Build Order / Reminder List for Training

[slate kiln]

Built this widget to remind myself Junos exist (and the other nice things I forget too), but I'm sure this can fulfill a number of purposes people might have for a visible list appearing on screen during a match.

This widget creates a mission-objective-like visible list for things to do during a match, with hotkeys to check off (remove) things near the beginning of the list when they are completed.

The list will also remind you about itself by flashing every few minutes a few times, and I made a nice looking load-in for it at the start of a match and made it look nice when things in the list are completed.

Start of match, showing what the flashing looks like for reminders too
https://imgur.com/hu5X3DZ

Example of what it looks like when you check stuff off (with hotkeys)
https://imgur.com/aq3gwUh

Instructions are at the top of the widget of how to use it, but essentially you set the list of things you want to display for you and you're good to go, with some additional options for reminder times and an appearance delay for it after the match begins.

Hotkeys are to remove the first 4 entries in the list, and are not exactly easily configurable right now, but they are:
ALT + Q = 1st entry
ALT + W = 2nd entry
ALT + E = 3rd entry
ALT + R = 4th entry

Probably not the most solid widget code wise, feel free to critique and give suggestions as I'm more familiar with... C, C#, Java, Python... Lua I'm just not used to yet, I mean they start arrays at 1, not 0, oh man.

Things I'd like to add before I consider this complete:

1. Customizable hotkeys
2. An option to have checkboxes you can click to complete instead of using hotkeys

Hope this helps someone!

Version 0.6.0 update notes:
#1180684643285090336 message

https://gist.github.com/Gamepro03/7fbfb0cea578a162fb5d4d580dbf4a8b

[pliant chasm]

I think what would be really cool is if you could setup your own build order. And that it is automatically checked when you have finished a building/queued it into the build order.

Because I forget things like that.

Also, wouldnt it be possible to simply display the checkbox as long has you have not built a juno for instance? then you dont need any hotkeys except for hiding the list.

[slate kiln]

Originally I wanted auto-completion too, but I was worried it would be too complicated for any particular person to add in specific units/buildings to the build order list since they'd have to know exact ID names for things. Wasn't hard to build, but I wanted to make this a simpler training tool first. It's certainly a good start for a proper, REAL, build order-timing tool though, so I might end up putting time into that eventually.

Also I should say, it's hard to have true build orders in BAR, since it varies by map, wind, and position/role. An idea here is to be able to pre-make multiple different build order sets, and select them at placement time before the match starts, which I might also consider adding at some point.

But also yep, I want to add in checkboxes you can click on before I consider this "done"- but I'm worried about accidentally clicking on them instead of something important during battle. There's a non-zero chance that they get in the way of gameplay. Personally I'd use hotkeys for my own usage even after I add in checkboxes because I'm afraid of that.

[pliant chasm]

I see. You got a point. In that case, what about tracking the energy and metal income milestones? as in 30 metal. or ... whatever is deemed some sort of milestone. If it is about getting better at build order and co. independent of the map, that might be a good fit. 🙂

What else is important? Tech 2 Constructor, Afus ... mmh maybe advanced solar panel? not sure though.

Also about worrying about non zero chance of clicking accidentally on a checkbox: I think you do not need to make it perfect. Baseline and foundation first as in timer, good way to track what one wants to do and how one would be able to implement it (user-friendly configuration). What about if tracking things via inputting the name like the menu where you can set disabled units? that might be a way? or just typing in afus 3, pawn 50 ... etc. separated by comma. that might be easy to implement.

you could then call the command "/checklist metal 10, energy 100, con 3, extract 3" - for the beginning the full names. (and before that only the ids for testing) then going over for short hands/fuzzy or first few characters. Including the timer, your widget would become invaluable.

[slate kiln]

honestly I feel like I could build a separate widget specifically for that kind of thing in a much more unique and better way than a list on the side like this 😛 different purpose, different design

brainstorming through it, I'd rather keep a shorthand list of reminders exactly as-is with minor enhancements. But an actual build helper tool with autocompletions, that moves through "stages" of gameplay, etc, that's something much more grand that requires a lot more finesse.

I do want to keep this one similar to what it is now though, because I can see it being pretty multipurpose- not only for reminders but also for streamers, tournaments, on-screen instructions, whatever you want to put up there really. Just need to add the option to let it work during spec mode too

[pliant chasm]

Ok. In that case, good luck :).

[slate kiln]

New version (0.6.0) of this widget is up.

We get a little more multipurpose now:

Features:

• You can create up to 4 build order lists, and add them to a list you can select at the beginning of a match (during commander placement).
• You can go back to your build order lists during a match with ALT + T. If you only have one list programmed, it just resets your current list.
• Configure option added to allow lists to appear while spectating. This can let casters or streamers use it for something during a match, if they wish.

There's a lot of instructions now for how to make multiple lists, hopefully it makes sense, I tried to make it as clear as possible.

Additionally, the new "default" "freshly-downloaded" option sets two lists, the first being the Default example list, and the second being to disable the list altogether (it sets to use a list with no values).

During commander placement, the list will default to choosing the first one, so if you forget to set it to a different one after match starts you can still go back to list selection during the match with ALT + T.

ALSO, I've added titles to the top of the lists, which can also be customized.

Here's some pictures of examples:
https://i.imgur.com/fSDhXTj.png
https://i.imgur.com/MB593q5.png

[little citrus]

GiveRep <User:User> [Num:Whole number]

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[light owl]

so for people asking for a auto compleate another way of doing this would be you set a time and if the timer goes past that time it starts flashing red and makeing noise its not auto compleate but it will function the same way. i know nothing about programming .lua so i dont know how hard that would be but i think it would be easyer than scaning the game for player placed objects

[muted epoch]

ar

[mystic iris]

ine

[ruby spoke]

I also would love to do this and make it a "tutorial trainer" for new players with some built in metas for them to practice.

I think it would significantly reduce the skill floor required to get new players in the door.

@slate kiln any interest in getting this going or want some help with it?

[slate kiln]

I definetly imaged that to be more of a separate widget than this one, as this was designed just for some editable easy stuff that works between different matches regardless of the map (more or less). At the very least, this widget continues to remind me in the middle of the game that I need AA, an anti-nuke, and anything else I may have forgotten 😂

When it comes to more specific trainers, a lot of the time it depends on the map and role of the player too, so a kind of "build order" can change quite a bit. I'd build it as a separate widget though, but if you want to extend this one then by all means go for it, my focus is on other projects atm rather than BAR for the time being