[Feature Request] Blueprint Drawing Overlay

[xyzyxx]

Alternatively, the other way to make building easier would be the ability to markup the map like the OP said. Basically have the ability to put green squares on the map that do absolutely nothing. The only alternative right now is to use fences (that is, green squares that tell your workmen to go build fences )

This way, for example, I could place little 2x3 marks all over the map where I want my cells to be, then I can delete and rearrange them as I need to before throwing out actual build orders (because my cell placements and plans never fit together correctly the first time )

Pausing the game and playing with fences and things is almost as good, but as it is, pause-building is a little wonky sometimes.

[phees]

Yes!
You should be able to write stuff in the tile cells, color them in, plan walls etc. You wouldn't need to plan all the utilities, just give us custom colored tiles
Copy & paste would be good as well.
And as a font, use that cool "Prison Architect" Logo font.
EDIT: Or one of these free fonts: http://www.fontspace.com/category/architect

[Causeless]

If we have this. I think it should be more than just a planning block system. We should be able to create easily modifiable phantom versions of every item, and they won't be built until you press a button which makes it "official", and it starts being built.

[Sebas]

I did have the same idea but i stuffed the idea out a bit more so please read on...

What lead me to this was that when I had a bit of spare time I designed a prison in an excel spreadsheet. I made all cells square and filled cells black for the wall for example and I loved the convenience of drawing the buildings, mark and drop and drag walls around, copy and paste repeating indoor wall structure and so on which lead me to the idea of a blueprint mode you can activate similar to the deployment mode.

So here the actual idea:

In the menu bar is a button called Blueprints. Once in blueprint mode everything is displayed white on blue background, the staff and prisoners would be still visible as normal just in a just drawn in a white outline and go after their normal duty / needs.
All building does work normal, just with the added bonus nothing is final until the build order is given.

Things can be marked and dropped and dragged around as needed. Foundations can be expanded or reduced as necessary with hovering the mouse over the edge or corner. Marked areas can be cloned and pasted. Things can be deleted as required
But instead of the worker to start immediately one would have to mark an area in a box and click a build now button. The price to build the selected area would be shown as a tooltip so players can make sure they have money left for the rest of the ingame day.

[RMJ1984]

Yeah totally agree with this, would be nice to be able to plan a bit ahead and such.

[PeterbusUnum]

I really don't care how this gets implemented but it should do these things:

Allow to plan everything (each item, wall, utility, everything!).
Once you are done you are able to assign priorities to things like: First build the Foundation, then the utility, afterwards additional walls followed by jaildoors and everything else. Also you should be able to delay parts of your plan from being created if you have to work on a budget. Then this would be completly great and useful.

A lot to do, whilst you are waiting for more money coming in

[christopher1006]

This isn't the first time this has been suggested but all the same this is a feature I hope is planned. It'd be a bit more than slightly sad if we had a game called prison architect and yet there was no way to make blueprints, an item that is commonly associated with the design of objects and buildings.

[111none]

Great idea

no, no no.
[Pulls out M9]

[navarone9942b]

A bit late i know but...

Am I really the only one that uses solitary cell designation to plan expansions, at least till IV implements an actual Architect Mode/Overlay.

[VoiD88]

A bit late i know but...

Am I really the only one that uses solitary cell designation to plan expansions, at least till IV implements an actual Architect Mode/Overlay.

I usually do it with the Workshop designation and leave that in place while the workmen do their thing; this way, if midnight comes around before the thing is finished, I get some money from it xD

[craftier99]

It would be awesome if you could go into a separate mode (rather than an overlay on the map), where you design an entire building including room designations, furniture and maybe utilities. Then you can return to the regular gameplay mode and plonk that building down where you want it, with one click.

And you could be able to save your designed buildings (similar to saving reactor designs in SpaceChem) and make multiples of them if needed.

I suggest this be implemented and use it to replace the current "clone" tool.

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