I really like this mod, and I've used it for the entire duration of 1.3. As 1.4 looms, I would like to talk about it's weird interactions. When working with constructions it's generally fine, you can make log walls, and green lumber can still be used to make low quality furniture and structures. Here, we can say the mod works as intended and well. But, the issue is that it's just trying to make wood harder to get: the log wall creates so many questions. First off, it requires less processing since all you need are logs, build times are still great, and it results in a wall that is stronger than lumber. Now, I understand the log wall is not *part* of SC:L, but it shows off a character flaw in the mission statement.

We didn't stop building with logs because lumber was stronger. We use lumber because it is easier to work with and generally requires *less* material to build with. I can make lighter walls more quickly: the reward is not a stronger wall, it's a cheaper and faster to work with material. But SC doesn't really offer this: wood -> lumber yields the same building power, thus making it somewhat pointless to build with except when forced. That is kind of a strange doctrine: you'll use inferior wood processing because you must. The value of lumber should be the extra building power it affords, allowing the same number of logs to become more walls even if they are weaker and take more effort to create, not being unable to use wood until it's been treated. This includes stuffed furniture: logs should still be an option. They should just take longer to work with and have less building power. This is all the incentive the player needs to make lumber.

Of course, the problem really rears its head during crafting. The problem, as I see it, is that we have a *modern* wood production chain replacing a common material in low-tech applications. Lumber is used in many low-tech and neolithic "things." I'm really not sure what the total solution is here, but I would argue like the above anything that can be made from lumber should be able to be made from wood. Sure we could individually patch mods and content to try and make it work but the truth is that RimWorld's "stuff" is enough. Wood bad at cut, good at crush. A log club is better than a lumber one, but wooden weapons and tools are just a stop gap. After that, for recipes that *require* wood as a single component it's tricky given how inconsistent tags are but I would argue any recipe that can be made at a crafting spot should be allowed to use wood logs instead. This may all be imperfect, but the alternative is to be forced into a resource that doesn't make sense in all situations and is often detrimental to the goal it sets out to produce.

For now I've left simple chains off my 1.4 modlist and I have to say, I'm not entirely missing it for the reasons given. It isn't the difficulty the mod provides that bothers me: it's that once other mods start to enter the mix it either obsoletes itself, or just doesn't work. I will say that I like the mod in concept, as production chains to produce goods is something I really like in RimWorld. The issue is that the trestle *should* be able to be made with other metals. Many pieces of furniture and craftables *should* be able to be made with logs.

Ultimately it slows things down a bit and takes up pawn time they could spend elsewhere, something that does increase difficulty, but it also means that as the player you are then incentivized to look elsewhere for a solution. I think some of the suggestions above would help with that: less restrictive in it's use and more productive as a material. Give the player a reason to want to make lumber rather than forcing them into it, except sometimes on a case-by-case basis dictated by a reality that doesn't really matter.

Oh, and if you *do* use these thoughts in some way, when log walls are available don't let logs be used to build regular walls :P