I actually have quite a few different suggestions, but I’ll put them here and try to organize them as best as I can.
Topics that you should look at as I believe they relate to this one:
[sup]1[/sup]http://smf.cataclysmdda.com/index.php?topic=2113.0
[size=18pt]Tilesets:[/size]
The tileset system, as it appears to me seems… inefficient. It looks to be one giant image for everything. That’s what bugs me a lot about tileset games, you aren’t actually required to use one tileset file!
My first suggestions is this: Split the giant tileset into multiple image files. One for normal zombies, one for terrain, one for furniture, one for guns, one for blade weapons, one for special zombies, etc. This is where I get more specific: Multiple “icons” depicting state or quality. This helps easier visual identification of damaged targets, item quality, etc. Even better, you can have several alternates for monsters, for example a zombie in a hoodie or a zombie with no shirt…
For example: A undamaged normal zombie has a seperate image from a normal zombie that is nearly dead. The nearly dead one looks as implied: nearly dead whilst the undamaged one appears undamaged (although a walking corpse isn’t exactly in the best of conditions either).
Another example: A pistol of the worst quality looks different then the same kind of pistol with the highest quality.
[size=18pt]Save file(s)/Worlds/Dimensions[/size]
The game’s lore depicts there is of course the Earth and several other worlds/dimensions. However, the game currently lets us play on Earth, and the whole save file is described as a world.
What I suggest is that it be changed so that the whole save file is a Dimension which can have multiple Worlds and each world has the same number of Planes. Simply put: The “Dimension” is the whole save file. So, when you want to regenerate your save instead of “reset world” you would “reset Dimension”. A world is simply that: A world that the players can play in. Planes, however, is where things begin to overlap. As with the first link[sub]1[/sub], I believe these supernatural factions should instead live on seperate “Planes”. It’s confusing because they are part of the world, yet not. Save file wise, planes have their own seperate z-level systems but exist in a 1:1 ratio with each other. Meaning if you’re at 1,1,1 (x,y,z) in the Overworld Plane, then somehow transition (artifact?) into the Shadow Plane, you would still be at 1,1,1… Just on a different plane of existance. Map wise, forests are still where forests are and rivers are where rivers are in all planes for the world. It’s just what’s there in one plane isn’t the same as the other.
For example: The faction listed in the first post, Netherum Colonies would exist on the World Earth in the plane Netherum. Both planes would be somewhat similar looking, meaning forests are still where forests should be. Except instead of wooden trees it’s some sort of hellish fire-breathing tree that explodes violently when chopped down by the player. Instead of water there’s lava. Etc.
Further explanation if you didn’t understand the above: The game now can have multiple “Worlds” in one save file, each world is unique and has multiple planes. Map wise, they’re all the same just populated with different stuff. Meaning a river of water in the Overworld Plane is a river of lava in the Netherum plane. At one time the player is in one World at a time. More specifically, they are in one of the Planes of that World. Only one Plane is loaded and active at one time.
If the topic is If you have questions, further suggestions, comments, or just like the look of your writing on the screen please feel free to comment.