I'd like to see a new noble position added to the game -- Master Engineer -- that uses and trains Architecture skill. The idea is to be able to store templates for complicated building instructions and execute them automatically. These blueprints can be saved away and even swapped between games and players on forums such as this one. Using this proposed feature, players would be able to create designs such as a windmill-driven screw pump waterfall flanked by statues. The Master Engineer would be able to create a template loaded from one of these files or based on an existing structure. The player could then paste this set of build directions as desired on the game map. In essence, this would allow templated building as well as a game-appropriate form of macro-ing.
Supporting modifications or other possible enhancements:
- Dwarf Fortress's Build / Dig options for interchangeable structures would likely need some modification. Alternately, structures such as stairs might be opportunistically dug out or built as needed.
- Engraving would probably need to be excluded from this feature unless engraving constructed walls and floors is enabled.
- Allow blueprint generation from within the object testing arena.
- Allow specification of materials for built structures where appropriate.
- Integrate the blueprint to the manager to allow a batch of new orders to generate for a given blueprint.
The position would generate jobs for dwarfs in a fashion similar to what the manager does with workshops. The position would also submit orders to the manager. Each such task would grant some Architecture experience. A highly-experienced Master Engineer would be quicker with these tasks, or could perhaps manage larger projects.
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Topic: Blueprints (structure templates) (Read 950 times)