Suggestion: Steps.

[tryst49 4]

We often have lots of hills around and building a settlement either means a lot of terraforming or some other means of getting around the hills we can't easily climb.

 

Introducing STEPS! The easier way to get up a hill.

 

The tile must be level horizontally with both borders at an equal gradient, this is done during the planning. The tile must not have a gradient that would require you to climb but can have a gradient what would mean sliding back down if you stop walking.

 

Negatives:

Requires 5% more stamina than walking up the hill.

20% increase in stamina if you are pulling a cart compared to doing it without the steps. (bumping the cart up steps takes more energy).

 

Positives:

You can move 25% faster than climbing without the steps.

You are able to stop at any point and recover stamina to continue without sliding back.

Horses move slightly faster on steps compared to climbing the same hill without the steps since they are able to grip better. However, their movement is reduced back to standard speed if they are pulling a cart.

 

Creation:

Crafting window - Starting: (Select borders by using a Hammer or mallet on border and add to crafting window)

Left Border Plan.

Right Border Plan.

 

This triggers the levelling option which plans the steps (similar to the Dioptra for bridges).

Are both sides equal and lowest side < 22 dirt gradient?

  NO - Can top of left side be lowered to match the right?

             YES - plan left side digging.

             NO - Can top of Right side be raised to match the left?

                     YES - Plan Right side raising.

                     NO - Can't be done. Abort.

And so on until it decides the best way to do it. Raising one side or lowering the other. Rock and inability to modify a corner would prevent lowering.

 

Plan is completed and you must first use a shovel to dig or add dirt as required to make both gradients equal. You must then add bricks (requires >30 in masonry) to make the steps. Requires 20 Bricks. Steps have no borders so it is possible to plan double width. However, once one set of steps have been put in, the ones beside it must be leveled to match. Watch out for rock that may prevent the opposing side being lowered to match. Gradients in excess of 22 (I believe this is the point you are required to climb) cannot have steps. Either reduce the gradient or find another location.

 

Wooden steps require the same procedure but require 20 planks and >30 in Woodworking.

 

Railings:

Can be placed on the border each side of the steps if desired.

Wooden:

Basic wooden banister. (has 3 supports and a banister rail).

Wooden banister. (Has 3 supports and a banister rail but also has 3 shafts in each gap).

Ornate banister. (Same as wooden banister but has ornate supports).

Roped Wood. (3 supports and a rope instead of a banister).

 

Stone.

Basic stone banister.

Stone banister.

Ornate stone banister.

Chained stone. (3 supports with a metal chain looped between them instead of a banister).

 

Same configuration for metal railings.

Edited January 4, 2016 by tryst49

[tryst49 4]

With all the settlements I've seen around with loads of steep hills between the houses, I'm surprised nobody has responded.

[Pandalet 1,848]

Moved to Requests.

[Pandalet 1,848]

FWIW, bridges already offer a lot of what you want - you can build them up the side of a hill or mountain, and they come in several different materials.  See http://www.wurmpedia.com/index.php/Bridges for an overview.

[tryst49 4]

But Bridges don't look so good in a settlement. Having steps up and down "pedestrianises" an area rather than having roads everywhere and makes the pace look a lot nicer overall.