Plasma volume

by **Drakona** » Tue May 20, 2014 8:10 am

Here's a comparison, all the weapons, and then plasma over missile launches and locks.

Original: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/146 ... iginal.mp3
0.75 Volume Plasma: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/146 ... etplas.mp3

by **Drakona** » Tue May 20, 2014 9:13 am

I do think reducing the reactor shot sound is a no-brainer. I can't think of a serious tactical impact (though I'm sure someone else can

), and it's super annoying.

I cut it to 0.75 volume. You can still hear it shooting at you while you're firing something else (important!), but it's no longer overpowering.

by **RiTides** » Thu May 22, 2014 8:02 pm

by **Drakona** » Fri May 23, 2014 7:05 pm

It's already in Retro 1.3.X5 with a few other experimental features -- the intent is to let the community play with it and see if they like it. I've been doing Retro testing with small groups (really, whoever happens to be on mumble...), so if you're around, I can get you an early copy. Otherwise, I should have a stable review/feedback version of D1 out in a day or so.

Personally, as a pilot . . . I'm kind of on the fence about quiet plasma.

On the plus side, I've played several games with it, and it is at a nice volume level. Still loud enough to cover other noises, but the homing missile lock is now at least possible to hear over it.

On the other hand, if plasma has always made it hard to hear that alarm . . . maybe that's how it should be, and falls under the rule "don't change anything". I don't mind changing things to resolve pain points we all have, but if it's down to just a few players and preference . . . maybe it isn't such a good idea. As DKH pointed out to me, once we start going down that road, it will be really, really hard to get us all to agree on anything. Probably the only thing we CAN all agree on is "don't change anything". Now, Lotharbot pointed out to me that perhaps plasma wasn't historically this bad, as I'm now hearing it through MUCH better headphones, so . . . . maybe. But I am still mostly suspicious. I see the benefit, but I'm just not sure it's worth the precedent.

So I guess my read as a pilot is that the current quiet plasma is, "Nice, harmless, but possibly not worth it." The only reason I'm on the fence about it is that I *do* really want (and want my opponents) to be able to hear the homing lock. That seems fair. I think the piloting community is getting better at the game, and that makes UI decisions that cause you to make stupid mistakes more painful. A single stray homer hit matters more than it used to, and I'd like to give pilots every chance to make sure it happens for a good reason. (That's my story with the vulcan/energy/shield warnings, too . . .

)

As the Retro developer, I'm just kind of in wait-and-see mode with it. It's out there, we can try it, but the vibe I've gotten back from community playtesting so far is the same as my personal take -- seems harmless, but don't like the idea in principle.

by **Ryguy** » Fri May 23, 2014 9:19 pm

As far as the plasma sounds, I didn't really notice them being lower in the test game the other day, but I could hear the homing signal better. I will defer to more opinionated people.

I will say P2P is wonderful though.

by **LotharBot** » Sat May 24, 2014 9:22 am

The thing about plasma volume is, back in the day we listened on crappy headphones or crappy speakers. Now we've all got nice headphones, and plasma seems to have a much broader sound spectrum than I remember -- it's not just the high-pitched "pew pew", but also a lower "pow pow" underneath it that was probably quieter on the sort of headphones I owned in 1998. It actually gives me a headache if I play in a long game with a lot of plasma. I'm all for taking the edge off while keeping it loud enough to cover a lot of other sounds.

by **RiTides** » Wed May 28, 2014 9:53 am

That's a perfect summary of the sound, Lothar, and I agree! I don't remember the lower tones that just make it headache-inducing as it covers everything in a dated, staticky sound lol.

The experimental features in the newest build sound like a perfect way to try out things like this, great idea =)

Drakona, what do you mean about the vulcan/energy/shield warnings? Are there warnings when those are low now? I play without the large cockpit on the screen, so not sure if that's part of it.

I will also note that, effectively, by fixing vulcan it was "changed" from how it used to play. I think this is a pretty minor playability tweak by comparison. Also note, I'm not saying vulcan shouldn't have been fixed, just that it had greater impact. This would (at least to Lothar and my recollection lol) be making the game play more like it used to, when at least you wouldn't get a headache from the plasma (and to a lesser extent, the reactor, at least in a level like Pillbox).

Then again, I was also using crappy earbuds back in the day, and you know... maybe we're getting old ;)

by **Drakona** » Fri Jun 13, 2014 5:16 pm

Those are good arguments, and nobody seems to have complained about the quiet plasma after playing with it for a while. Folded into 1.3.

> Drakona, what do you mean about the vulcan/energy/shield warnings? Are there warnings when those are low now?

Yeah, they're a 1.3 feature. Look under Misc Options.

> I think this is a pretty minor playability tweak by comparison.

Yeah. With a pilots at this level, EVERYTHING is a gameplay change. A sunny or rainy day is a gameplay change.

It's a strong argument for stability, and not changing anything that isn't actively causing pain.

The plasma thing was causing pain. In a somewhat more literal sense than is usually the case . . .