The entire concept of communication (the most crucial aspekt of ANY soceity) within LOVEE is very constricted ATM.
The only means of communication are direct earshot-chat and radio chat.
This is not enough for bigger sets of information surviving over a longer period of time and/or distance, the central requirement for cultural and social development.
Thereforesome kind of "sign" aspekt should be introduced to the game world.
For this, a direct Keyboard input would be necessary.
A sign could be "stuck" to any preexisting structure (cable relays, power reflector, power wells, etc.) within the entire gameworld, no matter if in a settlement or in the free world.
A maximum letter length could be 100 letters.
Alternatively. Every new post by a player would create a new line, maximum of 30 letters.
This way, notes could be made to objects discussing about the purpose of the object and the signs could become bulletin-board like means of communication.
Also, signs in the open world could guide "homeless" players to settlements, thereby cutting the need for a "join settlement-compass", giving the impression of a more player-run universe rather than an AI-Overwatched universe with ants in it.
Of course the maintenance of signs (renewing them or editing them) would be an aspect that requires scavenging even long after a setlement has turned into a fortress and diminishes the feeling of stagnation at least a little bit.
Last but not least: A disorganized sign-system would be a sysmptom of a unorganized settlement, forcing players to closer cooperation.
There is a placable sign
There is a placable sign system that is in the game, although not exposed at all to the player. Although, the scope of these signs are a lot smaller than what you are proposing.
A permanently-equipped radio is something that has been floated before, and is an imperfect solution to the problem. Players of Atlanta 1 make heavy use of Ventrilo voice chat as a way to get around this, mostly because it seems like the best solution. The game seems to promote small-talk and settlement communication very well because it has no sound.
No building signs...... Signs
No building signs......
Signs will most likely be in the beta. Eskil has already made them, while they are unavailable to us (as Rastabon mentioned). signs stuck on buildings would not be a good idea because you'd need a config tool to read any sign. That's no good. Signs should work as triggers do now, where they are visible to nearby players WITHOUT a config tool. Also, giving EVERY building a config screen for your signs would be AWFUL. It's hard enough as it is to config windmills that are closely packed together. Imagine every building having a sign.... that's just ridiculous. ex: "Power manufacture: Also makes monitor lizards" would be a worthless, but still true sign. or "Tree: do not place" is unnecessary. No one likes trees.
I have to agree with Samakon,
I have to agree with Samakon, however if we could tack signs to trees, it would give trees a use, while still allowing for signage.
OK, I have seen the
OK, I have seen the "knowledge" stones now. they are a good start, but they ae still not interactive and I haven't found a way to modifiy them so they ar eprobably not meant to be. It is still a very "unhuman" world that is love. Bots everywher,e no info on anything besides the help menu and a always this feeling of having to "keep up" with everything.
I undersatand, that just taking signs anywher eis a bad Idea, but yet, means of communication are important.