what is the point of offsets...

from GalCiv3 Forums

Given that I can hold down control and position a part anywhere I like without reference to a hardpoint, what is the point of an offset. It's a great feature if you insist in only allowing placement of parts on hard points but want them to appear somewhere slightly different.

However given I've been told that holding down ctrl will let me place a part where I like to start with. Isn't it just a hardet two step way of doing that.

They have said also that hardpoints are there to make it easier to quickly build nice ships but does it do that? Is it easier to have to place a part at a hard point or just to drag it to whereever you want. Haven't had a chance to try placing parts freely with ctrl held down but would be interested in opinions from those who have tried box.

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Reply #1 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Hard points are more "casual". Slap some pieces together with little effort and presto. Or it will be once the hardpoints don't follow the current mess, which makes offset quite mandatory once you go beyond basic. Also, doesn't offset also allow to finetune the placement? I myself haven't tried that Ctrl thingy.

Reply #2 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

This is my theory.  There are those who paint in brushes and strokes.  There are those who paint pixel by pixel.  For the first set there is the control click mechanism.  For the second set there is the offset.   In my house, the offset has already set two OCD geeks in full geek ecstasy.  Seriously, there was actual moaning and "I liiiike that!!"  It was silly and great.  Same goes for being able to type in rotation speeds and other numbers in that interface.  Yes. Yes. Yes.

Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion
Reply #3 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Me likes the offsets,  can set my parts where I want them to be exactly :P

Reply #4 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

The problem I found with off-set was that dragging the bar moved it in too greater steps so I had to click on the numbers and keep reguessing offset numbers until I got it about where I wanted it. That wasn't easy or intuative though I know they are working on the UI.

My question here is that if holding ctrl enables you to drag a part to any position ignoring hard points which is what I was told but haven't yet tested, how can positioning a part on a hard point then offsetting it be easier? And if it's not why not drop offsets and just add a free move toggle button rather than makign people hold down ctrl?

Hopefully tomorrow I'll have another chance to play with the shipyard myself and see.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reply #5 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

To my experience, the ctrl click mechanism doesn't actually link you to a hard point, just a relative point in space.  It will look connected if it is adjacent, but it won't be.  It doesn't manufacture a new hard point for you.

Reply #6 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

First off, as said above, hardpoints are for quick ship building.

Offsets are for people who want to be precise in placement. Or want to move a part once it has been placed.

In addition placing a part holding control can be kind of tricky, because the nature of 3D, and they are placed on the 0 axis plain, so you cant easily drop a part on the top of a ship for example.  

Hope this helps.

Reply #7 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Ah I think I see what you mean; since you only have a single 3d view to place the part on you have restricted the placement to placement along two axis. In wjich case ok I can see why offset still makes sense.

I'll get a chance to use the ship builder again latet today so it should make thw limitations of the free placement obvious thanks.