Illarion.org

***********Masonry**********

(Webster's Dictionary define's)
Masonry: (1.) A mason's trade (2.) Something built by a mason ; brickwork or stonework ; the stone, brick, or concrete used to build things

Brick making is the same thing as Masonry. I propose changing Firing Bricks label to Masonry could help some if do able. Also at a later time cutting stones from Raw Stone/ Stone Block/Stone ammo could be swapped from Mining to Masonry.
Pottery is also a masonry type craft so i propose moving item numbers [75] [292] [315] Vase's to it. Also adding a pottery wheel to craft special bowls and plates (1001) to use with certain cooked food that might give a player a ++/+- buff or debuff ((egg plates give a buff to Str, and Con.)) (1001) could be made different colors for different stat buff foods.
Giving Mason's "Brick makers" a little more to do. Pottery is made with clay and the vase graphics don't seem to be glass work.
Stone working could make mortar's [58] craft able for tailors or other future users.


((((I can help recolor the png for item1001 to help the process a long if i can get the file.))))




___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Re: "The BC dates i use here are estimated";


Overally a nice approach.
YET...
masonry and pottery / making bricks are not the same:
Masonry is a craft to be found all over the planet Terra, no matter of the technical state of the practicing society or the regional culture.
All production steps (exploration, manufacture of tools and primary or secondary production) require a huge ammount of theoretical knowledge, which was/is beeing passed on from generation to generation, to avoid theft of knowhow (competition both within an ethical group or between different groups).
The most basic example would be the manufacturing of dolerite balls to be used in creating building materials from lime or sandstone (4k down to 8k BC).
I will not express further ideas on creation of high grade metal tools and according required processing knowledge.

Pottery was one of the first crafts developped at all, beside weaving baskets and carving bone.
The first proof of organized repetitive pottery crafting (we call this mass production today) might be found 10k down to 20k BC on the southern hemisphere (=>fired bowls formed in reed baskets solely acting as moulds).
Using unfired bricks as building materials does neither require a high grade of theoretical knowledge nor high quality (wooden) tools.
The use of unfired bricks is only possible in regions with low rainfall ammounts (Adobe settlemets).
In Jericho for example the use of bricks can be dated to 7.5k BC (and a town is not buildt in a day).
Fired bricks can be dated to 3k BC, and the construction and use of beehive kilns requires a high level of social interaction / division of labour.
I will not express further ideas on high grade pottery products like bone china.
- - -
So much for the theory, let`s get to topic.
Even in our game the art of "making bricks" does require a lot less ammount of work and therefor is a craft ideal for low-wealth / beginner chars.
I`s a dirty work after all.

I fully support the creation of the "Masonry" craft, seperate from mining.
And the renaming of "firing bricks" to "Pottery".

Concerning the production of mortars i suggest to introduce three new versions:
-Agate Mortar (produced by high level masons, requiring "agate stone")
-Brass Mortar (produced by medium or high level finesmiths, requiring copper and iron=>instead of zinc)
-Porcelain Mortar (produced by high level potters, requiring "cleansed clay"=>instead of kaolin, quartz sand and diamond=>instead of felspar)
The already existing mortar would be renamed to "Eartheenware Mortar" and could be created by low to medium level potters (from clay).


You might want to ask me now:
What`e fussiebunny need 4 different mortars?
And i would simply answer:
Caus`o`lements, lad.
-Agate boosts earth, lowers air;
-Brass boosts fire, lowers water;
-Porcelain boosts air, lowers earth;
-Earthenware boosts water, lowers fire;


EDIT: Damn. Diamond burns with O2 at 720' C into CO2, while porcelain needs 1.2k+' C. Choose a matching ingredient by yourself.

What do you see these mortars being used for in game? Right now they are only used in the making of dye, as far as I can recall. This seems just a tad extravagant for dye-making.

Depending on it`s quality the mortars may offer up to 12 or even 24 socketing slots for gems or other otherworldly objects. Patterns may be designed by dragon clock.

Beside unique items of powerfull basic ressources, which might fully consist of any materia (unlimited slots).
Examples for containing/handling magical objects (to be created with a "tome" in hand):

-Zhambra Chalice of Truth, from Diamond, with a hole in its bottom so it is able to completely seperate one liquid from another (Created from any magical gem by magical alteration. Every kind of gem has different effects);

-Nargun Mudhole of Findings, from clay on the floor, which is able to devour and store any magical contents or objects and can be linked to other Mudholes.
Any ammount of mud may be stored in any Mudhole/ or -system.
(For creation needed: 5 clay, 1 stone, 3 different finger- or footnail pieces, copper pitcher; For linking needed: 1 corroded needle, 2 quarz sand, 2 rotten buckets)

-Malachin Reading of Prey, from parts of a honourfully slain game or dangerous opponent, which grants the creator insight to the future OR power over game or people. It may be used to recharge magical objects when "fed". (For creation needed: Malachin Dagger of Offerings, bones of the prey, entrails of the prey).