It'd be nice if in the manager, or the job selection screen, we could designate certain dwarves to do only one type of hauling or another, ie, put something into a stockpile from a non-stockpile or a stockpile, de-clutter shops, haul to trade depot/shop. Maybe even end up associating a dwarf with a stockpile(s), and then that dwarf 'takes care' of that stockpile(s). The problem I see, is that there are many, different ways to improve hauling.
Maybe if a more customizable hauling method gets implemented, we could have the mayor or the manager actually have to walk to and tell the lowly dwarf what he actually needs to do next, assuming the dwarf is a lowly unskilled peasant. After a certain amount of experience, the dwarf wouldn't need hand-holding to do tasks. Could make for an interesting class of administrative/teaching dwarves, who help everyone with learning how to do basic tasks. Sure, you could learn it on your own, but it'd be a lot slower that way, and you'd be more prone to making mistakes and losing materials.
The sage (sounds better than teacher) (maybe soothsayer?) could actually make use of the underused communication skills, where a great sage can explain to anyone just exactly how to mine properly, or what the best way to cut a tree is, but a novice would have no idea what the hell he was doing, so he'd be increasing his lier skill quite a bit. You could also factor in the skill the teaching dwarf has with the job into it, where if, let's say, he has less than a 'No label' level of skill with the job, he learns a bit, but nothing above that. If the dwarf has more experience, then that could make up for his horrendous teaching skills. On the other hand, maybe too much knowledge could be a penalty, confusing the poor protege who has no idea what he's being told.
"This next bit for the bridge is crucial. Make sure to line the flanks proportionally across the azimuthal equidistant projection, with anti-zephyr corrections based on altitude. It's an easy mistake to make, but it really is quite elementary. Remember to cut once, then measure twice. Or wait. The other way around. Cut twice then measure once..."
This could be based around another type of relationship, a master-apprentice type which allows the faster initial skill learning. The apprentice just has to meet up with the sage occasionally to keep the relationship on, as it can decay quickly.
[ March 26, 2008: Message edited by: Chrispy ]
Author
Topic: Hauling refinements, and perhaps teaching. Wanders a bi (Read 683 times)