In praise of Planning Mode

[direvus]

I know from personal experience that when you design something, people are quick to point out what they don't like or what they want changed, but rarely take the time to voice their appreciation for the things they do like.

So I just wanted to take a moment to give a textual high-five to Chris for the totally brilliant Planning Mode feature. I remember thinking "oh that's pretty cool" when I saw it in the alpha video, but it wasn't until I used it myself that I fully appreciated how kickass this feature is. It makes everything else about the game better.

<applause>

[Chewbacado]

I found it was greatly improved from Alpha 9 to Alpha 10.

[Ric666]

I couldn't agree more guys! I love the planning mode & was one of the most powerful additions to date imo

Also allows for some funky cell block shapes when playing about
Link

[Augwich]

I use the planning mode almost religiously - I use it to block out all the items that I'll be placing in the room to make sure I can fit in everything that I need to. It's a beautiful thing.

[asmo0]

No more leaning forward 10cm from the screen to look at the white-font number, or moving it a little off to a darker background so I can properly see.
I love the new visuals.

I joined on the alpha where it was introduced, I don't know how people managed without it! Never build anything almost without planning first

[Comrade Suhov]

If only we could drag plans. I usually got a hard time guessing the right size of blocks so they usually overlap and I have to drive new one from blank space.

[asmo0]

If only we could drag plans. I usually got a hard time guessing the right size of blocks so they usually overlap and I have to drive new one from blank space.

yes please

[VoiD88]

[...] I don't know how people managed without it! Never build anything almost without planning first

I used Workshop room designations as a makeshift planning tool before the official one was introduced. Worked quite well and also gave daily money But I agree that the Planning Mode is much better.

[Collic001]

Yes, I love planning mode. It made building fun rather than frustrating. I can still remember all of those times I would have to expand foundations because my cell layouts were just a square too short. Lots of squinting and tedious trial and error - and escapes because the foundation system was really diffficult to work with back then once you had prisoners running around.

[tomshreds]

How does it work? I mean I put white lines on the screen but then what? How do I actually build stuff?

Also any other functionality hidden beneath that feature?

Thanks

[Dosedmonkey]

I never bothered using it as I do all the planning in my head genuinely, and find the fact it tells you how many meters a building is when your dragging foundations out, makes it very easy to do on the fly. But perhaps I will have a go at using the planning tool tonight, to see if theres more to it then I imagined.

I am not knocking it. Any additional features to a game are great I feel.

[VoiD88]

How does it work? I mean I put white lines on the screen but then what? How do I actually build stuff?

Also any other functionality hidden beneath that feature?

Thanks

It's a PLANNING tool, not a BUILDING tool. You still have to do the actual building with the other game features (Objects menu and foundations tool).
The Planning tool is just meant to help players to get the building in the right size instead of just one block too small BEFORE they actually build it.

[gpgekko]

I'm still hoping that one day we can place objects in planning mode too (placing them without placing them, you know) so I can workout the layout of a room even better. Canteens, kitchens, showers and all those slightly bigger rooms would get easier to design efficiently.

[Collic001]

I'm still hoping that one day we can place objects in planning mode too (placing them without placing them, you know) so I can workout the layout of a room even better. Canteens, kitchens, showers and all those slightly bigger rooms would get easier to design efficiently.

That would be excellent. I think ideally it would be great if we got the point where you could pace down the walls and objects in planning mode and then just have the workers build and place objects where you indicated with a key press. However, even if the tool remains as it is it's still invaluable and I couldn't get along without it now.

[Cruesoe]

I also like the planning tool but I would love to be able to save blueprints of rooms I have built.

That way you could select Planning Tool and just drag and drop in blueprints of saved custom rooms.

I am sure that loads of things will come in time and we shall just have to be patient!

As it stands the Planning tool is excellent and I usually draw the entire prison before I build a thing!