Development Update: Building Upgrades, Unified Professions, and the Campfire Blueprint

Hey again! 👋 As promised, here’s Part Two of my deep dive into the upcoming update. If you missed Part One, check it out here. In this post, I’ll be covering the exciting new building upgrade mechanics, the streamlined process for hiring pawns and resource production, and the campfire blueprint!

Building Upgrades

This is a big one. Buildings are no longer static structures—they can now be upgraded to higher levels! 🏗️

• Streamlined Blueprint Levels: As I mentioned in Part One, instead of cluttering the blueprint menu with multiple levels of the same house, you’ll now upgrade buildings directly. Each level unlocks new features or higher-tier professions, keeping your fortress dynamic and growing.

• Upgradeable Features: For example, a basic Miner’s House might unlock Tier 1 miners, but upgrading it to level 2 will allow you to hire more skilled miners for better resource yields. The same concept applies to other professions.

This change not only reduces clutter but also creates a sense of progression in your village. You’ll feel the satisfaction of building a humble settlement into a thriving fortress!

Unified Professions and Resource Production

Gone are the days of juggling multiple menus and systems for hiring pawns and gathering resources. I’ve worked to streamline everything:

• Buildings as the Hub: Now, all actions related to pawns—hiring, managing, and assigning professions—are handled directly in the building GUI. Need more miners? Head to the Miner’s House. Need a craftsman? Upgrade your campfire. Simple and intuitive!

• Integrated Resource Production: Resource generation will also be centralized to buildings. Workshops will not only house your pawns but also handle their outputs, ensuring that everything stays tied to the structures you’ve built. No more distractions or external resource systems to complicate gameplay!

This update puts the focus back on your village, encouraging thoughtful placement and upgrades while simplifying resource and workforce management.

The Campfire Blueprint 🔥

Let’s talk about the humble campfire. It’s no longer just a decorative block—it’s now a blueprint with its own upgrade path! 🪵

• Basic Campfire: Functions as a crafting station and resource hub. You can hire a basic craftsman directly from the campfire and access crafting recipes.

• Upgraded Firepit: The upgraded campfire transforms into a full-fledged firepit, complete with expanded functionality like storage chests and more advanced crafting options. This makes it an essential part of your fortress.

This change ties the campfire directly into gameplay progression, making it a cornerstone of your early-game strategy.

What’s Next?

This update is shaping up to be a game-changer for MineFortress. It’s been a long road, but I’m confident these changes will make the mod more engaging and intuitive than ever before. As I mentioned in Part One, this release drops backward compatibility, so get ready to start fresh with all the new features!

💡 Support the Project If you’re as excited as I am, consider supporting MineFortress on Patreon. Your support makes these ambitious updates possible. Also, don’t forget: you can access early dev builds at this website. Just remember, WIP builds can be unstable, so proceed with caution!

I’d love to hear your feedback. What do you think about the new building upgrade system and the campfire blueprint? Let’s chat in the comments!