Basically, if there was something like the "make a magic card" editor for Df screenshots. It would make it so much easier for us to make custom screenshots of df.
Its easy to explain in words how improvements to the interface can be made. But making a picture of what and how the final results change is a pain in the ass. With an editor like this you can recreate situations in DF that would be almost impossible to set up by hand. This has two uses. Creation of custom screenshots for editing. And recreating pictures of bugs that were witnessed but not recorded.
How it works sounds simple on paper at least. If you have ever used the map editor for a game like starcraft or warcraft it works much the same way, only with simpler graphical tiles. You start with a blank map (or can import one of course). By pointing and clicking you can change tiles to represent different options, painting terrain and objects much like how you would designate areas for mining. For units like creatures you would more or less "drag and drop" them onto the screen. Multipart buildings like trade depots and workshops could be placed down in a single piece this way. Objects with adjustable sizes like bridges could be configured before you place them down. The screen itself could be overlayed by other things. You could put up a blank menu box that covers 1/3 of the screen. Then take that empty screen and use it to make a custom menu.
Its sort of like the map archive, only with paintbrushes.
Its a tall order for sure. But it shouldn't be impossible. Ive often made massive walloftext suggestions that put people to sleep because they can understand the idea but not visualize it. Conveying ideas through pictures would be so much easier.
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Topic: DF "screenbuilder" utility for making picture suggestions. (Read 556 times)