Bay 12 Games Forum

Regarding objects in DF itself:

I've only done basic programming and I've got no idea how DF works, so I may be way off, but wouldn't it make more sense for object updating to be tied to actions instead of the object itself?

IE. No object gets checked unless an interaction occurs to change the state or position of that object.

Examples in plain language:
Eg. if carpenter chops tree then update object: remove object.
Eg. if tile falls and object exists on tile then update object position: -x z-levels.
Eg. if dwarf picks up object or if dwarf is carrying object then update object: position = dwarf's position.

Of course the above cases already happen in DF, but there doesn't seem to be a need to check objects continuously unless something happens to it or if DF needs to check for the existence of an object (for stock levels or available building stone etc).

Other objects that change over time need only be updated every so often as Impaler[WrG] suggested, such as grass tiles becoming dirt or trees changing colour with the seasons etc.

Like I said I've only done basic programming (literally DarkBasic Pro), so I'm probably better off leaving thoughts to the pros

Just fort the record, that would be dead simple. Two lines of code. But like forsaken said, it wouldn't give you much...
I'm looking at objects right now. there is a pattern to the chaos, we just have to find it...

If you could detect if there is an object and it is in a stockpile tile, then display a crate - I like displaying the stockpiles, so this would come in useful for showing how full a stockpile is.  As an option of course.

Personally I'd love Stonesense to remain realtime, I run it side by side with DF.  (Now I just need a third monitor to run Visual Fortress on!)

Would it be possible as a start for there to be an optional single default sprite for objects?  That way it only has to check if any object exists at all in that tile, then display the default sprite - something like a small crate or boulder.  Or is that just as hard?

The readme does say to put it at the top of the file...

Ah, thanks.  I went by the instructions on the Content Repository:

Extract files into Stonesense/terrain and add UpdatedRamps.xml to the /terrain/index.txt

I've edited the wiki entry to add the proper info.

It's at the bottom of the page, under Terrain.  Maybe try a CTRL-Refresh to force your browser to update the page?
This is the download link:
http://dffd.wimbli.com/file.php?id=1717

Now that's a gift!

IMO Toady should definitely continue as he is on content over graphics, but I love using the user-developed graphics sets.  Mayday on one monitor, Stonesense on the other.
The new Stonesense release now has depth fogging:

Edit: I wouldn't really like to use Stonesense as the main game interface, top view is much easier for designating etc.  But it's great using it as a real-time visualizer.

Will these be included in RC2?