Village Notes #6: A separate place for tools

Hello everyone.

I have been working on the tool system, and now tools have moved out of the inventory.

Before, the axe, hoe, watering can, pickaxe, fishing rod, hammer and scythe were just normal inventory items. They sat next to wood, seeds, fish and everything else that you had found. They took up bag space, and you could put them in a chest by mistake. Then you have to go looking for your axe because it is next to some random turnips somewhere.

The old version:

Now tools have their own place in the toolbar instead. Most of them are there when you start. The fishing rod and hammer come from quests, so new tools can still be a reward.

It gives the player more room in the bag, but mostly it just feels more right. You have your tools. You don’t carry them around in your inventory like loot.

Tools are now picked using a tool selector instead:

The tool selector is by default invoked by Q or CTRL. But they have different functionality.

If you are looking at dry soil, Q picks the watering can. A tree picks the axe. Grass picks the scythe. Water picks the fishing rod.

If there is no obvious tool, Q opens the tool dialog. Ctrl always opens it, if you just want to pick yourself.

If this interaction is confusing or if it feels natural is something I need to test. For me, it feels natural and improves the gameplay, but I am not sure if it is natural for other players.

This is something I need to try with my kids.

The separate tool system is staying in any case. The automatic part is still a test :)