In working on the NPP QT port, I am ready to make the character/player screen. Its current form (basic character info, toggle screen to see key resists) that has existed since the late 80s is based on the limitations of an 80x24 screen. In a modern ui there is so much room for improvement, and so many different ways this screen can be implemented, I wanted to open it up to suggestions.
There are plenty of ways to display information outside of just plain rows and columns. The dialog box can use tabs, pop-up boxes, mouse hovers, mouse clicks, etc.
Here is my initial thinking, on which there is a lot of room for improvement:
The top of the character screen would be fairly similar to the initial screen. A mouse hover or click on some of the labels should bring up an explanation of that characteristic (explaining infravision, etc). The max experience row can be hidden if the player's experience is drained, and the experience to advance can be hidden if the player is level 50.
The second screen, which shows stat adjusts, resistances and abilities, can be a different section or a tab. But I think it should cascade down much longer, and display practically every relevant flag. For the weapons, the slays can be shown.
Part of me wants this screen to have one flag on each line, with the equipment, quiver, backpack, and perhaps the home inventory all shown on that line. So the player can look at all their items and see what they have that resists nether, etc. A mouse hover should bring up an explanation of that flag (e.g. Resist shards reduces damage by x%, and also prevents the player from being cut by shard attacks). I would like to improve on the current |---+-++-| way of displaying resists, but I haven't had any good ideas yet.
Eventually, I want to make a screen where the player could select from a section of drop-down boxes all of the possible items from their inventory, equipment and home for each equipment slot, and quickly compare the differences between what their character is wearing now and what they would be like wearing a particular kit.
Suggestions are more than welcome. There must so much that could be done with this screen that I have not thought of.
There are plenty of ways to display information outside of just plain rows and columns. The dialog box can use tabs, pop-up boxes, mouse hovers, mouse clicks, etc.
Here is my initial thinking, on which there is a lot of room for improvement:
The top of the character screen would be fairly similar to the initial screen. A mouse hover or click on some of the labels should bring up an explanation of that characteristic (explaining infravision, etc). The max experience row can be hidden if the player's experience is drained, and the experience to advance can be hidden if the player is level 50.
The second screen, which shows stat adjusts, resistances and abilities, can be a different section or a tab. But I think it should cascade down much longer, and display practically every relevant flag. For the weapons, the slays can be shown.
Part of me wants this screen to have one flag on each line, with the equipment, quiver, backpack, and perhaps the home inventory all shown on that line. So the player can look at all their items and see what they have that resists nether, etc. A mouse hover should bring up an explanation of that flag (e.g. Resist shards reduces damage by x%, and also prevents the player from being cut by shard attacks). I would like to improve on the current |---+-++-| way of displaying resists, but I haven't had any good ideas yet.
Eventually, I want to make a screen where the player could select from a section of drop-down boxes all of the possible items from their inventory, equipment and home for each equipment slot, and quickly compare the differences between what their character is wearing now and what they would be like wearing a particular kit.
Suggestions are more than welcome. There must so much that could be done with this screen that I have not thought of.
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