Visual indicators of decay

[ven]

As worlds last longer, settlements are inevitably abandoned due their people moving out, being raided, or quitting the game. If this is really inevitable, it should become a feature.

My suggestion is that decay of large structures be made visually interesting. As houses, towers, walls and pillars decay, their model should be switched to ruined versions of themselves, meaning
* fallen roof and rubble,
* ruined walls and overgrown moss,
* and finally only the basic ground frame of the structure.

If left ruined for too long, the area could also be assigned an increased spawn rate of certain animals and herbs.

I think this would give an interesting feel to late worlds. Exploration of ruins is a common place in RPGs, and discovering the past history of a world is a kind of self-sustaining content for those inclined to that. Plus, it would look good on pictures.

Related:

[Magis_Bloodheart]

I really like this idea, I stopped playing on an old account but during my time playing i would see multiple deserted places that would look amazing with overgrown flora and the structure starting to fall into ruin. it kinda gives this game more life, and would give battlefields and areas that are destroyed in battle a kind of Erie and almost unnerving look if done right.

[Amanda44]

I thought you'd suggested this once before, or maybe it was someone else but, yeah I think it would look good and definitely make ruins more interesting and appealing as part of the landscape.

[ven]

I think I mentioned it on my column post. Idk, october was like 2 years ago.

Some structures shouldn't just disappear into nothing over time. It'd be nice if walls, towers, mansions etc left behind some stone foundation or just its structural columns and wooden beams.