String Sense

<span style="color: #7e8c8d;">Ever thought it's weird that there's string visible in tool models, but it's not required in the recipes? Or that you can't make rope by braiding twine? Or that dried grass and thatch are visually almost identical but functionally distinct, while those distinctions make no logical sense? Or that rush mats made from different plants all look the same, and can't be used to decorate walls? Or that you can't weave baskets from many materials widely used in the real world? Or that you can turn flax plants into fine cloth in a matter of moments with no tools?</span>

<span style="color: #7e8c8d;">...No? Just me? Well, I fixed it anyway.</span>

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Overall concept

<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Technology tree</span>

Features that require other mods are highlighted in different colours.

There are three basic types of string.

• Cord is made by simply twisting strands of raw fibrous organic matter into fairly coarse and inflexible string. Cord is easy to make from many common materials. It can be woven into colourful baskets and mats, and used as a fastening for primitive tools and equipment.
• Twine is made by carefully processing and spinning fine organic fibres into thin and flexible string. Twine is harder to make, from only specific materials which may be harder to find, and involves more processing steps. It can be turned into cloth, and used as a fastening for precise and longlasting purposes like metal tools and clothing.
• Rope is made by braiding multiple lengths of cord or twine, to make a much thicker, stronger, moderately flexible string. Rope uses a lot of material to make but doesn't require advanced processing. It can be used as a fastening for the heaviest purposes like rafts and fences.

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This mod also clarifies the distinction between hay (dry grass) and straw (thatch). They are no longer interchangeable in any recipes, and they are retextured to be more visually distinct.

• Hay is soft and nutritious dried grass, harvested from long grass. It can be used for animal feed and bedding, as well as to make a primitive bed and start fires. Tie it up with cord or twine to make hay bales.
• Straw&nbsp;strands are tough indigestible stalks, harvested from mature grain crops and some wild plants. It can be made into cord, or used for many primitive constructions like thatch roofing and cob.

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With default settings: Early in the game, natural strands will be an essential resource. You'll be dependent on cord for primitive tools and armor, as well as storage. You'll need to make rope to build crude wood structures like fences and doors. As your technology develops, you'll be able to process refined fibres into twine to make clothing and advanced tools. Metal fastenings and wood joinery will supersede string for most construction purposes, but you'll still need rope for some heavy-duty equipment. And when resources are abundant, you can decorate with colourful cord mats and baskets.

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With the most minimal settings (using Config lib): Craft the new types of cord into a rainbow of colourful mats and baskets to decorate your world. Only a few vanilla recipes are changed, to make them more permissive by allowing new cord variants in place of some vanilla materials.

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