NeoLemmix CE currently presents 2 different Replay 'Modes', detailed as follows.
Normal (Red 'R') Mode
• Clicking with the left mouse button anywhere whilst this replay mode is active will cancel the replay
• When the replay is cancelled, all future actions for all lemmings and all release rate changes are erased
• This mode is activated either by restarting the level, or rewinding to some point before the most recent action
• This is the standard mode
Replay Insert (Blue 'R') Mode
• This mode allows actions to be 'inserted' into the replay on any frame that doesn't already contain an action
• Clicking in air does not cancel the replay
• Clicking a lemming does not cancel the replay, but an action can be assigned to that lemming if one is selected in the panel (and the lemming is action-eligible)
• This mode can only be cancelled by explicitly cancelling out of replay mode, either by using the user-configured hotkey (C by default), or by clicking the blue 'R' icon in the skill panel (NeoLemmix CE only)
• As per Normal Mode, when the replay is cancelled, all future actions for all lemmings and all release rate changes are erased
• This mode is activated via a user-configured hotkey only (O by default). That same hotkey will return the player to Normal Mode if Replay Insert Mode is active
The main purpose of Replay Insert Mode is to allow actions to be added to a replay without losing future replay data. It can also prevent data loss by accidental clicking, so is useful when navigating through a replay in general.
It is arguably the only worthwhile replay mode, then. As long as we provide the player with easy ways to cancel out of it (making the 'R' clickable is enough, but we could perhaps do even more), it renders the 'Normal' mode obsolete.
I suggest the following:
1) Get rid of Normal (Red 'R') Mode and replace it entirely with Replay Insert Mode. We then just have 'Replay Mode', and we can decide on a set of behaviours.
2a) Add a 'click air to cancel replay' option so that users can choose whether they want to click air to cancel, or use the panel 'R' and/or a cancelling hotkey
or
2b) Use RMB to cancel when air is clicked rather than LMB. We may not need the option if we do this.
3) Tighten up the specifics of Replay Mode based on a single-mode model rather than maintaining 2 separate modes.
Thoughts?
This is the follow-up design to the successfully implemented [✓][SUG][PL] Insert Mode: Same-Lemming-Overwrite (https://www.lemmingsforums.net/index.php?topic=7246).
Quote from: Simon on June 14, 2026, 07:19:29 PMSeveral times, I wanted to cut during insert mode by air click. Neither option allows cutting by air click. I had to exit insert mode and cut.
I conjecture that ultimate truth will be found in merging regular replay mode with insert mode.
Quote from: WillLem on June 14, 2026, 10:47:26 PMYou're probably right, but let's start a new topic for this.
Quote from: Simon on June 21, 2026, 10:26:38 PMIn my stream today [June 19th, 2026, about the Level of the Year 2025 nominations], again I wanted to be in insert mode by default. I imagine the following development progress.
- I implement always-insert in Lix.
- I playtest that on livestream with Nepsterlix, Clamlix, or Rubix's pack.
- I'll summarize results. Maybe I'll have confused myself with always-insert.
- I'll make a new topic about NL-CE.
Of course, other forumers are free to make a case for always-insert in CE before I finish my investigation in Lix. If you think that I'm on the right track, spearhead the discussion, I'll be happy. And if you think that I'm insane, make your case against it.
Quote from: WillLem on July 14, 2026, 09:25:16 PMWe can also consider simplifying Red and Blue replay modes to a single replay mode which behaves how most players would expect it to; if we do this, though, I'd want to make 'click air to cut replay' optional.
-- Simon
Existing implementation in NL-CE 1.1.2 is really three different modes, but only two are accessible during play, and you choose which two in the user options.
- Normal, red R:
Air clicks cut the global future. Assignments cut the global future, then add the assignment. (The cutting of the global future will have removed any existing assignments on the same physics update as the new assignment. Therefore, this new assignment will never collide.)
- Insert, blue R, keep everything:
Air clicks do nothing, they preserve all future. Assignments preserve all future, even the same lemming's future, and insert the assignment. If the assignment would be at the same physics update as an existing assignment, instead nothing happens, i.e., the replay will reject the new assignment.
- Insert, blue R, cut same lemming:
Air clicks do nothing, they preserve all future. Assignments preserve other lemmings' futures. Assignments cut the same lemming's future, then insert. This can overwite a same-lemming same-physics-update assignment. If the assignment would be at the same physics update as an existing assignment to a different lemming, instead nothing happens, i.e., the replay will reject the new assignment.
You can switch between the red R and blue R during play.
You must change your user options to switch between the currently possible behaviors of the blue R, i.e., to switch between blue-R-keep-everything and blue-R-cut-same-lemming.
None of the blue R modes allow different-lemming overwriting. You must ditch that explicitly from the replay editor. That's good, because NL doesn't allow (as a physics rule) two assignments to two different lemmings at the same physics update. This prevents accidental deletion of different lemmings' futures.
I'll write a response to your suggestions these days.
-- Simon