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Suggestions / Skill tree visual design overhaul
« on: November 26, 2012, 11:45:15 AM »
Hey.. first before i start bashing this fervently-awaited update, i'd like to thank Alex&Crew for getting it out before Christmas. 
With that said:
The Character panel is a mess. I know how much information needs to be put out, but it really is straining to get a glimpse at what each skill does and how can i get to it. Personally, for such a system, i would much prefer Borderlands' alternative (click here) for these types of skill-trees. Let me show you an outline:
Each aptitude is a 'tab' with a specific background color, and each tab has the (number of aptitude points allocated) next to its name. When you click on it, it opens up the skill list of the tree.
The + next to the skill is a skill-up for the aptitude. When that is done, a visual effect will highlight the opened up new column so you see what that did. A hover over each name of the skill category will show the flavor text plus stats that will be gained per skillup in said category. It's a general description and it doesn't do or grant anything.A hover over the skills will show what each stat does, what are you actually getting if you put another point into that category.
Now, how it works. Initially the whole list is gray, you put a point into the aptitude via the plus next to it or keeping with the left-sided 'add point' button and bam, a whole row gets a dark color like you'd have the tab so it's clear that you 'unlocked' that column. Then you put a skill by clicking on the corresponding skill button or anywhere on the row, either would work for clarity. The tooltip says what you get and once you have the point placed, you have it.
I find it much more streamlined and you can understand much better how everything is set up and what can you gain, and also have everything at a glance, as opposed to the clunky system we have now, imho.
PS: Tech is pretty big for a tree compared to the others, Navigation should really be down with Leadership to balance it out, and Leadership or a new tree should have a lot of Strategic Map bonuses like command points and such.
With that said:The Character panel is a mess. I know how much information needs to be put out, but it really is straining to get a glimpse at what each skill does and how can i get to it. Personally, for such a system, i would much prefer Borderlands' alternative (click here) for these types of skill-trees. Let me show you an outline:
Each aptitude is a 'tab' with a specific background color, and each tab has the (number of aptitude points allocated) next to its name. When you click on it, it opens up the skill list of the tree.
The + next to the skill is a skill-up for the aptitude. When that is done, a visual effect will highlight the opened up new column so you see what that did. A hover over each name of the skill category will show the flavor text plus stats that will be gained per skillup in said category. It's a general description and it doesn't do or grant anything.A hover over the skills will show what each stat does, what are you actually getting if you put another point into that category.
Now, how it works. Initially the whole list is gray, you put a point into the aptitude via the plus next to it or keeping with the left-sided 'add point' button and bam, a whole row gets a dark color like you'd have the tab so it's clear that you 'unlocked' that column. Then you put a skill by clicking on the corresponding skill button or anywhere on the row, either would work for clarity. The tooltip says what you get and once you have the point placed, you have it.
I find it much more streamlined and you can understand much better how everything is set up and what can you gain, and also have everything at a glance, as opposed to the clunky system we have now, imho.
PS: Tech is pretty big for a tree compared to the others, Navigation should really be down with Leadership to balance it out, and Leadership or a new tree should have a lot of Strategic Map bonuses like command points and such.
That's it, i'm done for now, but i will continue to use this thread to ask stuff so check back often for absolutely demanding questions to be answered! 
