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[Arbinire]

Ok genned up a world and have 2 sites I'm looking at embarking on.  Both are nearly identical when it comes to stones and metals(checked with DFHack prospect all command)...the only difference being one has native aluminum and the other platinum(besides other metals like magnatite/hematite).  Which would be a better choice in the long run?  I know platinum can potentially be made into some pretty nasty blunt weapons given a strange mood, and their value is more or less the same economically, but aluminum seems like it has more practical applications such as bins and cages.

Just not sure and need someone to do decision making for me today.

[Dozebôm Lolumzalìs]

I think aluminum is like steel in value. Get the platinum. There are plenty of light materials, but few readily accessible heavy materials. Minecarts, for instance, will be devastating.

[EBannion]

Not to mention, with platinum you can much more easily meet nobles' demands for nice rooms.

[Bradders]

Aluminum and Platinum are both value 40, a tier up from Gold/Steel's 30.  If they're both identical zones except for this one variance, I'd go with the platinum and train anyone with a platinum preference in weaponsmithing just up to strange mood levels, then set them wood burning/smelting/farming/etc., and make one a blacksmith for the high value furnitures.

I had two Warhammer/platinum lovers and one mace/platinum lover in one save and none of them had a mood 

[Arbinire]

right on guys, platinum it is then, thank you all for the swift input

[khearn]

Another consideration is that aluminum only occurs in small clusters, but platinum can occur in veins, so there is a potential for a lot more of it. Of course, if you did prospect all, you should know just how much there is of each. That could be a factor.

[gestahl]

Aluminum and Platinum are both value 40, a tier up from Gold/Steel's 30.  If they're both identical zones except for this one variance, I'd go with the platinum and train anyone with a platinum preference in weaponsmithing just up to strange mood levels, then set them wood burning/smelting/farming/etc., and make one a blacksmith for the high value furnitures.

I had two Warhammer/platinum lovers and one mace/platinum lover in one save and none of them had a mood 

Train anyone with a blunt weapon preference. You can force them to use platinum by forbidding all other metal as long as (and maybe even if) they don't have a metal preference.

[Niddhoger]

Aluminum and Platinum are both value 40, a tier up from Gold/Steel's 30.  If they're both identical zones except for this one variance, I'd go with the platinum and train anyone with a platinum preference in weaponsmithing just up to strange mood levels, then set them wood burning/smelting/farming/etc., and make one a blacksmith for the high value furnitures.

I had two Warhammer/platinum lovers and one mace/platinum lover in one save and none of them had a mood 

Train anyone with a blunt weapon preference. You can force them to use platinum by forbidding all other metal as long as (and maybe even if) they don't have a metal preference.

This so bloody hard.  There are more edged options than blunt for a weaponsmith to mood into.  However, if they have a warhammer/mace preference they will also make that type of weapon.  Just forbid all non-platinum metal bars when one of these guys goes into the trance. 

As mentioned, there are better bin/cage materials than aluminum.  Sure, its the lightest METAL, but it's still many times heavier than wood.  So, unless you just REALLY want to trade lightweight bins to the elves... go with plat.  The best cage material is nethercap anyway... as nethercap will stand up to the odd blast of dragonfire (although the mechanism arming it might not).  Animals in cages are worth more butchered anyway.  If you just don't have any metal on your embark, remember that you can trick caravans into bringing you more.  Just forbid all your spare logs the week before a caravan should arrive.  They'll generate with a ton of extra logs.  You can also then buy up all the wooden items you'd normally pass up (buckets, splints/crutches, cages).  Barrels are too easily replaced with stone/clay/glass pots, unless you really want to make dwarven syrup.  Syrup is bugged though... so its definitely not worth it. 

[Pancakes]

Definitely go with the platinum site as others have said, although even with the incredible density for blunt weapons types, the effectiveness increase is debatable as hammer lords can be extremely effective with most types of metal, save candy.

[Bumber]

The best cage material is nethercap anyway... as nethercap will stand up to the odd blast of dragonfire (although the mechanism arming it might not).

The nethercap will catch fire. Not sure if it'll be destroyed, but it's not good for anyone hauling nor inside. Metal is immune to dragonfire.

[Niddhoger]

The best cage material is nethercap anyway... as nethercap will stand up to the odd blast of dragonfire (although the mechanism arming it might not).

The nethercap will catch fire. Not sure if it'll be destroyed, but it's not good for anyone hauling nor inside. Metal is immune to dragonfire.

That is... Peculiar.I just read the wiki entry on dragonfire; metals thast melt in grass firres are unaffected. Nethercap with its fixed temperature will burn. Doors are immune if closed, but Raw candy can still melt. I already knew about wooden shields... But still.

[PatrikLundell]

Nethercap mine carts will disappear without a trace if you try to scope up magma with them and will burn when filled with magma by a nethercap screw pump.
My guess is that nethercap can handle magma on the inside, but not on the outside.

[Bumber]

Nethercap mine carts will disappear without a trace if you try to scope up magma with them and will burn when filled with magma by a nethercap screw pump.
My guess is that nethercap can handle magma on the inside, but not on the outside.

They can handle magma on the outside if they're part of a building. It's only loose nethercap items that can't handle fluid magma.

[PatrikLundell]

Well, yes, and so can graphite.

[Niddhoger]

Actually, nethercap can be used to pump magma safely.  The entire pumpstack can be made of it (don't try this with graphite).  You can also submerge nethercap gear assemblies in magma... then cast them in obsidian.  They'll still work.  I think their behavior as floodgates is wonky, though.  I want to say they work so long as you don't lower them, then they melt.  Possibly the same with doors. 

Nethercap is supposed to be straight up magma proof, but behaves buggy.  As stated, it'll disappear if dropped in magma as an item, but "mechanical" bits made of it can still be submerged.  In contrast, steel tools and various bit will survive being submerged and as other non-constructions (levers and such).