modular workbenches

[Nagahiro]

currently, the game utilizes pattern crafting on a 3x3 grid, which isn't the best way to craft the kinds of items and mechanisms that the game provides.

having played Valheim, I think there's potential in making a sort of modular workbench mechanic. you place down a table and place a toolkit or something on it and it can act as a rudimentary workbench for you to craft simple items, for more complex items you could add another table next to it and place something else on it, like maybe a bench vice for sawing or something. I think a maximum of 3 (3x1) or 6 (3x2) tables could make every single possible item maybe (like large cog wheels and pulverizers). almost similar to Valheim's workbench upgrades mechanic. the modularity and usage of the vanilla table makes it perfect for fitting into any build, whether it's a small hut or a large workshop.

for primitive crafting I think it would be nice if the game utilizes the sitting mechanic more, only allowing crafting if you have a nearby surface to work on.

I like the current knapping already, it's also really iconic, as many Vintage Story players are introduced to the game via people knapping stone tools, but idk, I feel like it's possible to have it so you need to be sitting down to knap stone on your knee or something. idk lol.

I have definitely taken for granted the usefulness our common household furniture. tables and chairs are very essential not only for decorating a home, but also allow us to work on, like write, paint, tinker, construct, build, cook, and all sorts of stuff. I wouldn't want it to be implemented in a way similar to Valheim tho, scrolling through a list and clicking on the item you want and waiting for the progress bar to fill up, but I wouldn't want to make it hard for modders to add craftable items or the devs to remake all crafting recipes. tho it would be nice for crafting recipes to make sense, and have a preview of the work you're doing on the workbench as it progresses to completion.

I don't think I would mind that much however it would be implemented. I'm just really excited how the devs would decide on phasing out grid crafting. I trust they will have something interesting but also fun.

[Facethief]

I definitely dislike games that have the idea of “place these 50 blocks and remember which does which” or  “put this stuff in the crafting block to make better stuff,” so maybe it should be a work surface plus tools?

[Zaph42nd]

1 hour ago, Facethief said:

I definitely dislike games that have the idea of “place these 50 blocks and remember which does which” or  “put this stuff in the crafting block to make better stuff,” so maybe it should be a work surface plus tools?

Agree, I think having multiple workbenches would be a bit confusing, but having a single or a small handful of maybe upgradeable workstations (primitive/crude, basic, advanced) + tool-requirements could be interesting. For example, stone-age might not have a dedicated series of work-stations and instead be more tool/dependent for crafting whereas early copper/Bronze Age would utilize some basic workstations for advanced processing paired with appropriate tools (for instance woodworking might utilize the same workstation as stone carving but require an axe and saw vs a hammer and chisel), and Iron Age and beyond may include more workstations. The idea already somewhat exists in the sense that you need to use anvils for metal-working and specific tool + crafting grid recipes exist, just removing the grid and making a small number of workstations would work well with existing systems

[LadyWYT]

I like the idea of having a specific workbench to craft specific parts or items by simply selecting the desired option from a menu and then supplying the materials, similar to how sailboat/watermill crafting already work. However, I don't particularly like the "Valheim method" of requiring a crafting station and multiple upgrades nearby just to craft things. It works for Valheim, because Valheim was designed around that concept and makes it work, but overall it tends to be a rather clunky, frustrating system to play with.

Also worth noting that while the crafting grid might not be the most realistic thing ever, it does get the idea of crafting across fairly well in terms of gameplay, without becoming too tedious. Like firewood, arrows, or stone knives, for example--all of those you need to craft fairly often, in quantity. The player could be required to do those tasks at a specific workstation, however, that means that they're tied to those workstations and can't just do what should be a simple task out in the wilderness without setting up a workstation. Some of it could be handled by a simple animation and keybind to start the process, which is perhaps a more immersive way to handle it. However, those animations are also going to add up rather quickly, and while it might be fun to watch the first few times, the player is probably going to get a little frustrated having to sit through multiple animations and take most of an in-game day or two just to get what should be a relatively simple task done.

In fairness, the devs have expressed a desire to get rid of the crafting grid when possible. However, it's not a system I really expect to disappear entirely for the above reasons.

[Chuckerton]

im thinking of a system where combing two items requires you to hold one in your hand and another in the offhand, and you press a button to craft them together. Like a stick and a feather combine into an arrow shaft, then you take the shaft and an arrowhead to make an arrow. I would HOPE that if youre holding a stack of these items, and its applicable, you can craft the whole stack in one craft action because otherwise that has the capacity to be really annoying.

If you need to combine 3 items, or use a tool, you place an item on the ground, then hold your tool/other items and press the craft button while looking at the item on the ground. These two "hand crafting" things should be able to cover anything you might want to craft while youre away from your base, such as arrows or a hay bed or something. Beyond that, i dont know, i guess you would have do to crafting benches. 

Going off of videos of mods that replace things like woodworking, they can be cool and immersive, but also really tedious and time consuming. I saw a video of one of those mods where making firewood requires you to set it on a chopping block and chop the wood manually. Its cool, but you spend 5 seconds to make 4 firewood, and suddenly making charcoal is 10x more time consuming. I think its worth asking how much convenience you can sacrifice away until the 'immersive' option is just a pain.