Dwarf Fortress Bug Tracker - Dwarf Fortress
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IDProjectCategoryView StatusDate SubmittedLast Update
0007208Dwarf FortressDwarf Mode -- Jobs, Haulingpublic2014-07-13 07:472014-08-05 02:33
Reportercrossmr 
Assigned ToFootkerchief 
PrioritynormalSeverityminorReproducibilityalways
StatusassignedResolutionopen 
PlatformOSOS Version
Product Version0.40.02 
Target VersionFixed in Version 
Summary0007208: Workers will grab the resources closest to them when they take the job rather than the resource closest to workshop
DescriptionThis is an issue I don't recall from v34.

Previously you would set up a stockpile beside a workshop to feed it resources. The problem is that workers will now grab a resource nearest to them rather than the stockpile right beside the workshop.

This is a minor/major bug depending on how you view it. There are times it might be a minor annoyance, but other times it might cause major issues for a fort, especially in the early days when dwarves are multitasking and time is precious.

For example if you had a miner exploring far away from the mason workshop and needed him to build a table. Instead of running to the workshop and grabbing a nearby rock, he'd grab the nearest rock to where he is and haul it back to the workshop. Now that rocks have weight and cause dwarves to move very slowly.. this can end up causing your mason/miner to take a month to get back to the workshop. This happens on all workshops and is mostly an issue with anything related to resources which might be "heavy".

Steps To Reproduce
Additional Information
TagsIntentional/Expected?
Relationships
related to 0001074new  Dwarves choose far-away stones instead of nearby ones 
Attached Files
Issue History
Date ModifiedUsernameFieldChange
2014-07-13 07:47crossmrNew Issue
2014-07-13 09:14FootkerchiefRelationship addedrelated to 0001074
2014-07-13 09:14FootkerchiefNote Added: 0026138
2014-07-13 09:14FootkerchiefAssigned To => Footkerchief
2014-07-13 09:14FootkerchiefStatusnew => needs feedback
2014-07-13 09:14FootkerchiefTag Attached: Intentional/Expected?
2014-07-13 10:32JasonMelNote Added: 0026156
2014-07-13 16:35crossmrNote Added: 0026230
2014-07-13 16:35crossmrStatusneeds feedback => assigned
2014-07-14 22:02FootkerchiefNote Added: 0026422
2014-07-15 04:46crossmrNote Added: 0026451
2014-07-15 04:46crossmrNote Added: 0026452
2014-08-04 17:11crossmrNote Added: 0028328
2014-08-05 02:33jpcostaIssue Monitored: jpcosta

Notes
(0026138)
Footkerchief   
2014-07-13 09:14   
Please upload a save demonstrating this problem to http://dffd.wimbli.com/ [^] and post the link here.
(0026156)
JasonMel   
2014-07-13 10:32   
This is definitely not new. I recall this behavior from 0.31. The reason a stockpile by a workshop works is because the worker is usually in the workshop.
(0026230)
crossmr   
2014-07-13 16:35   
I can't upload a save specifically demonstrating this. It depends on the location of the dwarf at the time he accepts a task. I guess I can try and catch a dwarf mid haul.

In earlier versions rocks and other things had no weight so they didn't slow down dwarves. I never noticed it then, but it probably wasn't a problem them. Now that they haul rocks really slowly though this has become an obvious issue. The same with dwarves who grab containers to go pick up 1 item. If they grab a heavy container (like a copper bin) they absolutely crawl to go get something, when the item they want to pick up is probably light and would take them no time at all. Choosing a rock miles from the workshop and taking a month to haul it there when there are rocks right beside it shouldn't be happening. Doesn't make any sense at all.
(0026422)
Footkerchief   
2014-07-14 22:02   
Yeah, catching a dwarf mid-haul would be ideal.
(0026451)
crossmr   
2014-07-15 04:46   
Okay here you go:

If you find the expedition leader, he's currently hauling a rock to the catapult. Rather than go out there and find one and start firing it off, from the stockpile right beside it. He's been hauling one from inside the fort for a long time. I couldn't figure out what was taking him so long, then I found him and there he was pointlessly hauling a rock across the map.

http://dffd.wimbli.com/file.php?id=8987 [^]
(0026452)
crossmr   
2014-07-15 04:46   
Note, this is now .40.03
(0028328)
crossmr   
2014-08-04 17:11   
Still present in .40.06

This is pretty much a 100% behaviour. When a dwarf takes a task at a workshop for the first time, they will grab the first material closest to them, even if they are miles away and there is a stockpile beside the workshop. Now that rocks have weight, this means dwarves get caught plodding along.

I've noticed this continually through version after version and with every workshop.