Editing v0.34:Block

{{quality|Exceptional|15:59, 30 September 2010 (UTC)}}{{av}}

:''For area blocks of 48x48 tiles on a game map, see [[Region]].''
:''For "blocking" in combat, see [[Armor]].''

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A '''block''' is a type of building material. [[Stone]] and [[wood]] can be shaped into blocks at a [[mason's workshop]] or [[carpenter's workshop]].  [[Glass]] can be formed as blocks at a [[glass furnace]], [[ceramic]] blocks (labeled as "bricks") can be made at a [[kiln]], and [[metal]] blocks can be made at a [[forge]] from a single metal [[bar]] by a [[blacksmith]] (or, in the case of [[adamantine]], from '''four''' wafers). Blocks are mostly equal to bars, but are used differently and counts as a [[Item token|different type]] of items. Blocks do not have [[quality]] levels.

A single block is required in order to build a [[well]], [[screw pump]], or [[ashery]]. Blocks can also be used in place of raw stone or wood in [[road]]s, [[bridge]]s, [[workshop]]s and [[construction]]s (but not in items like [[craft]]s or [[furniture]]). [[Bridge]]s, [[support]]s, [[road]]s, and [[construction]]s built from rocks are called "rough" while the same built from blocks are not given that adjective. Stone blocks are sometimes used as materials during [[strange mood]]s.

==Blocks vs. rocks==

The clearest distinction between building a [[building]] using a [[stone|boulder]] and building a building using a stone block is that more buildings can be built of blocks, as each stone produces four blocks. Note that this does not apply to [[wood]], [[glass]], or [[ceramic]] blocks/bricks, which are only made in sets of 1; [[metal]] blocks are made in sets of 1, but since you get 4 bars at a time from smelting ore, the end result is equivalent to stone.

Blocks have less volume and thus [[weight|weigh]] much less than raw forms of construction materials - stone blocks weigh only 6% as much as a boulder, and wooden blocks weigh 12% as much as the log from which they are carved. This weight difference can dramatically reduce hauling time, especially if you are using large amounts of materials. Forming metal bars into blocks makes no difference in regards to weight, though it does simplify the tracking of resources - if you use metal bars to build workshops and constructions, your [[stocks]] screen will still list them in the summary view, potentially misleading you into believing you have more available bars than you actually have.

Building a bridge out of blocks instead of rocks also cuts the building time by two thirds, independent of clearing and hauling time. This difference in building time presumably extends to other buildings and constructions where you can choose between blocks and rocks. The appearance of [[bridge]]s and paved [[road]]s will be different depending on whether blocks or rocks are used. The use of blocks is indicated by the floor tile {{Tile|+|#FFF|#000}}, and the use of rocks is indicated by a rough ground tile {{Tile|≈|#FFF|#000}}.

Unlike raw stone or wood, up to 5 blocks can be stored in each [[bin]] in bar/block [[stockpile]]s. This also can improve hauling time between stockpiles. A minecart can carry up to 83 blocks.

Blocks are more valuable than rocks.  Blocks have a [[Value#Items with material but without quality|base value]] of 5, compared to the raw material value of 3 for stone, wood or glass.  Metal bars already have a base value of 5.

Metal ores and economic stone will still produce multiple stone blocks if cut in a mason's workshop. However, this breaks use for any purpose other than building and [[strange mood]]s, such as [[reaction]]s: blocks of [[flux]] '''cannot''' be used for making [[pig iron]] or [[steel]], nor can blocks of [[ore]] be [[smelter|smelted]] into metal (without modding reactions). Note that "filler" blocks of [[raw adamantine]] are excellent for increasing [[artifact]] value without wasting too much adamantine on legendary doors, tables, etc.

{{Category|Materials}}