Feedback:User/Brown Fang Thump/Player Visibility Filtering in UI

The user interface should include a set of windows and displays that allow players to toggle the visibility of other players on their screens. The purpose of this system is to allow players to only see their desired subgroup withing densely populated areas. For example: if Player X is looking for guild members within a persistent area, toggling the visibility filter for guild members would make all other players appear as transparent figures while NPCs and guild members would display normally.

Such a system could allow players who are seeking parties to visually identify others to group with by highlighting similar players. The system could use an image of an eye in the HUD as a starting point button that would bring up the first option window when clicked. The resulting window would offer a set of radial buttons for filtering options such as: peers (by experience), peers (by profession), peers (by play style), guild members, alliance members, friends, race, legion, allegiance, age, using companion, using pet, using technology, using magic, et cetera. Subsequent windows could allow players to be more specific about their choices. The eye display device could incorporate a series of graphic symbols to indicated currently selected options, either overlaying the graphic over the pupil or placing a set of graphics next to the eye device.

Since swapping model transparency or textures can be programming and labor intensive, it might be preferable if the desired players were highlighted by the appearance of a transparent "beam of light" that would extend 3-9 times the height of the model and could be selected in the model's stead. This could allow players at great distance to still be selectable, without requiring a redesign of the model texture system of the engine. Using this light beam model would even allow prioritization color coding to be implemented to provide more information to users.

If this type of system where coupled with a deep and complex player match-making system for PvP and PvE groups, players would have text and graphical means of grouping together. In instances this would be helpful; but, in persistent areas in which dynamic activities may happen at any time (using GW2 events) I think a system like this would save a lot of time and headache for players.