nitpicking and suggestions (Map editor)
<div class="IPBDescription">repost</div>Upon the suggestion on the suggestion forms, I suppose I should <a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=125143" target="_blank">re-post this</a> (with some slight changes) here to get more feedback:
I have played with the map editor for a bit, and would like to add some suggestions to the workflow of creating a map using that editor, and ways to make it easier to do so.
With a half decent amount of experience using programs like Auto-CAD, I think the editor could go a long way with including co-ordinate (X, Y, Z) based shape making/placing, for example placing a square, using a 3 point mode, with the start point at 0, 0, 0, 2nd point at 20, 0, 10, and third at 20, 30, 10, would make a 30 x 30 square that is angled 60*. this way would make for far more accurate, and in my honest opinion faster, map creation, instead of doing it all by eye and snap to grid.
Speaking of snaps, some additional ones besides snap to grid could be useful too, such as snap to vertices or snap to edge, with the option to disable each individually.
And last, an option to place a multi-sided polygon (anything from 3 to 30 or more), with sides of a specified length, or radius of certain size, that has the option to place it from the center, vertices, middle/third/quarter of an edge, or a distance from a vertice along an edge, would make making a hex or octagon with equal sides a breeze.
I have played with the map editor for a bit, and would like to add some suggestions to the workflow of creating a map using that editor, and ways to make it easier to do so.
With a half decent amount of experience using programs like Auto-CAD, I think the editor could go a long way with including co-ordinate (X, Y, Z) based shape making/placing, for example placing a square, using a 3 point mode, with the start point at 0, 0, 0, 2nd point at 20, 0, 10, and third at 20, 30, 10, would make a 30 x 30 square that is angled 60*. this way would make for far more accurate, and in my honest opinion faster, map creation, instead of doing it all by eye and snap to grid.
Speaking of snaps, some additional ones besides snap to grid could be useful too, such as snap to vertices or snap to edge, with the option to disable each individually.
And last, an option to place a multi-sided polygon (anything from 3 to 30 or more), with sides of a specified length, or radius of certain size, that has the option to place it from the center, vertices, middle/third/quarter of an edge, or a distance from a vertice along an edge, would make making a hex or octagon with equal sides a breeze.
Comments
Each of us with our Max/Maya/CAD experience all would like some extra features. Some of us even prefer how the editor funtions. Just depends what you're used to.
Though, AutoCAD precision isn't needed in a level editor. It's actually way faster to just build it and move it into around about the right spot. So long as everthing meets at the verts and can be welded together later. Rarely does anything need to be precision perfect, unlike CAD drawings. If you want precision lower the grid iteration so you can manually count out how many X-Y steps and there's your exact angle.
Also there is some basic snap functionality, You can drag verts to snap with others and snap at midpoint on a line.
Good Luck fighting with it! :)