Default value
- 1 (AREA_LAYER)
- 2 (TURF_LAYER)
- 3 (OBJ_LAYER)
- 4 (MOB_LAYER)
This numerical value determines the layer in which the object is drawn on the map. By default, the order is area, turf, obj, mob, followed by missiles and images (in FLY_LAYER, which is 5).
turf
archway
layer = MOB_LAYER+1 //overheadWhen making objects to be used as graphical overlays, you should also be aware of the special FLOAT_LAYER value. This causes the overlay (or underlay) to be in the same drawing layer as the base object, no matter how that layer changes after the addition of the overlay. Otherwise, the overlay object’s own drawing layer is used.
The actual drawing order of icons may change depending on world.map_format. An isometric map for instance has to display tiles that are “closer” to the viewer in front of tiles that are in the back, so the layer var takes a backseat to the needs of the map. If you use the TOPDOWN_MAP or TILED_ICON_MAP map formats, the layer is more important.
If you are using a world.map_format that does not display topdown, such as ISOMETRIC_MAP or SIDE_MAP, then you can use a special layer for showing certain portions of the map in topdown mode. For those parts of the map, you can add TOPDOWN_LAYER to every atom’s layer to make the atom appear in topdown mode. This is for special cases, like for instance a battle map in an RPG, where a regular topdown view is preferable to the special mapping used by the rest of the game. It is recommended that you use TOPDOWN_LAYER with every atom in that portion of the map, since topdown and isometric maps for instance don’t mix. If you use TOPDOWN_LAYER, it is best to use a square size in world.icon_size if any of these atoms will be moving around.
Another special layer, EFFECTS_LAYER, is also available. Icons that use this layer will display above icons that don’t. TOPDOWN_LAYER will then display above that. This layer is useful for situations such as using a floating name or health meter overlay on a mob in isometric mode. When using EFFECTS_LAYER, other icons on the regular map won’t cover the overlay. (It is preferable to use atom.plane for this, when possible.)
Finally there is BACKGROUND_LAYER. Adding this to an atom’s layer will make it appear below any atoms that do not use BACKGROUND_LAYER. (It is preferable to use atom.plane when possible.)
The atom.plane var takes priority over layer. This is the preferred method of handling background and effects.