I've asked this before with little success...but how are fellow adopters of FTL using formations?

[knopstr]

What are your methods for creating formations?

Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks.

[algol]

http://www.dual-boxing.com/wiki/index.php/Sticky:Spreadout_Macros_/_Formations

[algol]

Wow, that document is in serious need of editing. Also, it appears to have nothing in it about how to modify it for FTL.

Well...can you bind movement to things like SHIFT+L without it moving when it sees just L? And is there a way to bind more than two keys to "Move Left"? Otherwise, you're going to have to make some clever compromises or deal with it not adapting to the current leader well. Some formations will make that more of a pain than others, I imagine.



That was interesting...forum ate the text of the post. O_o

[Warwick]

I would guess the difference is each formation assumes a certain character as the focal point. If you did a stand 'cross' pattern formation but were on one of the clones your pattern would produce an asymmetrical result. The toon you were on would perform its movement, the 3 clones would perform theirs, and finally your normal main would standstill.

[Gares]

Courtesy of Kaynin and with the use of Keyclone this is what I use and works like charm.

The spread out macro is also slightly different then usual, so I will post that for all my chars:


Toon 1
SUBTRACT (Numpad -) SPR1
N SPR2
S SPR3
M SPR4

Toon 2
N SPR1
SUBTRACT (Numpad -) SPR2
M SPR3
S SPR4

Toon 3
S SPR1
M SPR2
SUBTRACT (Numpad -) SPR3
N SPR4

Toon 4
M SPR1
S SPR2
N SPR3
SUBTRACT (Numpad -) SPR4



Basicly, bind N to strafe left and M to strafe right on all chars and that's all there is to it when using this keymapping.

[Vyndree]

I would guess the difference is each formation assumes a certain character as the focal point. If you did a stand 'cross' pattern formation but were on one of the clones your pattern would produce an asymmetrical result. The toon you were on would perform its movement, the 3 clones would perform theirs, and finally your normal main would standstill.

Why would you WANT your "main" to be always in the center/symmetrical position? IMO, that's just signifying to the rest of the world "here's my main!".

When I switch "mains" using my oldschool hardware rig, if I press my "spread out" key (for me that's F), the chars go in the exact same places. Doesn't matter that I'm on an alt that happens to be on the right of everyone else. More obfuscation for people who ASSUME that I'm on the center position character.

I consider it an advantage, even if my own screen shows me on the right and the rest of the formation to my left. It's still a "pretty" formation to everyone else.


Are you telling us that FTL setups don't allow you to bind "F" to "F" on all accounts? Because that's all that's really required -- you bind F to strafe left, strafe right, move forward, and move back on your respective characters.

[olipcs]

Why would you WANT your "main" to be always in the center/symmetrical position? IMO, that's just signifying to the rest of the world "here's my main!". well, thats the upside and the downside...
..i personaly like to have my main in the 'Center' or befor the line of my alts for pve, in pvp i would mostly also use the 'normal' formation methods, to don't reveal my 'master'.

A short introduction how to do a line can be found in the ftl-wiki under Formations:
http://www.dual-boxing.com/wiki/index.php/Focusless_Targetless_Leaderless_Setup#Formations

as the above is for 5 chars and therfor a little complex, here an example of the concept for only three chars:
Focusless, targetless, 'leaderless' setup. ('http://www.dual-boxing.com/forums/index.php?page=Thread&postID=117628#post117628')


Are you telling us that FTL setups don't allow you to bind "F" to "F" on all accounts? na, of course f->f is possible in an ftl ;)

[blast3r]

I run FTL setup and don't use FTL for my formation. Just pick a key you want to use then bind it to each toon but use a different step. One for step forward, one for step back, strafe left one for strafe right. Easy.

[Frosty]

I posted this in the FTL thread a while back...and still use it today.

Focusless, targetless, 'leaderless' setup. ('http://www.dual-boxing.com/forums/index.php?page=Thread&postID=118005&highlight=formation#post118005')

[Warwick]

I do not use formations generally but I believe the OP is trying to produce the same formation regardless of driving toon. Typically we move our box by focusing on one screen and have the other 4 on auto follow. When the team comes to rest the group looks like this in top-down view mode

--X--
-----
--P--
-----

Where X is your driving toon and P is a pack of toons often overlapping each other. Now assuming P is 4 toons label A, B, C, D and each has their F key mapped to a different movement directions hitting 'F' will produce the following pattern.

--X--
--A--
-B-C-
--D--

However in FTL you can drive with any of the 5 toons. So if you are driving with toon 'B' and you enter a formation your groups ends up like this.

-B---
--A--
--XC-
--D--

Also if you rely on the formation key to break auto-follow you have the problem that X is still in auto-follow mode to B.

I believe the OP is looking for a way for X to inherit the movement key of B in the formation key while B is leader so hitting the formation key has the exact same result regardless of the driving toon.

[Frosty]

I do not use formations generally but I believe the OP is trying to produce the same formation regardless of driving toon. Typically we move our box by focusing on one screen and have the other 4 on auto follow. When the team comes to rest the group looks like this in top-down view mode

<snip!>

I believe the OP is looking for a way for X to inherit the movement key of B in the formation key while B is leader so hitting the formation key has the exact same result regardless of the driving toon
The OP hasn't really said what they are looking for.
But the link I posted does this. No matter what toon has the screen focus they become my "X" and trade places with the original X.

[knopstr]

Frosty,

Thank you kindly for your post. I'm the OP. Warwick was more or less correct. I will be implementing your system as soon as I get home from work today. Thank you again for your idea.

signed,

OP

[zanthor]

Something I wanted to do with my shamans since the day I created the focus based hydra was to be able to spread out in the same positions regardless of leader...

With KeyClone it was impossible, you simply don't have enough options to make it happen, but with InnerSpace keybinds I was able to make this happen.

So, no matter who the leader is, I press my spread out button and the leader steps forward, the next characters go forward right, back right, back left, forward left to form a traditional 5 point star formation. The nicest part is, the same toons are ALWAYS left and right of each respective toon.

So if Samam leads, he always has Samarn to his right and Samarri to his left, Sarnam to his back right and Sarnarn to his back left. You rotate around the leader and the same toons are always int he same relative positions.