New Feature Idea

[Redbeard]

I dunno if this has been suggested before, or even if it is feasible.

A way to track models that links to the builder software would be incredibly useful.

I'm thinking something along the lines of a simple database that would track models by army, and probably using the same army datafiles, to track models by what weapons they have (I can't see delving too far into all manner of wargear, but weapons are a reasonable option, I would think). Probably a number entry for how many are painted too.

Simple sample:

Model Name:        Count:    Painted:
Marine w/ Bolter          10             8
Marine w/ Bolt Pistol      5             5

When I go to make an army list, my model database is crossreferenced, and any models that I don't currently own are highlighted in yellow (or green, or something that's just different from a missing validation), and if not enough are painted, they'd turn a different colour.

This would be invaluable to me. If I was making a quick throw-together-for-tonight's-game list, it would let me know, at a glance, if I didn't have enough models to play with. If I was planning a future army, it would let me plan out my purchases and track my progress painting them.

I realize it's probably a lot of work, but something to consider.

 

[rob]

This is definitely on the todo list, but it's a *HUGE* amount of work. It gets very complicated when you consider that gamers cover the full spectrum of WYSIWYG accuracy. In fact, many gamers will range in their own WYSIWYG accuracy, depending on what sort of game they're playing (e.g. tournament vs. friendly game). That means that AB needs to support different levels of WYSIWYG accuracy, and it all has to be user configurable. This "fuzzy logic" that AB would have to implement represents a lot of work to do well. We've mapped out a strategy for solving it, but we haven't had time to actually implement it. In fact, adding that capability is still a good ways off, in terms of scheduling. But it's definitely on the list and something we want to add.

-Rob

At 07:18 AM 3/29/2006, you wrote:

I dunno if this has been suggested before, or even if it is feasible.

A way to track models that links to the builder software would be incredibly useful.

I'm thinking something along the lines of a simple database that would track models by army, and probably using the same army datafiles, to track models by what weapons they have (I can't see delving too far into all manner of wargear, but weapons are a reasonable option, I would think). Probably a number entry for how many are painted too.

Simple sample:
Code:

Model Name:        Count:    Painted:
Marine w/ Bolter          10             8
Marine w/ Bolt Pistol      5             5


When I go to make an army list, my model database is crossreferenced, and any models that I don't currently own are highlighted in yellow (or green, or something that's just different from a missing validation), and if not enough are painted, they'd turn a different colour.

This would be invaluable to me. If I was making a quick throw-together-for-tonight's-game list, it would let me know, at a glance, if I didn't have enough models to play with. If I was planning a future army, it would let me plan out my purchases and track my progress painting them.

I realize it's probably a lot of work, but something to consider.