Template talk:BarricadePlan

General

Looking to start some discussion on ways to either improve the template or to include on a new template. Obviously we would want something that is both easy to read at a glance, but also informative. Some things that I think can be easily changed:

• Remove monuments as a separate color, since aside from tagging purposes they are no different from any other empty block.
• Remove the unique color for Auto Repair Shops since they have been deemed non-essential by UBP since the update.
• Maybe add a new color to represent dark buildings on plans?

Again I'm looking for input on changes, and current plan templates that people like that we could use as a starting point for a template that can be used for all suburbs. --Maverick ^{Talk - OBR 404} 09:55, 20 October 2009 (BST)

I'm not sure about the Auto-repair change. They are still the best place to get fuel, and as such are important in keeping a suburb running. They may be less important to low-level users, but to a team trying to operate a mall or an NT, more so.--Itsacon ^{(Talk | Grungni | Ikhnaton)} 11:10, 20 October 2009 (BST)

That's kind of the point though. Since schools and fire stations are labeled as non-TRP building to keep at VSB for low-level characters, there isn't really a need for ARS to be kept at VSB other than location. Better to keep them protected so higher-level folks can get fuel without worrying as much about getting eaten overnight. --Maverick ^{Talk - OBR 404} 11:44, 20 October 2009 (BST)

I see. But in combination of my suggestion below, a seperate colour would remain valuable even for EHB buildings, hence the misunderstanding. --Itsacon ^{(Talk | Grungni | Ikhnaton)} 11:48, 20 October 2009 (BST)

Really, I don't think that there was any need for a change, and was surprised that anyone would wanted it changed. I think that it's fine just the way it is. If anyone is interested, I could create an alternitive template made with suggestions as they come up, just to see what we have as it goes along.... -Poodle of doom 13:38, 20 October 2009 (BST)

I say go for it, the more examples the easier to see how best to improve it. --  RoosterDragon  16:11, 20 October 2009 (BST)

I'd like to see this template receive some attention to make it more readable where possible, and maybe look nicer. You might need to phase over plans to a new template though, as it sounds like some of the changes being discussed would break the current usage. I'd like to put in my two cents into the template itself once you settle on a new scheme.

To address your points:

• Yeah that makes sense.
• Fuck the UBP, it's just one methodology for creating cade plans. It shouldn't have a bearing on a template intended for any cade plan. Instead you should go by TRPs. ARS's are important, and schools are not (I mean seriously UBP, schools are essential?!? pff)
• A reasonable idea, though it should be reasonably subtle.

--  RoosterDragon  16:11, 20 October 2009 (BST)

I figured that we would probably have to create a new template once we get it nailed down what everyone wants to see as far as changes. I would like to go by TRPs, but then we have to come to a consensus as to which buildings are TRPs. I think everyone agrees that PDs and hospitals are, but what about ARS? Factories? Fire Stations? --Maverick ^{Talk - OBR 404} 20:01, 20 October 2009 (BST)

Check the article. On the other hand, if a certain scheme wants to highlight building type X I guess they should be able to. So it makes sense to include whatever is needed. Let's see what people want from the template first though, otherwise we're speculating on the design based on speculation about the specification. That wouldn't end well :) --  RoosterDragon  20:12, 20 October 2009 (BST)

Building type colours for EHB buildings

One thing lacking in the current template is the ability to distinguish between building types for buildings marked unenterable, these are all yellow. I think the designation between enterable/unenterable should be seperate from the type designation. Maybe something like a dashed border for an enterable building and a solid border for an unenterable building, with the colours of the cell the same regardless of barricade level? --Itsacon ^{(Talk | Grungni | Ikhnaton)} 11:10, 20 October 2009 (BST)

That is a good point. Or perhaps something along the lines of an 'X' in the block for EHB and blank for VSB. Definitely something that would help. --Maverick ^{Talk - OBR 404} 11:42, 20 October 2009 (BST)

An example of what I have in mind:

EHB PD	VSB PD
EHB H	VSB H

--Itsacon ^{(Talk | Grungni | Ikhnaton)} 11:47, 20 October 2009 (BST)

The solid/dashed line is a great idea. It works better with a dark color as the border instead of a white line. Also, the barricade plan is currently cluttered with colors. I feel that only PDs, Hospital, NTs and Malls should have a distinct color. Maybe blue, red, purple and green? And I agree there should be some way to designate in the barricade plan that a building should be left barricaded and dark.--_GANG Giles Sednik _CAPD 14:45, 20 October 2009 (BST)

Another option is to dispense with the current two-colour schemes for PD's and fire stations altogether, and have a single border colour denominating the barricade level: absent for none, dashed for VSB and solid for EHB. The colours can be drawn from the Uniform Color Policy (and I have preference for the 'Prettier by Name' versions). It would look something like this:

EHB PD	VSB PD	Open PD
EHB H	VSB H	Open H
EHB FD	VSB FD	Open FD
EHB NT	VSB NT	Open NT

We may have to play with the border-colour a bit for optimum visibility, but you get my idea I think.

Dark buildings can be done by using a gray colour for the text instead of black maybe? --Itsacon ^{(Talk | Grungni | Ikhnaton)} 15:36, 20 October 2009 (BST)

Grungi, check out some examples I put together in my Sandbox. If you want to play around with the colors a little bit you can copy/paste and leave examples on the same page. I kinda like the two-color scheme for buildings and the dashed line idea. Let me know what you think.--_GANG Giles Sednik _CAPD 15:52, 20 October 2009 (BST)

After thinking about it, the dashed line is really growing on me. Easy to understand at a glance. Great thinking guys. --Maverick ^{Talk - OBR 404} 20:05, 20 October 2009 (BST)

I tentatively agree, but I'd prefer to see a full example plan first to be sure. --  RoosterDragon  20:13, 20 October 2009 (BST)

Righto. When I'm farting around tomorrow I'll put together a Foulkes Village example. I'll base it on the assumption that people prefer to see a yellow background for EHB and that firestations are antiquated. Perhaps I'll go with a lighter shade of yellow for VBS non TRC buildings. And it seems factories and auto repair shops should at least be designated by letters, thanks for pointing out the article rooster.--_GANG Giles Sednik _CAPD 20:36, 20 October 2009 (BST)

POV

I couldn't care less what colours survivors use on their cade plans so long as it's legible to the colour-blind in the same way that the scents were.

Given that any barricade plan is POV they have no business being on suburb pages at all, hopefully we'll be removing them at some point in the near future. -- . . <== DDR Approved Editor 16:00, 20 October 2009 (BST)

Colour-blind is a good point, though the current version isn't very accessibly either in that regard. The dashed-border idea will actually improve on that, I think. The POV thing is valid, though one could argue that it's easy for zombies to know where there's the least wood to gnaw through before you get to the tasty BRAAAAAINS! --Itsacon ^{(Talk | Grungni | Ikhnaton)} 16:05, 20 October 2009 (BST)

POV or not, it would good to improve the template. And even if they are removed from displaying in the suburb page there will always be a link to it there and people will continue to use barricade plans.--_GANG Giles Sednik _CAPD 16:11, 20 October 2009 (BST)

I would like to get the plans taken off the suburb pages as well and just leave a link. Or, create zombie barricade plans as has been done in suburbs like Ridleybank. The colour-blind argument is a good one though. Let us know how some of the various shades work and which ones need changing. --Maverick ^{Talk - OBR 404} 20:08, 20 October 2009 (BST)