Layers

This is a reference for the order in which different graphical things are drawn in-game.

Some of these layers are slices. For those that are, the lookup slice constants are given in bold.

• Normal map display -- sl:map root
  • Map layers, NPCs & Heroes (order is defined in the Edit Layers menu) -- sl:map layer 0 to sl:map layer 7, and either sl:walkabout layer OR sl:hero layer and sl:npc layer. See below.
  • Overhead tiles from map layer 0 (obsolete, for backcompat) -- sl:obsolete overhead
• Backdrop (both textbox and scripted) -- sl:backdrop
• Default layer for script-created slices such as sprites -- sl:script layer
• Text box -- sl:textbox layer and sl:textbox root
  • Box & text -- sl:textbox box and sl:textbox text
  • Portrait -- sl:textbox portrait box and sl:textbox portrait
  • Choice box -- sl:textbox choice box
• Harm tile flash, if any
• Custom menus (including main menu)
• Output of showvalue or showstring
• "plotstrings" (using e.g. show string at; not to be confused with text slices or showstring!)*

Note: these are not yet drawn to the 'string layer' slice, which has slice lookup code sl:string layer, but always has no children at the moment

• Map name
• Debug info
  • NPC debug info
  • Tag debug info
  • Script watcher/debugger
• Built-in menus such as the Items menu

Regarding the NPC & Heroes Layer

If a map's NPC/Hero walkabout layering is set to Together (which is the default), then hero and walkabout slices are parented to the sl:walkabout layer, and are Y-sorted.

• NPCs & Heroes (children automatically Y-sorted)
  • Hero walkabout slice
  • NPC walkabout slice
  • Hero walkabout slice
  • NPC walkabout slice

The other two layering options cause the sl:hero layer and sl:npc layer container slices to be used, and NPCs are NOT Y-sorted. Instead, for backwards compatibility, the layering depends on NPC reference numbers. Heroes are still Y-sorted.

• NPCs & Heroes (container)
  • NPC layer
    • NPC walkabout slice
    • NPC walkabout slice
    • NPC walkabout slice
    • NPC walkabout slice...
  • Hero layer
    • Hero walkabout slice
    • Hero walkabout slice
    • Hero walkabout slice
    • Hero walkabout slice

See Also

• Using Map Layers