Topic: Telescopes (aka "Zoom in")
Just seems odd that high tech mechs can't really see all that far. The ability to zoom in would, I think, enhance a number of play-styles' experience:
Mobs are easy to see on radar from a significant distance, through mountains and obstacles. This isn't the case for plants. Harvesters might appreciate the ability to climb a hill and take a longer, closer look around the terrain.
Would add a second, inferior layer of info for scouts. Sure you can see that there' a small group of mechs way off in the distance but whose are they? and are there any more behind that building?.
Well, maybe that's all.
Other notes: Since it's just a zoom on regular vision, it would be susceptible to fog, low light and obstacles. This adds more depth to its use as a scouting tool, and would provide additional tactical options for squad defense (certain terrain will be better vs. this). It doesn't enable landmarks or put things on the map. If a scout is to report, they have to use visual ques only for bot-types and interpret the terrain on their own to give locations/ranges.
Other options (take all or some as preferred): Make it a module, slow down mouselook when in use, different types to mitigate interference (nightvision vs. dark, thermal vs. fog), thermal/nightvision are that type only (i.e. need different modules for each type), variable zoom, old-school black binocular vignette for zoomed views, some visual cue that makes opposing scopers able recognize each other as scopers (bonus pts. if the bot actually looks like it's standing up and using a telescope. And with a big eye on the end like in cartoons! )
Thanks for reading!