The issue that I kept running into with the smith was a lack of materials needed to keep tools on the shelf. Specifically, there was never enough rock on hand to convert into stone for stone hammers, and absolutely zero fossils to make into metal tools. Meanwhile, I was flooded with copper ore and iron, but without enough coal to turn it into ingots. It was not until I had instructed miners to change their priorities (Fossils> coal> iron) that I was able to make enough tools to keep up with demand.
Additionally, it seemed at least one villager was pilfering raw materials and tools for their own purposes and not contributing any raw resources in return. That effectively drained the available resources for supplying the gatherers. I never did find out who, but I will be more selective of villagers in the next attempt. This is the main reason I kept the machine shop locked! It would be impossible to maintain supply if the machines kept getting raided.
I will be changing the way the drop off and pick up shelves works. Rather than using shelves to drop product off, there will be “BUY” plinths (blue) to buy the raw materials from the gatherers at 0 coin. That way, the raw resource shelves do not get flooded with unwanted items like flowers or leaves, and then only the smiths can pull resources from them. (I have not tried setting up a plinth at 0 coin, so if it is impossible, then it will be 1 coin each)
I’d like to try to keep tools on locked shelves to keep non-villagers from raiding the supply, but I may have to figure a way out to keep coins balanced for the smith. I don’t want to have to work on a balanced economy at this stage as well as everything else, so we will see.
@James I have a few ideas of how to make collaborative efforts like this more manageable from a game design standpoint.
- A log book that could be attached to shelves or machines, much like a lock. This would record and timestamp who deposited or withdrew items from what ever they are attached to.
- Permissions per beacon such as plinth access, shelf access, machine access, and door access.
- Signs. Everything would be easier with signs. Are These still in development?