Sorcerer GUI
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I'm a little concerned about the sorcerer's GUI, mostly because of a lack of the pause function. Sorcerers know fewer spells, but they can cast more per day, can use higher level slots to cast lower level spells, and the metamagic feats really compound the problem. With the radial menu, how convoluted is it going to be for a 12th level sorcerer to use a fifth level spell slot to cast a maximized magic missile (a first level spell)? If it takes three rounds to get to where you need to be to cast it, it's not worth the trouble. Sorcerers will be missing out on attack and casting opportunities that their PnP counterparts can do with ease. And, what if that sorcerer is dual class? Imagine (and I know you have) a sorcerer/rogue and the interface for that...so many abilities to dig through to get to the right one in combat, with no pause function. It's not that I want a multiplayer pause function, just that sorcerers be efficient. How is that GUI coming along?
- ...Actions like spell casting are set up one round (ie. you twiddle the menus or press a hot key) and then executed the next. This will give you 6 seconds to pick the spell. Sounds like plenty of time to me....
Particularly when you remember that the radial menu will also be accessible by the keypad numbers - so if you use it often, you will likely learn that keypad pattern 3-1-6-6 is your maximized magic missile. And I don't think it will take the whole 6 seconds to type those numbers...
- There are some good answers posted here, folks. I'll add a few small details that most of you are likely already aware of...
So you know, we are concerned that the GUI is not only extremely intuitive to use, but also that it is both clean and efficient. We've gone to great lengths to ensure this, and you'll be able to pick up on that when you get to see the E3 demo :)
So what is there to choose from? Aside from keypad entry and the radials, don't forget about the quick bar - probably the greatest tool of simplicity in this game. While hitting "3-9-7-8" for magic missile is pretty easy, typing "F2" is even easier.
And... to be honest, scrolling through the radials can be a little slow at first, when you're not aware of how the menus are set up. But this isn't much different from most games. Once you have a moment to figure out the organizational methods we use (I won't even go into how many days were spent working out the structure to make sure you guys'd have an easy time of it :), navigating the radial becomes pretty quick.
It takes about 2 or 3 seconds to cast a spell like magic missile, whether it's metamagic'd or not, with the radial. Plenty of time within a 6-second combat round :) In fact, all commands can be issued through the radial in about this amount of time (or less), even if you aren't aware of the exact locations of the commands (i.e. you want to cast fireball, you know it's a third level sorcerer spell - how long will it take to get there? about 2 or 3 seconds - plenty of time to relax, and watch a good battle unfold without worrying about issuing a hundred commands in 20 seconds or less).
One final note, we already have our own preferences here. Some of us die by the radial, some of us use the numeric key pad, and some of us stick to the quick bar. We're fanatics about control - personally, I won't play a game if the interface makes the experience too frustrating.
So rest assured that "even sorcerers" will have easy access to all their most rare and unique abilities :)
Bob McCabe
Writing & Design
