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Difference between revisions of "v0.34:Block"

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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]] (or, in the case of [[adamantine]], from '''four''' wafers). Blocks do not have [[quality]] levels.
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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]]). Stone blocks are sometimes used as materials during [[strange mood]]s.
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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==
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==Blocks vs. rocks==
  
Building a bridge out of blocks instead of rocks 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.
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The clearest distinction between a [[building]] built with a [[stone|boulder]] and building built with 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, unlike raw stone or wood, can stack in [[bin]]s in bar/block [[stockpile]]s.
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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.
  
Blocks [[weight|weigh]] less than the material  they're made from, being anywhere from 1/28 to 1/31 of the original weight.
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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}}.
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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.
 
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.
  
[[Bridge]]s, [[support|pillars]], [[road]]s, and [[construction]]s built from rocks are called "rough" while the same built from blocks are not given that adjective.
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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.
 
 
Some players prefer to build workshops from blocks instead of rocks to avoid a surprising feature of forbidding.  Players often want to select which types of stones their workers use, especially at [[mason's workshop]]s and [[mechanic's workshop]]s, to control the color of the resulting furniture.  One way to achieve that control is by mass forbidding whole types of rocks from the [[stocks]] menu.  But if you forbid the stone (or block) that a workshop is made of, then that workshop will no longer function.  So a player forbidding stones to produce a particular color of chair or lever is often surprised when other workshops suddenly stop working.  Building workshops exclusively from blocks allows the player to mass forbid rocks from the stocks screen without encountering this problem. Building out of blocks also increases the value of the workshop, which increases the [[wealth]] of your fortress.
 
 
 
Blocks of [[flux]] '''cannot''' be used for making [[pig iron]] or [[steel]], nor can blocks of [[ore]] be [[smelter|smelted]] into metal.
 
  
 
{{Category|Materials}}
 
{{Category|Materials}}

Latest revision as of 14:29, 13 April 2014

This article is about an older version of DF.
For area blocks of 48x48 tiles on a game map, see Region.
For "blocking" in combat, see Armor.


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 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 roads, bridges, workshops and constructions (but not in items like crafts or furniture). Bridges, supports, roads, and constructions 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 moods.

Blocks vs. rocks[edit]

The clearest distinction between a building built with a boulder and building built with 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 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 bridges and paved roads will be different depending on whether blocks or rocks are used. The use of blocks is indicated by the floor tile +, and the use of rocks is indicated by a rough ground tile .

Unlike raw stone or wood, up to 5 blocks can be stored in each bin in bar/block stockpiles. 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 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 moods, such as reactions: blocks of flux cannot be used for making pig iron or steel, nor can blocks of ore be 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.