Concept
The world consists of many layers. You start on the top layer and you can "dig" down your way through layers of the planet. Each layer is a complete new world though pitch dark and filled with stone. Each layer in the world is exactly placed on top of eachother meaning that [120,303] in one layer is exactly above [120,303] on the layer below. You transfer yourself, items, energy, liquids and circuit signals using providers and requesters going up and down a layer, placing a provider and a linked requester is placed on the layer below or above you. And this is where we need your help!Example usage of layers
- I have a layer which i only use for LTN, transporting all my items.
- I have a layer where i generate all my energy
- I seperate my factorio into a new layer everytime my layer above becomes too messy
The request
The following description is our current idea of how the mod should work but any creative ideas is more than welcome!Item types
We are looking for help to design the sprites, for the following items:
- Layer chest (for items)
- Layer tank (for fluids)
- Layer pole (for energy)
- Layer combinator (fir circuit signals)
- Layer portal (for players)
Each of these is either an upward going or a downward going direction, and for each there will be a provider and a receiver. In other words these items comes in pairs. Up provider will transfer to an Up requester. On the following illustration we currently have 3 layers, seeing pairs of providers and requesters that is transfering between the layers. This means that to transport items we will 4 variants:
- Layer down chest provider
- Layer down chest requester
- Layer up chest provider
- Layer up chet requester
Sketches and current design ideas
Like mentioned we need 5 items with each 4 variations. The following sketches showcases the item types but as an instance as one of the variants. We would like our items to have a vanilla vibe to it, meaning a good old industrial look (any amazing ideas is more than welcome however)For starters here is an overview sketch of the ideas for the items we need. Take not in the arrows marked on the items, they tell what way stuff is travelling and who is providing and requesting them.
The layer chest
This is our current idea for the layer chest here seen as its "Down provider"-variant. We were inspired by a the vanilla steel-chest and some chiseled concrete on top marking the variant.The layer tank
The next illustration is the "Layer down request tank". We were thinking of a huge industrial barrel like tank, during this sketch.The layer pole
We think of the layer pole as a cool tesla coil, showcased here as its "Up provider"-variant.We were greatly inspired by the Red alert 2 tesla coils see below:
The layer combinator
We see the layer combinator here as its "Up requester"-variant.We were greatly inspired by the arithmetic combinators for this one. Instead of logical or mathematical symbols we intend to put on the "arrows" showing the variants.
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The layer portal
We have not have any good ideas for this so much that we actually doodled something, but we have scouted existing teleporter mods like this:This feature is also not that far along in the codebase as well. We deem it will work like a "vehicle", so when you go near the platform and press enter you teleport either up or down. So it should probably be some contraption on the ground you can walk over, and when not directly on top see the variant.
Disclaimer
We have not yet released the mod on the official mod site. But if you want to try it out you can get the development version right here:https://github.com/feupeu/factorio-mod--the-deep/