UI update, prep for round 2: In-game UI feature requests

[Doublestrike]

<update>
Research is apparently complete (07-10-11), suggestions have moved into the options/bugfix topics, so I won't be updating this list anymore. I'll get to work and thanks for the input everyone!

I'll make a very strong effort to include "Confirmed" functionalities. The "suggested" ones will be lower on the list, but I'll try to squeeze them in there.
</update>


OK, it looks like the Win/Lose screen is in a good place. I'll fix up the visuals and add a couple of functionality things and then move on to the in-game UI.

I'd like to know what people want in the UI so I can target the best design right out of the gate. I'll start the design in three days (Friday or Saturday) so could you get your BIG ideas out before then. By BIG, I mean stuff that could potentially require a new panel in the layout, for example. Little stuff like icons in the wrong place on the card can obviously be fixed later.

None of the functionality currently present will be removed, but it may be moved for better usability. Oh, and I should probably state now that games with more than one human player are verboten.

Of course, this thread could get a little bloated, so please use brief, simple descriptions, like in the list I've started below. Perhaps people who like an idea could +1 to indicate, e.g. +1 turn timer or similar.

This top post will act as an updated running list of the most popular improvements, which will (probably) be included in the design. Let's say...net three +1s on an idea and it makes the list. (Edit: Things I was planning anyway will get a quick jump on the list if they're mentioned)

========== Confirmed ==========

1. "End turn" and other shortcut button toolbar

2. Better visual targeting system for interacting spells

3. Non-scrolling card area, scaling

4. Multiplayer gameboard support

5. Customizable keyboard shortcuts

6. Game log console

7. Improved turn phase visibility

8. Customizable skin support (including BG image)

9. Player area roughly following Choppic's design

10. Fully resizable from full screen to minimum 800 x 600px with minimum loss in usability

11. Manapool to UI

12. Ordering of tokens, planeswalkers and emblems

13. Battle shortcut toolbar

========== Suggested ==========

1. Player keywords display +2

2. Commander zone +2

3. Stack spell tooltip +2

4. Overlay attacker/defender cards

5. Subordering by sickness option. +2

6. Subordering by P/T option.

7. Upside-down AI cards option.

8. Communal battlefield option.

9. Card zoom size option

10. Land morph visibility option

[slapshot5]

A visual representation of the Phase is something that's been desired for a while. Like a Phase Bar or something like MTGO has to indicate where in the turn we are.

-slapshot5

Edit: I guess this may be a +1 for " Improved turn phase visibility"

[slapshot5]

An enhanced Player display to show keywords the player has.

-slapshot5

[friarsol]

I think 1 and 7 are kinda the same. I always pictured this as a "Phase Bar" in the middle of the Battlefield that shows A) The phase order, B) Who has the next turn C) Allow a player to have shortcuts to skip to that selected phase.

2 should also include visualizations for attacking/blocking choices.

I think 6 should really be Game Log, not just Developer Console.

Have you seen some of choppic's designs on the main forum?

[slapshot5]

Support for some kind of background image on the battlefield, like a "game mat".

-slapshot5

[moomarc]

A commander zone for different formats. Predominantly for Vanguard, Commander and Planechase (I'd love to see Planechase implemented). In other formats it could also be useful. In puzzle mode it could have a puzzle card that lists the objectives and I'm sure there's other potential uses. It will either have to be collapsible for formats that don't need it, or I could create placeholder images. Even if it's not implemented now, I think the design should allow for it so that there's no need for a complete redesign when one of the listed formats is made available.

Sorry, apparently conciseness isn't my strong point.

Edit: Netbook resolution compatibility is another common request. This could be tagged to #3.

+1 to indicating effects on players (could also be useful for Vanguard-like formats)

[slapshot5]

+1 for "Netbook resolution compatibility"

-slapshot5

[Doublestrike]

+1 for "Netbook resolution compatibility

Added #10 regarding resizable, was planning on that anyway. Is this waht you meant or is there a deeper problem here?

[Hellfish]

You've probably already thought of this but a way to use the old UI, at least for a few weeks/couple of months after rolling out this new one.Just in case.

[Doublestrike]

@moomarc re: commander zone - sounds like a good idea but I'm not sure what you mean. Sounds like a drop down type thing, or a list select?

@hellfish - yep, but always good to make sure

[Hellfish]

Moomarc's idea would probably best be described as an additional area like the Battlefield/Hand that only is shown when it is needed, i.e. for Commander/Planechase/Vanguard? games.

[Chris H.]

+1 "3. Non-scrolling card area, scaling"
+1 "7. Improved turn phase visibility"
+1 "8. Customizable skin support (including BG image)"
+1 "9. Player area roughly following Choppic's design"

[Max mtg]

suggest:
1. move manapool to UI, remove the manapool card.

vote for:
1. turn phase indicator
2. skins
3. log of events (though it will be hardly possible to gather them all in a single listener)

[Sloth]

suggest:
1. move manapool to UI, remove the manapool card.

+1

[Rob Cashwalker]

Graphically display combat (arrows) instead of the text-list.. goes along with #2.
Spells on the stack should be roll-over sensitive for display.