As the tittle says, it would be nice to have the option of reduced block size, as much as a fourth, or even a half, of the normal block size. This little change would greatly increase the construction diversities. I believe this would be especially useful on customizing our ships (smaller blocks = smoother forms). And, I think, , would not be so difficult to implement, since it would be the same block, just a reduced sample of the original block. What you guys think?
you mean placing a 1x1 tile instead of 2x2? Or 0.5x0.5? Hold shift while placing to go to 1x1 while placing or mining. Not sure i'd like 0.5 size tiles. That would ... do weird things. Maybe a tool that allows angled or tiles to graphically become half blocks? (akin to terraria hammer)
Hmm, I meant block with 0.5 or even 0.25 (the size of pixels in game) of the original size. It would greatly expand the possible block combinations, much like a Lego, where you have smaller pieces to do more precise works. Also, as you said, the addition of triangular blocks (with the possibility of rotating them) would be very useful. What do you mean by "That would ... do weird things"? I dont get it... The way I see, this small addition could be extremely useful in adding the possibility of finer details when building something.
Don't know how it would be coded in, but have an idea of execution of it. Have a button/key to toggle placement mode when placing blocks. It will shift to 1x1 as well being half block/alignment (alignment being the triangular one). How it would work: The half blocks would be obvious, and default once the toggle has been pressed. Alignment would work with shift in this mode. It would align the slope according to the surface placed. This would be useful for the upside down alignment for the triangle like half. Basically forming to the block. Else the alignment portion could be just dependent upon how many times you click and form the triangle/half block. that would be 5 clicks to cycle through the arrangements. From half block upside down to the 4 ways the triangle would form. If they want to append to the clicks to add other kinds of shapes they could, as long it isn't too many. Nothing like going through a mass inventory of selections when trying to place a single block. I think the alternate method would probably work best in my opinion. That is the way I can see it being done with out having to have something like a hammer initially, although I wouldn't put it past them to have a tool to do just that, more likely appending to the matter manipulator's functionality. I actually wouldn't mind seeing something like this done to give different forms in creation a little more depth in a way. I guess that is the way to put that. I hope I elaborated enough.
Instead of a world saving tile grids it would effectively quadruple map tile (and thus save sizes) and would generally just scale everything down. World would have to be generated differently and ores would cover multiple tiles instead of a single one, or everything just gets smaller in size.
not sure where the quadruple came from, but at most it would only double, if that; all depending on how they go about saving it within the files. They would not technically have to regrid the conform to a quadrant. Basically it would be a single block assigned values, or sub values in this case. It will still be 1x1 for each block when saving. All that is really needed is an extra value that is tagged to each block. That is the reason why it would only be double and not quadruple. A value itself can be as simple as a byte(or bit), since you would not really need all 8 numbers to define just that little. This does not say it will equal a byte but that is how many sub values it could be up to. Of course this again all depends on what value system they put into it. Could be a hex value for all you know. So in essence it would be a reference value in order to generate a state for the block. It could then in the programming be defined what each state influences, does, and the effects it will have separately. In theory it would work in a rustic way of thinking, but quite simple to input. I did not say it would be easy, just simple. If I am wrong please elaborate so that I may understand, especially if I misinterpreted what was said.
If you cut a block in half vertically and horizontally, you end up with 4 pieces. If you can place them at this size, they effectively become that size tile instead. Unless you mean terraria style where the block does not change itself, but rather it's shape alone does. then yeah, that'd be fairly easy. minor tweaks for ores, easy to do. Just have to add that shape to the textures and collision mesh or whatever it's called. I probably over-thought it.
sorry but i gotta disagree on this one ... your thinking the wrong way (imho) rather than wanting smaller block sizes for building more intricate work think the other way scale up you buildings...x4 or x5 immediatly then your 1x1 block would be the equivilent of your 0.25 and therefore you can still build in as much intricate detail as you like but on a much bigger scale. which in turn means that, the bigger you go the more detail you can put in. So when you want to show off your creation just multiple screenshots pasted together ... now where is my graph paper gone i need to go back to planning my borg ship
Yes i am actually thinking similar to terraria half block mechanic. So the second one you mentioned is what I was referring to. To mold this and that, but with more stuff to mold with, as terraria does not have upside down stuff like that as of yet... Not far as I know, but it is the same concept, just done in a slight different way. After all that matter manipulator is a jack of all trades master of none; making it the best building tool for the job. Anyway I think you might be overthinking what I was putting forward. Unsure what the original person was referring to, as when I think of half blocks I think the hammer in terraria. since it is the only other similar game that I play. Shrinking the blocks you mind as well do what the post above me mentions.
