[modifications&such] The Fake Dev Diary

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PREAMBULUM

Hey kiddos,

So far I think PoE is a good game.
It reminds me of my the best Diablo days BUT I think it should walk it's own PATH. Many of the designs are great, but the objective here is to make PoE get it's "own" face, as in the map-waypoint panel (creamly perfect).

This topic will be updated according to the feedback received. I have many ideas and little time to work on this hobby, but even some of the good ideas you guys give to me will be taken in consideration/ brought to life.

I also may upload some videos and such, we never know.

~Cherry

0. texture and effects

0.1. PANTS, wet and aged effects

This is a showoff of elder version with pants for the witch class with a wet effect. I stopped working on this one when I gave up on trying to edit the models and animations.

(check 3rd line for a better face view)






0.2. model adjust for each class

Just messing around with armor models.





1. GAME UI

1.1. BOTTOM UI

My first post in was made back when I wasn't a beta member, a request for a "UI OFF" option.

The thing is: I am not that satisfied with the current UI.
For me the old UI = d1-2ish and the new one = d2-3ish.

I think that bringing the globes is the worst way to bring originality to the game. Are bars a better replacement? I am not sure, but a smaller UI is definitely something. ~discuss

CURRENT UI:

PROPOSED UI:


#ui revamp work still in progress! Commment and help me make it better


1.2. UPDATED VERSION OF BUFF UI & INVENTORY RETICULE (quite simple at this rate).

I heard your call and made a inv reticule that tells you exactly how crowded your bag is. It's a alpha hyper minimalist version, but quite pratical.






2. REGARDING ITEMS & INVENTORY

2.1. NEW GEM RETICULE

There is a post somewhere in the forum where this guy asks if it is possible to make marks for each gem, for an easier organization and identification.

I made this as a sketch, but making one different design for every single gem isn't quite the best idea. Maybe with some feedback we can work out something, but my best idea so far is to make gem reticule types

- Action Gem
- Charge Gem (like frenzy etc)
- Curse Gem
- Buff Gem
- Toten Gem
- Trap Gem



2.3. (CASH) AURA COSMETIC

This one is for Russel!

This one is simple: every master node power should get a special in game reticule (aura). This SS explains it quite well (fire effect is quite random, in a SS it doesnt look that great, but in game it'd be a white burning status effect).



2.2. SUBSTITUTION OF SCROLLS

Everytime I show PoE to someone else, one of the most aclaimed points of RIPOFF is the scrolls (I think it just loses to the health and mana globes).

Since the devs decided to use orbs for crafting, why not follow the design for wisdom and portal?

- Orb of wisdom (or Globe of wisdom)
- Orb of home



3. SUPORT SYSTEM

3.1. AoE & RANGE PREVISION

I made my build all by myself, I use ice spear as main spell and I noticed that the way the projectiles work varies acordingly to the distance of click.

Making AoE size and range properties visible so the game is more friendly for the "new school". The reticule appears when you place the mouse pointer over the skill description.

SPELL MANDALA PREVIEW

REAL SPELL


#this is a starter version, at first I wanted to use the regen life aura effect, but back then I didn't have the tools to work with them, new design might be possible.

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For now this is it. I have some other ideas, but I am not going to type much text without showing something visually. Once again, I will try to post new stuff as long as the thread stays alive (feedback meng, feedback!)

Comming next?:
(1/3) - Other UI upgrades;
(0/3) - New highlightning - New font for alt subtitles & for highlightning;
(done) - Passive-key effect auras;

(0/2) - Upgraded Options;
(0/4) - Journal Menu;
(0/1) - Overdamage system.

~missing ya, gorlaK

I like the gems.

You bring up some good points and your images are well done. These are definitely some areas that I agree could use work.

1.
I never felt like the globes were a bad idea in any way but I do acknowledge that there are people who want a smaller HUD. Th advantage of the globes is that they show your two most important stats (health and mana) in giant and unmistakable fashion. There's no way to misinterpret them in the middle of battle. If you want to go the bars route then I would suggest stacking them on each other, making them 2-4x thicker, and making their colors much more saturated. Where does Energy Shield go in your design? One thing I always wanted to see is is a small inventory gauge that fills up as your inventory fills up. More often then not I don't realize how full my inventory is until I can't pick up any more items and that realization may come at an inconvenient time (especially with FFA loot).

I like your concept for the status indicator icons. The current design in PoE is temporary from a UI standpoint at least. The numbers you include are way too small and they don't have a guaranteed contrast with the background so they may or may not be easily visible. Roman numerals are more hassle than they're worth in the middle of battle. Stick with normal numbers. Also, be careful about how you allocate your space. A HUD needs to place functionality first. The ratio for functional space (the icon and numbers) to decorative space (the fancy border) is kind of low. If you look at borders in the rest of the HUD they're all purposefully kept very small. This becomes a huge deal for people playing at low resolutions or sub 16:9 aspect ratios.


2.
I definitely agree the gem icons can be improved and made more unique in a wide variety of ways. Ultimately, I think gems (and maybe orbs too) will need their own UI. Something like a gem bag where you're gems can be displayed in list form. Mousing over every gem in your stash to find one particular gem is a real hassle that needs to be avoided.


3.
I don't see this as being necessary at all but I think it's a cool idea. This would be difficult to implement for skills with effects that are more complicated and involved than a simple nova.

I'd like to link vapor's thread in order to conveniently gather similar thoughts on this matter (even though I may not support them myself - I like the orbs).

Health and Mana globe alternative - photoshopped

For me personally, the most important thing about health and mana display is that I can see it easily.

Whether or not it copies a previous title doesn't factor in my decision to like it or dislike it one bit.

I can tell you right now, your suggested bars at the bottom are super hard to read and would make gameplay less enjoyable. (for me at least)



I really like the gems though. Once you get 1/2 a stash page full of gems, it becomes tiresome to look at as it stands now. Those icons would make it much easier to manage.

@tpapp:
2- The idea of a full inv is interesting, something as small as the durability suport of d2 might work, but I still wonder you mean it like a mini-inv or just an indicator with 25/100 squares.
3- a specific bag for gems and orbs? I can work it out. Sounds like an good idea, yet I am not sure of how would be it's general reception.

@azhubham
I thank you for the quote! I actually though about sidebars, but I felt like it would make the game a bit claustrophobic.

##regarding general comments on UI:
Yeah, globes are visually a good way to make players see both mana and health displayed, but PoE's are too big, and a real ripoff.

Atm I run a eldritch battery witch, so my best way to actually know if I'm running out of life is the smaller and redish light radius. Even if the system is still a bit bricky (not so smooth as it could be) I think that creating other ways to interact with the game without involving *eyes on life and mana bar* would be great.


Hopefully, with the carnival around here, I will have some time to make some updated on the UI screen. About the buff icon, its taken from game files... but I will surelly run a smaller border and bigger icon (about the fonts, I am not working on them atm).
I wish I could see more ideas, so it would make the work easier to work em all at once.

I cant really comment on much of this stuff as its not my department but man I have to fix the distortion on those effects.. Guys when you see distortion that's that heavy make sure to tell me in my fx thread! The distortion got heavier when we zoomed out the game more.

I like that the buff Icons actually have a border.

Im not sure what the 3 xp bars are for? I was guessing gems or something but then that wouldn't make to much sense unless there was a track gem on xp bar feature.

Target aoe range thing I like but sadly I cant add this by myself. Wed make it with a decal instead of what you showed. Its simpler to make and it just looks better :P. Nice ideas though.

o man, i totally LOVE the radius on hover idea, that would be so freaking cool 8]

and a % full status somewhere for inventory would do wonders for the community as a whole i'm sure

not a big fan of bars really, but thats just preference

overall, great ideas and i hope some are used

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nzrock wrote:

I like the gems.

Its a nice idea to make them look differentiated by use, but - is it still remarkable when socketed?

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tpapp157 wrote:

1.
I never felt like the globes were a bad idea in any way but I do acknowledge that there are people who want a smaller HUD.

To give them some kind of poe-uniqueness, let them look as flasks instead of globes? In my opinion, the way the OP drawed his new suggestion, is way more disturbing my look-pathes then the globes on the lower corners of the screen.

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tpapp157 wrote:

One thing I always wanted to see is is a small inventory gauge that fills up as your inventory fills up.

Useful, but even if you have 10 squares left its not said that a 4*2 would fit in...