Have beavers swim across top of water.

20 votes

I am sure this probably has something to do with the way pathing works but it would be nice that beavers would cross water at the top layer of water instead of at the level of the path. This would allow us on some maps and in some circumstances to see the nice swimming animation you have created. As it stands, at some levels of water it's so dark we don't get to see the created animation.

Under consideration Suggestion Suggested by: Grim1316 (25 Sep, '21) • Upvoted: 12 Dec, '22 • Comments: 5

Comments: 5

25 Sep, '21
Chris Merged
Strictly following the height map in water looks a little weird. I understand the need for performance on pathing, so no free pathing in water is a realistic loss, but could beavers path approximately at the surface, say the nearest half-level of water? And then if they need to reach a task underwater, a dive animation right before they start. This height change could be purely an animation implementation, to save on pathing. This would do soooooo much to improve the aesthetic cohesion of swimming and the beaver setting.

Faster swimming would also help cement the beaver theme, and incentivize cool water roads while avoiding the negatives of flooding.
25 Sep, '21
Gin Fuyou Admin
But beavers need to pass under constructions that can be placed in water above bottom, so it will probably take more work then it worth it at the moment (basically a 3D pathfinding extension)
25 Sep, '21
Gin Fuyou Admin
"Swimming at the highest water half-level, diving or descending to reach tasks underwater" (suggested by Chris on 2021-09-25), including upvotes (1) and comments (0), was merged into this suggestion.
27 Sep, '21
Chris
Perhaps they could start in the pathing mode of staying at the surface and diving for tasks, and then at the first path tile with anything (aside from stairs) built on it (regardless of height), dive to the bottom and subsequently follow the current swim animation/mode until they leave the water. This would mean only one added pathing decision, and not a 3D pathing extension - but would still give the intended swim behavior in the majority of cases. Best of both worlds?
18 Oct, '21
Grim1316
A bit late to come back to this, but I think that would be great, I didn't think about the need for buildings being in the way, but yeah it would be great to see them swim down and up!