I think it’s extremely important for people to be able to go back and redo previous levels if they get stuck or just for revision purposes. For me this has been pretty difficult, because after Kithgard Dungeon (faint golden trail) there’s no easy, visual way of figuring out the level progression.
This has made using CodeCombat a little bit frustrating, because I was stuck on a level in the Sarven Desert and needed to revise a concept introduced in the Backwoods Forest. This meant that I had to go back and start clicking randomly through the levels to find the one in which I thought the concept is introduced. When I eventually found the right one, I repeatedly had to guess which level was next. I don’t have the best internet line, so navigating the site in this way can take a considerable amount of time and I often found myself losing concentration and determination to carry on.
Sorry for the long intro, I felt I needed to give a personal example in order to put the problem in context.
I have a suggestion for a temporary “fix”, until you guys figure out the permanent level structure:
Why don’t you add something similar to a ‘quest log’ as an icon at the bottom of the screen (where the clans, items and heroes icons are). It keeps track of the levels which you have completed in the order in which you intend for them to be completed. They don’t have to be numbered or anything, so if/ when you add a new level, it can just slot into the correct position.
This way, you don’t need to worry about making permanent changes to the map (until you feel comfortable to do so). The log can also give a short description of the level, like explaining what is being learned in a bit more detail and whether a new concept is being introduced.
Another simple solution could be to graphically highlight the previous and following missions when you hover over one with your cursor. This won’t be as useful as my other suggestion, but it will still help a lot in terms of mission order.
I’m close to begging for a solution to this problem, because I love CodeCombat and I have learned so much from it.
TL;DR
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Introduce a “quest log” icon, which keeps track of level progression and provides information relating to the content of a level (ie. when a new concept is introduced for the first time etc.)
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If that’s not possible, simply highlight the previous and next mission when you hover your cursor over one to make figuring out the mission order easier.
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This will make revision a lot easier and less time consuming
