RecyclingTools - Be eco-friendly, don't waste, recycle!

Fixed

• Economic exploit fix: Corrected helve hammer dismantling from yielding 3 hammer heads to 1 hammer head
• Recipe code fix: Fixed scythehead recycling recipe using incorrect spearhead code instead of scythehead
• Recipe positioning: Improved stonepath crafting with distinct horizontal/vertical patterns

Added

• Stonepath to stairs: New crafting option - shovel placed horizontally next to stonepath creates stairs
• Enhanced stonepath crafting: Clear distinction between slab creation (vertical) and stair creation (horizontal)

Technical

• Fixed tool_dismantling.json quantity exploit (quantity: 3 → 1)
• Corrected item codes in scythehead_recycling.json (spearhead-* → scythehead-*)
• Updated stonepath recipes with proper shapeless settings for position-dependent crafting

Fixed

• Fixed incorrect item codes in tool recycling recipes
• Corrected recipe files to use complete tool names instead of tool parts
• Fixed recipes for axes, saws, scythes, spears, and knives
• Ensured all tool recycling recipes load properly without errors

🚨 Breaking Changes

• Removed tool dismantling exploit: Tools can no longer be dismantled into parts and reassembled at full durability
• Replaced two-stage recycling system: Direct tool recycling now bypasses intermediate tool parts

Added

• New item: Metal Scrap - intermediate recycling product for all metal tools
• Direct tool recycling system: Tools are now recycled directly into metal scrap using chisels
• Conversion recipe: 2 metal scraps → 1 metal bit for final processing
• Material hierarchy preservation: Higher-tier chisels provide better efficiency and durability

Changed

• Recycling economics rebalanced:
  • Complete tools yield 50% less metal than processing individual parts would have
  • Recovery rates now range from 10-25% of original crafting cost (1 ingot = 20 metal bits)
  • Steel chisels provide +1-2 bonus scrap and consume less durability
• Tool recycling philosophy: Shifted from "repair alternative" to "salvage system"
• Recipe organization: All tool recycling now follows consistent chisel + tool → metal scrap pattern

Removed

• Tool dismantling recipes: No longer possible to dismantle complete tools into reusable parts
• Exploit prevention: Eliminates the ability to "repair" tools by dismantling and reassembling

Technical Details

• Metal scrap uses ingot textures with custom transforms for visual consistency
• Recipes organized by metal tier compatibility (copper/bronze/iron/steel chisels)
• Balanced durability costs: 2-6 points per recycling operation depending on chisel quality
• All recipes support shapeless crafting for user convenience

Balance Notes

• Recovery rates by tool type:
  • Arrows: ~22% (cost: 2.2 metal bits from 9 per ingot)
  • Hammers: ~20% (cost: 20 metal bits, recover 4)
  • Axes/Pickaxes/Shovels: ~15% (cost: 20 metal bits, recover 3)
  • Knives/Small tools: ~10% (cost: 20 metal bits, recover 2)
• Steel chisel efficiency bonus encourages skill progression
• System designed to make recycling valuable but not exploitable

Why This Change?

This update addresses community feedback about an unintended exploit where players could effectively "repair" tools by dismantling them into parts and reassembling at full durability. The new system maintains the core recycling functionality while ensuring it serves its intended purpose as a salvage mechanism rather than a repair alternative.

Migration Notes

• Existing tool parts (axeheads, hammerheads, etc.) can still be recycled using the old part-based system
• No existing saves will be broken, but the dismantling recipes are no longer available
• Players are encouraged to process any stockpiled damaged tools through the new direct recycling system

Fixed

• Fixed missing copper variant in hammer dismantling recipe - copper hammers can now be dismantled
• Added missing spear dismantling recipe to recover spearheads
• Fixed axe disappearing when dismantling hammers and helve hammers - axes now properly lose durability instead of being consumed
• All basic metal tools can now be properly dismantled and recycled

Technical

• Added missing isTool: true and toolDurabilityCost properties to hammer dismantling recipes
• Ensured consistent tool behavior across all dismantling operations

Added

• Metal Recovery System: Comprehensive metal recycling system for tools and tool parts
  • Two-stage recycling process: First dismantle tools to recover parts, then process parts to recover metal bits
  • Support for various tools including knives, axes, swords, pickaxes, and more
  • Material hierarchy respect: Base metal tools can only be processed with equal or higher hardness chisels
  • Balanced recovery rates:
    • Small items (arrowheads): 1-2 metal bits
    • Medium items (knife blades, axe heads): 3-5 metal bits
    • Large items (helve hammer heads): 8-10 metal bits
    • Very large items (anvil parts): 15-20 metal bits
  • Steel chisels provide better efficiency with less durability cost and more recovered material

Features

• Appropriate naming and labels for all recycling recipes
• Consistent recipe format for easy mod maintenance and expansion
• Economic balance to ensure recycling remains valuable but not exploitable
• Integration with xSkills mod forging mechanics
• Durability transfer from tools to recovered parts

Technical

• Organized recipe structure in JSON files
• Consistent use of tool durability costs based on metal hardness
• Standardized metal type handling for all supported metals
• Simplified recipe structure for easier maintenance

Balance

• Recovery rates adjusted based on original crafting costs
• Steel chisel bonus for skilled crafters (+1 to +5 metal bits depending on item size)
• Balanced durability costs for processing tools

Known Issues

• Tool dismantling with the same tool type (e.g., axe to axe) can cause conflicts and requires using different tools for dismantling

• Flint spearhead recycling: 1 flint spearhead → 3 flint chips
• Flint arrowhead recycling: 2 flint arrowheads → 1 flint chip

• Container Recycling System
  • Linen sack recycling: knife → 2 flaxtwine, shears → 3 flaxtwine
  • Hunterbag recycling with material choice: knife → cattailtops, shears → hide pelts
  • Backpack recycling: recover leather with different efficiency (knife vs shears)
  • Normal backpack: knife → 3 leather, shears → 5 leather
  • Sturdy backpack: knife → 4 leather, shears → 6 leather

Added

• Flint Tool Recycling System
  • New item: Flint Chips - small fragments of flint for recycling
  • Hammer-based salvaging of flint tools and weapons
  • Calcining process: flint chips → calcined flint → powder → silica dust

Recipes Added

• 1 flint axe → 3 flint chips
• 1 flint spade → 3 flint chips
• 1 flint knife → 3 flint chips
• 1 flint hoe → 3 flint chips
• 1 flint spear → 3 flint chips
• 2 flint arrows → 1 flint chip
• 6 flint chips → 1 calcined flint (via smelting)

Features

• Support for both regular flint and bone-hafted flint tools
• Hammer durability cost: 10-20 per salvage operation
• Flint chips can be processed same as regular flint (popping → grinding)
• Full handbook documentation for all recipes

Known Issues

• Flint chips from damaged tools may not stack properly with those from pristine tools
• Workaround: Use separate stacks or combine through crafting

• Initial release of RecyclingTools mod
• Helve hammer dismantling recipe (axe + helve hammer → hammer head)
• Metal salvaging from hammer heads (chisel + hammer head → 20 metal bits)
• Metal salvaging from pounder caps (chisel + pounder cap → 10 metal bits)
• Support for all metal types: tin bronze, bismuth bronze, black bronze, iron, meteoric iron, and steel
• Tool durability cost for salvaging operations (50 durability per use)
• Mod icon and basic documentation

• Uses allowedVariants for metal type restrictions
• Implements variable substitution with {metal} syntax
• Content-only mod (no C# code required)
• Compatible with Vintage Story 1.20.4+