# Could the creature compass indicate distance too?

**URL:** <https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/could-the-creature-compass-indicate-distance-too/4618>\
**Category:** The Drawing Board\
**Created:** [December 25, 2013, 2:49pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/could-the-creature-compass-indicate-distance-too/4618 "2013-12-25T14:49:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![vbmark](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/vbmark/32/1067_2.png) [@vbmark](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/vbmark)\
**Post date:** [December 25, 2013, 2:49pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/could-the-creature-compass-indicate-distance-too/4618/1 "2013-12-25T14:49:36Z")

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If I see a Z far away and off the viewport, I sometimes need to run away. I cannot tell if I am being chased, if I am getting away, or if the pursuer is gaining; to know this requires extra key strokes.

Could the creature compass indicate distance too? Maybe like:

Z(28) zombie scientist

Thanks.

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**Author:** ![Natures\_Witness](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/natures_witness/32/165_2.png) [@Natures\_Witness](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Natures_Witness)\
**Post date:** [December 25, 2013, 4:00pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/could-the-creature-compass-indicate-distance-too/4618/2 "2013-12-25T16:00:32Z")

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I second this, would greatly ain’t situational awareness. Also, is it possible to make the direction listing a bit more precise? I feel the 8-point direction system just isn’t quite accurate enough. Could we maybe go to a 16-point system? You know, with things like north north-east and so on.

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**Author:** ![Dominae](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/dominae/32/53_2.png) [@Dominae](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Dominae)\
**Post date:** [December 25, 2013, 7:19pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/could-the-creature-compass-indicate-distance-too/4618/3 "2013-12-25T19:19:40Z")

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If you switch to (V)iew, like you do to look at items, you can use the \< and \> to turn the page to see all the creature positions. It’ll highlight each one, it’ll show you direction, and will tell you how far they are away. Even their current status in:re of you (Hostile!) etc.

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**Author:** ![vbmark](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/vbmark/32/1067_2.png) [@vbmark](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/vbmark)\
**Post date:** [December 25, 2013, 7:54pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/could-the-creature-compass-indicate-distance-too/4618/4 "2013-12-25T19:54:52Z")

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Yes, I am aware of the keystrokes but that is going in and out of another screen. I just want to, like Mr. Witness said, have situational awareness as I move. Not move, (V)iew, Move, (V)iew, Move, (V)iew, etc.

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**Author:** ![deadmerits](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/deadmerits/32/19_2.png) [@deadmerits](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/deadmerits)\
**Post date:** [December 25, 2013, 8:21pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/could-the-creature-compass-indicate-distance-too/4618/5 "2013-12-25T20:21:12Z")

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If you use the capital LKJH you can offset your view and leave it centered at the new point, meaning you could watch your enemy(ies) while you run away.

Anyways, that is a good idea and I would used the distance indicator you’ve described more then I would use my idea here so… yeah good one.

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**Author:** ![DG123](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/54ee81/32.png) [@DG123](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/DG123)\
**Post date:** [December 25, 2013, 8:26pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/could-the-creature-compass-indicate-distance-too/4618/6 "2013-12-25T20:26:17Z")

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Does this work for aiming guns too?

At the moment it seems autoaim switches between many targets off-screen and doesn’t actually show them. Which is very annoying.

Could I shift the viewpoint to where the enemies are and then aim at them?

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**Author:** ![deadmerits](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/deadmerits/32/19_2.png) [@deadmerits](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/deadmerits)\
**Post date:** [December 25, 2013, 8:34pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/could-the-creature-compass-indicate-distance-too/4618/7 "2013-12-25T20:34:26Z")

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You could do that, but there is also a “snap to target” option in the… well options. That makes your screen center on the target when you’re selecting enemies.

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**Author:** ![Bonevomit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Bonevomit](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Bonevomit)\
**Post date:** [December 25, 2013, 9:01pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/could-the-creature-compass-indicate-distance-too/4618/8 "2013-12-25T21:01:44Z")

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Yeah it should, that would be a handy feature.

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**Author:** ![DG123](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/54ee81/32.png) [@DG123](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/DG123)\
**Post date:** [December 25, 2013, 10:49pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/could-the-creature-compass-indicate-distance-too/4618/9 "2013-12-25T22:49:49Z")

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Aha, that is an option I wasn’t aware of. I’ll look into that.

(Speaking of options… which of them will take effect immediately without starting a new game? I assume this is fine. I’m not sure about turning on random NPCs though…)

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**Author:** ![kevin.granade](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/kevin.granade/32/1316_2.png) [@kevin.granade](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/kevin.granade)\
**Post date:** [December 26, 2013, 12:38am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/could-the-creature-compass-indicate-distance-too/4618/10 "2013-12-26T00:38:27Z")

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The main issue is whether it impacts spawning or not, if it impacts spawning it won’t retroactively adjust existing terrain that has already been generated. And for example toggling the static NPC option won’t take effect until you generate a new character.

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**Author:** ![DG123](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/54ee81/32.png) [@DG123](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/DG123)\
**Post date:** [December 26, 2013, 5:06pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/could-the-creature-compass-indicate-distance-too/4618/11 "2013-12-26T17:06:53Z")

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Are there dynamic NPCs otherwise? I just have no idea if anyone else exists in my world or not.

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**Author:** ![Binky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f04885/32.png) [@Binky](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Binky)\
**Post date:** [December 26, 2013, 7:40pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/could-the-creature-compass-indicate-distance-too/4618/12 "2013-12-26T19:40:21Z")

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> [@DG123](#):
>
> Are there dynamic NPCs otherwise? I just have no idea if anyone else exists in my world or not.

Not currently, but soon as they are being worked on!!!

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**Author:** ![vbmark](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/vbmark/32/1067_2.png) [@vbmark](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/vbmark)\
**Post date:** [December 29, 2013, 3:58am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/could-the-creature-compass-indicate-distance-too/4618/13 "2013-12-29T03:58:39Z")

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Coding is done. Here is what it looks like.

![](http://i.imgur.com/A9xirPI.png)

![](http://i.imgur.com/SoUlCeX.png)

Pull request submitted: [https://github.com/CleverRaven/Cataclysm-DDA/pull/5269](https://github.com/CleverRaven/Cataclysm-DDA/pull/5269)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![FunsizeNinja123](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/funsizeninja123/32/118_2.png) [@FunsizeNinja123](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/FunsizeNinja123)\
**Post date:** [December 29, 2013, 3:16pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/could-the-creature-compass-indicate-distance-too/4618/14 "2013-12-29T15:16:57Z")

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It looks like there’s about 28 zombie necromancers.

I don’t want that.

In all seriousness, the numbers look like they’re counting how many zombies, not the distance.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![vbmark](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/vbmark/32/1067_2.png) [@vbmark](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/vbmark)\
**Post date:** [December 29, 2013, 3:31pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/could-the-creature-compass-indicate-distance-too/4618/15 "2013-12-29T15:31:04Z")

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No one suggested any formatting ideas so after playing around this looked the cleanest.

As for it looking like counting, it’s not, it’s distance.

I found that when I am in a game with these numbers displaying it really adds to the understanding of what is going on around me.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![LazyCat-rus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@LazyCat-rus](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/LazyCat-rus)\
**Post date:** [December 29, 2013, 3:40pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/could-the-creature-compass-indicate-distance-too/4618/16 "2013-12-29T15:40:02Z")

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I think, game need separate screen of monsters overview.

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**Author:** ![Ferodaktyl](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/ferodaktyl/32/56_2.png) [@Ferodaktyl](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Ferodaktyl)\
**Post date:** [December 29, 2013, 4:03pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/could-the-creature-compass-indicate-distance-too/4618/17 "2013-12-29T16:03:50Z")

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[quote=“vbmark, post:13, topic:4618”]Coding is done. Here is what it looks like.

[spoiler]  
 ![](http://i.imgur.com/A9xirPI.png)

![](http://i.imgur.com/SoUlCeX.png)[/spoiler]

Pull request submitted: [https://github.com/CleverRaven/Cataclysm-DDA/pull/5269](https://github.com/CleverRaven/Cataclysm-DDA/pull/5269)[/quote]

it looks a bit confusing. If you have 2 or more of same type of zombies, they only have 1 distance ( or so it seems to me based on the screenshots). Maybe if you can put the distance in the upper part , where direction is, and make it something like  
NW N NE M(27)  
W E  
SW S Z(28)z(32)B(18) SE

but even this could prove a problem if there are too many on one direction and not enough space to display them.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![vbmark](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/vbmark/32/1067_2.png) [@vbmark](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/vbmark)\
**Post date:** [December 29, 2013, 4:14pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/could-the-creature-compass-indicate-distance-too/4618/18 "2013-12-29T16:14:11Z")

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I’m open to suggestions on how it’s displayed.

Ferodaktyl, I see what you’re saying. I’ll play around with putting the distance in the upper part.

Who is the administrator who makes the final decision on functionality, design, and merges?

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**Author:** ![vbmark](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/vbmark/32/1067_2.png) [@vbmark](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/vbmark)\
**Post date:** [December 29, 2013, 5:10pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/could-the-creature-compass-indicate-distance-too/4618/19 "2013-12-29T17:10:25Z")

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Experimenting with adding distance to the top part.

When there aren’t a lot of critters it looks ok:

![](http://i.imgur.com/WTqIO67.png)

However, once there are a lot:

![](http://i.imgur.com/9luJvXl.png)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![AtomicDryad](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/atomicdryad/32/85_2.png) [@AtomicDryad](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/AtomicDryad)\
**Post date:** [December 29, 2013, 5:12pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/could-the-creature-compass-indicate-distance-too/4618/20 "2013-12-29T17:12:54Z")

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A tile is ~1m, so  
Z 28m decayed zombie  
z 8m child zombie  
Z 36m dancing zombie  
Z 38m michael jackson and crew

Would work

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