Siege Engine camera views / lack of placement options / death whilst manning.

Merlin13KAGL

Three complaints here. The first (and least) being the inability to place an engine 'too close to other siege engines."

Trebuchets take up more room than oil pots - no problem. But the distance requirement seems excessive sometimes.

Point blank, if there's room for the yellow circle, there should be room for the engine. (If someone launches a catapult load through the full health trebuchet in front of them because they're aiming the wrong way, so be it. Counting on the fact that this won't be an issue for most.)

Complaint #2: When I'm manning an engine and get attacked, it should break me from that engine.

Should be an interrupt, right? It is when I'm talking to a quest giver or looting a container. I don't want the engine destroyed, but if I'm dead, I can't very well man it, can I? (I am assuming part of this is due to the nonresponse issues that Cyrodiil has been experiencing.)

As a minimum, an ALT, roll dodge, block...something should reprioritize keeping myself alive vs definitive destruction of my engine after I die...

(At least have the local bank clerk or quartermaster stroll up beside you in their casual demeanor say "Excuse me, but where you aware that someone is hitting you in the face with a large blunt instrument?")

Complain #3: Big one here: (I searched, but did not find any other thread about this.

Camera view while manning the engine sucks. If you're in a corner, near a wall (behind you, mind you), or Akatosh forbid there's a Maple tree on the hill 500' away (again, behind you), you can't see to target!

This is most notable when tracking moving enemies. If you have to swivel after you fire to see where it lands, you end up changing your trajectory of the next hit.

Put a catapult right up the edge and you get a great view of the back of your head and the platform you're on, yet your character can't see the first 300' beyond the wall (where everyone is usually at.)

Put it by a wall and entrance, aim to the side and you get a nice useless view of the alcove the enemy will file into once the wall is down because you can't properly return fire...

You can't zoom out, and you can't seem to target without the behind view.

You should be able to:

• Zoom out far enough that obstructions are not visual obstructions.
• Target from a rotated view without changing your trajectory. (I realize the engine has to turn to aim that way, and that's fine.)
• Have a visual clear zone (think x-ray vision) - not to see hidden enemies out of range or what's waiting beyond the wall, but to clear away enough of the visual obstructions to be able to target properly.
• I'd be content with a first person view here. Zoom out for the striking animation (no siege pun intended), fine. I'm two feet from the edge of the wall, why the heck wouldn't I be able to look down?
• Allow adjustment of camera view while the engine is resetting. Lock camera view while targeting and firing. This way, the one does not affect the other, even if it means the initial shot has to go out blind. (Or camera view, right click to toggle/lock, left click to target/fire?)

These could be settings options easily enough.

Trying to defend an Alliance here.

Thoughts about this? Anyone found a 'workaround?'

c0rp

I have shared all these thoughts since the beginning. The camera views are just ridiculous sometimes.

Dleatherus

agree with some of the ridiculous siege weapon view angles - trying to defend the inner keep of one of the triad of you home keeps can be ridiculous at times - we even hold practice sessions inside keeps we own to set down siege weapons, and have guildies let us know where we are hitting and guide us to the right spot because all we can see is the frameork of the siege weapon and the ground

D.

Draxys

Agreed with the siege camera problems, it's quite frustrating sometimes. I often run into situations when siege is desperately needed to successfully defend, but I can't use it in the only spots that are available because I can't see what I'm trying to defend against.

I would also like to see interruption from manning siege, coupled with a re-evaluation of how fast siege decays now. It's out of hand in my opinion. I'm glad they are combating emperor farming, but to have it decay from almost full to less than half in a matter of a few seconds seems a little harsh for people that actually use it in the situations it is intended for.

Merlin13KAGL

Draxys wrote: »

I would also like to see interruption from manning siege, coupled with a re-evaluation of how fast siege decays now. It's out of hand in my opinion. I'm glad they are combating emperor farming, but to have it decay from almost full to less than half in a matter of a few seconds seems a little harsh for people that actually use it in the situations it is intended for.

@Draxys, agreed. There should be a healthy grace period while battle is still active. Degradation takes care of itself if you leave it long enough anyway, as someone will set it aflame.

And Emporer farming...it's a bit late on that one. Not like they're going to make them re-earn the title (no offense to those that truly did.)

It was my original understanding that you had to take the Imperial City after clearing it of Daedra before claiming the throne, or kill the Emporer and defeat most of his armies...

Taking six keeps is great, but it seems like there should be more than just the points standing. I speak only as a soldier in this war - kindly don't have me executed for voicing concern for the Empire in its current state.

Illumous

It is especially bad with Catapults that are place right in front of a wall in the inner keep's second floor (home keeps). It is impossible to see what you are trying to shoot at since it isn't an overhead view but a flat view situated just above the ground your standing on... and don't get me started on the trees...

Merlin13KAGL

@Illumous‌, right. Wouldn't be so bad if it was in front. Pretty sure the blast from greek fire would singe the leaves enough. Blind hills, rocks...seems the best strategic places (the high points) end up with the worst views.

May as well roll the engine down the hill.

Darthryan

Lol this still isn't fixed

Merlin13KAGL

No, it's still absurd. NPC defenders still all but worthless. Too many things to list.

The available arc on some of the siege weapons seems a bit ridiculous, too.

You can't tell me that angling up on a slight incline wouldn't allow different trajectories.

reften

it's fine. Cameras could be better while using on the walls, but otherwise, it's fine...