PlaneShift

Development => Development Team Blog => Topic started by: Venalan on October 16, 2014, 01:40:46 am

Title: Team Update: User Interface (UI).
Post by: Venalan on October 16, 2014, 01:40:46 am

We wanted to let you know some of (we hope) the improvements which will be available in the next update in relation to the UI.

• The active effects window has been updated to now contain information on the duration of timed effects (eredin).
• All HP and MANA bars have been updated to be more informative in regards to the amount of HP/MANA remaining (eredin).
• As part of the combat enhancements there will now be an "attack book" to go along side the "spell book" accessible via the tool bar. This will be used when 'special attacks' are released for players to use.
• Fixes to the NPC interaction menu so that you can correctly access the storage and personal banking windows via buttons. Currently only the personal banking icon is visible and is in the same spot as storage, but the storage button is on top so you can never use the banking window button.
• The art for the "quest bubble" window has been improved for all skins apart from 'elves' so they more closely match the theme of the skin being used.
• All the "quest bubble" windows have been improved, moving the arrows for page changes to centre screen so they are much easier to see. A text description to describe the free text input to make its function clearer has been added. A new "give" button so if you need to give items to an NPC during a quest you can just click it and it will open the trade window, no more closing the window to trade or typing commands manually (thanks to Natoka). There is now also support for clicking quest dialogue bubbles to show the next dialogue line, as well as an ability to customise the time each bubble (line of dialogue) will display on screen for in the options (thanks to Natoka).
• There are still times that the method to find spells is confusing so a 'help' window has been added to the glyph window. An '?' icon can be clicked at any time causing a small pop up window to appear which describes the method to purify glyphs and research spells. We hope this will make the method easier for new players.
• The loot window has been update (thanks to Neeno) and now contains "loot all" and "group loot all" buttons to allow use of these commands for new players who will not know about the options of "/loot....". The group loot buttons will also only show when you are grouped.
• The container window now has a rename function to allow players to rename sacks.
• The 'craft window' (you get by using the /study command) now has a filter added, thanks to Aiwendil.
• The 'merchant' and 'storage' windows have the ability to sort columns by amount and price, not just name (thanks to Neeno).
• There are 3 new art themes, one is based on the "Classic" UI theme PlaneShift had back when it was in V0.3.X but was removed after that and is now updated for the current client. For the two new ones you'll have to wait for the update to play with, one of these is my new favourite to use.
• New icons have been made where needed and a number of old icons have been used in new place, like a chest for all 'storage' icons.

Additional Skins only (not elves or classic).

• Quest Note book. This is now resizable to allow you to adjust the vertical height to show more/less quests and quest notes.
• Guild window now has a small text box which allows a brief description of the permission options to appear when you click on the option name (these might need improving to be clearer later).
• The buddy window now has a button to allow easy opening of the 'ignore' window.
• The small inventory now contains icons for "mind" "left hand" "right hand" so you can move items/books/tools for crafting without needing to have the full inventory open.

Enjoy!

Title: Re: Team Update: User Interface (UI).
Post by: Eredin on October 16, 2014, 01:44:42 am

Here's a little screen recording showing the new Active Effects bar, with icons for all the items, maintaining its shape when a new effect begins (Thanks Shkirr), and showing the timer with warning and danger level colors, and flashing. (note the flashing irregularity is a recording artefact you won't see in game) :

https://www.dropbox.com/s/j6i0zaa5o50kj7l/AETimers-20141015.ogv?dl=0

Here's the tooltip over an Active Effect, showing the countdown :

https://www.dropbox.com/s/991mbff35hxc2k9/AETooltipTimer-20141015.ogv?dl=0


Here's the Info window updated to have warn, danger and flash settings for HP and Mana :

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ph0avvkjq4za0ix/InfoHPandMana-20141015.ogv?dl=0

Title: Re: Team Update: User Interface (UI).
Post by: cdmoreland on October 16, 2014, 02:26:22 am

 \\o//

Title: Re: Team Update: User Interface (UI).
Post by: zarre on October 16, 2014, 11:18:40 pm

So much to look forward to, thanks to all the volunteers here!   :thumbup: