What is up with the stockpile mechanic?

[Kegereneku]

Idea : Could it be solved by having a relatively low priority "needs" for Hauling-jobs to check stockpile and stack everything that can be stacked ?

[baekdal]

Thank you for the explainer Tynan.
I do agree with the speed issue if the colonists don't have a path. (if it's just one big block of items). The way I solved that in the past was to create paths into the stockpiles they could walk along. 

[RickyMartini]

And what about taking things from the stockpile? Is that random too? Because I sometimes think it is...

[Mikhail Reign]

I also think it looks more natural. If you tell people "drop the stones in that area", this is a bit closer to what they do IRL.

Really? I would figure people would.. like.. pile stuff up. I've had to basically dig holes for a living a few times, and I reckon just about anyone if told to 'put the dirt over there' would start in one spot and then just make a big pile. If someone was all 'well I'll put a shovel load over here, and some over here, and some over here', I'd probably inspect them for a old LMG gunshot to the brain....

[Boboid]

I also think it looks more natural. If you tell people "drop the stones in that area", this is a bit closer to what they do IRL.

I can only assume you've never worked in a distribution center or warehouse.. or post office.

If I told someone " Stack these pallets in this area " and they distributed them randomly in the area provided, I'd fire them on the spot.

Sure we're talking about a colony of survivors, and sometimes we're moving rocks and sometimes we're moving corpses but the point remains.


Realism aside you can design out the inevitable pathing problems in your base by adding designated walk-areas/corridors which are empty.

[Vexare]

And what about taking things from the stockpile? Is that random too? Because I sometimes think it is...

This drives me nuts! "Hmm, I need another pile of stone chunks to craft into bricks ... here let me wade through 20 other piles to get to that ONE special chunk way back there in the corner, then wade all the way back to my workbench again!"