(1) as you mouse around the level, the bottom row displays:
Level position: 1, 27
or whatever. Or, if you hold Ctrl, it displays:
Grass
Yam Yam (starts moving down)
Bomb
etc.
It would be better if it displayed both (always, without holding any special key):
16, 27: Grass
13, 22: Yam Yam (starts moving down)
12, 28: Bomb
etc.
(2) as you mouse around the level, it would be nice if same-elements would highlight. e.g. I'm on a Grass element -- let every Grass on the entire playing field be highlighted a bit.
Especially helpful when the levelset's graphics have the same image for multiple elements (including different-direction Yams / spaceships / etc.)
(3) perhaps extend (1):
16, 27: Grass (614)
13, 22: Yam Yam (starts moving down) (5)
12, 28: Bomb (8)
-- giving how many of that element exist on the level.
For (1) / (3), use constant width fields for the coordinates (%2d, not %d or %02d -- and if a level has >99 rows or columns, I'm OK with the field dynamically expanding to 3, not a fixed %3d). The element count could appear on the far right and be covered by the element name when sufficiently long; have the count rise to the top when holding Ctrl, like the element names do today.
The constant display of coordinates + name + maybe count seems uncontroversial. The same-element highlighting would probably be an option (on by default).
level editor suggestions
Moderators: Flumminator, Zomis
Re: level editor suggestions
Also similar changes when mousing around the elements tray. Instead of just showing the element name, show name, count, and highlight instances of the element on the playfield.
I can imagine a specialty extra option, default *off*, which says to count all instances of certain things together. i.e. if I mouse over a 'Yam Yam (starts moving up)', it would show me the count of and highlight all Yams (4 directions + random). All logically-same items which automatically transmute into each other (so, *not* rock vs. rock (BD style), or different skinned steel walls; only monsters which are the same thing except startup options...)
I can imagine a specialty extra option, default *off*, which says to count all instances of certain things together. i.e. if I mouse over a 'Yam Yam (starts moving up)', it would show me the count of and highlight all Yams (4 directions + random). All logically-same items which automatically transmute into each other (so, *not* rock vs. rock (BD style), or different skinned steel walls; only monsters which are the same thing except startup options...)