Elevator system! (With fanart example)

[Zefnoly]

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2602679722
Wanted to make something random in blender so decided to outline an idea for an elevator system for the beavers in Timberborn! I've been anticipating this game since I discovered it months ago. And am amazed by the additions to the game showcased for the release so far! There although is one thing I think could be a really nice addition to this game! A modular elevator for vertical maps/constructions!

The cables can use texture animation so should not be too difficult to animate.
Beavers enter to go up on one side. Enters to go down on the other. Each module connects to paths on both sides.

The bottom and top wheel has power connections. Can either input power or output power (To be used as a vertical power transmission itself)

Amount of beavers moving down adds power to the connected shaft network. Up moving beavers decreases the power to the network. If no power is already added it wont work for upwards travel. If power gets neutral or negative, all beavers will leave it at the floor they are currently at and have to find alternate route or be stuck if it is not to be found. So you should probably make sure to have reliable power for this. Although one single beaver should barely affect the power consumption so should technically be easily powered by one or two watermills or a few windturbines? Or even the manual power.

Point is a quick way to move vertically that also looks neat and fits within the style of the game. Also adding more interesting parts to your city!

As I have designed it, there is a 2x3x1 bottom part. 3x1x1 middle parts. and a 2x3x1 top part. While it is being made you could make it so the cables wont spawn with the elevator platforms until a top part and a bottom part is connected with middle parts or directly.

[SpannerMonkey]

Hey, very smart, and nice art work. the design seems to fit perfectly with the Folktails theme.
Best of all I think that bringing it to life in Timberborn wouldn't be too fiendishly difficult ( I've made similar stuff in this game engine) to bring to life. unlike some fan art designs.

I'd go so far to say that if that devs don't at least take a look ( and nothing similar is added) I'd be tempted to knock the rust off the modding tools and have a go myself, when they add the modding further down the line (not expecting that anytime soon)

[Zefnoly]

Originally posted by SpannerMonkey:

Hey, very smart, and nice art work. the design seems to fit perfectly with the Folktails theme.
Best of all I think that bringing it to life in Timberborn wouldn't be too fiendishly difficult ( I've made similar stuff in this game engine) to bring to life. unlike some fan art designs.

I'd go so far to say that if that devs don't at least take a look ( and nothing similar is added) I'd be tempted to knock the rust off the modding tools and have a go myself, when they add the modding further down the line (not expecting that anytime soon)

Yeah, I definetely want to play on vertical maps like canyons etc. Or make tall vertical lumberpunk cities, and something like this would really add to everything. It would obviously be a late game tech. But would also be something interesting to play with.

[einstein20202]

Y-E-S

[IronSquid501]

Really hope the devs see this! I'd love to make a compact dam city with systems like this moving my beavers around

[Sangriacus]

This is amazing! It would be great to see another faction focused on highrise, that could make something like that

[ph3rr3t 2.0]

WANT. Very much want. That and ladders.

[Exodus]

Two thumbs up. Love this idea for an expansion to the power accessories.

[AfterCrow]

This is obviously a great piece of work, but I'm gonna give some constructive criticism to hopefully push this in the right direction.

I'll assume the way you place the platforms will decide if it's driven by input torque or elevator mass, otherwise how will the beavers know how to path through the elevator?

It needs a way to deal with the "neutral power" scenario. Lets say you have one beaver on each side it will stop moving and they'll be stranded. If there's too little space to put in a hamster wheel, you'll end up with two dead beaver-carcasses in an immovable elevator. I suggest the elevator has room for one operator that can slowly crank a swivel to manually power it.

The current support structure is a bit too large and complex. It also looks a bit too "industrial". I suggest removing the top brace and letting the top wheel be the highest point of the elevator. Remove some of the support braces down the line and consider making it look more like wood. This might also reduce polygon count.

I also suggest you make a "ferris-wheel" as a low footprint alternative to the carousel :)

[TheLordEternal]

That looks really cool! I'd maybe suggest making it 2x3 instead however for the aesthetics. Gives the beavers a little more space to stand on. I really applaud the design though, it looks great.