(I apologize for the odd poll question layout. I wasn't able to add five yes-no questions, because polls are limited to three questions.)
Hi everyone,
I've recently been working on some patches for issues that I've read about from players on the TDM and TTLG forums — and Discord. My goal is to make it as easy as possible for players, especially new players and those who need usability/accessibility options, to find what they need in order to have a better TDM experience. I've already written the GUI and game engine code for these settings, which I've been using in my personal build.
The reason for this poll and discussion is to both guide the finalization of my work and collect data to help inform the dev team. Which patches I submit depend on the outcome of this poll, discussion, and what the dev team agrees to accept. Once decided, I can coordinate with the dev team.
I've attached screenshots of what the new settings menu would look like if all of the settings are accepted.
Below, I have detailed each menu setting, so you can have an easier time understanding each one.
Very important to keep in mind: None of these settings change TDM default behavior. They are all opt-in. If you are already happy with the behavior of 2.10, 2.11, etc. and these menu settings are accepted, nothing will change for you.
Rename "Always Run" to "Run Mode" with options "None, Always, Toggle"
After 2.11 was released, @i30817 requested that "toggle run" be added to the settings menu.
Its cvar is already in TDM as "in_toggleRun" (same as Doom 3).
I propose renaming the "Always Run" setting to "Run Mode" with options: "None", "Always", and "Toggle".
None = in_alwaysRun 0; in_toggleRun 0
Always = in_alwaysRun 1; in_toggleRun 0
Toggle = in_alwaysRun 0; in_toggleRun 1
Show Blackjack Helper
@Wellingtoncrab suggested that the new blackjack helper be added to the settings menu.
Its cvar was added to 2.11 as "tdm_blackjack_indicate".
More info: It's the new blackjack helper added to 2.11. When the game detects that the blackjack can be used for a successful hit or KO, the blackjack will rise slightly.
I propose a "Yes/No" setting for this.
Slider for "View: Head Bob"
@ChronA requested a way to disable head bobbing, because a viewer watching him play was having severe motion sickness. Also, there was a bug in TDM that made setting the head bob in the console not stick after loading a saved game. (Even with 2.11, if a mission overrides the "tdm_player_thief.def" file and sets "pm_bobroll", "pm_bobpitch", "pm_bobup", and other cvars, it will override player preferences.)
As far back as 2008, players have had trouble setting head bob.
Another one from 2018.
At the end of 2022, @Shadowex3 registered just to voice the need for a way to control head bob.
I propose that a slider be added to adjust the amount of head bob. This would use a new "pm_headbob_mod" cvar with a value between 0.0 and 1.0 (default 1.0, no change). The "pm_headbob_mod" would be a multiplier for "pm_bobroll", "pm_bobpitch", and "pm_bobup". The advantage to this approach is that missions like Volta 2 and Hazard Pay would not need to adjust their "tdm_player_thief.def" files for head bob to work properly. And, the player can still adjust "pm_bobroll", "pm_bobpitch", and "pm_bobup" as they like.
Slider for "View: Mantle Roll"
This is similar to head bob for those who are sensitive to motion.
Its cvar was added to 2.11 as "pm_mantle_roll_mod".
A Thief player on Discord said, "2.11 will have a cvar to tune down the mantling animation at last."
I propose that a slider be added for "pm_mantle_roll_mod".
Auto-Search Bodies
@Zaratul requested the "auto-search bodies" feature from Thief 1 & 2.
Its cvar was added to 2.12 dev16783-10307 as "tdm_autosearch_bodies".
I did a poll on the a Thief Discord server and roughly 20% of players there use the Thief auto-search bodies feature.
I propose a menu setting for this, so that players coming from Thief 1 & 2 can easily find it.