28++

Hour 25, still going strong.  Going to get through this and roll out an update like never before.  Finished:

1. New map engine
2. Unified map layer masks (can use any # of colors)
3. Made layer masks even more awesome to use by allowing multiple references to the same mask
4. Layers can even reference each other, and the system is very flexible & extensible.  Triggers, npc spawn points, etc. are going to be a breeze.  You'll also be able to see all of this stuff in the editor instead of just guessing at where it might be.
5. Blending between layers is significantly more simple, more powerful and FAR faster.  Not tested yet, working up to it....
6. Rebuilding editor tool to use all up-to-date code, which will significantly speed things up and make it easier to use.
7. Wrote mesh converter from D3DX to unified format
8. Finished all images & implementation, added preview functionality to test new rendering method
9. Finished all textures & implementation--integrated new scene manager so that game will now run not only the same behavior but the same actual module of code.  Before two modules were emulating one-another.

Phew!  Gotta keep going....

10. Meshes, mesh renderer added...
11. Scenery, scenery renderer added..

Things are looking good!  Next up is the map in all its new glory.  *crossing fingers*... err ... *uncrossing fingers to type*