BOTF Tactical Camera Views

[Gotty50]

Hello! Long time player of the game, currently enjoying the Balance Of Power MOD.

My question is, is there any way to change and stick with a camera view on Tactical?
I don't feel this was an issue when I used to play this game 20 years ago, but for years now the camera is stuck to a friendly ship, really close, and I miss the whole battle unfold!
I press space bar and this moves about a bit, I think to a different ship, but I still see nothing.

In-between turns I click reset to get a top down view, give orders, click turn, and we're back to the rear of a ship not even pointing at the action. I can't keep track of ships lost & destroyed.

I've tried the various 'views' but they're either just as restrictive, or it reverts to the above when clicking turn.

Am I missing something obvious, some trick, or something technical to change this?

I'd just like a nice top down view to watch the battle unfold.

Many thanks for any help.

[Deimos]

I've not found a way, sadly
It's a shame as you tend to miss the battles when it defaults to the close up shot all the time.

[thunderchero]

Spocks-cuddly-tribble posted some info when we were looking at widescreen initial combat rotation.
but not sure what can be done to get what you are looking for. but it is a location to start at

Full screen camera setting for first sight of battle turns:

00497C76           mov   edx, ebp
00497C78           mov   eax, 3                        ; toward target
00497C7D           call  tactical_camera_view          ; toward target 70000002 or object fullscreen
00497C82           mov   eax, 9
00497C87           mov   edx, ebp
00497C89           xor   ebx, ebx
00497C8B           call  tactical_camera_view          ; 9 with ebx 0 70000002 or object fullscreen

[thunderchero]

I'd just like a nice top down view to watch the battle unfold.

I've not found a way, sadly
It's a shame as you tend to miss the battles when it defaults to the close up shot all the time.

I think this is close to what you are looking for

0x00097079 03 -> 0B
0x00097083 09 -> 0B

note: this has very limited testing (only combat below) so 3 way combat, cloaked combat, ect may have different results
edit; after little more testing, if you select turn before initial view stops rotate/zoom, combat view starts from that angle/position.
but also if you move to an angle/zoom before selecting turn it will stay at that angle/position.

Edit2 the more I test this the more I like it

[Studmaster]

Would you happen to have any before and after pics Thunder?

[thunderchero]

Would you happen to have any before and after pics Thunder?

here is combat before code change


here is same combat with same commands with code changes

[Studmaster]

Cannot see pictures unfortunately

[thunderchero]

they are youtube videos

before code change
https://youtu.be/O7WrBLDfX4g

after code change
https://youtu.be/1iMMuQYbTh0

[Studmaster]

Got it that time...much better view!