Empire Tree woes

I love it to death, but its a little wonky.

from Sins Forums
I love the empire tree. Wonderful innovation, and it makes managing your empire a lot easier. As someone who failed out of RTS Academy because of poor micro skills this lets me play the game that i've been WANTING to play for years now, but never have the micro skills to enjoy. I have had a few thorny issues however:

1. Autoscrolling - The first problem i have is that i tend to leave the tree expanded, so i can find my ships easier, but as units relocate from place to place the tree autoscrolls up and down, making it rather difficult to click on what i want. Additionally, when i try to double-click a target to focus on it, sometimes the first click seems to make the tree autoscroll as well, which of course makes the SECOND click hit something else and jump again. This second part might only be happening when clicking on enemy ships; i'm not quite sure.

2. Mis-click orders - Issue number two is I think mainly a consequence of issue number 1 - many times when using the empire tree (or attempting to) i accidentally end up issuing a movement or select order to whatever i have currently targeted. "Hey!! Who gave you authorization to phase jump to the Pirate Base?!?! You were supposed to be bombarding that planet!" "Y-you did, s-sir..." "That is BS! I did not! I'll have your command for this, captain!" My capital ship captains live in constant fear of my erratic commands :)

3. Edge Strafing - Third issue is - i had to disable edge strafing because i find myself accidentally shifting my vantage point left while trying to use the empire tree... especially when using the scroll bar. This is a minor issue, since the zoom system works so well, but i do wish i could have my cake AND eat it too. :)

Any one else in the same boat with me? Once again, love the game, would love to see some minor fixes in there whenever they make it to the top of the list.
15,832 views 8 replies
Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top
I haven't run in to 3 very much, but 1 and 2 have been the only thing that keeps me from using the Empire Tree constantly. I use it more to keep track of things than for actual command, but only because it sometimes seems to have a mind of it's own. My biggest gripe, though, is that I'd like new systems to be added to the tree contracted rather than expanded, as I find the expanded view just gets in the way except in certain cases.
The Political Machine 2024
Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top
i use the empire tree to see which cap ships leveled and have a new ability to select... thats about it...
Reply #4 from Sins Forums Top
I honestly don't use the Empire tree that much. A lot of people seem to think it's the best thing since sliced bread though so :shrug:.
Reply #5 from Sins Forums Top
1. Autoscrolling - The first problem i have is that i tend to leave the tree expanded, so i can find my ships easier, but as units relocate from place to place the tree autoscrolls up and down, making it rather difficult to click on what i want. Additionally, when i try to double-click a target to focus on it, sometimes the first click seems to make the tree autoscroll as well, which of course makes the SECOND click hit something else and jump again. This second part might only be happening when clicking on enemy ships; i'm not quite sure.
End of quote


and this is why I gave up on my experiment with the empire tree. make this work, and i'll love it. If I click on an object somewhere, SELECT IT THERE!!!! I had apoplectic fits after selecting a ship in a fleet and having the empire tree scroll to show it filed under a planet.
Reply #6 from Sins Forums Top
I noticed that issue as well, though it doesn't bug me as much because I don't use it as often, but then again, maybe that's why. I don't know if there is a need to completely disable autoscroll, but certainly while the mouse is over the tree should stay fixed, we shouldn't have to be chasing icons around in the heat of the battle.
Reply #7 from Sins Forums Top
For starters, they NEED to split fleets into a second tree - since the right side of the screen is completely vacant, why not just list fleets over there?

Having them in the main empire tree is stupid, tbh. They're totally worthless there, as 99% of the time they're all hidden at the top, since the tree ALWAYS sits at the bottom.
Reply #8 from Sins Forums Top
The constant shifting of the empire tree drives me nuts. I want to select a cap ship, and get a frigate instead. Please make it stop moving!