DPS2 is a significant downgrade :(

[keeganbrophy]

I've been a DPS user for a couple of years now. I've stuck with it over newer programs because it is ideal for how I create maps where they all required me to make a map how the programmer thought it should be done. Everything in DPS1 works like Lego: you have the element and you do things to it and put it with other elements. I had high hopes that DPS2 would keep all of that and add in a cool lighting engine. If I had to do a hardware upgrade to make it work, I was very much game for that. I wanted, essentially, everything DPS1 did with a lighting engine on top.

This is not that. The UI is cluttered and unintuitive. Things must be laid out the way the program wants: this is a floor which has to go down first and it comes with walls. Walls cannot be placed independently. I don't know how to put a door in them because the portal tool just gives me a shaped shadow. The walls or doors by themselves are a completely disqualifying lack. The lighting engine seems to be mandatory and tint everything orange. I don't appear to even have access to the effects that were available in DPS1. This is, as the dev says, a whole new program. It is not a better program, but rather one that is more difficult to use and with which less can be accomplished. I hope that will change, but right now I'm sticking with DPS1. I also hope it does not go away, but if the legacy version vanishes from Steam at some point then I will not be migrating to DPS2 as it currently exists.

[OldMansWar]

I think it is still in semi early beta. Not very intuitive so far. Hopefully it is something I just need to get used too. Could use some tutorials on Youtube. Not being able to place walls independently is frustrating(Wonder if this is tied to LOS). Also would like to know how to make a basic cave or dungeon. I seem to only be able to make buildings and fields.

The one thing I really love is the FGU export that also exports the LOS. The LOS export saves me a lot of time with not having to manually draw LOS in FGU.

[Jenvas]

I fell exactly as you do. I've made a lot of maps with DPS1 and used it's features to get everything just the way I want. DPS2 is super restrictive and lacks so many features. I know it's just a very early beta, but damn, I'm disappointed.

[andre]

Yeah, I've got some maps I'd made in DPS1. I'm not sure if I want to invest the time in trying to get DPS2 to do useful things (or wait for it to catch up to where DPS1 was), or simply cast my eyes to other programs. This does also raise the concern that DPS1 was cast aside (before being completed) for DPS2... could DPS2 also be cast aside for DPS3 leaving us stranded again?

[Anselmorrigan]

I feel you. They need to improve a ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ of things or i'll switch to another software. I made very nice maps with DPS1, even my friends asked me if i bought that map or that other, since the results were pretty nice. But I can't have DPS2 opened more than 5 mins without getting frustrated.

[ellabella28]

Originally posted by Anselmorrigan:

I feel you. They need to improve a ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ of things or i'll switch to another software. I made very nice maps with DPS1, even my friends asked me if i bought that map or that other, since the results were pretty nice. But I can't have DPS2 opened more than 5 mins without getting frustrated.

I can't even open DPS2 :D

[cheesesteakneggs]

its, definitely going in a different direction. I do like some of the base features. However the system is just too complicated. What made DPS1 great was the clean simplicity of the system. I say this with love but if feels like the horrendous upgrade the was CIV 6.

With DPS1 there was a lot a simple full access tools that were available to the users for making beautiful and variable maps. With DPS2, it feels restricted with tools and the creative aspect limited. The lighting system is something i've been excited for since i first heard of it and was excited to add it to the many maps i made already as light substitutes.

But finding a way to put an object down was annoying and i eventually gave up to go back to DPS1. I am sure it will improve but my main hope is that they keep alot of the old make up of DPS1 and just add features like the lighting fixtures or the bi-floor tile sets.

[turbiales]

All of this is a Pity. I also have a LOT of maps done in DPS1 and this new version is almost unusable to me because is counterintuitive. For example: In DPS1 i was capable of doing a very basic dungeon in 5 minutes, even in the middle of a VTT session. I cannot do it in the same way in DSP2. It's very sad for me, because I loved and recommended the sotware a lot.

It has some things I like, as the lighting. But the complete change in desing philosophy has made me to swtich to no recommend it anymore.

[PrometheanExile]

I honestly like most of the new features with DPS2 but they are very unintuitive and proving unreliable. For example my exported maps are frequently missing parts. Turns out when objects overlap sometimes the renderer gets confused though turning limitless on does help somewhat

[Darklorddc]

Right here with you guys, though my specific problem is with the UI. It's unintuitive, missing a lot of BASIC commands that the last version put right in your face, and is, in general, just too frustrating and irritating to work with.
That being said, there is a FANTASTIC upgrade somewhere in here. The features are great! But that UI is an absolute, utter, and complete faceplant, which needs to be redone from pretty much scratch.
And, just to be clear, this is not a "it's so different from the old one I'm used to" situation. That is not this. It is not.
For an example: Quick, open DP2 and find a way to quickly move layers up and down...if you can find that button or function. I suspect there's something buried in that "Hierarchy" menu, but hell if I can figure it out. It's little things, like when I have the pointer button selected, I should be able to click on an object and select it! But nope.
Generally, you find out there was a design philosophy that somebody thought was intuitive for everyone, because they think they've got a lock on how people see things and operate things, but they were wrong. Really, really wrong. And I wouldn't be surprised to find out that whoever was in charge of the GUI was a different person or team than in DP1.
All that being said, the features, from what I can tell, are great in many ways and it could be a step up from DP1, but that interface needs to be scrapped ENTIRELY and redone from the bottom up.

[Hot Ross Buns]

Originally posted by cheesesteakneggs:

I do like some of the base features. However the system is just too complicated. What made DPS1 great was the clean simplicity of the system. I say this with love but if feels like the horrendous upgrade the was CIV 6.

Someone comparing CIV 6 to it?

Now thats not a good sign.

[Promptwizard]

Yeah, I switched over and tried to complete a map yesterday and it was just brutal to figure out how the entire feature system works. I think there is the start of something that could be very effective here, but without any tutorial or in-depth explanation of how the tools work together it was a real pain. Prompted me to switch over to Dungeondraft

[Kanbie]

I think it has some tradeoffs, the ability to define my own effects was really great and helped with some complex shading interactions (water and its edges on a simple ground texture). However I find that the new software revision trades some of that customization off for a drastic increase in speed.

The interspace and spread metrics are great, and the use of height as a setting is intuitive for shadows and layers.

[MurderOfCrows]

This has been my experience as well. I use this to create large dungeons for VTT use. I just want walls and doors, sometimes simple furniture. I might have to find a different program, but I want one to buy, not pay a subscription like Inkarnate.

[Wanderer]

This makes me not want to buy it. I was planning on getting in, but if they are just going to trash it for something worse--just not interested in spending ANY money on either 1 or 2.

[ZarKimbo]

Originally posted by Wanderer:

This makes me not want to buy it. I was planning on getting in, but if they are just going to trash it for something worse--just not interested in spending ANY money on either 1 or 2.

You still get DPS1 which is excellent in the bundle and you can wait until all the features from the old version have been implemented.