Death Markers Layer Postition

[rocketvaultgames]

Is there any way to lock layers/folders to always be on top?

When a death markers layer is generated, it appears above existing FX layers. Rain/clouds/adjust colors, etc. then don't overlay the death markers.

This is remedied by moving the death markers layer lower, but I'm wondering if there is any way to skip this step.

Low priority, of course, but if work is being done on layers in the future, something like this might make sense to integrate.

[JohnD]

You should be able to drag that layer to be under the weather layer(s).

Edit: as you yourself said. :)

[LordEntrails]

Probably a Wish List item. Though I wonder about implementation... You could just program death markers to go under the lowest layer that has FX, but that could easily place the markers as not visible. So what would the logic be to place the markers under FX, but above all other map elements? Not sure I can figure that one out myself.

[rocketvaultgames]

Yeah, I'm not sure either.

I just really wanted to check that I wasn't missing anything that was already in place. It's a minor thing that I do end up doing on many maps.

Maybe just have a (blank) Death Markers layer added to any image record upon creation. That way It can be pre-sorted against all the other layers rather than after the first thing dies and it looks weird.

I would guess that each layer has some (hidden) number assigned to it in order to sort them all.

Maybe making (at least the first 2 digits) of those numbers visible would be helpful and allow for best-practice layer arrangement.

Maybe FX like Rain/Snow, etc. default to be in the 80's. Sunlight ambient light defaults to the 90's. Paint layers to the 50's. Death markers to the 60's.... I'm sure someone knows how to do this better than me! =)

[superteddy57]

The code checks to see if there is a death marker layer and adds to it if it's there. If not, then it creates a new layer with that name. It's not sorted in anyway that I could see, but it follows the same logic as if you were adding a new layer manually. There is no hidden order (number) at play here.

[Zacchaeus]

Yeah, I'm not sure either.

I just really wanted to check that I wasn't missing anything that was already in place. It's a minor thing that I do end up doing on many maps.

Maybe just have a (blank) Death Markers layer added to any image record upon creation. That way It can be pre-sorted against all the other layers rather than after the first thing dies and it looks weird.

I would guess that each layer has some (hidden) number assigned to it in order to sort them all.

Maybe making (at least the first 2 digits) of those numbers visible would be helpful and allow for best-practice layer arrangement.

Maybe FX like Rain/Snow, etc. default to be in the 80's. Sunlight ambient light defaults to the 90's. Paint layers to the 50's. Death markers to the 60's.... I'm sure someone knows how to do this better than me! =)

Since layers can be moved around, giving them a number and then sorting by that number would negate any movement that the user made.

[Fionor]

So maybe add defeault death marker layer to every map, so when GM preps their layers, they could factor future "blood splashes" in and put them under the fog or other FX stuff?
It's not preferable automatic solution, but it might help solve the problem with least effort.

[rocketvaultgames]

Since layers can be moved around, giving them a number and then sorting by that number would negate any movement that the user made.

Keep in mind - this is super low priority and not a big deal at all, I'm just curious how this works.

I may just not understand how this would work, but I picture it something like this:

Start with something like this.

90 - Clouds
80 - Death Markers
00 - Base Image

If I add a new image layer for let's say a rug, it will default to 70.

90 - Clouds
80 - Death Markers
70 - Rug
00 - Base Image

If I add another (for a table) it puts it at 71.

90 - Clouds
80 - Death Markers
71 - Table
70 - Rug
00 - Base Image

If I drag the Table under the Rug (existing functionality), It moves the table to 69.

90 - Clouds
80 - Death Markers
70 - Rug
69 - Table
00 - Base Image


Etc, etc.... if something gets dragged between 70 and 69, it becomes 69.5, etc. Maybe 0, 2 or n digits are shown to the user next to each layer's label.


maybe FX then default to 90+... Death markers to 80 (to always be under certain FX by default).

It doesn't need to be hyper-specific... maybe just 3-4 broad categories. Maybe it is hyper-specific and there is somehow image meta data that can specify default layer position that can be defined by artists uploading mods... Furniture is in the 70s... Flooring in the 40's... Etc.

How does FGU keep track of layer order if there aren't numbers like this behind the scenes already?

[rocketvaultgames]

So maybe add defeault death marker layer to every map, so when GM preps their layers, they could factor future "blood splashes" in and put them under the fog or other FX stuff?
It's not preferable automatic solution, but it might help solve the problem with least effort.

If this is easy, it seems like a great solution. It could even be on "On/Off" toggle in Options as some people might not care about death markers at all and never want to see that extra layer by default.

For now, I'll just preemptively add a Death Markers layer when I remember to, and drag it lower when I forget. It's very minor.

[Zacchaeus]

How does FGU keep track of layer order if there aren't numbers like this behind the scenes already?

The layers are given an id number in the db.xml for the campaign. The first layer is id 0, the next id 1 and so on. The numbers are allocated as the layers are added to the image. Changing the layer position doesn't change the id number. So if you have three layers (0,1, and 2)and a death marker is placed it will be layer 3. Moving layer 3 above layer 2 for example doesn't change the id number of any layer; but clearly something else that I can't determine is keeping note of where that layer order is.

[LordEntrails]

I would be cautious with a default Death Marker Layer being added to all new images. They would quickly/easily get below other layers and then people would complain that death markers is not working. I can see it resulting in a lot of support issues.