|
SMGS -> RE: Displaying More in the Faction Window (4/29/2014 19:18:35)
|
I don't necessarily think that updating the Faction window is the sweet spot to update to revitalize factions to what they once were.
I do think that your suggestion to bring back win counts would be helpful. In terms of design, I think that the main irk I have with it is this HUGE wasted space to the right of the influence count. Giving a bit more space between the columns would give it a better look overall. Here's a random faction for reference on what I'm talking about: http://prntscr.com/3ep36r
Also, I understand that the space is there to allow room for the buttons to the right when you're in the faction, but there's still a good amount of space to be cut. And everything just become a huge wall of text when people's titles become so, so long. A stronger limit to this might help. Reference for what I'm talking about: http://prntscr.com/3ep53i
All that said, I think that the wasted space (and for some, the lack of information about wins) are the main problems with the current faction window. An overhaul, as you suggested, sounds like a great idea. I can't think of a design they'll come up with myself, if ever it happens. I'd say making use of popups would help with the space problems though. (ie. Hover over a person's name to see the amount of PvP wins won that day)
In terms of what I said in the first line of this post though, I don't necessarily think fixing the faction window is going to do anything about drawing people back to using the faction feature to it's full potential. The latest releases give me the impression that the direction the game is going is favouring Alignment vs Alignment over Faction vs Faction. Evidence being wars popping up more commonly (war just ended, next is just around the corner) compared to Delta where only 2 wars actually occurred, Fryste and Infernal. (EbilCorp doesn't count here since it wasn't a Legion vs Exile War)
I don't want to stray too far from your suggestion, but what I will say that alignment conflicts appearing more sporadically (2-3 months, maybe?) would allow for bigger gaps wherein factions should be able to become more relevant, rather than alignments. This should be a period wherein factions are able to do something TOGETHER, while wars should be the period where the whole alignment bands together. The goals of factions to achieve are limited in off-war periods (1v1, 2v2, 2v1 Dailies), with one added during war periods (WD) - all of which are arguably achieved easily for any faction committed to doing so. This leaves factions irrelevant quickly for an extremely active faction (unless are aiming high - ie. 100 1v1 Dailies, etc.) and even more so for casual factions. I was in a faction for a VERY long time, we were quite casual with a few dedicated members, but we kept a flag for months and months. I think that's the charm missing in factions today.
|
|
|
|
