May 30

Blueprints and a Blueprint Building Mode

Imagine a tool, probably a blueprint, that lets you build without consuming building materials, instantly placing and removing building blocks. They are not real blocks - they are just phantoms and do not function, but when this ghost structure is finished, anybody with a permit can bring blocks and hammer them down on their planned positions. The claim stake can serve as an interface showing what and how many materials are required, showing the stats of the future building, and allowing the export of the blueprint as an item for later use or for sale/gift. This solves several problems: - It may unleash creativity, allowing builders to experiment safely, without the hassle of going back and forth to the cart or a stockpile for different materials, and without consuming the hammer's durability. - It will introduce two professions: architects and builders. The former could plan and sell ready-to-use buildings or parts of them. The latter can sell their labor. - It will open a whole new market and a whole new way to play the game. - It will make building contracts finally work since the customer would have full control over the building's appearance. - It will finally make cranes useful. - It may introduce city building codes if the city wishes so since it would be possible to check a building in the planning stage and not permit its construction if the building code criteria were not met. Or maybe a city will allow only certain pre-approved blueprints from their own curated collection?

Pending