--- title: Building assemblies summary: Assemblies are crafting recipes — combine N component objects + a skill check into a result object. This guide covers assedit, component lists, skill DCs, failure handling, and the craft/assemble player commands. order: 70 updated: 2026-05-19 --- # Building assemblies An assembly is a **crafting recipe** that turns a set of component objects into a new object via a skill check. Players use `assemble` (or `craft` depending on tree) to invoke the recipe. You build them with `assedit`. ## Open the editor ``` assedit 8500 Create or edit assembly vnum 8500 ``` Assemblies are vnum-addressed. Pick a vnum aligned with your zone's component objects — typical convention: components in 8500-8549, assemblies referencing them in 8550-8599. ## Main menu ``` -- Assembly Number : [8500] 1) Recipe Name : Forge an iron sword 2) Result Object : [3050] an iron sword 3) Required Skill : SMITHING 4) Skill DC : 15 5) Crafting Time : 30 ticks 6) Components : (3 listed) [0] iron ingot (vnum 8500, qty 2) [1] wooden grip (vnum 8501, qty 1) [2] leather wrapping (vnum 8502, qty 1) 7) Components menu 8) On-failure result : salvage (partial components returned) 9) Failure object : [-1] A) Required tools : (anvil object [3500]) B) Required room flag : FORGE Q) Quit ``` ## Concepts ### Result object The vnum of the object created on a successful craft. Built via `oedit` ahead of time. The crafted instance is a fresh copy of the prototype. ### Required skill + DC The player must have the named skill at level ≥ DC to attempt. The DC roll is then `1d20 + skill_modifier ≥ DC`. Common crafting skills: - `SMITHING` — metalwork, weapons, armor - `LEATHERWORKING` — leather goods - `TAILORING` — cloth goods - `ALCHEMY` — potions, scrolls - `ENCHANTING` — magical infusion - `WOODCRAFT` — bows, staves, wooden items ### Skill DC Difficulty class. Higher = harder roll. Tier guide: | DC | Difficulty | |---|---| | 5 | Trivial — almost always succeeds at skill 1+ | | 10 | Easy — succeeds with modest skill | | 15 | Moderate — requires real training | | 20 | Hard — expert craft | | 25 | Very hard — master craft | | 30 | Legendary — top-skill-only | ### Crafting time Ticks the craft takes. The player is locked in a crafting state during this time. Typical: - 10-20 ticks for simple items - 30-60 ticks for moderate items - 100+ ticks for masterwork ### Components The list of objects consumed by the craft. Each entry: - **Component vnum** — the required object's prototype id. - **Quantity** — how many copies are consumed. Components are removed from the player's inventory at craft start. If the craft fails, see the on-failure result for what happens to them. ### On-failure result One of: | Mode | Behavior | |---|---| | `DESTROY` | Components are lost entirely on failure. | | `SALVAGE` | Player gets back some/all of the components. | | `FAILURE_OBJECT` | A specific "failed craft" object is given instead. | `SALVAGE` is most player-friendly. `DESTROY` discourages low-skill attempts at expensive recipes. `FAILURE_OBJECT` is useful for "you didn't make a sword, but you have a chunk of bent metal" outcomes. ### Failure object vnum If on-failure is `FAILURE_OBJECT`, this vnum is what the player gets. Often a "ruined" or "spoiled" variant of the intended result. ### Required tools Optional list of object vnums that must be in the player's inventory or in the room. Tools are NOT consumed — they're checked but stay. Common tools: - Anvil (for smithing) - Loom (for tailoring) - Alchemy kit (for alchemy) - Workbench (general crafting) ### Required room flag Optional. Forces the craft to happen in a room with a specific flag. Useful for "forge" rooms, "alchemy lab" rooms. Combine with required tools — a forge room with no anvil shouldn't allow smithing. ## Workflow A typical assembly build: 1. **Build the result object** with `oedit`. Test that it's balanced. 2. **Build the components** with `oedit`. Place them in the world (zone resets, shop inventories, monster drops). 3. **Build any tools/locale** as objects/rooms with the necessary flags. 4. **`assedit `** the assembly. 5. **Set the result, components, skill, DC, and locale requirements**. 6. **Test** — verify each component blocks the craft if absent; verify the right skill is checked; verify success returns the result; verify failure mode behaves correctly. ## Common patterns ### Simple weapon craft Recipe: 2x iron ingot + 1x wooden grip → iron sword. - Skill: SMITHING DC 12. - Tools: anvil (room object). - Locale: FORGE-flagged room. - On failure: SALVAGE (give back grip + 1 ingot). ### Multi-step craft chain Master crafts often chain: - Recipe A: iron ore + coal → iron ingot (skill: SMELTING) - Recipe B: 2x iron ingot + grip → iron sword (skill: SMITHING) - Recipe C: iron sword + magic dust → enchanted sword (skill: ENCHANTING) Each recipe stands alone. Players choose which step to do — they can buy ingots at a shop instead of smelting their own. ### Alchemy potion Recipe: 3x mushroom + 1x vial + alchemy kit → potion. - Skill: ALCHEMY DC 18. - Tools: alchemy kit (held). - Locale: any (alchemy is portable). - On failure: DESTROY (botched potions explode). ### Re-rollable enchantment Recipe: weapon + magic dust → enchanted weapon. - Skill: ENCHANTING DC 25. - Tools: enchantment rod. - On failure: SALVAGE — player gets weapon back, dust consumed. - Players retry until they succeed. ## Player commands ``` assemble List available recipes assemble Begin crafting the named recipe assemble status Show current craft + time remaining recipes What recipes do I know? recipes Filter by required skill ``` Some trees use `craft` instead of `assemble` — check the in-game `help` for the canonical command. ## Recipe discovery Players typically learn recipes by: - **Skill threshold** — having the skill at a certain level auto-grants recipes up to that DC. - **Recipe scrolls** — read a scroll, learn a recipe permanently. The scroll is consumed. - **Trainer NPCs** — pay a trainer to teach a recipe. Set this up via the recipe scroll item (`oedit` an ITEM_OTHER with custom values) + a DG trigger on `quaff`/`read` that grants the recipe. ## Save + test `Q` → `y` saves the assembly. Reload the zone or restart for the new recipe to take effect. Test: 1. `recipes` shows the new recipe (if your skill qualifies). 2. `assemble ` without components → error message. 3. `assemble ` with components → craft begins, time counts down. 4. Successful craft → result object appears in inventory. 5. Failed craft → on-failure handling kicks in. 6. Required tools / locale flags block correctly. ## Balance Crafting is the single most-broken sub-system if not balanced carefully: - **Result must not be cheaper than shop-bought.** Otherwise crafting is a strict upgrade with no trade-off. - **Components should be findable but not trivial.** A component you can buy 100 of for 10 gold each makes the craft a money fountain. - **DC scales with result power.** A +5 sword recipe should require skill 25+, not skill 5+. - **Watch dual-purpose loops.** "Sell crafted item for more than component cost" is the classic infinite-money exploit. ## See also - [Building objects](/builders/objects) — your result + components + tools. - [Building zones](/builders/zones) — place crafting stations via zone resets. - [Building rooms](/builders/rooms) — flag rooms as FORGE, alchemy labs etc. - [Building triggers](/builders/triggers) — custom recipe-discovery scrolls.