A NEW TOP IDEA EARLY-GAME WORKSTATION
Adding the ability to crush (some) rocks in to the game would be a fun, passive way to add a few more aesthetic/larpy pavement types as well as an opportunity to add a sink for materials that would normally be left to despawn on the floor.
The idea is as follows -
For the low, low price of Stone Working, a hearthling should be able to craft a Granite or Quartz boulder in to a Rudimentary Rock Crusher. I think? these are the hardest rocks in the game, and limiting textures makes jorbs life easier.
expertly drawn example of such a work station.
The idea would be that you could engage this workstation with inventories full of soft rocks and smash them in to what is essentially gravel. For the sake of limiting textures and some semblance of realism, this could be limited to sedimentary and volcanic type rocks. I am not a geology expert but I assume this would be like basalt, dolomite, limestone, sandstone and breccia.
Crushed rocks would simply change format in the inventory and give you their gravel variant, with a small chance of turning in to a cool curio and maybe some other stuff could be implemented over time.
percents are just examples
Crushed/gravel rocks could be used for alternative pavement textures.
I assume that more rocks and fun rare drops could be added along the way, as well as many more uses for gravel. Like the bulky part of that new embankment thing or the Menhir? An alternative bonus modifier for mulch bins or even planters pots? (adds aeration?) A way to introduce semi-precious gemstones as rare rock-specific drops (agates, smokey/rose quartz, citrines, etc.) for some early game alternatives to dust gems?
The workstation itself could even wear with use for more on-brand menial realism.
SO MANY POSSIBILITIES, SO MUCH FUN