feature idea: observer can choose a team

[Duffchong]

Currently, an observer automatically sees the point of view of every player. During player 1's turn, the oberver sees everything that player 1 can see, during player 2's turn the observer sees everything that player 2 can see, and so forth.

The proposed idea would give the observer the option of only seeing the point of view of a certain player (and naturally of a certain team).

The reasons I like this idea

• 1. As it is now, if the game has progressed past the first turn, the observer has already seen all of the players' units. The observer gains an unfair advantage if he takes over for another player.
  This feature would allow observers to take over for a player who leaves. If an observer chooses to only see a certain player's point of view, that observer could fairly replace any player on that team
  2.As it is now if an observer wants to offer advice to one player without others being able to see it, he must used the whisper command. The whisper command is not practical for a dynamic 'back and forth' exchange. Also, the whisper command limits you to communication with a single player, while it is usually more useful to communicate with all players on the team.
  This feature would be a great way for seasoned veterans to administer advice to less skilled players. An example of how this could be implemented: The advanced players could hold workshops, where a good player could sit as an observer and adviser for each team.

Some ideas for how it could look
A.

• When the game begins, the observer is given a dialog box with 3 options, similar to this:
  1. I would like to observe North-East only
  2. I would like to observe South-West only
  3. I would like to observe all teams

B.

• When the game begins, the observer is given dialog box with a list of the teams. Each team has a check box next to it. Similar to this:
  Check the teams that you would like to observe.
  0 North-East
  0 North-West
  0 South-East
  0 South-West

[Raemon]

I like it. I'm a little newbie with minimal influence, of course, but I like it.

After all, anything that helps someone else help me (fairly) . . .

[irrevenant]

I like it. I'm a little newbie with minimal influence, of course, but I like it.

I'm a quasi-veteran with minimal influence and I like it too.

[Velensk]

As yet another person with no influence, I say the idea has merit.

[commanderkeen]

As another non-influential person, I say, by all means!

Now all we need is someone influential to agree, or for 100's of users to agree, or someone who knows enough WML to implement it to agree

[Sangel]

As another non-influential person, I say, by all means!

Now all we need is someone influential to agree, or for 100's of users to agree, or someone who knows enough WML to implement it to agree

Unfortunately, this would be a coding change, not a WML change. It's still quite a good idea.

[turin]

Makes sense, though I don't use MP enough to know if it would actually be useful or not. It has always been a minor irritant to me that observers can see all sides.

[EOE]

Could it be that observers could only speak with other observes?

[Duffchong]

Could it be that observers could only speak with other observes?

This feature doesn't exist yet, so 'obs-to-obs' chat could be built into this idea. Actually, in another active thread (http://www.wesnoth.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15163) obs-to-obs chat is being disscussed. Darth Fool offered an idea, which as far as i can tell, would work.

It seems to me that this does not need to conflict, but rather complements, the other idea. An observer coming in would choose which team to view things from, including an 'obeserve all' team. People in the observe all team could chat with other observe all team members without ruining the game for the players, and observers that are part of that team would see exactly what the players see. But, I am not an MP player, so take that with a grain of salt.

Note: 'the other idea' that Darth Fool mentions is the idea that is being discussed in this thread here.

So yeah, in summary, if a player choose to observe all teams he could talk only to other observers. But, I it would be best for the observer who chooses to observe all teams, to only be able to talk to other observers who have chosen to observe all teams. Otherwise observers of different teams could see chat from 'omniscient players'.

Cheers, Duffchong

[Rhuvaen]

As it is now if an observer wants to offer advice to one player without others being able to see it, he must used the whisper command.

AFAIK, it isn't possible to whisper to players in games - because then observers could secretly pass on their omniscient knowledge to players (I haven't tested it though, so don't hold me responsible if it turns out this works after all... ).

I sort of like the idea, but there's two issues in real MP:

1 - often, by the time one player leaves and needs to be replaced the game has progressed to a point where it doesn't matter very much which half of the map you've been seeing at the start. It would be annoying to be unable to replace someone simply because you've "picked the wrong team" in the beginning. From the perspective of the host, the choice of which observer gets to replace is also an important one - people prefer others of similar skill or friends to an anonymous observer. So you wouldn't want to restrict yourself artificially in this regard.

2 - for observers to join in some sort of teamchat could be problematic because the host has the power to kick or ban observers who behave intolerably. If the host can't see the chat, he can't be the judge in this situation.