Make blocks choppable into "branches".

[springyb]

I don't mean chopping wooden blocks directly into branches. Just some sort of small 'wooden shard' that can be used in making a fire or building roundpole fences in place of them since branches are limited now.

Trying to make a fence with how branches are now is pretty tedious depending on your surroundings. It takes up a lot of branches that you need for other more important things. Making these easier to build wouldn't hurt anything, fences are usually just built for decoration anyways, so it really doesn't provide an advantage being easier to make. Well, except for not killing your branch supply.

Making fires easier would mostly just be convenience. Making a fire when you aren't away from civilization can be a hassle, and something this important shouldn't be. There might even be an uncommon situation where you're starving and no trees near you have branches so you cut one down instead, and save your character. Also it would let people use any extra blocks, or just chop trees to stock on fire wood, so you don't have to go wander each time you wanna eat.

Everything else that uses them should still require 'branches', I'm just asking for a special stand-in for fires and fences.

Again, these are all just for convenience. It's not important, just an idea.

[Iryn]

Personally, I'd like to see a semi permanent fire pit (Stone or Brick) that can be fueled up with wood like a kiln. That would probably solve this issue, and would allow you to use just enough wood to cook what you need cooked. If you only have a little meat, toss in one or two branches.

[Flocke]

Personally, I'd like to see a semi permanent fire pit (Stone or Brick) that can be fueled up with wood like a kiln. That would probably solve this issue, and would allow you to use just enough wood to cook what you need cooked. If you only have a little meat, toss in one or two branches.

This! but also it would be nice if you can split a wood block directly into 5 branches for a fire...

[Orteil]

All of the above, plus : you should be able to add branches to fires after they're lit to make them last longer.
Also this is probably just a silly idea, but how about cooking food with "special" properties using hearth fires ?

[Peter]

Loftar was generally positive about splitting logs. I think it's fair for this to produce full-fledged sticks, too. I could see a trimmed piece of heart wood would make a fine axe handle or whatever else you make with sticks.

Jorb has already drawn plans for a fire pit.