Bay 12 Games Forum

Dwarf Fortress => DF Suggestions => Topic started by: Crab on December 08, 2022, 10:24:28 am

Title: The symbols for item quality are driving me to a fell mood.
Post by: Crab on December 08, 2022, 10:24:28 am
Okay, hear me out: I have been playing on and off since DF2010, and I still do not habitually remember what quality symbol means what and inevitably have to look it up again for the millionth time. This is because –, +, ⚹, ≡, ☼ does not follow any logical sequence known to man. What the denizens of the Discord and I suggest is: –, =, ≡, ⚹, ☼. Now it goes one dash, two dashes, three dashes, star, big star. This is a nice logical sequence I will always remember.

We are begging you, Toady. Save us pls.
Title: Re: The symbols for item quality are driving me to a fell mood.
Post by: Salmeuk on December 08, 2022, 10:48:24 am
I solved this by going full boolean: either it's masterwork, or it's trash
Title: Re: The symbols for item quality are driving me to a fell mood.
Post by: brewer bob on December 08, 2022, 10:56:57 am
Maybe it could be made customizable?

I don't know, but for my brain the way they're now feels more logical than your suggestion. Though, I think I had problems remembering what was what when learning the game, but I don't think it would've made a difference if the symbols were different.
Title: Re: The symbols for item quality are driving me to a fell mood.
Post by: Bumber on December 08, 2022, 11:43:57 am
The way I've been remembering it:

 - One line
+ Two lines intersecting
* Three lines intersecting
≡ ???
☼ Masterwork
Title: Re: The symbols for item quality are driving me to a fell mood.
Post by: Ziusudra on December 08, 2022, 12:08:43 pm
Quote from: Bumber on December 08, 2022, 11:43:57 am
≡ ???
5 parallel lines?
Title: Re: The symbols for item quality are driving me to a fell mood.
Post by: Egan_BW on December 08, 2022, 12:11:21 pm
As someone who never learned the symbols, I do think the suggestion here makes more sense than the current state.
Title: Re: The symbols for item quality are driving me to a fell mood.
Post by: Hexicube on December 09, 2022, 08:25:58 am
Counter-suggestion: Why limit yourself to current characters? Just add an extra 6 icons (one for no added quality to make lists nice): Circle, Triangle, Square, Pentagon, 5-point Star, 8-point Star.

Having icons like this would also mean that modders could change them, for instance I could throw in the Elite: Dangerous material quality icons (conveniently also 5 grades) after making them appropriately sized.

That said, for ASCII-mode the suggestion is valid.