Maps of the Operative trees... but what to add?

Hey all,

I don't post here at all normally, but as I recently and randomly decided to start working on an ability tree thingy for The MxO Archive, I decided I'd post what I have so far here and see what everyone thinks about what I should include:

Operative
Soldier
Spy

I originally started making those with the intention of spacing them exactly like they are in the in-game menus, just compiled into large maps. The problem is that wastes a heck of a lot of empty space. So, I spent a few hours last week condensing them and adding the Soldier tree (which I hadn't gotten around to). So, now I have complete graphics for all of the operative trees, but they only include the icons.

So, my question is... how should I go about presenting the rest of the information that goes along with all these abilities? Should I try and cram in a couple of basic essential data numbers, like the minimum level requirements and amount of memory taken up, or should I just leave the graphics as they are and create links to further information by using an image map over the graphics?

Regardless of whether I add any basic info to these maps directly, I'll almost definitely be turning them into image maps to lead to the rest of the information like how much damage / buffing / etc. they do. For an example of how the image map might work, click here (the links won't lead to actual information, but it should give some idea of how it would work).

And yes, I know the awakened page is from the old combat system. That page is probably about a year old. The new maps for the operative tree have all been updated for CR2.0.

Wow thats excellent. If you want to add the information for each ability I would probably do it so that when you hover your mouse over them a box comes up and shows you the info. I think it would be cramped if you had them on the page and people might find it tedious to keep clicking on them if you created links to the info.

Well, keep in mind that my web site coding skills are somewhat minimal (if it isn't obvious enough from the simplistic design on the rest of the site :smileywink:). So to do something that fancy would take some more learning on my part. I'm also one of those web designers who likes to make sure everything works for everyone, so I try not to go overboard and use really fancy web site features that some browsers don't support.

Here's what I was thinking about doing to add some of the basic information:



It just shows some of the most basic pieces of information for each ability, like what level you have to be to use it and how much memory it takes up (both on its own and also with all of its requisites).

Then again, it's so nice and compact and pretty right now... and hovering over the icons to get info sounds so cool... :smileyvery-happy:

What do you think of the example I posted above, with the small panels that include only a couple really important numbers?

Yes I quite like the way you have done it there I'm sure people would find that helpful.