World map

[takluyver]

This was previously discussed in pull requests #16 with @kkpattern and #18 with @lathan.

What would we like:

• God mode map for tile authors - make sure new tiles fit in with those around them.
• Player map - see where you are, and what tiles you've already explored.
• Two levels of detail? Terrain overview ('forest' or 'beach' or whatever) and more detailed notes.
• Manual note taking interface for the user?

The main interface should work on the major platforms - Linux, Windows, Mac - from a single set of code. So using curses isn't an option.

Possible solutions include something like a spreadsheet, with pop up notes for extra details:

Or maybe a Dwarf-Fortress style monospace character interface - though coloured characters and non-ascii characters are hard to support in a cross-platform way.

Alternatively, it could be a simple GUI with Tkinter, or something HTML based. Feel free to suggest other ideas.

[ratmonkey]

I'm on it. (html)

[takluyver]

Good luck. I've just had a glance at your weatbag_map branch - I assume that's what you're working on?

If possible, I'd like to automatically generate this from the tile definitions in the game. Updating a static HTML file probably won't scale very well:

• Tile authors have to fiddle around with HTML tables to add their tile, and remember to update any descriptions in two places.
• Merge conflicts will come up more because everyone has to edit the same file. I tried an early version of this game with my Python user group, and we had conflicts because every tile had to be added to a central index. I've deliberately avoided that with the new game.

Also, with a way to automatically generate it, we can generate a map for the player that only shows the tiles they've already visited.

[ratmonkey]

Oh I'm sorry, I misunderstood. I'll keep the map for personal use then and I'll leave it for someone who knows how to do it as you say. :)

[takluyver]

No worries - thanks for having a look at it.