Brownies

[Archiplex]

Little magical hearth-beings, whatever.

What do they do? They automate some things.

Steel crucible running? Give a brownie some coal, and they'll fuel it up when needed.

Silkmoths going? Brownies will collect them and feed them.

Tired of ferrying goods? Brownies will carry things around your village for you.


Basically, an in-world source of automation; You could fuel them with experience, or maybe you have to summon them with hearth magic and they only remain for a period of time, after which you need to resummon them. Maybe the maximum you can summon is based off a stat, who knows.

Basic automation could be as simple as designating a 'source' inventory and a 'target' inventory, as well as maybe a 'quantity' - the brownie will always try to pull from the source inventory (stockpile, cupboard, etc) and place into the exit.

Could it be more complex? Yeah sure. Take inspiration from minecraft mods.

[abt79]

+1

I don’t know what compelled you to suggest “brownies” as the name for less-than-human slaves but hey I’m here for it.

[mvgulik]

...

[WowGain]

+1

I don’t know what compelled you to suggest “brownies” as the name for less-than-human slaves but hey I’m here for it.

This is why

Also +1, might as well try to have useless alts be lorewise seeing as they're still very needed for a lot of things

[MagicManICT]

+1

I don’t know what compelled you to suggest “brownies” as the name for less-than-human slaves but hey I’m here for it.

Not sure if it'd be PC to call them faeries....

+1

I don’t know what compelled you to suggest “brownies” as the name for less-than-human slaves but hey I’m here for it.

This is why

Also +1, might as well try to have useless alts be lorewise seeing as they're still very needed for a lot of things

IIRC, the English version of the cobbler story called them elves.

Love the idea. Anything so I don't forget to refuel the steel crucibles!!

[jordancoles]

The only problem I can see is that if the map is unloaded, will they continue working? There might be weird scenarios like steel where you would need to park a character online and within render for the total burn time anyways.

[Archiplex]

The only problem I can see is that if the map is unloaded, will they continue working? There might be weird scenarios like steel where you would need to park a character online and within render for the total burn time anyways.

Could just have them load the map if they're present and active in an area. Let them be killed just like other creatures to make them no more abuseable than an alt.

[MagicManICT]

The only problem I can see is that if the map is unloaded, will they continue working? There might be weird scenarios like steel where you would need to park a character online and within render for the total burn time anyways.

All I can say is... study tables work, steel crucibles work, leather, hides, etc etc all work without characters nearby and online. Granted, there was that problem with tanning tubs that one time....

[shubla]

In ideal world, the game should play itself.