Chapter 2.2 Core Construction Mechanics
Building Basics
All building occurs in the open world. Players can build resurrection points, homes, stores, and other buildings. NPC can create these too, with the amount they can build based on the limits of their ecological deity's strength. Every construction and blueprint unlocked adds a new journal entry, with combined unlocks sharing a page.
Construction Legacy - Updated 8/24/25 Version 1.1
The umbrella of your character's construction legacy is broken down to carpentry, masonry, and butchery. Given the fantasy aspects of Spirit Relics, the terms are used more loosely to fit the world. Players will also gain construction legacy overall.
Carpentry
Wood, fungal, and other plant material used in its raw state
Masonry
Stone, ores, and other mineral materials used in its raw state
Butchery
Bones, leathers, hides, and other corpse material used in its raw state
Legacy Progression Visuals - Updated 8/24/25 Version 1.1
If the resources are available, players will often unlock building styles for both carpentry and masonry. This gives players options for building. If a player starts showing focus in a style, they will unlock unique crafts in their progression, which can eventually lead to carpentry foundry or masonry foundry. Butchery doesn’t have a foundry state.
Carpentry Foundry / Masonry Foundry
Taking raw materials and mixing them into a viscous state, then shaping, and hardening
Often poured into a mould
Often takes a few construction steps to complete
Is the advanced versions of the prior listed
Maximum durability
Constructing In The Open World - Updated 8/24/25 Version 1.1
Players can construct a construction toolkit. This allows a player to plan constructions in the world. Planned constructions are selected to build from the build core menu. When a player places a construction they wish to construct in the open world, it is a “planned construction”. A construction toolkit limits the amount of planned constructions a player can have at once, with better toolkits allowing for more construction. It is best to keep this on your player. If destroyed, such as by monsters, if construction hasn’t started, the plans will also be destroyed. Players can construct and link to more than one toolkit at a time.
Players select a construction to build from the build menu. The build menu is populated based on the constructions that the player is actively able to build, whether they have the materials yet, or not.
Players can see the polygon shape of the construction in a sort of hologram effect, as well as the highlighted amount of tiles the construction will take. Only players who are linked to the planned construction can see it.
Build Color Indicator - Updated 8/24/25 Version 1.1
The planned construction will change colors based on different cases.
Before placement - Player has not yet placed the construction
Green
Can be built
Orange
Terrain is unsuitable, consider creating a foundation first, or choosing a different location
Red
Is colliding with an existing non-movable object, must choose a different location, or move/remove collision
After placement - Player has placed the planned construction
Gray
Construction has not started materials needed
Green
Ready to be built, materials needed for construction is present
Orange
Terrain has become unsuitable, construction cannot proceed even if materials are available
Red
Is colliding with an existing non-movable object, must choose a different location, or move/remove collision
Planning Visuals - Updated 8/24/25 Version 1.1
Players placing a planner will have a symbol on their hand glow yellow. By default, other players cannot see planned constructions, unless you toggle this while they are in a party, or a friend group. You can also individually toggle viewing for each player in your party/friend group, even if they allow you to be able to view it.
Sharing Plans Publically - Updated 8/24/25 Version 1.1
Players can share plans by placing construction stakes in the outer perimeter of the planned construction zone. Players can interact with construction stakes as quest sites to gather the needed materials. Larger constructions will require larger construction stakes, this aids in visibility. This is adhered to by the fact that construction stakes have an affect radius, and cannot be placed too close to each other, but the planned construction requires that the full radius be filled to make it a public quest.
Upon construction completion, the construction stakes will be automatically removed and replaced by the partial in-progress construction building, or the completed construction.
Construction Steps - Updated 8/24/25 Version 1.1
Construction for larger buildings will often appear in steps. Once the construction has begun, players can assist in construction, and can visit the in-progress building to see what materials are missing if materials got moved or damaged.
A progression bar will load while the player animates the construction. Players need the right tool to do so. This is often a hammer, but could vary based on the building itself, or the progression needs.
Other Constructions - Updated 8/24/25 Version 1.1
Players can also construct using recipe skills from items in their inventory. This just requires that they have the right ingredients and the correct quantity. The player’s character will show their hands moving, and the completed item will appear in the player’s hand. Which can then be put into their inventory, or dropped, or given to another player.
Workstation Construction - Updated 8/24/25 Version 1.1
To construct more than one item at a time, a player needs to construct these items at a workstation. Players need to be at the correct workstation and they can choose the quantity. The progress bar will be the same, but they will automatically start one after the other.
Workstation Construction Details - Updated 8/24/25 Version 1.1
Workstations have increased storage capacity within the radius of the workstation, but can also link to other storages within the same building, at a certain distance. Better workstations will have farther reach. These storages are linked using the workstation storage linking menu. The player’s hand will glow with a yellow sigil, and linked storages will glow if linked while in this setup screen. When constructing items using storages, items being used will show as icons over the storages, and the storages will glow yellow, arrows pointing to the workstation. Where the items will be headed to upon completion, will show arrows pointing to the completed placement, with the completed craft icon over it, larger than the using items icons.
Larger Workstation Constructions - Updated 8/24/25 Version 1.1
Some items crafted will be large, such as furniture, vehicles, or otherwise. These are often crafted at workstation drop-off points. Completed constructions will be dropped off at these locations. They can be placed as far as a workstation will accept a storage link. Completed works will be placed here. Construction will not be allowed or continue if the drop-off point needs to be larger. For example, a small cart can be built in a small drop-off or large drop-off, but a very large ship would need an extra large drop-off point.
Repairing
Over time, buildings will need repairs if threats break through players defenses. Players will place resources near the repair zone, and a progression bar will load while the player animates the repair.
Players in Construction Zones
Players in a construction zone during the time an asset appears, will turn them into a firefly and be placed out of the building, then return to normal size. Between construction intervals, players can still re-enter, climb, or otherwise be in the area if they have access to it.
How to Replace and Remove Accents and Details
Players can change some sections with different unlocked accents and details by putting the needed resources near the allowed area, and then using the right tools (often a hammer or saw.) Players can replace and remove walls, doors, details, and accents, in custom blueprints with this method.
Builder Traits
Optionally, players can choose traits at character creation to help speed up proficiencies, increase unlock times, construct more complex constructions without a workstation, use less resources, and more.
Construction Failure - Updated 8/24/25 Version 1.1
There is no construction failure in the sense that there isn’t a chance for failure in the typical construction route. (Not even a challenge character trait for it.) The construction option just isn't available if they can't. Construction however, can technically be interrupted or failed if building construction didn’t complete, if a monster attacks, or if players move or delete required needs like materials, or drop off points. In these instances, if there is building progression, it can be continued. Or if damaged, it will need to be repaired first, for progression to then continue once the materials are returned.
Advanced Building - Planning Workstation
Players can eventually use a planning workstation to create more custom blueprints of buildings. These buildings have more wall and accent control. Players can create written crafts of these blueprints to show, use, trade, sell or teach.
Building Accent Sets, Furniture Sets, and More
Players can use skill sets to learn more constructions. Each advancement needing a new slot, same as building advancements. There are other building sets, such as mounted weapons, and other utilities.
Usually, there is more than one builder in a community.