I was about to make some comments in chat but crappy school internet keeps disconnecting. :|

If you are worried about factory image legality you can probably remake it from scratch easily enough.

The concept is good. The most inportant thing to remember is that it will be very tiny ingame, so you will want to add it and get some sreenshots of what it will really look like.

I don't like the present. I'd have to see this in game (post a screen?)

I like the present. It's the only clear way I think you can convey "there is something invisible you own that you haven't used yet".

I think the present is terrible. I appreciate the idea it's trying to convey, but I think for newbies it's more confusing than explanatory.

And it looks silly.

>in tandem with the speech-bubbles

Genius!

Oh, hey, check this out:

facplop

{str

{"This free factory is burning\na hole in my pocket..."}

Hm, maybe a more newbie-friendly text would be better?

"Sir, we can build one factory for\nfree... and the sooner the better!"

I like Sphiloth's icon.

Sak I keep telling you there's no reason for icons to attempt an accurate depiction of GFX (imagine if menu icons and unit mapicons were designed in this way!)

>All the 'sir' stuff in the speech bubbles is annoying, and some of the messages are really condescending. They should be short, concise, professionally presented information.

This. The most annoying part about this widget was the way it tried to be personable. I'd rather have straight information than some sort of buddy-buddy or "sir" stuff.

"You have too much buildpower. Stop making more caretakers," would work fine.

>I'd rather have straight information

"You can build your first factory for free. Build it as soon as possible."

In spectator mode, it's kind of nice to see who has and hasn't plopped yet.

This new icon might as well mean "low energy" because of the yellow spark.
But then I can not think of any icon that tells "you can make a factory for free..."

"I like the present. It's the only clear way I think you can convey "there is something invisible you own that you haven't used yet". "
Couldnt there be a way to make the invisible visible?
Having invisible stuff that is only represented by icons is bad design imo.
Like have the commander carry something on its back like a rucksack.
Or the beside the commander you could get a second unit, the "factory plop vehicle." That would be the most obvious, would change gameplay though.

Or have the factory tab in the buildmenu flash.
And a "first one is free!" overlay over the buttons until you plopped.