Tools vs. crafts

[Salt Merchant]

I'd like to see some indication of a tool or tool being used during crafting. It isn't always obvious which tool will be useful for which purpose, as things stand. I don't think that's reasonable: it should be obvious whether a tool is useful or not.

For example, instead of seeing a message similar to this upon beginning to craft something:

Positioning the sandcloth, you begin to work with the soft material.

One would see instead:

Positioning the sandcloth and using your pair of embroidery scissors, you begin to work with the soft material.

It wouldn't just go by the tools held in one's hands. If you hold an auger or a lumber axe while making sandcloth wraps, they'd not be mentioned as they don't participate in the outcome. Only if the tool is actually used for the purpose would they get a mention.

[helix]

I'm not sure about the idea as posted, but...

I imagine, in the current version of Arm, something like, "This tool is used for stonecrafting." could be added into the assess command. Its basically a description change. It would be a time-consuming and tedious task, but with the current crafting project ongoing... it would prove very, very useful to players. Maybe if enough people mentioned that they wanted something like this, a sympathetic imm might volunteer.

Plus, I'll buy them beer.

[Kyviantre]

I know it can be seen (forget when), but I really really really (lots more reallys!) like the original idea.  It gives people a sense that buying all those 'prop-type' items is for a reason, not to mention the people that don't (which I've been guilty of) when its for something you really should need (ie a needle for clothworking...duh!).

Also good for newbies, they get a sense of what is useful to them, for example, I know I had a conversation about what the awls were useful for (google came up with leatherworking or woodworking, but I never did find out what Arm ones were good for).

Perhaps if you were tailoring while holding a lumber axe, you'd be more likely to rip the cloth apart because you're a fool?

In short, Salt Merchant's idea is GOOD!

[jhunter]

I'd prefer to keep it how it is and use emote to add my own style to my crafting.

[Gimfalisette]

I imagine, in the current version of Arm, something like, "This tool is used for stonecrafting." could be added into the assess command.

This is already in the game.

[Salt Merchant]

I imagine, in the current version of Arm, something like, "This tool is used for stonecrafting." could be added into the assess command.

This is already in the game.

Not in a very helpful way. A vague description that doesn't provide much guidance when materials are useful for more than one sort of crafting ability.

The truth is that the system is inconsistent, too. Why should a hide scraper be useful in making a hide scraper, for example, while a hammer and chisel, a file and a stone rasp are not? The character is often left not really knowing which tool to apply to a particular material, when in fact she or he really should know, especially when increasingly skilled.

[Twilight]

I think tools can either provide a bonus to a) a specific craft skill and b) a specific material type.  I am not 100% on the second, but I think that is why there are things that help with clothworking and frabricworking, for instance.

As for determining if something is going to be useful, there is a way of doing that already, if you are observant.  Problem is that it is only going to be effective at certain points in time.

[Salt Merchant]

As for determining if something is going to be useful, there is a way of doing that already, if you are observant.  Problem is that it is only going to be effective at certain points in time.

And only for materials that can be used to create more than one product of the same class.

I'd prefer a clean and direct means. It only makes sense for this.

[Kyviantre]

I'd prefer to keep it how it is and use emote to add my own style to my crafting.

I would expect it to be a personal echo, not a room echo.  The room would still see, "The lanky-haired woman starts crafting/whatever it actually is).

Just helps crafters know what things are used for, what tools they might like to keep to hand, or what to research for the less well known crafts (I wouldn't know where to start with emoting for tanning, but I know roughly how a needle works for tailoring, for instance!).

[FantasyWriter]

Perhaps if you were tailoring while holding a lumber axe, you'd be more likely to rip the cloth apart because you're a fool?

Code Select Expand


>ep scimitar
You brandish a bloodied wicked clawed scimitar

>es axe
You hold a dual bladed war axe.

>craft cloth cloth cloth into a blue hooded aba
Are you f-in' crazy?  You'll rip it to shreds!


[Kyviantre]

Makes sense!  If you've got weapons in you're hands, you're going to be ham-fisted when it comes to delicate crafting! ..nice concept for a half-giant though...using an obsidian shortsword as a needle