Map - Feature Spec No. 8

Feature No. 8a [icon set and captions] + 8c [terrain]

NPC/player location/cursor/path finder/quests location/special locations + topographics and color schemes

Importance: +++ / difficulty: ++

Brief

Core system: Minimap system (important locations and regions marked)

Core Pillar: The user can explore the large open world, separated by distinct regions

The map is a standard MMO or open-world style minimap. The key feature of the minimap is the icons and captions, which the player can use to guide themselves and navigate the world. These icons include player locations, NPC locations, quest locations, dungeon locations, special enemy locations, crafting stations, teleport stations/waypoints (feature No. 8b), shops, and more. The icons are interactable and should show more info about them when the players hover over the icon with their mouse cursor. The captions over certain areas indicate a region or notable location, such as a town or city. Certain captions are viewable at different levels of map zoom. Each region or town will have distinct and unique terrain, indicating the type of geography in the location (grass, ice, mountains, etc.) that generally differ by region. The minimap is present at all times in the corner of the screen and can be expanded to view more detail.

Spec

• Icons are placed over all important or notable locations, visually corresponding to the type of object or location marked (person, place, interactable object, quest, dungeon)
• The terrain is distinguishable on the minimap, helping to visually separate areas by geography
• Each icon comes with a description of what is marked that is shown when hovered over with the mouse (when the map is expanded)
• The minimap is present in the corner of the screen, can be toggled in settings, has an adjustable size, and can be expanded by pressing M (by default).
• Some icons are hidden until they are unlocked via the player unlocking the corresponding area or quest
• Some icons move if connected to a moving object, such as a traveling NPC
• Captions change as the player zooms in and out of the expanded map, increasing in detail from major regions to minor locations

Requirements

• Art for each icon
• Descriptions for each icon
• Basic terrain and topographical details for the map background
• Icons and captions applied correctly to their corresponding locations
• Special requirements and coding for unlockable or moving icons
• Changing captions depending on map zoom
• Icons are markable, becoming highlighted on the minimap

Beat by beat

• Player wants to go to a location or quest
• Player views the minimap to see if it is nearby via the icons
• Player expands the map and searches for the corresponding icon
• Player marks the location on the map
• Player traverses the world to the location, using the minimap icon as a guide

Assets

• Icon graphics
• caption graphics
• terrain graphics
• icon descriptions (text)
• minimap UI and open/close sound effects
• icon clicking sound effect

Additions

Minimap settings, bindable hotkey for opening and zooming (default to M and scroll wheel respectively)

Minimap and icons

Full map with icons and topographic, teleport waypoints, and player location

Icon description – dungeon, showing description and rewards

basic location infomation

Feature No. 8b [map teleporting]

Teleport locations and waypoints to instantly traverse long distances

Importance: +++ / difficulty: +++

Brief

Core system:  Travel system (walking, mounts, waypoints)

Core Pillar: User can explore the large open world, separated by distinct regions 

A major feature of the minimap is map teleportation. There are waypoints around the map that have a specific icon on the minimap. These icons are interactable, if the player clicks on them, they are presented the option to instantly teleport to that location, rather than needing to traverse the map to get there. This is important as this is a relatively large open world map, so if players need to get to a specific location quickly, this is the most efficient way to travel long distances.

Spec

• Waypoints are visible as icons on the map
• If these icons are clicked on, players can view the teleport option
• If the teleport option is selected, the player is instantly transported to the location

Beat by beat

• Player realizes that they need to go to a location that is very far away
• Player opens the map
• Player finds the waypoint closest to their desired location
• Player clicks the waypoint and selects teleport
• Player is teleported to the location

Assets

• Waypoints in the world and on the map (graphics)
• teleportation confirmation menu and opening/closing sound effects
• sound effects for teleportation

Additions

• Animation for teleporting, world loading during teleportation, loading screen and indicator

Teleport waypoint and name

Teleport waypoint 2 – with flavor text

Teleport waypoint 3 - on map

Teleport confirmation button