PROLOGUE

I’ve only been playing TFW for about 10 days, but I’ve played a lot in that short period of time. I’ve been playing online TCG’s for over 10 years, so even though I’ve new to TFW, I’m no stranger to TCG’s. IMHO, this game is much better than any other MMOTCG out there, including MTG. Not many TCG’s have implemented a world map, which adds a lot more depth and strategy to the game.

I’ve played a lot of MMOTCG’s, and the one glaring thing that sticks out with this game is that there is a huge learning curve for noobs. Since the biggest issue right now (and only major one that I see) is a small player base. I know this isn’t news to anyone, but I really think you’re probably losing some potential players due to this.

Anyway, I just wanted to give a fresh perspective from a relative noob (relative in the sense that I’m new to FTW, but not online TCG’s). I realize some of these observations and suggestions have been made in the past, but I haven’t seen a lot of them brought up recently, so here goes.

GAME WINDOW UI

The current UI has a lot of wasted blank space, yet the panels that are fixed often overlap the map unless you make small. As a new player, it was a turnoff to have to play with a small map in order to see the entire board. I prefer to run the Large or Dynamic Interfaces. On my computer, there isn’t a difference between the two. The following solutions are referring to the Larger Interfaces.

Two Possible Solutions:

1) Rearrange Game UI
Move the card icon in the lower right to the blank space in the upper left. Move the chat to the left side just below the card icon. This would be ideal for the square shaped maps that we commonly play on, but would be less desirable for the wide maps (ie - 7x15) that people sometimes make for their campaigns which fit the current interface nicely. Although my guess is that people are making 7x15 maps to fit the current UI configuration. Since the most common map size is 13x12, then this is what the interface should default to.

I’ve actually taken screenshots of the current UI and in order to run a 13x12 game with minimal overlapping, the actual map is roughly 680x490 when running at 1440x900 resolution. The map only makes up 25% of the screen. When I moved everything around as I mentioned above, the map was roughly 950x685, which is twice as big with absolutely no overlapping.

Here’s the image I’m referring to…



2) Make Another Configuration
Keep the current configurations (Small, Large, Dynamic) and add another one that I just described. This is probably the route to go. Make the 13x12 interface the default as well.

Why don't you like the Small UI configuration?

I can make the map much bigger or the Small UI configuration, but it just seems like graphically everything else takes a hit. The Larger and Dynamic layouts just look a lot nicer with the exception of the blank areas (wasted space).

Maybe it's just something that I need to get used to.

I made the .jpg image just to show how the Larger/Dynamic window could be rearranged. The image I made is a single PrintScreen with each of the components moved around but not resized. I just thought it gave a much cleaner layout while still retaining the graphics of the other components. And it adds a separate chat panel which doesn't overlap the map.

I've been giving the Smaller Interface another chance, but it just seems to make everything else more difficult and too small to read. There's still a lot of unused space in the Smaller Interface when you enlarge the map the the max size that fits the area.

For example, you can see a lot of the unused space on the sides when you center the map.



Here's how much extra space there is if you move the map to the side.



I'm not sure if my screen resolution has anything to do with how everything fits on my screen or not. I'm running at 1440x900. There is definitely plenty of extra room on the sides to enlarge the right panel that has the card display and the chat/information scroll panel.

I'm not complaining about the UI... just making a suggestion on how to improve it.

Screen resolution must have something to do with it. I run the Small Interface for the reasons you mention, there is less unused space and the playing field is takes up more of the screen.
My resolution is 1280X1024 and I do not have the unused space you show on either side of the playing field.

Psyclone: yeah you have some wide screen resolution I think. The problem is we have to support a wide range of different resolutions. It is actually pretty annoying to get it to use the space effectively for everyone. I'll work on it more after this tutorial/scripting stuff is done.

OK, I was just wondering. I know how it is because I've been building a TCG using Java for the past few months and found working with Layouts to be a pain in the arse for the same reasons.