Game needs a grid

[SWAYZ]

I really do not like the way you place things in this game. I really wish things just snapped to a grid.

[Grabbaduc]

Hi! You'll be able te place floor tiles that will allow you to build on a grid. But if you don't mind me asking, why do you dislike the gridless system?

[mmuffins]

While playing the demo there were a few instances where I would have preferred a more structured approach to placing buildings and paths.

For one, efficient pathing is directly linked to production efficiency, so it's highly incentiviced. As such, the closer you can place buildings together, the better.
But since buildings can be placed and roated freely, you either accept that you will not be able to place them perfectly next to each other, or you spend an annoying amount of time trying to perfectly align multiple buildings.

This becomes even more difficult when trying to space buildings apart just wide enough to have room for a trail between them as there is no indication for it. Take this example:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3293977695

It took me nearly 15 minutes to set up the buildings and paths like that, but despite that they are still not anywhere near perfectly aligned.

In the grand scheme of things these minor inefficiencies may not have a meaningful impact on overall productivity, but it feels incredibly unsatisfying. It always feels like the game doesn't give you the tools to be as efficient as you want to be, even if that's not actually true.

Particularly for pathing, it may also help with clarity, by making it easier to visually parse busy areas where paths are placed in close proximity.

If a full grid-based approach is not desirable because it is an uprade for later in the game, or because it's simply not the design philosophy of the game, there may also be other options that could alleviate these issue.

For example, it could be possible to limit the rotation of buildings to the principal compass directions. Buildings could also snap to each other to help aligning multiple buildings. Or the minimal distance between buildings could be spaced to always allow a path between them.

[Garydesu]

Messaggio originale di Grabbaduc:

Hi! You'll be able te place floor tiles that will allow you to build on a grid. But if you don't mind me asking, why do you dislike the gridless system?

I feel this is part of the game's unique characteristic, making the traditionally precise mechanical layout more "organic," which is also reflected in the game's animations and sound effects. This feature undoubtedly makes it difficult for some veteran players who are used to meticulous planning to adapt, but personally, I find it quite refreshing.

[DethBringa]

I'm all for adding a toggle option to turn on/off grid snapping. I am mostly frustrated by a free placement system due to a messy feel without nice alignments. This is one of the VERY few games that I didn't miss it.
I prefer it as is without grid-snap but I do think it would be a great toggle option to add in the settings. Keeps everyone happy.

[Selene]

Yeah, being able to turn on snapping would be really nice; it felt like half my time was spent trying to add or remove nodes just to get thing to go where I wanted

[oropay-]

Personally I prefer the free placement as the default

[Jolenska]

Just holding a key like SHIFT while rotating to align to fixed angles would be enough for me.

[Tgr]

On the other hand, waypoints do snap to nearby targets, and it can get really annoying, because sometimes it prevents you from placing them where you want. Being able to enable/disable snapping behavior would be nice.

[Arkos]

TBH forced grid will ruin some super-efficient schemes like single ant can handle up to 6-7-8 larva pools in split second.
But yeah, grid can make things visually more organised.

So yeah, best option is to make grid snap switchable.

[Arkos]

To be clear - switch the default & switch on the fly.
Settings have check mark for default.
And in-game like holding SHIFT (any of left or right) to temporary switch while holding.

[Jolenska]

So, I tried the playtest version where you unlock far more interesting stuff. There is a way to align everything on tiles to make a grid. But it's not available from the begining and expensive. Weird choice to me.

[j.chris.holmes]

It's interesting to have a grid-less system, but honestly, I also would much prefer to be able to "snap to a grid". It's a prefers visually for me - easier to lay things down at a consistent distance, etc.

[Cannon Fodder]

Messaggio originale di SWAYZ:

I really do not like the way you place things in this game. I really wish things just snapped to a grid.

No it absolutely does not.
I am so sick of grid games. The free-form nature of this is so satisfying.

yesssss give me the clown awards you salty children lmao.

[Grauen]

I also like free building, but I like an optional grid on/off is the best solution

[Dertin]

Messaggio originale di Grauen:

I also like free building, but I like an optional grid on/off is the best solution

totally agree... an ant game should feel a bit organic but on the other hand these are not biological ants in that way. so the ability to do some things on a grid would be nice