Controlling artillery just...doesn't work

[General Maximus]

Annoyance from the general game bugs and poor design decisions aside, I was excited to use the 'personally control the artillery' feature which made it's way from Fall of the Samurai to Rome II. Except...that it doesn't work without being another annoyance...

I tried to fire all kinds of artillery, whether wall mounted ballistas or those onagers. But HOW IN THE NAME OF GOD am I supposed to look behind that giant red arrow that blocks all the view?

In the prologue, I couldn't manage to shoot my wall-mounted artillery where I am supposed to. In every other case, I am unable to look past that crap red-coloured arrow that blocks all the center of the screen.

Every projectile I fire is a matter of guessing and praying to the almighty that it will fall somewhere near I want to. It used to be VERY, VERY enjoyable in Shogun II. Here in Rome II, it is yet another great feature broken and dumb down to the extent that it is painful.

Here is one of the pics from a custom battle:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Why would they modify it from Shogun II's clear and perfect target reticule, to this ugly EYESORE of a supposed targeting function, a bland giant red arrow that doesn't even let the player look where his projectile will fall? WHY THE fix it if it wasn't broken?

Is there a way to fix it? Any mod? Anyone reported this to CA? Anyone else having problems?

Fix it, CA, just fix it. The pile of trash you have made out of a potentially great game is too high. This is either lazy work, or just ignorance.

[Gaizokubanou]

I do OK after zooming in by pressing right mouse click, but it certainly isn't the most helpful UI.

[Riekopo]

I can't hit with it either.

[General Maximus]

Even after zooming in it is not much different. Only that one can see that big ugly red-coloured arrow closer, and maybe spot the part of the arrow far away inside it's limited transparency.

[karamazovmm]

I couldn't hit jack in FotS, I find the new system at least let me try to actually hit something. maybe I should go back to play more fps

[Ebenezer Grymm]

I have no trouble aiming and I like the simulated recoil that prevents you from landing consecutive shot too easily on exactly the same spot. It makes up for the increased rate of fire that happens when you use the mode.

That said I try not to use it because once you get used to the aiming that rate of fire just tears units apart way too fast. I wish there was a way to slow that down.

[GaMMwl]

I had a pretty sweet experience with it though.In a siege(defending) battle I placed my artillery unit in the main street with a clear shot at the gate. As the enemy broke the gate I mowed down so many people it was almost disgusting. But the joy was immense.Also it's pretty hard to be accurate firing those kind of weapons IRL (I can tell from experience).

[Eldanno]

I think more the problem is the angle of the view, its trying portray a view as if you were behind a gun, whereas with this siege equipment you need a view which gives you a better idea of distance, if the camera were to be back and up just a little bit I believe this would solve the problem.

[General Maximus]

The thing is, you cannot simulate inaccuracy by making it impossible for the player to actually take aim. Say, if they removed all the aiming graphics and reticules altogether and told you 'real artillery doesn't have reticules' would it be a proper simulation? Nope.

They just need to improve the UI, that is remove that ugly arrow that covers the screen and makes it impossible to look at anything, and instead make a proper target reticule.

[Medina]

The UI sucks big time. It looks like they just got some freelance student to do it. Serious, how bad can one make it? I actually feel like bombing CA.

[britishjohn]

One annoying bug that I have experienced is when you use Roman heavy Onagers to attack walls. When you click to attack a wall they keep moving forward before firing, even though they are already in range and there is no need to move forward. This needs to be fixed so that they turn and fire when in range, rather than arbitrarily moving forward.

[Agent Provocateur]

I find aiming them OK. Pretty inaccurate but I'm not expecting Robin Hood. Great fun defending a harbour with them against transports too.

[General Maximus]

To be precise, the game already simulates inaccuracy even if the player doesn't move his target reticule at all. The projectiles most of the time go in other directions and sides. The real problem I am having is that I am unable to see past that red arrow and I have no hint of where my onager's stone will fall.