Tom was frustrated; everyone in the crafting work area was talking about Forgeworks. Everyone talked about how wonderful the nails were and wondered how they had ever lived without them. The smiths were the best, the iron was amazing, and no one could forget the coal they had just found. He felt like he was just not appreciated anymore.
He thought about all the smiths using his leather aprons, the gloves for holding the hot materials, the tool belts they wore, and the carry bags the miners used to haul the ore. But no one cared what he made anymore. Almost two-thirds of the gear the fighters used was crafted by him or one of the other leatherworkers. Look down at everyone’s feet; there were his boots.
Tom’s waterskins had been a hit for a whole day; now no one talked about them anymore. The farmers got harnesses for their horses and hardly gave him any thanks. They got saddles and said nothing. Just all this talk about nails, hinges, and metal crap. So what if they made some studs he had added to items? Or that the needles they tried to make were better than the bone versions he had been using. No one seemed to notice him anymore.
He reviewed his current production items. Harnesses, saddles, tool belts, ore bags, waterskins, work aprons, and leather gloves. Demand was going up; they could not make them fast enough. Tom had trained two new assistants just this last week and helped them get their first class advancement. But Tom still did the harder, more detailed work, as the new workers had not received their skills yet and could not do the fine work yet.
Tom noticed how many of the newer requests had a mix of metal elements. Sometimes the order would come to him to make parts and then ship those parts, and a metalsmith would assemble them with the finishing parts; other times it went the other way: parts would show up, and he had to make all the connecting items.
Tom picked up one of his new waterskins and examined it again. Effects: increased capacity, reduced bulk, and reduced weight. The workers loved them but never mentioned them. He was surprised that Mark did not yet have one; could he not see the advantage? He was almost offended by that thought. Tom brought up his advancement requirements.
[Class Advancement Available]
Community Leatherworker to Settlement Outfitter
Requirements:Equip 50 Residents (Complete)Supply Equipment To 5 Professions (Complete)Produce 50 Quality Goods (Complete)Fulfill 100 Custom Orders (97 / 100)Create 10 Distinct Product Types Complete◈ ◈ ◈
Only three more orders to complete. He sat down and got to work. Draft Harness, done. Reinforced Miner Toolbelt, done. Forgeworker Apron, done.
[Advancement Requirement Complete]
Fulfill 100 Custom Orders 100 / 100◈ ◈ ◈
Tom immediately accepted his class advancement.
[Class Advanced]
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Community Leatherworker → Settlement Outfitter
You have demonstrated the ability to recognize, produce, and distribute essential equipment throughout a growing settlement.
You no longer support individuals.
You support professions.
New Class Features Unlocked:Pattern MemoryMaterial EfficiencyCustom FittingCommunity Needs◈ ◈ ◈
He then looked at his new class information.
[Settlement Outfitter]
The strength of a settlement is reflected in the quality of its equipment.
Settlement Outfitters identify shortcomings, coordinate solutions, and support the development of skilled professions.
Profession Bonus: Equipment crafted for recognized professions receives increased effectiveness.Innovation Bonus: Repeated solutions to common problems may produce unique designs.◈ ◈ ◈
Tom then found and clicked on the new Community Needs menu.
The new Community Needs menu showed him where his work could help most. Livestock needed more harnesses, miners needed better carrying equipment, and runners needed a way to separate messages, tools, supplies, and personal gear. The first two were familiar work. The runners’ problem did not come with a suggested solution.
Wait, there was a need, but nothing explaining how to fulfill it? What does that mean? Tom then saw a runner come in and drop off a package to another crafter. He was complaining about messages, tools, supplies, and personal gear. Everything crammed together and not enough room to hold it.
An idea started to form. Tom then went to work, spending the afternoon experimenting with leather, straps, weight distribution, and internal organization. He had one fail after another but kept going. Then something finally clicked, and he received a system message.
[New Design Created]
Runner’s Pack
Crafting Trait: Weight Distribution
Effects:Load feels lighter while carriedImproved organizationReduced travel fatigue
Classification: Innovative Equipment Design◈ ◈ ◈
Tom was excited about the new design; that was what he was looking for in his class upgrade. He then saw more messages; the community needs tab was still open.
[Community Need Detected]
Recreation Equipment
Current Demand: 30
Suggested Contributions: Ball
Reward: Community Contribution◈ ◈ ◈
Wait, what? Who needs thirty balls? Tom made a ball to see how hard it would be. Mostly out of plain curiosity. He walked out of the crafting station and was tossing the ball up in the air, heading to the kitchen to see if Dale had any afternoon snacks available. Ben saw him and ran over.
Ben said, “What’s that?”
Tom replied, “It’s a ball.”
Ben said, “Nice. I like it, thanks.” He then grabbed the ball out of Tom’s hands and ran off around the kitchen out of sight.
Tom just stood there in disbelief. He had only made it because he thought it was a joke the system was playing on him. Then he received another message.
[Community Need Progress]
Recreation Equipment 1 / 30
◈ ◈ ◈
Tom just laughed, grabbed a glass of juice and a sweet roll that Dale had on a plate, and went back to the crafting station. He finally opened his future advancement screen.
[Future Advancement Preview]
Settlement Outfitter to Community Outfitter
Requirements:Develop 3 Apprentice Leatherworkers (2 / 3)Fulfill 25 Community Needs (0 / 25)Create 5 Innovative Equipment Designs (1 / 5)Supply Equipment To 3 Settlements (1 / 3)Contribute To 3 Regional Projects (0 / 3)Produce 1 Signature Design Used By 50 Residents 0 / 1◈ ◈ ◈
As he sat there looking at the list, he realized that the system did not want him to make everything, but it wanted him to build the profession through himself and others. It reminded him of Mark building settlements, Dale training cooks, and John organizing Forgeworks. None of them were trying to do everything themselves anymore.
Tom opened the community needs list one more time, and the list was growing, page after page; the longer he watched, the more items were added. Too many opportunities and too little time. He then quickly closed the screen.
He now saw why Mark groaned every time he got a system message.