This has been suggested before, but not for a while, and it seems to be something that most of the player base would like to happen and benefit from, so worth bringing up again (I think).
Just some sort of visual indicator on every machine that tells you the current status of the machine, without having to walk right up to it, point directly at it, or open the machine up.
I would suggest 4 states for the indicator.
Idle (not working, nothing in finished items)
Working (item in crafting queue, nothing in finished items)
Item ready (not working, finished item in storage)
Working + item ready (item in crafting queue + finished item in storage)
Not sure what form the indicator would take, it doesnāt really matter, the important thing would be that it was easily recognisable. So if I looked at a row of machines I could see the status of each without having to check each one individually.
This should apply to all āmachinesā, from the furnace to the forge.
I mean itās not a bad idea. Tho the machines already move when they are working. Also I probably donāt craft enough because I know whatās in the machines and when they should be completely done. Only one Iād really like some kind of visual cue on is the furnaces.
Honestly, in an ideal world, something like an interface overlay would be the best thing; something like entering ācrafting modeā or āmachine modeā which would then show info over nearby machines, say 20m radius. But that would probably take more time to develop than itās really worth, I donāt know.
I would love something like that anyway, though can also see how it could turn into yet another binding that might be awkward for PS4 players to use.
Correct me if Iām wrong, but I think they only move when you look directly at them, and not the furnace or the table?
For those that have many machines, all at different stages of production, it would allow you to look in the general direction of the machines and quickly see which ones required further attention.
Hmmm dunno if itās only when you directly look at them as I never paid that close attention to it. Havenāt had the need because I keep track of whatās crafting be it in my 1 machine ea workshop or my 6 machine ea workshop. Crafting tables is another without a indicator yes. I forget about them since I donāt farm xp like that. Only use them when I need to make marble or deco wood which is only done when I need it for the build. So I cue up what I need and have the mental note of when itāll be done.
@Fidach maybe something like this is what weāre thinking? (with crafting time remaining displayed, maybe little icons for the next queues tooā¦ I dunno )
This picture reminded me of this suggestion of how machines could show visually crafting, picture on starting post. I think these both would be cool to have in game
I think visual ways to show crafting queue would nice thing, animation works for little but machine permissions are still broken in game when machine operator canāt see state properly
Along these lines I could really get behind a: āmachine inventory is full and your queue is on hold, you poor ā ā ā ā ā ā ā ā, indicator of some sort.
So after paying a bit more attention to machines while working I can see some movement while itās crafting.
I think perhaps Iām used to starting the machine then going off doing something else, then they are all done by the time Iām back.
So maybe just adding something similar to table, and maybe make the furnace fire glow while itās active?
But I would still like some sort of indicator to say there is a craft ready in the machine, sometimes I queue up lots of forging mats in different machines, I like to easily see which ones have completed crafts!
)
I prefer all machines connected to same spark generator.
red for idle, amber for working, green for finished, flashing amber and green for finished item and working.