After a lot of thought and observation, I am thinking about changing the default setting for LAC's automated mumble management. For several years, LAC has been automatically managing any copy of mumble that it finds installed, automatically activating it and switching it to appropriate channels according to current settings for Realm, Mission, and Team. This works SPLENDIDLY once mumble is installed and configured. But Mumble isn't always easy to configure and isn't always completely well behaved until that configuration is enhanced with at least one or two custom "Mumble shortcuts" that are generally unknown to new players. Consequently, LAC's attempts to automatically activate mumble, connect with our mumble server, and switch to appropriate channels can cause problems for new users. This might discourage new users and cause them to look elsewhere for a flight simulator. We don't want to do that!
LAC is very good at urging new users to install Mumble. However, I have found that once Mumble is installed according to that advice, the earliest efforts to use it generally enjoy best success when handled without LAC's automation. It's easy for new users to connect with the LAC Mumble server. They tend to stay connected with our "root" channel at that point, and experienced LAC pilots can easily speak with them on that channel and fly with them while coaching them in the basics. With experience, we can gradually teach them about other channels and eventually guide them in application of LAC's automated mumble management option, which can be activated by editing the "NetworkMode" field of LAC's hidden ~home/.LAC/LacConfig.txt file as described in FAQ #51 from our "LacFaq.htm" page here:
Accordingly, I plan to configure LAC's defaults to leave mumble UNMANAGED by default. Watch for that change in beta-test version published in or after Sep2024.
Last edit: bbosen 2024-09-07
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
Since Version 9.75, players can toggle LAC's automated mumble management on and off in flight simply by tapping the "a" or "A" key of their keyboard. The cockpit's "Mumble Panel" displays a label to inform them when "MUMBLE IS NOT MANAGED". Otherwise, the currently selected Mumble channel is displayed in the appropriate color (red or blue) according to the player's team affiliation.
By default, LAC does not manage mumble for brand new players after initial installation.
When experienced players coach newcomers that have installed mumble according to LAC's urgings, they should expect to find them tuned to the root channel of our LAC server at LinuxAirCombat.com. After a little bit of voice coaching on the root channel, they can be taught to tap "A" or "a" to toggle LAC's mumble management on, whereupon LAC will automatically switch them to their appropriate team channel.
Since Version 9.75, players using LAC's automated mumble management can tap Function key 12 ("F12") to command mumble to switch to the channel of the OPPOSING team participating in flight with them. When coaching a new player participating on the opposing team, it may be necessary to use this facility.
Last edit: bbosen 2024-10-03
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
Well..... we changed this again. We restored the legacy handling of LAC's automated mumble management. Since Version 9.83, LAC has its automatic mumble management facility ACTIVATED by default, so new players will start out with LAC automatically connecting mumble with the best, most appropriate channel according to the selected Realm, Mission, and Team.
For awhile we thought this was confusing new players unnecessarily. But with experience, we found we like the legacy defaults better, so we restored them.
Sorry for the resulting confusion..... If you have recently updated to a version lesser than 8.93, we recommend updating to 8.93 to restore the long-documented, legacy behavior of LAC's automated mumble interface.
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
After a lot of thought and observation, I am thinking about changing the default setting for LAC's automated mumble management. For several years, LAC has been automatically managing any copy of mumble that it finds installed, automatically activating it and switching it to appropriate channels according to current settings for Realm, Mission, and Team. This works SPLENDIDLY once mumble is installed and configured. But Mumble isn't always easy to configure and isn't always completely well behaved until that configuration is enhanced with at least one or two custom "Mumble shortcuts" that are generally unknown to new players. Consequently, LAC's attempts to automatically activate mumble, connect with our mumble server, and switch to appropriate channels can cause problems for new users. This might discourage new users and cause them to look elsewhere for a flight simulator. We don't want to do that!
LAC is very good at urging new users to install Mumble. However, I have found that once Mumble is installed according to that advice, the earliest efforts to use it generally enjoy best success when handled without LAC's automation. It's easy for new users to connect with the LAC Mumble server. They tend to stay connected with our "root" channel at that point, and experienced LAC pilots can easily speak with them on that channel and fly with them while coaching them in the basics. With experience, we can gradually teach them about other channels and eventually guide them in application of LAC's automated mumble management option, which can be activated by editing the "NetworkMode" field of LAC's hidden ~home/.LAC/LacConfig.txt file as described in FAQ #51 from our "LacFaq.htm" page here:
https://askmisterwizard.com/2019/LinuxAirCombat/LacFaq.htm
Accordingly, I plan to configure LAC's defaults to leave mumble UNMANAGED by default. Watch for that change in beta-test version published in or after Sep2024.
Last edit: bbosen 2024-09-07
LAC should also be enhanced so it's urgings to install LAC are accompanied with simple instruction on connecting mumble with LAC's mumble server.
New version 9.75 (promoted to"Production" status 23Sep2024, includes this improvement. Accordingly, I am marking this thread "DONE".
Since Version 9.75, players can toggle LAC's automated mumble management on and off in flight simply by tapping the "a" or "A" key of their keyboard. The cockpit's "Mumble Panel" displays a label to inform them when "MUMBLE IS NOT MANAGED". Otherwise, the currently selected Mumble channel is displayed in the appropriate color (red or blue) according to the player's team affiliation.
By default, LAC does not manage mumble for brand new players after initial installation.
When experienced players coach newcomers that have installed mumble according to LAC's urgings, they should expect to find them tuned to the root channel of our LAC server at LinuxAirCombat.com. After a little bit of voice coaching on the root channel, they can be taught to tap "A" or "a" to toggle LAC's mumble management on, whereupon LAC will automatically switch them to their appropriate team channel.
Since Version 9.75, players using LAC's automated mumble management can tap Function key 12 ("F12") to command mumble to switch to the channel of the OPPOSING team participating in flight with them. When coaching a new player participating on the opposing team, it may be necessary to use this facility.
Last edit: bbosen 2024-10-03
Well..... we changed this again. We restored the legacy handling of LAC's automated mumble management. Since Version 9.83, LAC has its automatic mumble management facility ACTIVATED by default, so new players will start out with LAC automatically connecting mumble with the best, most appropriate channel according to the selected Realm, Mission, and Team.
For awhile we thought this was confusing new players unnecessarily. But with experience, we found we like the legacy defaults better, so we restored them.
Sorry for the resulting confusion..... If you have recently updated to a version lesser than 8.93, we recommend updating to 8.93 to restore the long-documented, legacy behavior of LAC's automated mumble interface.