Clay vs sand vs neither

[Cortec]

I just settled and got my first proper fortress set up after a bunch of restarts, I've come to realize clay is not that useful? Moreso sand? But are either of them really that useful?

[Pale Fire]

Clay for ceramics. Sand for glass.

[Cortec]

Yeah, ceramics meh.. more work when I can just make pretty much make the same things from stone

[polle]

clay and sand can give you unlimited supply - clear glass has good value and is magma safe

[Erei]

Clay can make pottery
Sand can make glass

Clay is annoying (actual clay, not ceramic) because you need to glaze the pottery to be able to hold liquid.
Glass is a one step process and can make lighter item, like barrels (called pot for glass). And a variety or stuff you make elsewhere, all light. Like flask (vial), screw pump/traps item, and also the unique glass window. You can also an aquarium ? That one is weird and I never made one. At least a working one.

Both can do cheap jugs to, if you go into beekeeping. And cheap bookbinding.

It's most valuable for item that would need metal otherwise. Sand and clay are literaly infinite and easily gathered.

Sand is, IMO, very valuable. Less wood used, less rocks, and lighter "barrels", amongts other things.

For glass, green glass is the easy one you can make. The other 2 are more complicated.

[Deviant]

Glass weapon traps also work good.

[AlP]

Glass trap components used to be a very expensive trade good. Need to check in the Steam version.

[derpenstein]

Originally posted by AlP:

Glass trap components used to be a very expensive trade good. Need to check in the Steam version.

they're basically worthless now

[Erei]

Originally posted by AlP:

Glass trap components used to be a very expensive trade good. Need to check in the Steam version.

Traps components have been nerfed, sorry :)

Food is still expensive, and gems are more expensive I think. I don't remember up to 1200-1500 for a cut gem before.

[AlP]

Aw. Can't you also cut glass into gems? What are those worth?

And you can use it to train your gemcutter.

[Erei]

Originally posted by AlP:

Aw. Can't you also cut glass into gems? What are those worth?

And you can use it to train your gemcutter.

Green glass gem were 60urist when I sold mine. Basically nothing :D

[Kasa]

Originally posted by Erei:

Originally posted by AlP:

Aw. Can't you also cut glass into gems? What are those worth?

And you can use it to train your gemcutter.

Green glass gem were 60urist when I sold mine. Basically nothing :D

But since they are infinite you can train gem cutters for practally free with magma glass furnace.

[ostlandr]

For the higher level glass types, you need a kiln making Pearlite from Potash. So, more wood to chop, and the Elves doesn't like that very much, does they Preciousss?
Glass vials are definitely something you want to crank out for those plant extracts though. Ceramics still need fuel, but are not as complicated as glassmaking. Glazing ups the value of ceramic goods, so might want two kilns, one doing raw products and the second dedicated to glazing.
I generally have one glass furnace cranking out the three types of raw glass (clear, green and crystal) and the other doing finished goods like clear glass vials, and crystal glass goblets for the tavern.
Glass gems (cut from raw glass) are handy if you're short of raw gems. Not high value, but stick them on finished goods and they up the goods value.

[Holyvision]

Keep in mind that sand also functions as a soil "type" and as such can be used as farm-plots in caves and otherwise. Not a great idea but it's another use.

Otherwise yea glass. Clay is useful if you play an area that has very little or no trees.

[Xcorps]

Clay is really embark specific. The fuel requirements are too high for the value and it's not really worth running magma for unless you have poor minerals and no sand.

Glass is labor intensive and also has high fuel requirements, but because of it's value, it's worth setting up. You need someone hauling sand on short trips and 2 haulers for a master or above glassmaker going all out, plus you have to make fuel for the furnaces unless you have magma. Green glass is the easiest to make, it only needs sand. It's worth more than stone, about the same as copper. If you can support the fuel demands or have an embark with magma at the surface (volcano) you can really skyrocket the value of goods you make. Clear sand is worth about the same as bronze, but requires more labor to make it's mats.

You can make all trade goods, all furniture except beds, mechanisms and a few other minor items, most tools including containers that don't need to be glazed, quality gems, improve items...it has a wide range of choices that are useful and boost overall value and still make healthy trade goods. Producing raw glass will give your jewelers something to work on to improve their skill. Early crafts aren't worth much, and you can use the jewels you cut to encrust other items for value.

It really depends on your embark and how you want to build. If you have an embark that is low on mineral wealth but has sand and easy magma access, you can easily attract attention you aren't ready for. But you can also use glass just as a way to ease the workload on your stone crafters and cutters.