My apologies as well if I inadvertently cover a request that's been mentioned prior, I have done a few searches of the suggested features entries to try not to do so but there are quite a lot of entries!
1. Squad-level, faction level and 'edit all selected' order editing:
It's terribly dull to manually tweak the orders of every single unit I need to issue orders to; removing follow and bodyguard orders from a squad, moving medic/robotics up in the order when I've forgotten to slap them on in the first place, etc all require individually editing my minions' chore lists. This is frequent enough that it feels like a very considerable source of wasted time and frustration. It could be improved by:
- Add a hotkeyable toggle to edit orders at the squad, faction or selected units level. Generate a composite list in the tasks pane and allow deleting from this composite list like as normal with a single character selected. When a task is deleted, delete it in that slot for all eligible characters who share that task in the shot.
- Add the ability to import and export task lists. Include the ability to import a saved task list to either a single character, squad, or all selected characters.
2. More flexible order assignment options:
When giving orders to units, the last order is always appended to the end of the task list. This works well enough, but very often I don't want the task I just assigned to be at the end of the list and have to spend some time moving it around. Individually this may only take a few extra seconds per character but like a mosquito bite it's a continual irritant and I feel like I spend a lot of time on it. I would improve this by:
- Create a hotkey to add an order to the front of the list instead of the end. Maybe Alt-Rightclick instead of Shift-Rightclick.
- Create a hotkey, toggle, or other means to add orders after a selected spot (All new orders go into Slot 4, for example).
- Allow grouping orders so they can be moved and copied as a unit instead of individually.
- Allow copy/pasting of orders, order groups, and selected orders (would require being able to highlight multiple orders in the task list at once).
3. "Use First Machine of Type Available" operating/hauling task option:
Imagine I've built an iron refinery in a bad spot and need to move it. Once I destroy it, I have to then manually clear defunct jobs from the workers who were assigned to it, then re-add the tasks when I build a new refinery elsewhere. This seems like it could be entirely eliminated by allowing orders to target either individual machines OR any machines of the exact same type. In the prior example, a "Operate any iron refinery" order would have my minions automatically seek out another available refinery if one exists, and if not they will automatically select the new refinery once it's built.
4. Loadout assignments:
Whenever I want to send a squad out I have a procedure: First, select the squad and turn off jobs- I don't want them dumping things back into storage while I try to load them out. Second, check everyone's gear and make sure they're loaded out for the task at hand. Third, bolts, bandages and food are passed out. At that point I've sunk at least several minutes into prepping the squad, and I'd guess most of you have danced this particular dance too. This entire process can be eliminated by borrowing character/squad loadout concepts from games like Dwarf Fortress and Rimworld:
- Allow saving of the inventory and gear loadout of a selected character.
- Allow importing these loadouts to your selected character(s) and squads. Characters given a loadout to satisfy can search nearby containers such as weapon/armor/ammo/food storage and equip the best quality items on its list available, while dumping as much as it can that isn't on its list.
- Prevent items in a character's assigned loadout from being ditched to storage if the character is idle with their jobs turned on, but do allow them to be used/eaten.
5. A "Clear All Orders" button, or some other way to quickly clear the task lists of selected characters and squads:
Obvious enough- being able to clear task lists fast is probably something people have thought about every time they redo their workforce's assignments. Or at least I do. Would be nice to be able to dump them all at once.