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[Strangething]

I've got an idea worth sharing about artifacts. It seems fairly easy to implement, too.

Add a new piece of furniture, the pedestal. It can be built at a mason's workshop, and possibly a carpenter's or glass forge. Once it's placed, you have the option of installing an artifact on it, and can designate the room around it as a museum. Dwarfs treat a museum like a statue garden or zoo. Admiring a legendary item gives happy thoughts.

It's not the big, epic thing that people are hoping artifacts will eventually be, but it could be an easy way to make artifacts useful. It's very similar to a zoo - replacing animals in cages with artifacts on pedestals.

[Jack A T]

That would definitely be a use for the crafts we get as artifacts.

[Dwarf Fanatic]

Nice... if only this came out earlier than we can use it in...

The Museum Succession Game!

[Duke 2.0]

Urist: Whats this? It's just barrel!
Kogan: Nay, it's an artifact!
Urist: Bu... what 'bout my works of art? My statues? My weapons and armor of near-legendary quality?
Kogan: Nope, not as good as this barrel.

I mean, those would be some random-looking exhibits.

But despite how odd it would look, I fully support this.

[Ralgor]

I think this is a great idea.

[Silverionmox]

quote:Originally posted by Duke 2.0:
<STRONG>I mean, those would be some random-looking exhibits.</STRONG>

It's conceptual art.

[Thassa]

Since in the long run artifacts are supposed to be magic items of some power, I don't really think this idea will work for them.  On the other hand I like the idea of being able to display war trophies.

"This is the masterful narrow chainmail tunic worn by the goblin Swordmaster Omg R U Screwd, when they led the attack on our fort in 1056.  Omg killed 5 swords dwarves before being chopped in two by Urist the Butcher, our Axemaster.  Which leads us to..."

[Strangething]

quote:Originally posted by Duke 2.0:
<STRONG> I mean, those would be some random-looking exhibits.

But despite how odd it would look, I fully support this.</STRONG>

Remember Dwarves love examples of good craftsmanship, er, craftdwarfship. Just look at how impressed they are with well-made tables and chairs. They'd come from miles around to see a *really* well-made barrel.

[Istrian]

We don't want them coming from miles away, we already have enough migrants as it is.

Even when artifacts become magical, some of us will still want to put them in a museum.

In my opinion, museums should attract thieves, not dwarves. And also some religious fanatics :
"Priest : This is a holy relic of our lord, give it to us.
Curator 1 : You mean this mug that always refills itself with water ? Sure, take it.
Priest : Oh thanks. See you.
*Priest leaves*
Curator 2 : Did you warn him that it also refills with carp ?"

[Jay]

As long as they aren't considered part of the pedestal but won't get scattered..
I came to my fort to see my artifact and possibly take it, not search for hours for it!

[Coke_Can64]

Well, then there could be a problem...

Urist the Miner: Umm, what IS this?
Curator: This is a... uh... masterwork... uh...
Urist the Miner: Out with it...
Curator: Pick.
Urist the Miner: Ooooh! Can I use it?! Please! Please! C'mon! I want it!
Curator: No
Urist the Miner: What! No!

Urist picks up the Masterwork Adamantine Pickaxe!
Urist swings the Masterwork Adamantine Pickaxe at the Curators head!
It flies off in a bloody arc!
The Curator is struck down.

Henceforth Urist is now unstoppable and slaugters everyone in the fortress befoe running out of the fortress and getting killed by a herd of skelephants.
(Cursed Evil Tropical Jungles!)

[Duke 2.0]

Two things wrong with that scene.

1. That head, when hit by such a weapon, would be drilling a hole through every layer of rock, atmosphere and perhaps a low-flying space-rock in whicher direction it flew.

2. Using such a weapon on an entire fort will cause so many dill-holes from the corpses that it would collapse, trapping the miner underneath the swiss-cheese fort.

The sad thing is, you could get similar results with a bone artifact pick.

[Narmio]

I would like to see a Pedestal as a new piece of furniture that requires a block.  You should then be able to mount any one object on the pedestal (probably as part of installation).  Not just artifacts.  I want to be able to mount MW weapons or armour taken from goblin elites, or skull totems made from megabeasts!

The installation menu might be messy, since it would be a case of "select from everything".  Removing the option to mount stones, logs, bars, food and drink would probably make the menu bearable if a little cluttered.

But having the ability to mount non-artifacts is important to me.  Get creative!  Create a trousers museum! A Hall of Loincloths!  Maybe the function of the pedestal could be to slightly increase the chance of a dwarf admiring the mounted item.

[ April 24, 2008: Message edited by: Narmio ]

[Istrian]

Museums would give dwarves on break something to do. Creators of items exposed in museums would get happy thoughts (would only work for masterpiece/artifact since we don't want to know who made that normal quality bed.

The way museums should work is : you place a few pedestals, designate a room from one of these. Then you can go in a menu (which looks like the 'bring to depot' menu) where items are sorted by type and quality. From there you select the items you wish to be brought to the museum. You can't select more exhibits than you have pedestals.

You could also have different types of 'pedestals'. A normal pedestal can only accept one exhibit, but the maker of the exhibit gets better happy thoughts. Glass cases could hold multiple small items but give a smaller happy thought to the maker (since his artifact is getting less attention). An armor stand can accept a full set of armor, a weapon rack only a few weapons.

[ April 24, 2008: Message edited by: Istrian ]

[Strangething]

Mainly, I was looking for a way to make artifacts useful without waiting for the  magic system. I suppose you could make other items eligible. Masterpiece quality items, or anything of extremely rare materials, like megabeast bones/skulls, adamintine, or diamond. A ruby crown would sure bring in the dwarfs!