Flags

[Blakpik]

P.S (Pre Scriptum): I apologise in advance if this or something similar to this has already been suggested, my internet is really slow right now and it makes navigating this site really difficult.

-- The Problem --
Factions can not easily be visually identifiable without making insignia out of blocks (something that is REALLY hard to do (especially with circles))

-- The Solution --
Incorporate Flags that people can dye or place a faction design on.

-- Suggestion for how to incorporate this solution --
Acquiring Flags
Flags can be bought at a shop or manufactured with fabric (probably made with plants e.g Yhole?) The flags can then be dyed using paint, producing a coloured flag, or combined with a Faction Module to give you a Faction Flag that will use the faction flag design.

Faction Flags
A faction flag would use a faction design uploaded by someone with the authority to do so (faction permissions). In the factions tab there would be an option to upload a .png image from one's computer to use as the design. To prevent spamming I recommend a dimension limit (I will explain why later).

Flag Sizes
A default flag would probably be 1 metre high by 1.5 wide, flags can then be combined to create larger ones. 2 flags put together would make a flag that is 2 metres high by 3 metres wide, etc. (Probably to a limit).

However with faction flags scaling would have to work a bit differently; As people are going to be uploading flags of different preportions you can't have a set ratio (i.e 1:1.5) like you can with basic coloured flags, so I think that a default faction flag should be 1 metre by n metres where n is a number suitable to the dimensions of the .png image that has been uploaded. And it is for that reason that I think it is essential for there to be a size limit on the .png, or else some troll could upload a .png that is one pixel high but 4,000 pixels wide and have a 1 x 4,000 metre flag.

Flag Use
Okay so you have your flag, it has your factions flag, it is the size you want, and thanks to the limits it is not several kilometres long. What do you do with it? As in real life there are really only two ways to set up a flag, hanging from a wall, and flying from a pole. So you get your flag, hold it in your hand, walk up to your wall and/or flagpole, and you left click that sucker down. It goes to the top of the flag pole or sits on the wall all snazzy like.

Flags and Faction Modules
Okay so Faction A has a flag sitting on one of their planets it has Faction A's design on it, all cool, but then, Faction B comes a long and conquers the planet, gets rid of Faction A's faction module and replaces it with their own, The flag should then Automatically change designs, so that the flag allows for a visual change when the planet changed ownership. EDIT: The advantage of this relationship is that ship blueprints with a flag on it will change when someone puts their signature in it after spawning it.

This concludes my suggestion, if you have any questions or suggestion please put them below.
[DOUBLEPOST=1421421012,1421420542][/DOUBLEPOST]FIRST! Sorry I had to do it.

 

[CyberTao]

http://starmadedock.net/threads/faction-flags.5179/

Only concern I would have for this is people uploading porn or other undesirables onto a server to be used as a flag.

Also, Post merge denies your first!

 

[Blakpik]

http://starmadedock.net/threads/faction-flags.5179/


Also, Post merge denies your first!

I think that if that is the case there should be a report system but I don't think it will be too big of an issue (most people don't have porn as their TF2 sprays) As the game has been linked to Steam you could make it affect Steam reputation (if such a system exists).

 

[CyberTao]

As the game has been linked to Steam you could make it affect Steam reputation (if such a system exists).

FOK YO STEM. But really, not all of us use steam, or want to. I personally don't because I share my games library, keeps them free for others to play. I don't think it's wise to drag in too much 3rd party anyways. It's also hard to compare different communities, I mean we used to have a Starmade-Afterdark channel on IRC after a couple conversations on the main chat that were NSFW. Maybe as a server option, as well as an option for admin-approval needed, but I think just using the blocks is fine, forces people to be more creative with their symbol (scaling on different sized ships for example, circles are boring anyways).

 

[Blakpik]

Maybe as a server option, as well as an option for admin-approval needed,

That's a good idea.

...but I think just using the blocks is fine, forces people to be more creative with their symbol (scaling on different sized ships for example, circles are boring anyways).

I respect your opinion even though I do not agree with it.

 

[CyberTao]

I respect your opinion even though I do not agree with it.

Most factions are known by their colour scheme and signatures (like the TE Arc Reactors, TEARs be OP), was well as general shell shapes. Only time it gets tricky is with small ships, on which a flat image is well... meh.

Could be fun for stations or Logos. Not against it, just think that there are better options :p

 

[Blakpik]

Most factions are known by their colour scheme and signatures (like the TE Arc Reactors, TEARs be OP), was well as general shell shapes. Only time it gets tricky is with small ships, on which a flat image is well... meh.

Could be fun for stations or Logos. Not against it, just think that there are better options :p

Fair enough, my issue with colours is that there is a limited amount of colour combinations.

 

[Jaaskinal]

As people probably know already, I like flags. I like them a lot, but I don't really agree with this suggestion for two (probably dumb) reasons. Simple flags are good, and I don't think that beyond textures for blocks, we should have any more detail. There's something kind of nice about trying and succeeding to create a scalable flag with blocks that can only be 1x1 or 45° wedges. This is a ship I have, it has the newer version of the Thryn tricolor on it.

This is a slightly older turret, so it has the older tricolor.

Tricolors already work, and you can do designs like the bavarian flag, and other flags with simple designs.
Here's some flags that given minor simplifications or by removing some element could easily be made at a relatively small scale using existing blocks in starmade. I may make them later, in game.

Spoiler

 

[jayman38]

If the devs are successful at bringing a deeper HTML coding experience to display blocks, and if they are successful at being able to turn multiple adjacent display blocks into one gigantic display, I think this will then become possible. I think it is important to ask the devs for these things related to display blocks, and then "flags" will come automatically as HTML-posted images. Each server could have its own setting on whether to allow internet images or not, and thus be auto-labeled as adults-only or whatever.

To whom it may concern: It would be good to build up instructions for the HTML capabilities of the display blocks on the official wiki. Example: Font size and text color.

 

[Blakpik]

As people probably know already, I like flags. I like them a lot, but I don't really agree with this suggestion for two (probably dumb) reasons. Simple flags are good, and I don't think that beyond textures for blocks, we should have any more detail. There's something kind of nice about trying and succeeding to create a scalable flag with blocks that can only be 1x1 or 45° wedges. This is a ship I have, it has the newer version of the Thryn tricolor on it.

This is a slightly older turret, so it has the older tricolor.

Tricolors already work, and you can do designs like the bavarian flag, and other flags with simple designs.
Here's some flags that given minor simplifications or by removing some element could easily be made at a relatively small scale using existing blocks in starmade. I may make them later, in game.

Spoiler

I don't think your reasons are dumb at all, I fully understand, my only concern is that with such a low resolution we may find ourselves running out of simple flags.

 

[Jaaskinal]

To exhaust every permutation of a 6x8 with 10 base colors isn't too much of a concern I think.

 

[Blakpik]

To exhaust every permutation of a 6x8 with 10 base colors isn't too much of a concern I think.

I guess not, I just designed some flags for if I get around to making a faction.

 

[Magrim]

I think we can make it work with blocks. Lay down some blocks in whatever shape you want your flag to be. Make a template out of your flag. select an option to "convert template to flag". Choose what plane and facing you want the flag to show and size of flag. Click "convert" and it will make a 2d image of the facing you chose. Your flag will appear in your inventory allowing you to place it on a block.