I propose a big old change to how wings, and eventually multicrew work.
Instead of the current system, I suggest having a "Wing Panel" somewhere in the comms panel. (Same for multicrew)
On the Wing(& Multicrew) Panel, you can create a wing, plus a short name, or Call Sign (7 character limit?). Even if you're the only one in it. You can also assign a funky logo(please!? Select from available decals, plus more!) and a "theme" for your wing, like bounty hunting, alien hunting, piracy, etc.
And most importantly, You are the Wing Commander! (aka, Wing Admin)
Once you've got a wing created, you can set it to either private, or open. It's default is private.
Private works almost exactly as it does now. You, (but only you), can invite other CMDRs to join, and they can accept or decline.
Open is different, Friends, history contacts, and CMDRs in the local area can see your wing is active and open(with a wing logo on your avatar- a padlock indicates it's locked), and simply request to join, which the wing commander can then accept or decline (the wing commander can look up details on the CMDR that is requesting to join, such as ship, legal status, PowerPlay association, dostance in Ly, etc)
You also have the power to kick CMDRs from your wing, or disband it entirely. Or make other CMDRs the Wing Commander.
If the Wing Commander leaves the game or wing, the 2nd player to join is promoted to Wing Commander. If no players are left, the wing is disbanded.
Done!
Additional Thoughts;
When targeting a ship in a wing, next to the wing number indicator in the lower left, it could also display the wings Call Sign.
This could then be applied to NPCs, so we can identify different wings easier. NPC wings can have a selection of very simple call signs, such as "Alpha", "Bravo", "Charlie", etc, etc.
Everything else works pretty much the same as now, it's just a more user friendly interface.
More Thoughts;
Once a hierarchy is established, wing commanders can then be given tools to give basic orders, such as destinations, attack, defend, return to formation, weapons free/hold fire, etc, all from a simple context menu, or roles panel menu. Much like the SLF.
With up coming squadrons, this can then filter down from a Squadron Commander type role, down to wing commanders.
Thoughts?
CMDR Cosmic Spacehead
Instead of the current system, I suggest having a "Wing Panel" somewhere in the comms panel. (Same for multicrew)
On the Wing(& Multicrew) Panel, you can create a wing, plus a short name, or Call Sign (7 character limit?). Even if you're the only one in it. You can also assign a funky logo(please!? Select from available decals, plus more!) and a "theme" for your wing, like bounty hunting, alien hunting, piracy, etc.
And most importantly, You are the Wing Commander! (aka, Wing Admin)
Once you've got a wing created, you can set it to either private, or open. It's default is private.
Private works almost exactly as it does now. You, (but only you), can invite other CMDRs to join, and they can accept or decline.
Open is different, Friends, history contacts, and CMDRs in the local area can see your wing is active and open(with a wing logo on your avatar- a padlock indicates it's locked), and simply request to join, which the wing commander can then accept or decline (the wing commander can look up details on the CMDR that is requesting to join, such as ship, legal status, PowerPlay association, dostance in Ly, etc)
You also have the power to kick CMDRs from your wing, or disband it entirely. Or make other CMDRs the Wing Commander.
If the Wing Commander leaves the game or wing, the 2nd player to join is promoted to Wing Commander. If no players are left, the wing is disbanded.
Done!
Additional Thoughts;
When targeting a ship in a wing, next to the wing number indicator in the lower left, it could also display the wings Call Sign.
This could then be applied to NPCs, so we can identify different wings easier. NPC wings can have a selection of very simple call signs, such as "Alpha", "Bravo", "Charlie", etc, etc.
Everything else works pretty much the same as now, it's just a more user friendly interface.
More Thoughts;
Once a hierarchy is established, wing commanders can then be given tools to give basic orders, such as destinations, attack, defend, return to formation, weapons free/hold fire, etc, all from a simple context menu, or roles panel menu. Much like the SLF.
With up coming squadrons, this can then filter down from a Squadron Commander type role, down to wing commanders.
Thoughts?
CMDR Cosmic Spacehead
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