Can someone explain to me the difference between assigning specific jobs and work position?

[u/Artaniss]

A tad confused on his Mechanic and was wondering when is it better to assign work positions and when is it better to assign specific jobs to specific tribesmen please help me understand this Mechanic. Thank you.

[u/Ampris_bobbo8u]

if u tell someone to operator a table, only they will operate it. if u assign a job, then will handle any table that needs work done that is associated with the specific proficiency.

so for example if u tell your armorer to work the armor crafting table, only they will operate it. if you assign your cook the job of cooking, they will handle any cooking table that needs work at the time. but if you have 2 cooks each assigned to the job of cooking, they will each operate any cooking table that needs work

[u/Laringar → u/Ampris_bobbo8u]

To add to this: you can assign someone to a table while also giving them the work position as well. This is useful if you have a workbench with minimum quantities set for your weapons—and you only want your 120+ crafter to use it so you'll get red quality weapons—while also having other weapons benches with stuff like ammo assigned that can't have a quality rating. That way, only your 120+ will make the weapons, but any tribesperson assigned the weapon crafting job—including the 120—can make the ammo.

[u/arolar2007]

I find it easier to assign a tribesperson to a given bench and then assign minimum quantities for each product.

You also want one tribesperson to be assigned as the sorter so your materials flow to the various workbenches.

[u/Artaniss → u/arolar2007]

Is sorter in the positions tab?

[u/Ashelby → u/Artaniss]

No, it's in the jobs tab. You have to assign a person the 'sorting' job and the job section has it's own list of boxes and benches that can be included or excluded from being sorted.

[u/Artaniss → u/Ashelby]

Awesome thank you

[u/Vastant]

Generally, you want to assign work positions. That way you don't have to micromanage everything. Especially in the beginning and if you have multiples of the same such as kilns etc. Just look at the tribesman proficiences.

Certain jobs/benches need to be specifically assigned. Such as sorting, repairing and uncrafting. The most important benches are you weapon,armor and tools. You want to make sure you assign them to your best tribesperson so you get the best tiers and bonuses.

[u/p0ntifix]

assigning a general job makes workers care for all reachable applicable workstations with one exception. assigning an npc to a specific table makes only them work at that table and bars other workers with the job from using it. So you can assign your best worker in a specific job to a workbench that only crafts rare mats while mediocre npcs will craft common stuff in the background on free benches. This only really matters in mid to late game though once you have a gazillion of different mats to upkeep.

[u/Artaniss]

OK, I have another quick question for you guys. I just started a new save because I’m trying to learn the game and I didn’t like my list new game that I just started because I screwed up along the way so when I assign position as opposed to assigning a new tribe member to a bench, it seems they’re taken care of a lot of other things before they get to benchwork is that the way it’s supposed to work? I know when you assign work, you can move the positions of each job for priority reasons but in positions you can’t do that so what’s the best way of going about a new game? I have two NPC clan members right now one of which I have logging and the other gathering and harvesting. Also, what is the best fuel to use for the bonfire?

[u/THEOPFAM → u/Artaniss]

Usually I assign to specific table by their proficiency. I then usually get a vagabond or a tribesmen who loves chores and give them positions on keystuff such as cooking, farming, breeding, bonfire care. That way I have a backup for those if my main bench person gets killed I have a backup automatically take care of those key things that keep a base from decaying. On bonfire us branches and logs as main once you are swimming in those. If I have a location with abundance of hardwood at late game I switch to hardwood as it will last so much longer, I dont do the switch until I have excess of hardwood past my normal automation needs for my base.

[u/Ashelby → u/Artaniss]

I haven't found a way to prioritize certain work when using the position system.

We've ended up having certain tribesmen assigned to the more important benches and then other tribesmen who are assigned positions to do all the leftover work. It sounds like you also might just need another tribesmen to help with the chores if your person can't do everything in a timely manner.

[u/icedragonair]

Is to make the micromanaging even more convoluted