[Sugestion] How I see the chat window

[nateD]

Hello all,

I would like to invite everyone to talk about the chat system in Defiance

As we all know, Defiance suffers from a lack of a comfortable chat.
It's good that Trion is trying to do something about it, but last update made ​​the chat completely useless.

Here is my version of chat, which may be more friendly to use. I'm not saying that it is an original solution and that everyone will like, but it can give a basis for a debate, "how the chat is supposed to look and work?"


First, inactive chat window. Nobody recently written anything:
All "bookmarks" have increased transparency, except for the channel "whispers" (indicator blinks to get our attention). The reason is that some time ago we've received a private message, which we haven't read yet. So even if we were "AFK", we'll know that someone wrote a PM to us or for example, someone said something in our group window but we are on other channel (tab).


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Here we can see that recently someone wrote something in chat.
The older message - the greater transparency of the text (until the entirein the end message will disappear). Private message is still unread.


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Much going on on chat, so we pressed the enter button to say something
Since we are on the default channel, we write only to people in the vicinity (area)


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Chat input box is focused, and additional buttons appears, so we use 'maximize window'


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What are all the colors mean?

• orange color means that someone wrote on global chanel, so it's visible to everyone.
• light-grey color - is reserved for messages in area
• green color - is for group members
• yellow (doesn't occur in the examples) - is for team
• pink/magneta/violet - is for private messages, aka whispers

And what about functionality?

We can see all messages from all channels in default channels, thanks to colors, we know where message was posted. To change channel we can click on tabs or simply press tab on our keyboard (only when chat input is activated - we've pressed the enter button).

When we are in default channel we can write in any other channel, for example:

Start your writting by "!" and you automatically will write on global channel (orange color) and everyone can see your message. You know it will be global msg, becasue color of your text, that you are writting is orange

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Start typing with "#" and your message will go to all your group members.

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Start with "$" and you are ready to inform your clan mates about ... anything

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Want to write private message to someone? start with "@" and then his nickname/gametag and pink color of your typing indicates that you are writing a private message.

If someone already wrote a private message to you, when you type "@" it will change to last person's nickname that wrote to you (so you can directly answer to him/her). Change names with arrow(up) / arrow(down) or just simply arrow(down) to delete name and write the one you want.




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So how it works, when im in another channel, lets say in "group"?

When we are on a specific channel we automatically write our messages in this channel, without any "addons" before typing. So, simply, write your message, and it will be sent to channel that you are in. The color of your text that you just type is the color designed for the channel. So, in this case we write in green.



I know it's not perfect, and need some work, but like I said before, this is just the base that we all can work (i hope so), to make good chat for this game. I hope I will find some constructive respond from you, this way maybe we will help both ourselves and the devs.

[VicousBlood]

I would like to see them use something like Aion's chat interface.

1. Resizable, movable, customizable tabs that allow specific chat channels and information as per user allowance.

2. Slash commands that direct only to the channels they are directed to, next message you type will also go to that channel (the last channel you were in) unless you direct it to another channel, as well as emotes slash commands, whisper too, simpler slash commands ex: as you can see pressing /1 then typing your messages directs to the entire area you are in. /Legion only chats with guild mates. /3 Looking for group. Etc...etc...

3. Quick emote box so you don't even have to type if you are typing in a hurry

4. Just shows how customizable each tab can be and how channels on each tab can be admitted or denied display.

Also it includes a quick response key "T" that allows you to quickly whisper back to the last person that just whispered you. Right clicking on a map sends the location coordinates into the chat box to others that you choose to share your coordinates with. CTRL+Right clicking on items in your inventory links it in the chatbox which allow others to see the item as you have it(mods upgrades and all). Others can join your group just by voluntarily linking your group in the chat list. All in all it is a very well thought out system.

[Milar]

Nicely done

I guess we can dream that someday...maybe...perhaps....Trion will realise being able to communicate is a plus in a mulitplayer game

[August Barkley]

+1 for nateD

-1 for VicousBlood [sorry, man ]

[Verda]

Just having the time show up would be a help as nateD had in his post. I noticed there are some calls on 'all' for help fighting in places, but I can't tell how long ago it was. And I do have to leave the computer chair sometimes.... Although annoyingly, one of the calls was for kith and kinship and when I went to where I THOUGHT it had been located I found a different (small) mission going on there. I might have been at the wrong place though. Usually when I pass through it says it in big capital letters. I have noticed though negotiating the map there are 'gps' notations near it, in that very hard for me to read, light grey on med grey. If calls are going to come through, which I think a good idea, giving the gps would help.

Verda

[nateD]

Just having the time show up would be a help (...)

I can't even imagine that this chat will not have any time stamp ...

When it comes to chat about what Vic(i)ousBlood mentioned... I've never had much of a problem with it, not least it seems to me to be too extensive for Defiance.

My assumption was "intuitive and easy to use chat window". One that does not draw attention to itself when there is no such need (the current 'press enter to chat' is very much about, so I changed practically nothing, I only added "blinking indicators", which tells us, that on other channel, someone wrote something and we haven't read that yet).

Colors are easy to remember, so I personally think that they will make it easier to operate. Same about suggested 'shortcuts' to target the right channel - "!", "@", "#", "$" etc.

Often there is a need to write something quickly and accurately, especially when we are in middle of fight or something. So, for example, writing in a clan channel: "fast, need help at Major DM-arkfall" should be quick, it should not distract from what is happening around the player. I think my suggestion partially allows it. But for me, it can be extremely easy to use chat, but others may have a completely different view. I would like to know the suggestions of players about how they want to see their chat in Defiance. Perhaps it will help the developers to make the necessary corrections.

[nateD]

Nobody has any ideas, suggestions? I think this is a good opportunity to say something more than just "chat sucks!"

[WARDUKE]

My opinion is just to merge the two types of chat that have been in game. Place emotes back on the quick menu (they can also stay on big window) and add a big chat window option to that menu. Hitting "enter" should give access to the smaller chat window. Options for chat window, like font size and color, should be in the large window, but channel switching should remain in both.

[nateD]

Bump for those who may be interested in

[Angeleus09]

Great ideas, NateD I like what you've put together in terms of the UI aspect here. The only thing I might disagree with are the use of !, @, #, $ to indicate your desired channel. Personally I'd rather it be the MMO standards that I'm used to such as /a, /g, /c, /t, /r etc. Other than that I like the fade with time aspect and the amount of screen space the full window takes up.

I assume players would also be able to add additional tabs and then filter the default channel as they liked? For example: I could add a tab for Area chat specifically, then filter that out of the Default channel so that it only contained Group, Clan, EGO and Private messages.

Also, what do you think of players being allowed to customize the size of their maximized chat window?