Location Help

[Arjaizen]

After a little more time, i'm a bit less frustrated.  I've also managed to find my way on foot from Hydlaa to Ojaveda and back again.  I have noticed something that i wonder if any of the developers have considered.  We always want a way to orient ourselves.  In the "real world," we do it based on the direction a compass points.  However, before that people used the positions of the stars.  Now, we don't have stars, but we DO live inside a giant, hollow crystal, one that's not uniform.  Look up, and you can see differences along the inner surface.  

Couldn't there be shapes or natural designs in that surface that might be identified much like the Big Dipper or the Southern Cross?  Having a few of those to use as reference points would help players find their way in new areas in a way that makes complete sense from an RP standpoint.

[LigH]

A wonderful suggestion, I really like that.

Just hope I won't be the only developer with such an opinion.

But to make it work correctly, the 3D artists will have to ensure that the orientation of maps will be consistent, that their local coordinate systems will be reliable.

And a bug needs to be fixed (possibly with support from the CrystalSpace team) which shows several sky spheres from adjacent maps at the same time.

[Earowo]

The simplest way to do it, before implementing th ewhole idea of it, would be to give a kind of compass, doesnt neccisarrily have to be north east south west, so you know what direction your going, and from an RP standpoint, just rp that you looked up, that could be temporary or permanent, depending on how well it works

[Caraick]

Well, it's important to remember that there's no such thing as cardinal directions in Planeshift.  East Hydlaa is apparently named after some bloke named "East", and that's the only occurrence of the compass being referenced in-game.  That being said, a sort of system akin to constellations in the rocks above the cities would be very effective in forming a general sense of direction, as well as location.

The only issue that I forsee with this is how to implement it.  Obviously, the ceiling of the level isn't exactly low, but neither it is terribly high, meaning it wouldn't be too difficult to make out large patterns or formations in the rocks above. Short of making the ceiling of each map a textured surface with the aforementioned patterns loaded on them, I don't see how this could be done... However, I've never been accused of being very good with designing these sorts of things, so I'm sure it could be done 

[Mask]

Apart from using rock formations, the Yliakum equivalent of a Sextant is completely sufficient to determine one's evaluation. Since the crystal is a non-moving lightsource, the azimut could be determined by simply looking at the shadows of all the rock lying around: You define a zero line (Maybe between Crystal and most important Bronze Gate), then measure an angle between the defined line and the line between the observers position and the crystal (which could be done by making a map once, afterwards it's just a question in which segment you are: use landmarks for that or observe the shadows moving relative to you).

Just an idea, might contain nonsense.

[echong]

 Couldn't there be shapes or natural designs in that surface that might be identified much like the Big Dipper or the Southern Cross?  Having a few of those to use as reference points would help players find their way in new areas in a way that makes complete sense from an RP standpoint.

this is an awesome idea. i've been racking my brain trying to come up with a PS equivalent of astronomy, and i think you hit the nail on the head.

[Caraick]

Just an idea, might contain nonsense.

Firstly, I think it's a great idea, Mask
Secondly, you should use this as your sig, makes for a nice little disclaimer 

[Mask]

Firstly, I think it's a great idea, Mask
Secondly, you should use this as your sig, makes for a nice little disclaimer 

Well, a short search revealed that it has been discussed before, e.g. here. That was about a year ago. I would like to see it implemented slowly, it would give guilds like the Explorers or Knowledgeseekers some books to write and maps to draw that are percise and scientific (still wondering why there's so little innovations and scientific advancement visible when people run around with Int>150 now).

Did that. Now, with established credability, onto the topic of economics I propose following model...   

[echong]

It would be highest praise for ones character to receive a constellation in the sky

[LigH]

Hardly possible. Noone could "engrave" into the Big Crystal, its radiation is deadly in close range.