A) Using the current system of roads.
B) A movement system similar to or exactly like boats. I think that the distance in travelling on land between one player and the next is not measured by percentages but pixels? I don't know, but it seems like the framework is there to do it. I think that any vehicle that can't be used on a path couldn't be used there. Entering towns would be similar to docking boats, only without the messages to those inside.
This is probably some sort of ridiculous dream.
This would give Cantr that sandbox feel that it's lacking in just this area: travel. I think it'd be cool to ICly go on a bike ride or whatever through the woods. I don't think you should be able to use anything that needs a sand road or above off the path though. This would make chases more interesting, traveling in general more interesting. And attacking on roads would be less obvious than that guy going 10% speed waiting to shank you.
My suggestion on how to handle view:
Being in a type of terrain gives either a positive or negative modifier. Plains would be positive mountains negative.
Looking at another type of terrain gives a modifier, mountains giving you the highest point of view and plains the lowest
.
Then adding modifiers for spyglasses etc.
So you'd more or less go: Check players within maximum range of view, then discard any of the options that aren't viable after adding modifiers. Plains looking at plains would give a fair distance, while mountains to plains would allow you to see that player farther away. In other words I'd loop through nearby players comparing their view modifier to their terrain modifier.
