Feature Request: Map icon/colour distinctions between friend and foe

[jaydak]

At the moment it's very hard to tell which ships/stations have turned hostile and will be aggressive towards you (or your fleet). It would really help threat visibility for the faction map mode to include some indication as to hostility of ships. Perhaps something between the old blue/red and the newer faction map colours (which are awesome, by the way!).

Maybe something like a red border or diagonal stripes for ships/stations that are actively hostile (will attack player and player ships?

Here are a few of images to show what I mean:

Standard Map: Factions ON
It is not easily possible to determine friend or foe, without individually selecting ships with the objects list

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Standard Map: Factions OFF
It is not easily possible to determine faction without looking at names

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Edited Map (1): Factions ON, Hostility Striped (v3)
Faction and hostility is visible

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Edited Map (2): Factions ON, Hostility Borders
Faction and hostility is visible

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[CBJ]

Just a comment: I had to zoom in so far on the first example, the one with the stripes, to see that there was even anything there, that I am pretty sure that particular suggestion is not going to work.

[jaydak]

Just a comment: I had to zoom in so far on the first example, the one with the stripes, to see that there was even anything there, that I am pretty sure that particular suggestion is not going to work.

Haha, you know what I agree. I've touched up the stripes to give them a fair-er chance. They're a lot more visible now (edited original post)

[Val Comdriver]

I'd say keeping the original icon untouched and adding another small icon (like the one for failed ship orders) to the hostile object would work better for me.

[adeine]

I think just changing the font colour on the map would be a better idea.

Or have a setting that shows faction colours for neutral and friendly ships, and turns everything hostile to red regardless of faction.

[CBJ]

Haha, you know what I agree. I've touched up the stripes to give them a fair-er chance. They're a lot more visible now (edited original post)

Honestly, I think that's worse! The stripes are now visible, to the point that they make the icons unclear. I don't think stripes are the way forward here.

[jaydak]

Honestly, I think that's worse! The stripes are now visible, to the point that they make the icons unclear. I don't think stripes are the way forward here.

To be fair, I scratched this together with no knowledge just to give the idea some more substance. I'm sure a competent artist could do a far better job making these icons show faction and hostility at the same time. Some interesting ideas already in this thread!

Couldn't resist the challenge, so I fiddled with the stripe version again to improve icon clarity

[S!rAssassin]

I'd say keeping the original icon untouched and adding another small icon (like the one for failed ship orders) to the hostile object would work better for me.

Agreed. Additional icon, like mission's icon, but red, would be better option.