CleverRaven / CleverRaven/Cataclysm-DDA

[UX] It is unclear how to use a heavy duty tow cable

Open
#51,202 5 comments 3 reactions 0 assignees View on GitHub
<Bug> <Enhancement / Feature> Info / User Interface Items / Item Actions / Item Qualities Vehicles
Dominant language
C++
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Description

### Describe the bug

I tried to use a heavy duty tow cable to tow one vehicle with another and nothing happened - I moved one vehicle and the other vehicle did not follow. It took me a while to figure out that the order matters - you have to first attach the cable to the towing vehicle and only then attach the loose end to the vehicle you intend to tow because in c:dda a towing cable is unrealistically and counterintuitively unidirectional.

### Steps To Reproduce

1. Attach a heavy duty tow cable to car A
2. Attach the other end to car B
3. Drive car B. Notice: car A stays in place
4. Get very confused because it appears as if the tow cable does nothing

### Expected behavior

I see two possible solutions:
1. Make the towing mechanic more intuitive - IRL it does not matter which car you attach first
2. Display a message in chat when trying to drive a vehicle that is being towed

### Screenshots

_No response_

### Versions and configuration

- OS: Linux
- OS Version: LSB Version: :core-4.1-amd64:core-4.1-noarch; Distributor ID: Fedora; Description: Fedora release 33 (Thirty Three); Release: 33; Codename: ThirtyThree;
- Game Version: af9a595 [64-bit]
- Graphics Version: Tiles
- Game Language: English [en]
- Mods loaded: [
Dark Days Ahead [dda],
Disable NPC Needs [no_npc_food],
Bionic Professions [package_bionic_professions],
Graphical Overmap [Graphical_Overmap]
]

### Additional context

_No response_

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

Research direction

Start by reproducing the heavy duty tow cable behavior described in the issue: attach it to car A and then car B, then drive each vehicle. Review the towing mechanic and determine whether completion means bidirectional towing or a clear in-game message when driving the vehicle being towed; the issue presents both as possible solutions.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
cpp
Domain
game-dev
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
5/5
Estimated time
Over a week
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Needs clarification
Newbie friendliness
25/100

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