet been unable to get a unit under another unit to come to the top of the "stack".

Well I'm not going to argue with that ;)

Thanks for the tip, "+" and "-" is a bit laborious but the USR way sounds a bit more sensible, I havent found all these quirks yet, ive only had DA 2 months, despite having played wargames for ages I still miss small details like that early on! :nuts:

Thanks CPangracs

[cbelva]

Well I'm not going to argue with that ;)

Thanks for the tip, "+" and "-" is a bit laborious but the USR way sounds a bit more sensible, I havent found all these quirks yet, ive only had DA 2 months, despite having played wargames for ages I still miss small details like that early on! :nuts:

Thanks CPangracs
I don't have 200-300 hours on DA, but I have played quite a bit over the last year or so. I have never used "+" and "-" to pull up another unit, I have always used the mouse. Some units are harder than others to pull up, but with a little practice, you should be able to.

Regarding a "zoom" feature. This is not the first time it has been discussed. It was discussed when DA was firsted released. Yes, it would be nice, but for some reason, Col Lunsford never put one in.

[Dr Zaius]

My motivation for wanting the zoom feature isn't really related to the subject of selecting specific icons as discussed above. I want it because it's hard to work with larger maps as it is.Can the whole map be re-sized in a graphics program so that it all fits on the DA screen at once? Sure, but depending on the size of the scenario this leads to a situation where the map has been shrunk to a point that units no longer have a visible footprint at all. Take a look at the original SWA scenarios. With the exception of the symbol, you can hardly tell a brigade from a battalion as both have a footprint roughly the size of the icon itself. This scenario would be better served by have two zoom levels IMHO. One could be at the current zoom and the other would make the map somewhat larger.

Granted, it's hard to compare DA to other wargames because it is very different, however, I can't think of another wargame that doesn't have at least one additional zoom level. I'm not sure why it wouldn't be in there.

[cbelva]

My motivation for wanting the zoom feature isn't really related to the subject of selecting specific icons as discussed above. I want it because it's hard to work with larger maps as it is.Can the whole map be re-sized in a graphics program so that it all fits on the DA screen at once? Sure, but depending on the size of the scenario this leads to a situation where the map has been shrunk to a point that units no longer have a visible footprint at all. Take a look at the original SWA scenarios. With the exception of the symbol, you can hardly tell a brigade from a battalion as both have a footprint roughly the size of the icon itself. This scenario would be better served by have two zoom levels IMHO. One could be at the current zoom and the other would make the map somewhat larger.

Granted, it's hard to compare DA to other wargames because it is very different, however, I can't think of another wargame that doesn't have at least one additional zoom level. I'm not sure why it wouldn't be in there.You won't get any argument from me on this. I would like a zoom for the same reason and it would made reading some maps easier.