Re: [Freeciv-Dev] Idea for 2.0

[David Pfitzner <dwp@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Peter Schaefer wrote:

> Greg Wooledge wrote:

> > But how would the client know that the Musketeer it sees now is the same
> > one that it saw 20 turns ago and 15 squares away?
> > 
> > What happens if that Musketeer is killed, disbanded or upgraded to
> > a Rifleman?  Or changes ownership (either through diplomacy or bribery)?

> Well, actually I have to admit I have the idea from playing empire,
> where Battleships have names that can be used to distinguish ships,
> as long as your opponent does not decide to name two ships the same :-)
> It seems realistic and it helps the client not to display 3 shadows in a row
> like it might do if an destroyer moved in and out of your sight several times.

I agree.  I don't really see the problem with the client being able
to recognise the same enemy unit from time to time.  Ok, in some
cases it may seem a bit strange, but its only a game :-)

So while it would be _technically_ possible to hide the real unit
id from clients, I see such schemes as an unnecessary complication.

And if there are really some "transformations" where you think a 
unit should be no longer "recognisable" as the same as before
-- eg, upgrades, or change of owner -- it would be easy enough to
have the server change the real id in such cases (removed the old 
unit and create a new one with a new id).  (Actually, I suspect 
units changing owner already do change id like this.)

Regards,
-- David