page 3 [FOCUSED FEEDBACK] Supergroup Base Adjustments

[The Curator]

---

Supergroup Bases

• Removed the star texture from the Surface Tile (Col) base objects.
• Base editor items have been reorganized and re-categorized.
• Added Base Editor Help and Search keywords.
• Control Points for base raids and enhanced Lua raid functionality added.
• Search now works off DisplayHelp and uses a comma-separated list of tokens.
• Search field now has a placeholder text to indicate its purpose.
• Add Help and Tips to the Options menu
• Fix the "Category" display for items always showing an error string.
• Add a Help button to the Base Raid window.
• Supergroup Raid window has been revamped.

[UltraAlt]

12 hours ago, The Curator said:

Base editor items have been reorganized and re-categorized.

 

Well, maybe this will help new players.

For players that already knew where to look for things it is a mess.

 

Several of the tabs have things in them that should all be grouped together. Like all the NPCs or the two types of invention benches. They appear to be randomly mixed in the tab.

I found the food tab odd as it starts with utensils rather than food.

 

A couple of things that would be helpful to me:

1) make the slider at the bottom of the item menu a different color than the rest of the window

2) make a slider at the top of the window for moving along the tab list rather than the arrows that are somewhat lost on the right side as they are the same color as the window (If a slider works for looking through the times, doesn't it make sense to use this "ease of use" tool for moving through the tabs list?)

 

I'll go back into it when I have time and write down tab names so I can list the ones that I specifically think need reorganizing - like the food one (mentioned above)

[Crafted]

I honestly love almost all of the changes! From my count, the number of tabs went from 59 down to 45 - that’s 14 fewer tabs of clutter and scrolling, and I don’t miss any of them.
 

The search function now actually says “Search,” which is an instant win for new players.
 

Yes, the layout is different, but I wouldn’t call it messy. The organization feels logical - separating functional NPCs from decorative ones makes sense. I do agree, though, that within some tabs (like Base Services), items feel a bit out of order. Within the Base Services tab there are a few groupings of functional NPCs that feels a little clunky atm.

And while it’s funny that utensils appear first in the Food tab, it’s still clear why each item is where it is. Could it be better organized? Sure. Is it a problem? Not at all.
 

I completely agree the scroll bar could use improvement - if that’s on the table, I’m all for it.
 

Overall, fantastic changes! I love the new categories, the clearer search, and the # search function (like #wood) is a total game-changer. Huge thanks to whoever put in the work on this!

Edited 20 hours ago by Crafted

[Dacy]

From what I’ve heard, the UI interface is a pain to program and touchy, so that might not be on the table. 
 

The organization is definitely something established base builders are going to have to get used to because it’s new, and like all new things is a little bit awkward at first, but at least the search function, if that’s how you find things, is still the same in that regard. And you can now search for things with the hashtags for greater specificity. As for item organization within tabs, I’m sure any comments here will help them figure out improvements if they can be made. 
 

One thing I noticed, is if you use the hashtags to look for something you’re used to seeing all together like the NPC‘s, type #NPC and boom, there they all are.  Which, given the size of the scroll bar, might even be easier than scrolling. Not sure that works for every original tab, but it’s easy to try.  This is when testing comes in handy, right? Right now is the time to make suggestions for things you’d like to see. I like being able to search for things without having to know the specific item name. But I had all the locations memorized from the old interface, so it’s gonna be a learning curve for me. Still, there were times when I could not remember which tab something was in because the location didn’t always make sense to me. So we’ll see how this shakes out.
 

[oddrobin]

Overall, I love the new base building stuff I see in the open beta. My top two base updates included in this adjustment are the star pattern being removed from the collision surface tiles, and the categorization of items with special qualities. Thank  you!

There are sooooo many good changes in this reorganization. The positives far outweigh any of the things I might be feeling nitpicky about based on what I'm used to. I am happy to adapt and get used to this new schema. Some of my favorite highlights are:
• less tabs; less scrolling across tabs
• the nature tab being organic nature and the landscape tab being engineered items, which made the cityscape tab unnecessary 
• all the screen type things in one tab. YAY! No more having to do multiple searches for LED, Monitor, or Screen, or TV, or Plasma to find that one screen thing I couldn't remember the name of

Some things I'm mentioning because I noticed them:
• Could add Ctrl + Y to the Base Editor Help and Tips

• Not sure what "Join The Base Building channel" is supposed to do. When I clicked it nothing happened (which, since I'm probably already in it, maybe means it's working as intended)

• The #nocollision hashtag is included in descriptions, but not included in the Special Qualities list

• Not loving the spelling of passthru

 

[Easter Bunny]

The “Join the Base Building Channel” is s feature that exists now in the current live version of the editor. It * should * auto add you to the ingame Base Building chat channel. Which you probably are already a member of… and very possibly isn’t linked to anything on Brainstorm(?)

[Matsiyan]

1 hour ago, oddrobin said:

favorite highlights are:
• less tabs; less scrolling across tabs
• the nature tab being organic nature and the landscape tab being engineered items, which made the cityscape tab unnecessary 
• all the screen type things in one tab. YAY! No more having to do multiple searches for LED, Monitor, or Screen, or TV, or Plasma to find that one screen thing I couldn't remember the name of

• Not loving the spelling of passthru

 

I’m with you on the consolidation of screen objects, and the logic of some groupings like nature and landscape.

[Matsiyan]

7 hours ago, Crafted said:

within some tabs (like Base Services), items feel a bit out of order. Within the Base Services tab there are a few groupings of functional NPCs that feels a little clunky atm.

And while it’s funny that utensils appear first in the Food tab, it’s still clear why each item is where it is.

Base services seems to be organized by function

Training

Costume

Vending

Storage

Crafting

Miscellaneous

Power

Medical   Within each function items typically appear in Arcane/Tech/Villain. They used to be in separate tabs!

Edited 12 hours ago by Matsiyan

[Matsiyan]

Never mind

Edited 12 hours ago by Matsiyan

[Matsiyan]

12 hours ago, UltraAlt said:

A couple of things that would be helpful to me:

1) make the slider at the bottom of the item menu a different color than the rest of the window

2) make a slider at the top of the window for moving along the tab list rather than the arrows that are somewhat lost on the right side as they are the same color as the window (If a slider works for looking through the times, doesn't it make sense to use this "ease of use" tool for moving through the tabs list?)

I would love to have these slider changes. I struggle with them too. At least there are fewer tabs to navigate now.

[UltraAlt]

21 hours ago, UltraAlt said:

I'll go back into it when I have time and write down tab names so I can list the ones that I specifically think need reorganizing

 

Base services: for sure. group the NPC together with the infl selling plant and auto-doc. Put the two types of invention work tables next to each other. Same goes for the enhancement, insp, and salvage tables; like kinds near each other. 

 

Arcane: seems to be some things in there that should be in base services. Fine that the inactive versions are here as they are only cosmetic.

 

Cabinets & shelves: I think some of these should be in base services. Fine that the inactive versions are here as they are only cosmetic.

 

Commercial: I would put the signs under their own "signs" tab. I can understand that there was a decision made for the vending machines and grocery store shelves to be put here instead of other tabs (mainly "food"). Yeah seems to be plenty enough "signs" for them to have their own"signs" tab.

 

Computers & TVs: I think some of these should be in base services. Fine that the inactive versions are here as they are only cosmetic. I would put the displays first then the cubicle/Council assembly parts, and leave the peripheral/misc stuff for afterwards.

 

Crystals: I'm not sure (nothing I would use in core base design) but I think some of these should be in base services. Fine that the inactive versions are here as they are only cosmetic.

 

Food: yeah, definitely, food first and then utensils, tableware, and cooking equipment. Since the grocery store shelves are in "commercial", so should be the "veggie" stands" and "produce stands". As the vending machines are also under "commercial". I would also move "soda fountain", "theater soda machine", "slushie machine", and "theater popcorn machine" to "commercial" as well. It would make more sense to me to group all of the drinks -coffee mugs, soda cups, Enriche bottles, and liquor bottles, so that they are near each other. I would do the same with condiments.

 

FX Ambient: not sure what the reason is not to give the "sky" items their own tab.

 

Landscape: I would put the plant first, but that's just me. Plants come to my mind first when thinking about landscaping. I know that some plants are here instead of nature as they have stone/concrete bases.

 

Lighting: Group together similar. Torch lit and Torch unlit together. All the "eastern" type together. All the "chandeliers" together.

 

NPCs: Hero Corps Field Analyst and Fortune Fateweaver should be in "Base services" with the other "base services" NPCs.

 

Room Details: This maybe another "just me" thing, but there is a lot of items in there that seem that they should be in "Medical & Science". Apothecary jars. The various arrays of bottles that tend to be used to imply science or alchemy. Even the burlap sacks, small pots, and stone pots. The various display cases seem to be more "commercial" to me.

 

Ruins & Waste: Seems like the wastebasket, trash can, recycling can, etc. would make more sense under "food" or (in some cases) "room details". I would be more likely to be looking for the dumpsters under "commercial" or "landscaping" as that is where the parking lot stuff and porta potty are located.

 

Valuables: not sure why "personal storage vault" is here instead of under "base services". Not sure where to put "hand truck dolly" ... maybe "commercial". Hand carts under commercial as well.

 

Villainy: science related stuff - even "mad scientist" - seems to be a better fit for "medical & science". I'd put the BlackBeard Flag under "Banners", but it is kind of lost in both places; I never even knew we had it.

 

Wall Details: Tech console 1 seems better suited for "Computers & TVs". Arcane console 1 seems better suited for "arcane". Fire extinguishers and fire hose seems more appropriate for "commercial" or maybe "food" as the cooking appliance are there. Water fountains more suitable for "bath & laundry". Tiki masks and Eye window seem to be more appropriate for "arcane".

 

Walls & Openings: Restroom doors more suitable for "bath & laundry". Supergroup glass logo seems to be a better fit for "Banners".

 

Water: I'm looking at the fountains and thinking "landscaping" based on the plants. The do seem to be more ornamental than "water" but I understand why they were placed in this category (plus at this point, I'm starting to feel a bit nitpicky after commenting on so many things).