Store / Shop / Trainer Labels on Map Mod

[stilz]

Hi guys,

 

I'm wondering if there's such a mod that provides labels for different stores, shops, and perhaps trainers. I found it a little amusing that the game actually labeled all buildings with the same icon.

 

Thanks.

[Abramul]

Could probably be done using a one-sided mesh placed high above the entrance. This should show up on the (local) map, without ending up looking weird from the ground.

[Vagrant0]

Could probably be done using a one-sided mesh placed high above the entrance. This should show up on the (local) map, without ending up looking weird from the ground.

Interesting solution, but would require that the mesh actually has faces that resemble the icon you want since this is what the local maps are built from. A textured rectangle wouldn't work. Beyond that I don't see any problem with making such a mod. I don't think it's been done yet, but don't think it would require too much to make it happen.

 

*edit* You know what, you've gotten me interested. While I don't know how useful such a mod would be (never had much trouble finding my way around towns and cities, and most shops have signs) I havn't really played enough with the local map generation methods. I would imagine that any icons which could be used would be rather simple looking since the game only seems to pick up on where a plane ends, but tends to ignore small details (somehow). I'll probably start off with three icon types, a sword, a shield, and a sword and shield to indicate a weapon shop, an armor shop, and a shop that sells both respectivly. I'm not quite sure how trainers would be done since most of them are either located in one of those shops, or are wandering NPCs. While the idea of an Icon that follows the NPC might seem an idea, it would be too impractical to really implement (since each would have to be an individually scripted activator).

 

*edit2* did some small tests, local maps are generated from a change in texture and height and angle of plane. I used several elemts with different textures, arranged vertically but parallel, the results were less than acceptable. The difference in textures showed, but only the outside edges (placed 2000 units above the top of the building) were really visable. Distances between pieces within the same element ranged from 128 to 512 units, but showed no border edges. This means that parallel elements within the same object either have to be quite a distance above eachother, or cannot be parallel. Future tests will probably involve setting faces at a slight vertical angle to eachother, or just making a raised outline. Additionally, the icons need to be atleast 12 feet square to really show on the local maps, get hidden by the door markers, and really don't impart any information that can't be gained from just passing your mouse over the door marker. So really, anything done here wouldn't be particularly useful to anyone. Most shop names pretty much tell you what they are. As far as training icons go, activators don't show on local maps, but since shop icons are useless, stationary trainers may be markable in such a fashion.

 

Not sure how any of this works with shadows though, but could see a potential issue there.

[untitled]

This sounds like a great idea, i often get lost finding my way around towns.. i should stop drinking..

 

Ive got an idea, Vagrant0, you seem to know what your doing with this, so ill ask you/

 

Doors show up on maps dont they?, i know you can make a door hidden, but could you change the icon of the door on the map to a shield or a sword?

[Vagrant0]

This sounds like a great idea, i often get lost finding my way around towns.. i should stop drinking..

 

Ive got an idea, Vagrant0, you seem to know what your doing with this, so ill ask you/

 

Doors show up on maps dont they?, i know you can make a door hidden, but could you change the icon of the door on the map to a shield or a sword?

Nope, all the doors use the same icons, there's no way to differentiate between them.

 

Also, incase it wasn't clear, any icons on the local map would have to be fairly large, so probably won't look very good. It might make more sense just to use a quest marker and some scripting to move around a quest target to point you to the various trainers. The scripting could be a menu driven sign located in each town that you can activate, select what you are wanting to find, and have a compass marker pointing toward it.