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Over the years, lots more useful stuff has shown up on the Character screen's "gear grid" (for want of a better term). However, there's a downside to this growth that I've noticed with newer players: it's a big overwhelming wall of text.
Character dumps usefully label the four section of the gear grid, like this:
I'd like to propose two things, one perhaps less work than the other:
1. Label each of the four sections such as is shown in char dumps.
That it isn't labeled in game strikes me as potentially purposeful, tho - is there a row limit that we try to stay within?
Either way, I really think this would be a big help, on what is arguably one of the most important screens of the game (so important, in fact, that I sometimes wonder if this is the screen that C should start with, instead of the other!)
2. In the "it's always easy to come up with work for something else to do category,", I propose that this screen's functionality be enhanced to operate a bit like spell book perusing: allow the player to cursor through the grid, with a brief explanation of what each entry does.
Angband is pretty good about providing useful information to the player. However, there are a number of arcane or non-obvious sounding terms; and even some seemingly obvious things could benefit from expansion. Of all the places to do that, this screen seems like a good choice.
Cold is a damage type, but what else does cold do? What does res cold protect you from and not protect you from? Where does TrpIm work, and where doesn't it? Etc.
Cursor-over to see explanation would help in this screen in general (I field a lot of questions about "NoTel," "DrExp," Fragl," "FrAct" are. Heck, I've had to ask about a couple of the abbreviations too!) - but this could also be a prime screen to use as one-stop-shopping library to interactively get an explanation beyond just the basics.
Whatay'all think?
Character dumps usefully label the four section of the gear grid, like this:
Code:
Resistances Abilities Acid:......+..+... pFear:++.+.....+... Elec:......+.++... pBlnd:..+..+....... Fire:...*..+..+... pConf:........+.... ~etc. Hindrances Modifiers ImpHP:............. Stea.:....+.++.-... ImpSP:............. Sear.:....+........ Fear:............. Infra:....+.......+ ~etc.
1. Label each of the four sections such as is shown in char dumps.
That it isn't labeled in game strikes me as potentially purposeful, tho - is there a row limit that we try to stay within?
Either way, I really think this would be a big help, on what is arguably one of the most important screens of the game (so important, in fact, that I sometimes wonder if this is the screen that C should start with, instead of the other!)
2. In the "it's always easy to come up with work for something else to do category,", I propose that this screen's functionality be enhanced to operate a bit like spell book perusing: allow the player to cursor through the grid, with a brief explanation of what each entry does.
Angband is pretty good about providing useful information to the player. However, there are a number of arcane or non-obvious sounding terms; and even some seemingly obvious things could benefit from expansion. Of all the places to do that, this screen seems like a good choice.
Cold is a damage type, but what else does cold do? What does res cold protect you from and not protect you from? Where does TrpIm work, and where doesn't it? Etc.
Cursor-over to see explanation would help in this screen in general (I field a lot of questions about "NoTel," "DrExp," Fragl," "FrAct" are. Heck, I've had to ask about a couple of the abbreviations too!) - but this could also be a prime screen to use as one-stop-shopping library to interactively get an explanation beyond just the basics.
Whatay'all think?
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