I see a lot of people trying to host games with private IP addresses. It would be nice if game could check what address host is going to use (when trying to host the game) and if private IP address is in the use, not to allow creation of an on-line game. Pupil who tried to host would get the pop up with a message that would say that he is using private IP address and that in order to host a game he must Forward xxxx ports on router and set xxxx options in game in ordet to be able to host.

That's what we wanted to implement at first, but we found a better solution. The game now auto-detects your external IP address by using a response from the WormNET server - so in 99% cases, you wouldn't have to configure your IP address for WormNET play. Port forwarding is another issue, though.

can this feature be optionally set in settings or registry?
will hamachi's IPs be marked as "bad" ?

The "Force IP address" option will still allow you to set your IP address manually.

If game autodetects IP why all the times I see people with private IP addresses trying to host their games?
At least some kind of warning should be implemented, but I think that forbidding people with private IP addresses to host their games in on-line lobby would be the right thing to do.
But leave the option for them to host and connect with direct IP connection if they play over hamachi for instance.

Yes. This was implemented after the last Beta release, and will be available in the next Beta.

does that has something to do with the "alphascan" bot joining every hosted game and showing, at least to the host, the flag the host has?

No, that's a side-effect of this (http://forum.team17.co.uk/showpost.php?p=587403&postcount=261). You can safely ignore it.

My question regarding the beta is, will there be a "radar" system, i.e. a small map in the corner of the screen? I don't think people will be very fond of big maps until such a thing is implemented into the game.. also a function to zoom-out ("M"-key in worms united anyone?) would be extremely useful, however I don't know how realistic of a proposition that is.

Not sure about the "radar" but I believe the zoom function was discussed (and dismissed) elsewhere.

Both things have been discussed and the zoom function has been dismissed at first, but recently there was some discussion again about using the mouse wheel for a possible zoom function.

Personally, I think only a zoom function would really help with big maps.

A small radar/map box would only show you a bunch of crowded dots on really large maps, and if you make the box bigger, it'll take away too much space on the screen.
I could think of a map box that resizes (to full-screen) though.

I'd like to see a zooming function with a few fixed zooming steps or stepless transition if it's feasible.
The highest zooming step could always change to a full screen overview of the map with worms and items shown as various dots.
Just like it is done in Supreme Commander.

Both things have been discussed and the zoom function has been dismissed at first, but recently there was some discussion again about using the mouse wheel for a possible zoom function.

Personally, I think only a zoom function would really help with big maps.

A small radar/map box would only show you a bunch of crowded dots on really large maps, and if you make the box bigger, it'll take away too much space on the screen.
I could think of a map box that resizes (to full-screen) though.

I'd like to see a zooming function with a few fixed zooming steps or stepless transition if it's feasible.
The highest zooming step could always change to a full screen overview of the map with worms and items shown as various dots.
Just like it is done in Supreme Commander.

Good points there, I can only agree with you. I'm just wondering whether such a zoom function might not eat loads of memory? Especially a transitional one...

But none of this is implemented in the upcoming patch or? (the one coming on monday)

Good points there, I can only agree with you. I'm just wondering whether such a zoom function might not eat loads of memory? Especially a transitional one...
As far as I understand, the problem is with WA's 2D graphic engine.
It would get quite pixelly unless the sprites are vectorized or anti-aliased.
But none of this is implemented in the upcoming patch or? (the one coming on monday)
Not to my knowledge.

But none of this is implemented in the upcoming patch or? (the one coming on monday)

how sure are you that it is coming on monday?

Oh, well I was just assuming that the webmaster would come back to work on Monday :p

Uhm, first thing I noticed in a big map host was the cluttered auto worm placement. It looks like they were placed withing the 1920x696 boundary, the huge space around it didn't contain any worms. If this is the case, I'd like to do another proposition involving auto worm placement and full usage of map space to place them. Also an auto center key for the crate(s) that just dropped would be nice. I was looking and looking and didn't find my crate, so I just skipped my turn :(

The auto placement seemed ok for me in a recent large BnA despite favourable land mass to the south. Good suggestion about being able to auto centre on teh most recent crate drop (after the centre when it drops initially), perhaps it would be possible to set up a hotkey that would add an arrow to the map pointing to the crates like they do on crazy crates and certain missions.

And that reminds me, is there a button to auto centre the screen back on the active worm? I can't remember it.

perhaps it would be possible to set up a hotkey that would add an arrow to the map pointing to the crates


this sounds even better xD

And that reminds me, is there a button to auto centre the screen back on the active worm? I can't remember it.

Sounds like a nice new compact list with all game keys would be cool.

edit: *ouch, forgive me, thats somewhere on the wiki of course :p

The arrow idea is definetly needed.

perhaps it would be possible to set up a hotkey that would add an arrow to the map pointing to the crates
Has been suggested already. ;)

And that reminds me, is there a button to auto centre the screen back on the active worm? I can't remember it.
Yep! That's the home key.

Yep! That's the home key.

Thank you.

Incidentally I tried one of your massive RR maps today, very well built, shame I can't rope that well ;)

perhaps it would be possible to set up a hotkey that would add an arrow to the map pointing to the crates like they do on crazy crates and certain missions.
Has been suggested already.
Yes, I suggested that.

But not only limited to crates, but also Worms with arrows in the respective team color and other hazards like mines and oil drums.
Maybe there could be a shortcut for every team using the same F button shown on the chat panel (e.g. Ctrl+F1 to Ctrl+F6).
The shortcuts for mines and oil drums could probably be checkboxes in the escape menu.

This could be an interim solution to make navigation easier until the potential mini map and/or zooming function are implemented.

Yes, I suggested that.

But not only limited to crates, but also Worms with arrows in the respective team color and other hazards like mines and oil drums.
Maybe there could be a shortcut for every team using the same F button shown on the chat panel (e.g. Ctrl+F1 to Ctrl+F6).
The shortcuts for mines and oil drums could probably be checkboxes in the escape menu.

This could be an interim solution to make navigation easier until the potential mini map and/or zooming function are implemented.

Sounds a lot better than a minimap, I'd vote for skip that map idea and stick to the arrows. In games I heardly pay attention to minimaps anyway, but pointing arrows on the screen I personally find much more useful.

Problem is that it might get cluttered.