Creative freedom and tools feature request/wishlist

As building is right now in SE2, it is an improvement over SE1 with some things like the UGS, but not quite at the level I would hope to have for the sequel. Especially after seeing what other recent games have available.

Better block tool and customization

> 3x1 slopes. 4x1 slopes. Nx1 slopes. Wild shapes. Organic shapes. Smoothing. Chamfer. Concave and convex blocks with adjustable roundness. Spheres. Cylinders. Cones. Splines?

>> (This suggestion has been particularly inspired by Dual Universe's voxel building freedom)

>> Isn't VRAGE3 voxel based anyway? This can't be that hard to do, right?

> Transparent blocks. Glowing blocks.

> Change selected or aimed blocks between light and heavy. Like the paint gun but for block type

Smart Conveyor Line Tool

> Drag a line from point to point, and it automatically draws a conveyor line beginning to end

> If a conveyor line has no Out connection to an existing block (stops abruptly), it becomes an end cap with no visible connection points, unless an access port block/face is added

>> Need a junction? Just draw the connection and it automatically adapts to what you're trying to add. This ties in to the previous point. If you want to add an elbow junction, continue from the end cap you left. Same goes for any junction you can think of.

> Pierces and replaces existing armor blocks to make way for the line

> Angled connectors? Think 15/30/45 degree increments. Or potentially freeform piping

X-ray, splice view, selective vision

> Toggles for visibility based on block group, function, category, etc.

>> Hide armor blocks, so you can actually use the conveyor line tool without smashing your face blindly through walls while trying to remember where your functional block is (don't say it's just a me problem)

> Padding slider in case you want to see surrounding blocks

> Splice mode to non-destructively get a cross section view of the ship, potentially with blocks excluded (keep full shape) or included (disappear) on first contact with the splice view

> X-ray conveyor view like BuildInfo

Paint tool

> Not just block painting, but also surface painting

> Surface block painting only setting + paint depth/radius settings

> Material modifiers (matte, reflective, emissive)

> Gradient painting

> Patterns and textures

> This is gonna sound crazy: xray vision to see unpainted blocks

In my opinion, the closer this is to modeling like you're in CAD-like software or Blender, making a completely new and custom asset, the better. As long as it's sufficiently user friendly, easy to understand and use, etc.

Shout out to the guy making SE Planner.

Now I know not all of this is may be feasible. Engine limitations apply. I get that this is still ultimately a game that has to be processed and rendered in realtime. Dev time, cost and complexity to implement, etc etc. This is as much a feature request as it is a wishlist.

It's better to have more options if possible. Even if someone like me (who just builds boxes for ships) won't use the features I suggest to their full potential, if someone else can think it, they should have the tools to make it, and I'll grab what they made from the Steam Workshop to use and admire.

If someone wants to have easy-to-make simple designs and use prefab lego pieces, they can. If someone wants to take it a step further, they should have that option too.