Hack Week: Exploring a Crafting System in ROBLOX

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During this year’s Hack Week, ROBLOX developers shifted gears, working tirelessly to devise and present ideas fueled more by creativity than priority. This week, we’ll be featuring some of the most innovative ideas to come out of Hack Week. Our first story is about a “Crafting” system in ROBLOX, by Software Engineer Navin Lal.

The idea of “Crafting” has been in the gaming world for a long time; DotA, Ultima, Everquest, and even Diablo have featured their own versions of the concept. It’s an undeniably interesting idea that is worth exploring in the world of ROBLOX. In order to better explain our unique take on a crafting system, let’s split the notion into two categories: materials and recipes. We’ll go over materials first.

The general idea is that, after years and years of playing ROBLOX, many users have acquired things, either from the Catalog or the game itself, they simply don’t need. We’ve all got some hats from four years ago that we’d never wear today. So we started thinking, how could we make use of these useless items that are gathering virtual dust in our inventories?

crafting

A prototype interface for a crafting and recycling system

The crafting system would give users the ability to recycle items and harvest their core materials. Then, users would be able to mix and match all of these materials in order to create custom items that can only be shaped by alchemy. That way, no item in your inventory can be considered useless, as it may be a key component in developing a customized creation when mixed with other items, and can also be seen as a valuable item for bartering, as someone may need that component to make something much more complex.

That leads to the second half of the equation: recipes. Recipes would exist to create both existing items, and brand new ones—this would present a new way to leverage the trading system, as you would want to trade items with other users in order to get the core materials you need to build your creative concoction.

Crafting 2

We wouldn’t want to limit you to the specific confines of written recipes either; if you have a bunch of random items you don’t feel you need, throw them all together and see what happens! You could end up randomly discovering a new item, or making an existing item that could be useful to you in the future.

Let’s hypothesize, to get an idea of how this system could work. Say you wanted a DarkAge Ninja Swordpack, but didn’t have enough Robux to buy it, but you did have the recipe for it.

The recipe is as follows: 3x Polished Steel and 1x Shard of Darkheart, a rare material used to craft items in the Fighting genre. So you decide to recycle your existing sword pack and come away with 2x Polished steel from it. You’re almost there!

Craft Insert Now you have a couple of options to obtain the rest of your ingredients. Find something of value to a friend, and trade him/her for the additional Polished steel ingredient you need, then pop over to the catalog and purchase the Shard of Darkheart. So, with a few recycled materials, trades, and a single purchase, you’ve got your shiny new DarkAge Ninja Swordpack.

This is just a quick and simple example of how this system could potentially work. We’re always thinking of ways to further enrich and enhance the ROBLOX experience, and that usually involves giving our users more creative freedom. Crafting would lead to the creation of new and unique items, while simultaneously enhancing our recently released trade system so that users could trade and barter for items to recycle and harvest. Nothing’s set in stone, but it’s an interesting avenue that we’re excited to pursue. We’re totally open to feedback, so if you’ve got any ideas, sound off in the comments below!

1,386 thoughts on “Hack Week: Exploring a Crafting System in ROBLOX”

  3. This sounds like a great idea! Crafting some custom gear sounds very interesting.

  4. And people laughed at me when i refused to sell my spiky ball of broken dreams.

    i wonder what it can be used for?

  5. Just because it is crafting it isnt ripped from mc :P Crafting has existed in many games before mc…

    a perfect example is tf2 which were released way before minecraft.

  7. Guys this idea was form 2010 theres a hat named telamon crafting jewel its not copying mc and tf2 ive been waiting this for years dont ruin it.

  8. The crafting sounds like a good idea but we did kind of steal the crafing feture from minecraft.

  10. @Everybody saying it’s copying.

    I know it’s gonna be hard to take in but MC didn’t make up every idea.

    And yea, I WOULD LOVE THIS!!!

    • Amen. And I love this idea. Guys unless there is copyright on the idea, they can take it like every other MMO in the world. Again Roblox was on air around 2006. Minecraft about 2011? The only reason why people like Minecraft better is because more tools are handed to you. making it very easy to maneuver. And in life if you want something you got to earn it, like the crafting system. I bet Minecraft was just made to try to over run Roblox.

  11. @Heat and Ima: FINALLY! Some people who actually get how things work in the world! xD

    @Roblox: This sounds very interesting, and I think it shows much promise. Think you could explain at some point how we would obtain recipes? Maybe a guide to what different material combinations could make?

  12. Make this and Minecraft will be on you like a hawk on a mouse.

    Agreed. You could get sued.

  13. Yes it does remind me of tf2 and i wonder if thats what they got it off of because I know that telamon has a steam account, and plays tf2 same with some other admins.

  14. So Telamon’s Crafting Jewel finally has a use? And I didnt buy it cause I thought it was dumb D:

    PS Stop talking about Minecraft, it won’t care if we make recycling/crafting, a lot of games have that!

  15. So I guess we’ve thrown the whole idea of this site being a building and coding game out the window.

  16. ROBLOX was created YEARS before Minecraft, so technically ROBLOX can sue Minecraft for coping there idea of a world made of blocks. Don’t say
    ‘HERP M1NCRAFT IS BETR DAN RBLOX ROBOX COPID MINECRAFTT!11!!!!1!!!’

  18. Love the idea, there is one thing i’m concerned about though, would you be able to buy the recycled materials from other users/catalog? Btw, who would recycle a Darkheart for a DarkAge Ninja clan sword pack?

    • I will Because The Sword Pack Looks Cool And Dark Heart Well Doesnt Do That Much Damage. Its About 30% Damage Well I Know That Sword Pack Is Just A Hat But, It Looks Cool But If You Dont Want It Just Dont Recycle A Dark Heart.

  19. I honestly would love this. The people complaining about this is copying. GET OVER IT. Roblox is improving in their own way, some good, some not so good, but that all depends in personal reference. I’m not a fan of the Robloxian 3.0 bodys, some people do like it. I like the crafting idea, some might not. But really, once again just stop complaning about this. Great idea. Everyone that works at Roblox this part of the message is towards you. You have incredible minds get making Roblox better forget about the complainers, all they think is that it’s making Roblox worse because they think it’s “Copying” or “Not what Roblox is about”

  20. I don’t necessarily see it as Minecraft, although I do play it. Minecraft wasn’t the one to come up with this “Crafting” feature in the first place, Minecraft got crafting off another game, or person.

  21. OH NOEZ ROBLOX ISH WORRIED ABOUT MINECRAFT BEING MOAR FUN!1
    Seriously now, notice how all of these features that are included in minecraft are being incorporated into roblox only after minecraft has gained so much popularity (first terrain now this). Roblox really needs to go back to its roots of a simple block building game that actually at one point listened to reasonable ideas for major changes. They really need to stop turning roblox into a conglomeration of various other popular games. If I wanted to play said games (minecraft, TF2, etc.) I would. Users should really be the ones to control the content (assuming it is indeed age appropriate of course).

    • dude, Roblox was a simple block building game, but then the users started to learn how to script past even the admins (not anymore) and started themeing there games more, then Roblox accepted requests, and I’m pretty sure Roblox doesn’t care about stupid popularity, it cares about us users enjoying the site, don’t complain about the parts you don’t like, instead enjoy the fact that Roblox exists. if you don’t like something, think about if it will affect you before you go and complain.

  23. This is nothing like minecraft The ROBLOX community think’s that the word “Crafting” Belongs to minecraft. If this was renamed “Recycling” instead of Crafting. I’m willing to bet that there would be fewer more comments about noobs who are saying “RIP OFF OF MINECRAFT OMG OMG OMG” Just shut the hell up it’s not like minecraft.

  24. Why do you continue to lie to us, and not accept our constructive critisism, Roblox staff? We do not want to be a copied version of MC made for the money, we want to be original, back to the game of creative construction, without having to be a mocking money dumpster.

    • This is awesome though I noticed that Roblox talked about diablo but not Minecraft XD, I don’t have anything wrong about them not talking about Minecraft but they might just barely/nearly get sued by Minecraft and also there is another thing that is good it’s that their making sure we won’t get scammed and or 3rd partied/Hacked so good job Roblox and keep making these boss updates!

  26. Cool. It reminds me of TF2, not MC. These little 11 year olds need to stop raging out and realize that everything was originated from something. No game is original. No idea was original. As Carl Sagan would say: “To make apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe.”

  27. let me guess, BC only

    *feature is launched and is BC only*

    of course as usual i called it!

  28. This is a great idea. You could hold contests and stuff for materials or give a rare material away during a special event.

  29. this is so advanced for roblox this will take 3-4 months for it to come out (if it does)
    i like the idea but i think this is gonna take a while …

  32. is this sparta? no This is minecraft. this would be a horrible update. lately roblox has been turning into minecraft

  33. I might as well like this idea. Got dozens of useless stuff, and I want to get rid of them. Recycling should give you a random item from a list of recycled stuff (ranging from usual to suuuper rare) And it should be for everyone.

    • You should also be able to make BC only items if your NBC, but with 1.5 of every item. Say you need 4 Steel if your BC. You need 6 if your NBC. This way BC still gets a bonus, and all the BC only haters go away!

    • This Is Gonna Pi$$ Players Off!!! Dont Do It Roblox You Have To Much To Lose! Trust Me Guys! (i personally dont care though)

  38. Why dont we just have a war? Roblox vs. Minecraft. What’s a beter game? Neither! I like minecraft. It’s a fun suurvival, collecting, building game. I also like roblox. It has scripting, fun games, and cool items.
    You guys think as if roblox and minecraft are the same game. They”re not! Just because it has building, and has simila game ideas, doesn’t mean they’re coppying their gme!Is it really that big of a deal? Roblox is free and mineraft is unfree. So roblox isn’t really stealing cash from minecraft. Yes i kknow, they have bc, but that’s only a choice to ad to your account. Minecraft, you have to buy the game. You guys act like flippin 5 year olds.
    What have we become?

    • Count how many games have crafting and tell their developers that they copied minecraft.

    • So I see if roblox is copying Minecraft then that means the earth copied Minecraft because Minecraft obviously made water.

  40. lol’d @the people saying this is a copy

    Crafting was based off of blacksmithing.
    TF2 or Minecraft do not own and/or copyright the idea, so, yeah, the only thing they copied was the job of a blacksmith.
    Yeah, have fun with saying they copied something that has been around before the internet.

  43. Yes, because TF2 and Minecraft created the Crafting System and Trade System. The site is advancing with new, better content, and everyone starts compring it to other games/site etc. Just deal with the fact that everything gets inspired by something.

    • I very much doubt that they “Created” the crafting system. TONS if games have crafting.

  44. Seriously? Minecraft ripped the whole crafting thing off other games and now look where it is. All ROBLOX is doing is keeping up with other games. You do realise that you don’t have to use it, but the people who do want to can. Think before you speak people.

  45. make it so any one can use in and MAKE SO IF YOU HAVE A MESH FROM LIKE A SHIRT OR T-SHIRT YOU COULD PUT IT ON A SWORD OR SOMTHING LIKE IF I HAD A CAMO HAT I COULD RECYCLE THE HATE AND HAVE THE CAMO MESH I COULD RECYCLE THE SWORD AND JUST MAKE THE SWORD WITH THE CAMO MESH AND LISTEN TO ME ROBLOX I AM HELPING YOU DONT TURN THIS DOWN GOT IT

    • Umm.. no. T-shirts don’t have meshes. They have textures. Also, you forgot the question mark at the end, have a nice everlasting sentence.

  46. Stop turning ROBLOX into Minecraft!
    Nobody wants the best game in the the world to turn into the worst game in the world!!

  47. i have no idea how you even rade can someone pm me that. my username is jrwolfman587.

  48. I like this idea if there is a ingriediant shop and for anyone who makes an account.

  49. Roblox is Roblox. A simple game. Stop with the terrain. Stop with the Personal servers. And stop with this idiotic crafting. You guys have taken all this new stuff way to far.

    • Maybe make something USEFUL for once. Like DYNAMIC LIGHTING or fixing obvious glitches (i.e. The one where you jump from tall buildings and get glitched into the ground) You guys are just ruining this game and it’s getting harder and harder for most of us to put up with these stupid updates.

  50. Well, this would be a good idea, except that I think this would ruin some of the economy on ROBLOX a bit.

  51. NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

    ROBLOX is not a crafting type game! Leave that to minecraft, it’s their simplistic crafting menu that made it popular!

    • Yes But This Can be An Advantage, We Can Make Hats And Gears That We Dont Want Into Items We WANT Easily. Besides, Its No Were NEAR Minecraft’s Crafting System.

  52. I hate when people think minecraft came up with crafting first. It was not minecraft. Anyways, mincraft compared to roblox would be gta compared to cod.

    • Indeed. It’s NOT anything like Minecraft. You don’t need to place the ingredients at certain places, you just need some ingredients and then make something. Like in Terra… Oh, no, Terraria is also something different, you need different crafting stations.

    • Even though crafting didnt come from minecraft, its obvious now that Roblox is stealing ideas from them.

  53. Please reply but would this be a script that makes itself? since there are soo many items in roblox it would take some time And also if it is even possible for a script to make itself then how would you do that?

  54. Stop complaining guys your just makeing the admins make stuff off topic. Stop being rude idiots.

  55. I hope once this is released it can be used by both non bc and bc. Also would be cool if the recipes could be gained by completing certain requirements in roblox games, kind of like badges.

  57. i hope that 1, roblox will have this, 2, tat roblox will allow everyone to craft, and 3, that roblox makes a game that is for collecting materials without buying if you still dont have enough tix or robux

  58. Seems cool and not very amazing at the same time because 1. its mostly copied form minecraft and its amazing because you can craft with it and get items x3!

  59. How about a drop system that randomly gives you things from the catalog? Just thought I’d pitch in my completely original 100% not ever heard of before idea, to fit in with all of yours.

  61. What?
    did can I Recylce my old stupid mothers day and fathers day card to a paper plane or paper sword?
    HECK YEA

    • stfu. This is not minecraft, lots of games have crafting. Also spelled offense wrong.

  66. ROBLOX IS NOOBY there putting a crafting system in there copying minecraft entirely they didnt create it there noobs minecraft is way better

  68. i dont get it its not fair builders club get to do stuff like that they should make new things for non builders club too not for the queens

  70. I like this idea. However, how would limited items work with the crafting thing? Would you be able to craft for a limited item or use a limted item to craft another item?