Quick progress update:
I am currently reworking blocks and construction, which will include some streamlining to the upgrade path and the HPs of blocks. Currently the idea is to have the special shapes have less HP than the full blocks, which will make full blocks offer more protection while the other shapes offer more flexibility. They will likely cost the same, but they might also end up being lighter and able to support less (still thinking on this).
Due to this and some other xml file rearranging I am doing it is likely that this version will lose compatibilty with existing games, therefore I will likely work on it a bit longer and probably will become a 1.1 release rather than a 1.04.
The current plan will be to remove rebar frames completely, instead adding in rebar as an item that is needed to craft wet concrete blocks that then can be further upgraded. There will also be steel rebar that can be used to create wet reinforced concrete (though this may be locked behind a perk). As I planned but not really completely done yet, all scrapIron blocks will become forgedIron blocks, the frames being made in the forge and then can be upgraded to reinforced versions. Bricks will become an item that is made in the forge from clay and then can be made into brick blocks with mortarMix. I will also be adding Lime and limestone to the world for this, so mortar and concrete mix can include lime. The recipes likely will also include buckets of water or murky water for small quantities made. Perhaps some other item I will include that can be used to gather water for construction purposes, wooden buckets perhaps. This is still in flux. Limestone will replace the gravel deposits, though underground may also undergo a change (with some biomes having limestone deposits or sand layers and deeper will become harder granite where the ore veins will be at). Sand from stone recipe in the mixer will likely be removed, instead there may be a lime from (lime)stone recipe. But gathering sand will be done from the sand layer or desert. Destroyed stone will likely just yield stone and gravel may yield a bit of sand.
The bigger change is that all blocks will no longer degrade back into its previous form on destruction, this means that HP of blocks are scaled going up with better materials, but lower end materials get a boost.
Code:
Generally it will look like this: ( --> upgrades; -+> replaced by a complete block, [color="#00FF00"]green: entrypoint[/color])
[color="#00FF00"]forgedFrame[/color] --> forgedIron
[color="#00FF00"]woodframe[/color] --> wood --> rWood --> metalRWood --> forgedIron --> rForgedIron -+> [color="#00FF00"]concrete[/color] --> [color="#00FF00"]rConcrete[/color] -+> [color="#00FF00"]steel[/color] --> stainlessSteel
[color="#00FF00"] flagstone[/color] --> cobblestone -+> brickBlock --> concrete
[color="#00FF00"]brickBlock[/color] --> concrete
As you can see there are a few starting points, woodframe, forgedframe, flagstone, brick. But also concrete, rConcrete and steel could be made and placed directly. Some stages the block is replaced, this means if you upgrade you need a complete block rather than materials. R Concrete is always swapped out for steel, R forgedIron for Concrete and cobblestone for Bricks. You can see this as an end to the path but with the option to replace the existing block without the need to break it away.
I will also try and make all shapes available to all stages for the starter blocks (being craftable from the base blocks). Steel blocks will need to be created in the forge with a crucible, rather than being upgraded from raw steel. Steel polish will likely become more expensive. These blocks will also be stronger, and for horde mode the stainless steel will also offer sight and explosion blocking.
This means I will work on this for a time before releasing, I will need to test this and adjust horde mode to these changes along with the new beacon, which I got a prototype of working, which will need to be made into a sp, mp and challenge version.
I hope to include Horde Mode - The Last Stand in this 1.1 release as well, which will be the challenge version of Horde Mode. It will come with a beacon that has no traders but instead a lot of drawers with very random building loot and supplies/kits, as well as scattered supply boxes. Then its build with whatever you find and see how long you can make it last.
This will not be ready soon, but suggestions etc are always welcome.