Just for public information, this mod still works on v1.1.338 of the game. I'm using it now and no Fatal Error, Low level Fatal Error of any kind have been encountered.
Please give update for DLC3 please. I use this religiously, it's super informative and 10x better than PGI's system. Not a YAML user either, so a must have for someone using Vanilla Mechlab interface.
Depending on load order, I either get incorrect mech tonnage in the mechlab, or the names/star icons are misaligned on the mech when installed. YAML is the future (it's made of chrome), and it would be really nice to have your excellent mod working properly with it.
Just having a version like 1.10 again, without the extra icons, would likely work just fine. Everything else about your mod works with YAML if it's lower down in the load order, except that the star icons misalign the text.
there is a slight weird conflict with the expanded hardpoints mod, the conflict makes sense tho and its fine just letting you know, aka what happens is it shows every weapon as the biggest size it can fit it, so with that mod all mediums show as large and all small as medium.
its not actually listed as a conflict or a overide because well it isnt, its just the hud mod is reading (correctly) what size the item fits in.. just its been changed with the expanded hardpoint mod lol, all good tho if you hover over it says the right size.
i will try screwing around with the load order to see if it changes it but doubt it, anyway all good loving the ui :D
Overall, this is a great idea and I like the look. Definitely want colored / different tier icons, because, easy.
Does this show spread on ballistic weapons with spread? Does it show Heat damage on weapons that do that? And (this is probably getting into Hard, but) could it get the AOE size / damage, for things that have AOE via their Explosion? That would be cool data to show people, in mods that mess with that.
Thanks! There are some optional files for coloured icons, try and see if one of them fits for you. Added screenshots too. It does show spread on ballistic weapons and heat damage on the flamers, doesn't vanilla do that already?
Didn't consider AoE so far, will have a look next time.
Thanks for the additional icon color scheme options! I tried them all and was tempted to almost go with one ("T5 only")... but ultimately it was hard to get away from the uniform perfection of the one color, distinguished purely by iconographic representation. Still, great to have those options.
Can You make 5 tier star more special? May be full yellow color. Imho, right now it to similar to 4 tier star. Maybe my eyes not so sharp after all (((
Or may be you can make alternative version with old tier icons?
What if you made one that goes Grey > Green > Blue > Purple > Yellow > Orange? All bright and gaudy!
I appreciate the color override too (and use it) but I agree that they could stand to be even more distinct for those of us who just want to blitz through the list in one second and see instantly if there's anything there we want.
Edit : I was wrong about this part, sorry for the confusion. I will definitely use the mod. I could get used to the new tier icons but the mod also seems to change the number of critical slots taken by double heat sinks (and maybe other equipment as well ?) So that's definitely a no go for me because this greatly change the balancing of the game and I did not find this change listed in the description. This is a pity because otherwise I'll use the mod.
Please consider correcting this if this was not intended or please provide an alternative version without modifying critical slots used per equipment.
I think we may be wrong about this. I think the mod is just making the dhs appear smaller, but that it actually IS taking up 3 critical slots. Confirm plz
DHS should always take 3 slots, unless you are putting them in a dedicated engine heatsink slot. It now appears that they only take 2 slots, which is Clanner technology.
I think I actually made a wrong assumption based on the way the mod dynamically change the size of the used slots when you add equipment.
Just to confirm the change introduced by the mod, I've taken the Archer ARC-AGC in instant action and career mod as an example. It has two critical slots free in each arm as well as two critical slots free in the left torso. With the mod active you cannot add a double heat sink in those free slots in the arms or left torso. The double heat sink is properly displayed as taking 3 slots in the equipment list and it is actually using the 3 slots when equipped. But the mod shrinks the equipment as if using two slots only. This confused me lot at first.
Thank you all! The mod doesn't change any item data, DHS still use 3 slots. DHS are special, since they are the only item that does not adjust to the slot size displayed on the mech. I couldn't fix that so far, but will add a note in the description.
I can try to explain by my experience. In middle-late game, you came to weapon shop to quickly scroll down entire list and looking only for tier 5 (maybe some tier 4) weapons. Big yellow line was easily catch the eye and you stop scrolling exactly on necessary high-quality weapon.
With new icons I have to scroll much slower, almost peering every item. And it is really annoying. In my opinion you must detect high-quality weapons with first quick look, but much smaller icons making it much harder. In my opinion, weapon tier is one of the most important parameter which you always take into account, and small and similar icons was not the best choice for GUI, cause it makes it harder to notice. For example, I think developers made this icons so big and tier 5 icon the most noticeable not by accident ;)
Everything is my imho, and sorry for my poor english.
I installed fully intending to come and tell this guy he needs glasses based on the screens but i actually agree with him after trying it out. The old boxes are much easier to discern quickly. I prefer them.
Well, my answer would be three-fold. To kick things off, it is of course a thing of habit and one's "mental inertia" as I like to call it. You probably noticed that people often tend to be more biased to thigs they are accustomed to and take any new ideas very reluctantly.
Second thing is the shape of new icons. The vanilla ones were simple ones - just little rectangles and by looking at them my brain did not have to process their shape, all it needed to do was to simply count them to 4 (5, but the fifth tier is just a big yellowish bar, duh). With the new icons shaped like a star my brain firstly needs to "process" its shape, because it is more complex by its nature (look at the color, count the pointy things etc.). It is not done on purpose, rather on the verge of subconscious, but it really takes it's toll when you are looking at the huge list of things in the market. Which leads to my third point already explained by jadecat and jadel.
New icons are much harder discernable just by browsing big lists of stuff. You have to look at the icons almost item by item rather than being able to get the things you want at a glance from the list of 50 items, so it takes a lot of time, and as you have to scroll through item lists A LOT in this game, it quickly becomes a chore and strain for the eyes.
But all in all I like your mod very much as those extra stats are very helpful and anyhow thank you very much for spending your time doing this.
I think, I found a solution how to restore default icons in this mod. Just not activate the second part of this mod - and you will have detailed weapon info with old icons. Just perfect combination for me.
Great feedback @everyone, really appreciate it. Maybe I should spend more time in the game instead of the editor :D
As I understand it, the underlying problem are not the icons but the missing filtering/sorting in the lists. The orange bar from hell just helps you to do it manually.
I really don't wanna go back an adjust it to fit the old boxes back in. How about an optional file with just tier 5 as a golden star, rest stays white/grey? Would that help you? ...Anyway I create one, try it and let me know.
On the long term, I should try to implement some tier sorting/filter.
Trying your RPG color scheme for icons now. It is A LOT better than the original new icons, thanks. Greatly appreciate your work and willingness to listen to feedback, kudos to you for that.
There was update yesterday on Epic Game Store that fix this issue. Don't know about Steam Also there is a mod on Nexus that fix that issue. https://www.nexusmods.com/mechwarrior5mercenaries/mods/448
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His other two mods: Prime8's Distinct WeaponFX and Prime8's Botanic Splendor still works too.
Hope that helps.
Is there any chance you could look into compatibility with Yet Another Mech Lab? Yet Another Mechlab (beta) at MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries Nexus - Mods and community (nexusmods.com)
Depending on load order, I either get incorrect mech tonnage in the mechlab, or the names/star icons are misaligned on the mech when installed. YAML is the future (it's made of chrome), and it would be really nice to have your excellent mod working properly with it.
I doubt that both mods can be made 100% compatible, they just modify the same files and one or the other overrides the changes.
its not actually listed as a conflict or a overide because well it isnt, its just the hud mod is reading (correctly) what size the item fits in.. just its been changed with the expanded hardpoint mod lol, all good tho if you hover over it says the right size.
i will try screwing around with the load order to see if it changes it but doubt it, anyway all good loving the ui :D
Does this show spread on ballistic weapons with spread? Does it show Heat damage on weapons that do that? And (this is probably getting into Hard, but) could it get the AOE size / damage, for things that have AOE via their Explosion? That would be cool data to show people, in mods that mess with that.
There are some optional files for coloured icons, try and see if one of them fits for you. Added screenshots too.
It does show spread on ballistic weapons and heat damage on the flamers, doesn't vanilla do that already?
Didn't consider AoE so far, will have a look next time.
Very interesting how extremely different people think on this topic. Makes it tough for devs to find the right choice.
Imho, right now it to similar to 4 tier star.
Maybe my eyes not so sharp after all (((
Or may be you can make alternative version with old tier icons?
Grey - bronze - silver - gold - silver - gold.
I could think of an optional override file.
You can hardly call the old boxes "icons", they shall never return :D
I would be very grateful for your additional work!
Can You consider to make optional mod without icons?
I appreciate the color override too (and use it) but I agree that they could stand to be even more distinct for those of us who just want to blitz through the list in one second and see instantly if there's anything there we want.
Thanks so much.
I personally don't like the RPG colour, but I'm happy, that in this case, it's easy to give a choice.
Edit : I was wrong about this part, sorry for the confusion. I will definitely use the mod.
I could get used to the new tier icons
but the mod also seems to change the number of critical slots taken by double heat sinks (and maybe other equipment as well ?)So that's definitely a no go for me because this greatly change the balancing of the game and I did not find this change listed in the description.
This is a pity because otherwise I'll use the mod.
Please consider correcting this if this was not intended or please provide an alternative version without modifying critical slots used per equipment.
Wow, it actually does seem to change the number of crit slots taken by double heat sinks from 3 to 2. That's a shame.
Second a cosmetic version which does not change the equipment rules.
How is that even a slight issue for you? If you dont want to put a DHS into a 2 slot position then dont put it there?
Perhaps im misunderstanding the issue, if so I apologise.
Just to confirm the change introduced by the mod, I've taken the Archer ARC-AGC in instant action and career mod as an example.
It has two critical slots free in each arm as well as two critical slots free in the left torso.
With the mod active you cannot add a double heat sink in those free slots in the arms or left torso.
The double heat sink is properly displayed as taking 3 slots in the equipment list and it is actually using the 3 slots when equipped.
But the mod shrinks the equipment as if using two slots only. This confused me lot at first.
Sorry for the confusion about this. My mistake.
The mod doesn't change any item data, DHS still use 3 slots.
DHS are special, since they are the only item that does not adjust to the slot size displayed on the mech.
I couldn't fix that so far, but will add a note in the description.
Maybe you could make new icons optional, please?
Like this mod overall.
In middle-late game, you came to weapon shop to quickly scroll down entire list and looking only for tier 5 (maybe some tier 4) weapons.
Big yellow line was easily catch the eye and you stop scrolling exactly on necessary high-quality weapon.
With new icons I have to scroll much slower, almost peering every item. And it is really annoying.
In my opinion you must detect high-quality weapons with first quick look, but much smaller icons making it much harder.
In my opinion, weapon tier is one of the most important parameter which you always take into account, and small and similar icons was not the best choice for GUI, cause it makes it harder to notice.
For example, I think developers made this icons so big and tier 5 icon the most noticeable not by accident ;)
Everything is my imho, and sorry for my poor english.
Well, my answer would be three-fold.
To kick things off, it is of course a thing of habit and one's "mental inertia" as I like to call it. You probably noticed that people often tend to be more biased to thigs they are accustomed to and take any new ideas very reluctantly.
Second thing is the shape of new icons. The vanilla ones were simple ones - just little rectangles and by looking at them my brain did not have to process their shape, all it needed to do was to simply count them to 4 (5, but the fifth tier is just a big yellowish bar, duh). With the new icons shaped like a star my brain firstly needs to "process" its shape, because it is more complex by its nature (look at the color, count the pointy things etc.). It is not done on purpose, rather on the verge of subconscious, but it really takes it's toll when you are looking at the huge list of things in the market. Which leads to my third point already explained by jadecat and jadel.
New icons are much harder discernable just by browsing big lists of stuff. You have to look at the icons almost item by item rather than being able to get the things you want at a glance from the list of 50 items, so it takes a lot of time, and as you have to scroll through item lists A LOT in this game, it quickly becomes a chore and strain for the eyes.
But all in all I like your mod very much as those extra stats are very helpful and anyhow thank you very much for spending your time doing this.
I think, I found a solution how to restore default icons in this mod.
Not working, sorry.Just not activate the second part of this mod - and you will have detailed weapon info with old icons. Just perfect combination for me.
Maybe I should spend more time in the game instead of the editor :D
As I understand it, the underlying problem are not the icons but the missing filtering/sorting in the lists.
The orange bar from hell just helps you to do it manually.
I really don't wanna go back an adjust it to fit the old boxes back in.
How about an optional file with just tier 5 as a golden star, rest stays white/grey?
Would that help you?
...Anyway I create one, try it and let me know.
On the long term, I should try to implement some tier sorting/filter.
It is A LOT better than the original new icons, thanks.
Greatly appreciate your work and willingness to listen to feedback, kudos to you for that.
Thanks so much!
Edit: Sorry for the double post, I got an error when I posted one of these, but I guess it went through anyway.
Don't know about Steam
Also there is a mod on Nexus that fix that issue.
https://www.nexusmods.com/mechwarrior5mercenaries/mods/448