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[JoshuaFH]

I'll be the first to say I haven't been keeping up on Toady's To-Do list concerning DF, so I have a question.

Does he plan to make the water measurement system more complex? I can't imagine the 7 unit system staying if the liquid system evolves.

[ThtblovesDF]

I can because it keeps calculation low. Dynamic (3d) water is one of the hardest things to possibly do in any Video game.

[JoshuaFH]

Well, even if the system were doubled to a 14 unit system, that would make it alot more in-depth for me.

[Kazindir]

Can you explain how having water depth sliced into 14 rather than 7 would be better?

[JoshuaFH]

I'm just a detail whore, never mind me.

[Hishan]

In depth, i see what you did there

[Frobozz]

I can because it keeps calculation low. Dynamic (3d) water is one of the hardest things to possibly do in any Video game.

I think he means increase the resolution of the water level. Regardless increasing the resolution likely wouldn't cause a speed decrease until you went above 32-bits.

[Puzzlemaker]

Well, even if the system were doubled to a 14 unit system, that would make it alot more in-depth for me.

'Twould be a 15 unit system, or a 10 unit system with 5 status bits (Murky, etc).

[Rutilant]

I can because it keeps calculation low. Dynamic (3d) water is one of the hardest things to possibly do in any Video game.

Haha.

Low calculation.


DF isn't 3d. It's 2d pretending to be 3d but it's not nearly as complicated as trying to simulate water movement in a full 3d environment.

[Shaostoul]

Only thing I want done to water is it to act more water like and an actual pressure system. So I don't have to use some masterful construction to have a fountain of gloriousness.

[Impaler[WrG]]

Water depth is held in 3 bits, if a 4th bit was given over to water maximum depth would be but 15 I personally don't see much additional advantage to it as the current system is easy enough to remember and keep in your head and I can't think of any useful differences that would come from dividing water int 6 inch depth slices as opposed to 1 foot increments.

[Kazindir]

'Twould be a 15 unit system, or a 10 unit system with 5 status bits (Murky, etc).

This bit would be good.

[Zaranthan]

TLDR Explanation:

The problem with giving water more bits is that right now, ALL tile information is stored in a single 32-bit variable. Adding more data to anything would require rewriting a LOT of code needed to micromanage bits like that, not to mention likely doubling the memory requirements of the game.

[Sowelu]

I can because it keeps calculation low. Dynamic (3d) water is one of the hardest things to possibly do in any Video game.

Haha.

Low calculation.


DF isn't 3d. It's 2d pretending to be 3d but it's not nearly as complicated as trying to simulate water movement in a full 3d environment.

Nnnnnno, it's 3d.  It's a VERY granular 3d.  Individual tiles have height so there's some 2d elements, but when you consider pressure and stuff, it's definately a very hacky 3d.

[sweitx]

The key question that need answering is...

Why?
With just 7-levels, we already get a pretty good system.
1 evaporates.
2 reaches the ankle.
4 you can drown in.
7 is full.
Any finer then that currently won't add much to the game, other then increasing the number of bits needed to track each tile.