Large Crates can stack - but can they be used then?

[Mad]

I noticed you can stack the crates on top of each other, but all the ones I've done that with remain empty. I'll have 5 or 6 in a row, all stacked 2 high next to each other - I tried putting 1 ladder on a stack to see if it helped. They're still empty. Can the hearthlings even used stacked crates?

[YetiChow]

It's about access points -- when you place the crate, you know the little border on the ground around their edge? One side has an arrow on it; and that's the side that the hearthlings access the crate from. They need to be able to get to that side to interact with the crate, and they need to be standing on the same level that the crate is placed on or one level (i.e. 1 block) up or down.

So, stacking lots of crates vertically or multiple rows deep will block those access points (in the case of a stack, it's because the hearthlings have nowhere to stand on the same level as the crate.) The same is true of all furniture actually; but most furniture which can be stacked and accessed is also "non-blocking" so that hearthlings can walk straight through it to get to the access point, or low enough for them to walk over it. For a vertical stack, you can use a ladder to ensure access to the whole stack; but if you want neat rows of crates then you'll need to make sure that there are 2-block-wide gaps between every second row (i.e. wall, crate line, gap, gap, crates, crates, gap, gap, [etc.], crates, crates, gap, gap, wall) so that the hearthlings can access them. Of course you can stack layers of those rows to make "library shelves" with ladders between, since ladders don't block walking through them.

It's also worth noting that you need to do the same thing for berry bushes -- if there's no space between them, the hearthlings can only reach the outer edge.

The solution I've found for stacking crates is pretty simple though: irregular/"messy" stacks using a mix of large and small crates piled up in corners. Make sure that the access sides are pointing outwards, and then build/move the crates into a stack where the small crates form stairs between levels of the big crates (think of like, the final scene in Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark where the museum storage is just piles of crates of all shapes and sizes stacked against/on top of each other.) Then, your hearthlings and cricket golems can climb all over the stack if they need to, and there's always a bit of open space to access each crate through. To me, it also looks better as a "fantasy storeroom" than a neat row of crates does -- I like the idea of the hearthlings stacking crates merrily; and the fact that it's secretly a super-efficient way to arrange storage (multiple accessible levels, minimal travel between rows, no special stairs/ladders for access) is just amusing to me somehow.

[Mad]

Originally posted by YetiChow:

It's about access points -- when you place the crate, you know the little border on the ground around their edge? One side has an arrow on it; and that's the side that the hearthlings access the crate from.

Thank u so much for the detailed reply. I'd love to see a screenshot, I've been trying to watch some Youtube videos of how people are organizing/building assets, to get an idea. I'm sure I'll keep figuring it out as I go :)

[YetiChow]

Originally posted by allMadhere:

Originally posted by YetiChow:

It's about access points -- when you place the crate, you know the little border on the ground around their edge? One side has an arrow on it; and that's the side that the hearthlings access the crate from.

Thank u so much for the detailed reply. I'd love to see a screenshot, [snip]

Here you go!

First up: that "access" arrow. See on the bed how it's always the foot of the bed? This could potentially be confusing, since hearthlings always visually appear to get into the bed from the side -- but in fact, as long as the foot of the bed is accessible, they can always get in. That's why placing a bed in a room that's just "wide" enough for it works, while placing one in a room that's only just "long" enough for it sometimes won't! It's the same for all furniture -- regardless of what the 'use' animation looks like, that arrow is where the hearthling is really using the item from. Some items can actually be used from any side, but the hearthlings always prefer to go to the arrow first... it's a complicated failsafe system where for some critical jobs (like sleeping, crafting, etc.) the game will look for a way to get the hearthling to contact the workstation and then "stretch" their reach around to the arrow; but most of the time with low-priority jobs (like hauling!) the game doesn't do that because it's too busy with higher priority tasks. Note that hearthlings "reach" from their feet position, and can target one block higher or lower.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2569056067

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2569055969

Secondly, the "messy pile" of crates -- each crate in this pile has at least 1 side accessible, and they happen to all be rotated to make sure that it's their access side. Unfortunately the arrows don't show up once the furniture is placed; but if you ever want a reminder then you can just use the 'move item' button to make it appear (right-click to cancel the move order if you don't want to move it.)

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2569055791

And finally, the "Library" approach for when you want to store a LOT of items! Note that the shelves between crates are optional, I just use it because I like that look hahah! You can literally just stack crates on top of each other, facing outwards, and just put ladders to ensure access. Remember that if you want to go more than two rows deep, you need to leave a row of space (2 blocks wide so that the hearthlings can fit) between the double rows of crates.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2569055625