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Types of Windows and Panels

Xconq is best with a window-style interface, either tiled or overlapping. Overlapping is more flexible, but also more complicated for players. In the following discussion, "window" will refer to a logically unified part of the display, which can be either a distinct window or merely a panel embedded in some larger window.

The centerpiece window should be a map display. This will be the most-used window, since it will typically display more useful information than any other window. This means that it must also exhibit very good performance.

When a game starts up, the map display should be centered on one of the player's units, preferably one close to the center of all the player's units.

Another recommended window is a list of all the sides and where they stand in both the current turn and in the game as a whole. Each side's entry should include its name, a progress bar or other doneness indicator, and room for all the scores and scorekeepers that apply to that side.

If possible, you should also implement some kind of "face" or group of faces/expressions for a side, so get a barbarian's face to repn a side instead of generic. Could have interface generate remarks/balloons if face clicked on, perhaps a reason for feelings, slogan, citation of agreement or broken agreement, etc. Need 5 faces for hostile, unfavorable, neutral, favorable, friendly/trusting.

Overall status of side rules:

all grayed: out of game

grayed and x-ed out: lost

???: won

Progress bar rules:

missing: no units or no ai/no display

grayed frame: no acting units

empty solid frame: all acted

part full, black: partly acted

part full, gray: finished turn


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