Suggestion to improve Orbital view

I'm slowly getting used to the new element of orbital play, but I seem to have problems with distinguishing my orbital units from my ground units. When overlayed, the unit icons are all on the same level.

I thought that maybe it would be interesting to use blurring of the ground units when zoomed out to a certain level, the one where the green planet-radar-sphere pops up. In this 'orbital view' you would only be able to select orbital units.

See my photoshopped screenshots for clarification.

That and making it impossible to box select units on the ground/air layer when that layer is blurred

Awesome idea! +1 o

terrible. no thanks. If this ends up being liked I'd rather it be an option.

Orbital doesn't have priority to me over normal units. if anything i'd blur them out.

Well I think the idea is only burr land/air out if you are zoomed out far enough anyway.

HELL YES
+2

:/ still meh.

wasn't it you who wanted unit icons on non-focal planets?

Yes, because currently they have NO ICONS at all. Blurred ground and unblurred orbitais much better.

I like it.

I think it looks nice, aesthetically, but I'm sure I'd just turn it off regardless.

+1

I think you would like the same concept, but the other way around.

You might as well make orbital units a bit transparent when 'zoomed in to the planet' and looking at ground/air units. When 'zoomed out to orbital view' the orbital units would become the focus and ground/air units would become blurred.

Yes and yes.

How about using a hot key to blur all but one layer? Like if I am just above orbital layer, I can toggle through the blur to leave just the ground units (Air and orbital blurred). Or I can blur out everything but the Air etc.

Maybe not even blurring but maybe hashing the icons that are not selectable at that time. Or removing the everything but the icon shape and colour on all units not currently selectable. That would also be easy to see and allow you to better realise the other unit positions while ordering say the orbital units to cover them.

I like the general idea of being able to seperate the unit genres/layers. Would definitly help with unit management.

BUMP!

Just remembered this thread and i still think it is an awesome idea. The only problem would be the performance impact unless someone knows a smart idea to make it a 2D effect in game, like setting blur values to certain distances from the planet. It should be easy since orbital does not change altitude.

it's still a terrible idea. uber don't do this.

15 people think otherwise

There used to be an option to not show any ground units or buildings except the commander, umbrellas and the orbital launcher when you had an orbital unit selected. What happened to that?

A key that toggles between ground icons/orbital icons/no icons would be ideal.

And additionally controls the selection as well: Can't select a unit that has no icon.