This proposal seeks to flesh out ideas about Artifacts.
Firstly: In custom stockpile, there should be an option to create artifact stockpiles. Otherwise artifacts will not be placed anywhere else. (You shall see why).
Artifacts, being so rare and all, should have their history mapped out, and as time passes, their value should increase, and the history behind them as well.
For this proposal, I shall partition artifacts into 3 different types (the names are arbitrary), depending on their value to an individual.
Useless
These artifacts are 'useless' to an individual, because they are either too bulky to carry around, or they serve no real use. An example would be a floodgate, a barrel or whatever.
Decorative
These artifacts can be used to decorate an individual. They don't serve a PRACTICAL use, but theyre nice to have. Crowns, Instruments, earrings et cetera fall under this category.
Useful
These are artifacts that can see practical use. Weapons and tools fall under this category.
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Once an artifact is created, the maker automatically takes it to the nearest artifact stockpile, or drops it down, even if there is a stockpile for that item. (So you don't take an artifact cabinet to a furnature stockpile). While in the stockpile, it IS CONSIDERED FORBIDDEN.
Now, the player gets to decide what to do with the artifact, from the artifacts menu (l). If its a 'useless' one, he may decide (using an option) to let it be used as normal. So a barrel would be dragged to the food stockpile and filled with stuff.
Otherwise, he may decide to GIVE it to a particular dwarf, who will use the item if its a useful one, or else wear it if its a decorative one. So if someone just made an artifact sword, you can give it to your champion swordsdwarf.
Now, the value of the item may increase if it is used by a famous (legendary or a noble) dwarf. If it is a USEFUL item, the increase is much greater. If it is useful, it may also be linked to certain events, that will further increase its value. (The legendary sword which clove the goblin king's head).
The value isn't just trading value, but also how much other people desire it. You may have a war on your hands with a particular band of goblins who just want that artifact.
The artifact will also have a history tied to it, which will list all that happened to it since its creation.
The artifact (or others) may also turn up in adventure mode. If this is the case, a high value artifact would be the sort of thing a King would send you to fetch.
In short, you can have a lot of interesting things happening due to the artifact. Like another king wishing the nice sword your own adventurer has, and sending people to take it from you...
Discuss.