[#1455]"Information->Crew" Captain context menu issue.

[PV_]

Since "beta 8" update I no longer have access to "fire" and "work somewhere else" menu options when rightclicking captain in "Information->Crew" tab. And thats somewhat mentioned in patch.
But there is a guy who plays last possible version (same as me) but got another behavior.
Here is what I observe. There is from his point of view.
Who of us got bugged?

[PV_]

Since nobody here own the game to say how it is on their side I've investigated the issue myself (got a very useful hint at steam forum). And that is how it works: in most cases right click on a captain in "Crew" tab will only show "comm" option, but if player personally standing near captain/pilot chair/control panel for big ships then the same menu action also displays 2 additional options - "fire" and "work somewhere else". "Near" is literally few meters radius.
Now I'm really curious if its intended behavior or not.

[CBJ]

The behaviour may be specific to the particular character and their history, or to their current situation, so we'd need a savegame in order to investigate whether it's working as intended or not.

[Nanook]

I just encountered the same issue. It seems to occur when the player is not in the cockpit seat. When seated, I get all three options. When standing behind the pilot/captain, I only get the 'comm' option. Because I'm slightly modified, I won't submit a savegame. Also, saving and reloading doesn't affect it, so the OP should be able to submit a savegame if they wish.

Another data point: Standing in the Personal Office of the HQ has the same issue. If I sit down, I again see all three options.

I observed this in my 6.20 Steam version. It doesn't occur in my 6.10 GOG version.

[PV_]

The behaviour may be specific to the particular character and their history, or to their current situation, so we'd need a savegame in order to investigate whether it's working as intended or not.

That is no related not to any preset campaigns nor specific conditions. Just launch the game get to the pilot (M+ ship required), open information about ship you're in, "Crew" tab, right click on the captain. Now you see 3 options. Get away from the captain for like ~10 meters away (thats why M+ ship required. S doesn't provide that much space). And click on the captain in "Crew" tab again. Now you see only 1 option.
Just to be sure I've launched a custom game and got exactly same behavior, but if you really really wish to get inside someone's save file here is one of my bug report threads.

When seated, I get all three options. When standing behind the pilot/captain, I only get the 'comm' option.

You don't need for sitting. You have to be in the close area near captain's position, sitting or not.

[PV_]

Another data point: Standing in the Personal Office of the HQ has the same issue. If I sit down, I again see all three options.

Oh, so while standing near ship pilot's chair you only get access to 3 options over the captain of that specific ship, but sitting in the chair you get all options for any captain in the whole fleet.

To @ devs: issue appeared in Beta 8. Reminder just in case.

[Dj_FRedy]

This is all being caused by a condition added to the 'MapMenu' menu in the 'menu.createInfoContext()' function in one of the latest updates:

Code: Select all

GetComponentData(entity, "caninitiatecomm")

[Nanook]

...

When seated, I get all three options. When standing behind the pilot/captain, I only get the 'comm' option.

You don't need for sitting. You have to be in the close area near captain's position, sitting or not.

Let me clarify. It's the change in interface that matters. If you're sitting in the pilot's/captain's chair, the HQ chair, or standing at one of the other consoles in a capital ship, you get all available options. This is a different interface than if you're just standing around, which is when you only get the 'comm' option. And this applies to accessing any of your ships in the universe. Or any of your stations, too.

And yes, you get all the options when you're standing next to the captain, but that's also a different interface, too. You have to be within 'physical' access distance. If you stand back and are unable to access the personal interface with the captain, you're forced to use the map interface and again only get just the one option.

[PV_]

Let me clarify. It's the change in interface that matters. If you're sitting in the pilot's/captain's chair, the HQ chair, or standing at one of the other consoles in a capital ship, you get all available options. This is a different interface than if you're just standing around, which is when you only get the 'comm' option. And this applies to accessing any of your ships in the universe. Or any of your stations, too.

And yes, you get all the options when you're standing next to the captain, but that's also a different interface, too. You have to be within 'physical' access distance. If you stand back and are unable to access the personal interface with the captain, you're forced to use the map interface and again only get just the one option.

Ok, thanks. But is it intended behavior? I mean can we expect interface changes reverted to how it was before? So me just standing somewhere at the bridge of a battleship could also benefit captain interaction menu.

[Daemonjax]

Not sure if it's related or not... but sometimes I can't initiate comms with a crewmember for no good reason. The option is greyed out inexplicably. It'll work for others -- but I don't want to talk to them. Some time later it'll start working for that guy. No idea why. It makes no sense.

[PV_]

Not sure if it's related or not... but sometimes I can't initiate comms with a crewmember for no good reason. The option is greyed out inexplicably. It'll work for others -- but I don't want to talk to them. Some time later it'll start working for that guy. No idea why. It makes no sense.

Just a guess. Perhaps that pilot performing critical operation like undocking or transfer wares. If you're at the ship at that moment and will try to communicate with the pilot you get respond like "I'm busy now" instead of options.

[Nanook]

Let me clarify. It's the change in interface that matters. If you're sitting in the pilot's/captain's chair, the HQ chair, or standing at one of the other consoles in a capital ship, you get all available options. This is a different interface than if you're just standing around, which is when you only get the 'comm' option. And this applies to accessing any of your ships in the universe. Or any of your stations, too.

And yes, you get all the options when you're standing next to the captain, but that's also a different interface, too. You have to be within 'physical' access distance. If you stand back and are unable to access the personal interface with the captain, you're forced to use the map interface and again only get just the one option.

Ok, thanks. But is it intended behavior?...

Don't know, I'm not an Egosoft employee. I do know it changed from version 6.10 though, so I'm guessing it's not intentional.