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[Cleo]

More "fake 3D" is now possible with the new sub-layers feature: see the attached screenshot. Previously this was nearly impossible to do, because layer 1 (floor) is always drawn first, along with layer 2 (floor masks) due to tilestretching and other effects. In order to allow structures such as bridges, as you can see in the attached screenshot, the sub-layer feature was added: "layer 1 sub_layer 1" will be drawn on top of "layer 1", and will not z-merge with nearby floor tiles that are not of the same sub-layer.

Another (perhaps more important feature, decor-wise) is the ability to have multiple fmasks (or other objects with the same layer) on the same tile, without using the "changing the layer" hack (such as one fmask on layer 2 and another on layer 3). Now, one fmask can be on "layer 2", and another on "layer 2 sub_layer 1", and even another on "layer 2 sub_layer 2" (rendered in the respective order).

[Mamoru]

Great! Been waiting a looooong time for such a feature. Could you write a script that takes the layer 3 hack and changes it to layer 2 sub-layer 1? And another map-checker function for fmasks in any layer but 2?

M.

[Cleo]

I can do the latter, but not the former.

[Cleo]

How about a warning option "layer changed from the default value"? I could make it enabled by default, depending on how commonly used it is (for legitimate purposes, if those exist at all at this point).

[Mamoru]

That's okay, it would just be a one-time script to save us from changing all the currently hacked fmasks manually.

As for the "layer changed from default value", this is commonly used for wall & item hacks too (example). Could it be possible to add a sub-layer to layer 5? This problem would then be solved and you could add that warning to the map-checker. Otherwise it would be better to just check for fmasks hack (which is used a lot at the moment).

M.

[Cleo]

That's okay, it would just be a one-time script to save us from changing all the currently hacked fmasks manually.

Like I said, not really possible. There's not that *many* hacked fmasks anyway.

As for the "layer changed from default value", this is commonly used for wall & item hacks too (example). Could it be possible to add a sub-layer to layer 5? This problem would then be solved and you could add that warning to the map-checker. Otherwise it would be better to just check for fmasks hack (which is used a lot at the moment).

Any layer can have up to 5 sub-layers (or maybe 4, I don't remember off the top of my head), except of course layer 0. That is partially the reason that in order to implement sub-layers, see-invisible had to be removed (invisible objects are still invisible, but permanently so, even if you can see invisible [except maybe in the below inventory]).

[Mamoru]

Alright, a warning for unusual layers would be good to have enabled by default then. The sub-layers are really a great feature Just what I needed!

M.

[Cleo]

2128 occurrences in the main branch maps...

[Cleo]

It seems there are in fact legitimate uses of changing the layer - for the rendering order when doing things like putting items such as food (layer 3) on top of a table (which is layer 4). So the way to put a fish on top of the table would be to change it to layer 4 and set its sub-type to 1. Previously this was done by just changing the fish to layer 5.

So since there are legitimate uses, the warning will be disabled by default.

[Cleo]

Wow, Incuna sure has a LOT of reed with "layer 3" even when there's no other fmasks... No wonder there's so many occurrences of the warning...

[Mamoru]

Wow, Incuna sure has a LOT of reed with "layer 3" even when there's no other fmasks... No wonder there's so many occurrences of the warning...

Indeed, because it is used a lot along the shore. The water fmasks are in layer 2. Therefore, I put the reed in layer 3 by default (pickmap).

Edit: Of course, with sub-layers, this is no longer necessary.

M.