Priority System Presentation Suggestion

[Edjren]

This is just a simple suggestion for how an n/n* type priority system might be presented to make it more intuitive.

Start by giving names to actions: Priorities, Alerts and Commands.

Priorities (n) being your standard everyday job-based priorities that are the norm for the game.

Alerts and Commands (n*) are orders that you want carried out by whomever is available regardless of occupation.

Priorities are by default persistent.  Every actionable object and task always has a priority.

Alerts by default are temporary and disappear after the task indicated has been completed.

While Commands are persistent Alerts.

So, if your coal power plant with a Priority of 6 isn't being refueled, and you really need that task to be performed, you can give it an Alert of 6 and then anyone nearby not involved in a higher priority task will refuel the power plant regardless of their occupation.  Once that task has been carried out, the Alert will disappear and the coal plant will revert back to its normal 6 Priority.

If fueling the plant continues to be a problem, you can give it a Command of 6 which is a persistent alert, instructing any dupe regardless of its occupation to perform that task at a priority of 6 until further notice.