[FEAT] Asset rotation and resizing in both Build and Play modes

[onaash27]

The ability to edit assets is crucial and should be done without the additional mental load of remembering to change the mode in order to resize or rotate the asset. This mostly applies to assets that are meant to be tokens, but figuring out how to resize maps can also be challenging for new users. This comes from my own experience when after of few months of not using PA I didn't remember how to do it.

I suggest manipulation of assets wasn't tied to specific mode, but be possible any time.

[Kruptein]

I'm willing to make it configurable.

The reason I personally really don't like those actions in play mode is hat they are far less common actions compared to simply moving and as a result I often accidentally resize shapes when I try to move them with a wide zoom and going through the process of either having to be very precise or zooming in far enough to drag them along for a while is personally not enjoyable.

That said, I understand that it's not immediately clear for new users. I intend to improve upon the tutorial documentation on planarally.io and provide some initial configuration setup for new players where they can configure their setup (e.g. ALT behaviour and for example this new setting to allow resize/rotate in play mode)

[dthv]

Maybe make it configurable, but please do not introduce resize/rotate into play mode. This would reduce user experience for people on touch-devices dramatically. Also, removing resize/rotate functionality from certain situations was one of the reasons the different modes were introduced in the first place.

[onaash27]

I hear you. I guess that the larger issue here is that the currebt solution is quite unintuitive. I got into PA in August and then again now. Both times I was quite frustrated, because it is not an obvious solution. I also heard from other people that they can't do it and lost interest in PA.

Maybe changing it how I described isn't the solution. I just wanted to spark a discussion, because I believe it is quite challenging for new people.

[CalebKoch]

An alternative suggestion, that would help some of onaash concerns would be to have planar ally start in/switch to build mode any time you load a location or floor with nothing on it?

I can't think of any time you would want to be in play mode on an empty floor. And when you've just started a new floor, location, or campaign, your usually going to need to add a map, use the map tool, draw some walls, and maybe some resize/rotations.

[Kruptein]

I'm very much open for discussion, so don't take it wrong, but I personally don't see the problem with having to swap between modes sometimes. There is a keybinding to instantly do it without having to move your mouse to the bottom right, so for me it's really a pretty instant thing that does not really impact me.

The prime thing I definitely see is that there needs to be some kind of visual help the first time you join a PA session that guides you through a couple basic UI things you need to know in PA.

There is definitely room for some QoL changes like automatically changing to build mode upon creating floors etc as Caleb mentions, but that's not fundamentally going to change the problem onaash has I think. Which is why my current proposal is simply adding an option to the client settings and ideally a sort of setup wizard kinda thing the first time you join planarally that asks you for your desired default behaviour with a small explanation. So that you are at least aware of both options and know that there is this concept of modes.

[onaash27]

Hi, thanks for all the clarifications and comments. I appreciate it. I guess that the best solution right now would be a visual help to help guide new players like Kruptein said. I raised this issue from the UX point of view, where I want PA to be as clear as possible for anyone (but mostly newbies), because I believe in it and don't want people giving up on it.

Thanks for the patience :D

[dthv]

Also, the Tutorial over in the docs will need updating, I'm afraid. Until the visual help / guide-through is properly done, a popup "new to PA? Click here for a Tutorial" could serve as a quick hack.