[draft] Petrification Workshop

[illanzung]

The Petrification Workshop is planned as a small to medium-sized Rimworld mod, currently in the early conceptual stage, with no finished products yet.

 

Early development primarily focuses on petrification and other potential ASFR content. The plan includes several starting scenarios, support for petrification/restoration mechanics, and eventually more expansions around this core concept.

 

More ideas and expansion concepts are welcome! Due to time or other considerations, some ideas might not be implemented or postponed.

 

<Updates at the bottom of the post>

 

 

<ScenarioDef ParentName="ScenarioBase">
    <defName>LoneStatue</defName>
    <label>Lone Statue</label>
    <description>You used the petrification salve, secretly disguising yourself as a statue, shipping yourself like a real piece of cargo to the Rim. In the ship's cargo hold, you can't move a single finger; as cargo, you don't even need a cryptosleep casket.
Petrified from head to toe, posed in an embarrassing position yet unable to move, you retain complete sensation, waiting to be abandoned at an unknown location on the Rim.

The cargo hold is full of supplies. Several robots hibernate in the darkness, waiting to execute your pre-programmed instructions.

Just one small problem: there's a chance you forgot to drink the restoration potion beforehand...w

If you grow moss and become part of the ruins, you might become someone else's property.
However, before that happens, you might still have a chance to reverse the petrification.

 

Note: This scenario is terrible. You might lose everything without any ability to resist, then get sold off as a stupid statue.
At least you fulfilled your little wish, didn't you...? Your faction will thus have more starting wealth.
    </description>
    <summary>A thrill-seeking explorer shipped themselves to the Rim.</summary>
</ScenarioDef>
Starting characters: 1
Other characters: Construction robot, Hauling robot, Cleaning robot (modified)

 

<!--hediffDef-->
Brain: Mechlink
Through this, you can control your small robots to take action.

 

<!--ThoughtDef-->
Full Body: Petrified (enthusiast)
Can't... can't move at all... feels so good, ehehe...
+30 mood

Starting Supplies

<!--ThingDef-->
Life-sized Statue (Legendary)
An extremely exquisite, lifelike statue. Must be worth a fortune...w
Modified. Produce power if carefully maintained.

 

<!--ThingDef-->
Restoration Potion x10
For use on certain statues. Remember to have robots store it safely immediately, or some certain statue would be crying.

 

<!--ThingDef-->
Transformation Potion (Wood, Gold, Silver, Plasteel, Steel)
To satisfy someone's little desires.

 

<!--ThingDef-->
"Fountain" Display Stand
A luxurious base with a long vertical hollow pole, featuring a rounded insertion device at the front. Has some metal structures to secure something.
In early game, can substitute for "caring" for the statue, allowing small robots to engage in more meaningful work. After all, constantly caring for a stupid sculpture that only knows pleasure isn't the most beneficial for survival - why not put it on a machine for automation?
Requires power and water source to operate. Can install a modified life-sized sculpture.

 

<!--ThingDef-->
Gravship core Modification Module
Allows adding this as a modification component when "crafting" life-sized sculptures, enabling its use as an Gravship core.
Occupies the "internal" position, thus conflicting with similar modifications. The sculpture must be carefully maintained to operate at full efficiency, therefore recommended for use with other automated "maintenance methods".
To fully restore this sculpture, this module must first be removed.

 

<!--ThingDef-->
A Plea Letter
Please don't sell me—! I'm very useful, I have restoration potion here that can...
This is an abruptly ended letter, written just in case, though the author's whereabouts are unknown.

 

<!--li Class="ScenPart_StartingThing_Defined"-->
Silver x2000; Gold x30; Packaged survival meals x40; Glitterworld medicine x30; Components x30; Revolver; Flak vest; Steel x250; Wood x250
A series of essential survival resources.

Starting Research

 

<!--li Class="ScenPart_StartingResearch"-->
Gun turrets, Microelectronics, Basic mechtech, Battery, Petrification salve, Restoration salve

 

<!--ResearchProjectDef-->
Petrification Salve
A slightly dangerous salve that can turn people into sculptures while conscious, much less efficient than petrification potion.
Since it requires the creator to apply bit by bit and the subject needs to cooperate by staying still, the sculpture subject must be willing. The advantage is faster and more stable restoration, very comfortable to use, thus not causing faction goodwill penalties.
The subject will be completely petrified from outside to inside, feeling incomparable pleasure during the process. Since the process can be highly customized, this is also the usual way to add modifications.
Requires display stand or sculpture workbench to use. Sculpture quality depends on the crafter.

 

<!--ResearchProjectDef-->
Petrification Potion
Fast and diverse petrification potions, suitable for turning people into different materials.
Since it only needs to be drunk, prisoners can also use it. Pleasure and comfort are much worse compared to salve.
Has 100%/70%/50%/33%/20%/1%/0% chance to cause subject to fall unconscious. Petrification enthusiasts who fall unconscious receive less mood bonus, but non-enthusiasts also receive smaller mood penalty.
Petrification potion users need training to add modifications to themselves, and modification options are limited.

 

<!--ResearchProjectDef-->
Restoration Salve
Apply to statues needing restoration to restore them. Takes some time.

 

<!--ResearchProjectDef-->
Restoration Potion
Potion for quick restoration. Requires statue to have "Can Ingest" modification.

Can Ingest (Statue Modification)
Requires subject to keep mouth open during... careful crafting process, and apply petrification salve inside the mouth. This process is somewhat embarrassing, so not everyone will accept it.
The open mouth can thus receive liquids or accommodate small items.
Trained users can also gain this trait when using petrification potion.
Starting Event (50%)

 

<!--li Class="ScenPart_GameStartDialog"-->
Pre-installed Restoration Suppository
An inserted suppository is slowly releasing in your rear, restoring you after one day. However, during this time you're still a statue. Command robots to gather resources, build basic structures, and... find some fun for yourself in the meantime?

 

<!--HediffDef-->
Restoration Suppository
Anus
A suppository plug that releases warm potion over time. Installing before "crafting" sculptures allows them to automatically return to normal after a certain time without others' intervention.
Small chance of delayed effect. Trained personnel can avoid through certain methods.

 

Forgot to Install Restoration Suppository
<!--li Class="ScenPart_GameStartDialog"-->
You're a big dummy. After all, nobody would really want to be a statue forever, right?!
Calm down, calm down— though quite embarrassing, you yourself can become an efficient energy source, so the small robots at least won't immediately stop functioning.
Small robots cannot restore you. However, fortunately, you still have backup restoration potions. There must be a way...!
You must stay conscious before being discovered, or the small robots stop functioning due to lack of maintenance, and be careful not to pleasure yourself into unconsciousness.

Timed Event (3 days)
A wandering sculptor is passing by. Due to peculiar hobbies, identified as a witch, this sculptor had to leave home.
Will she discover a cute little sculpture here?

 

Special Attack
Witch (Unarmed)
A malicious witch trying to make you part of her collection, or sell you off. However, she appears to lack armament, only having limited psychic abilities.
Unless you're hopelessly pleasuring yourself, you should be able to easily subdue her.

 

 

Update 20250714

Got the basics done. Petrified pawns will be transformed to random small sculpture (graphic for now), and can be packaged (minified) and placed.

 

Update 20250720

Moving to starting scenario and petrifying pawn "step by step".

The pawn, which is about to be petrified, must stand firm on a base or display stand (which the mod provides). An artist must put effort into this process, and decides the quality of the "statue".

 

Known issue:

- the "petrified" hediff would prevent pawn from dying, even only on a toe. This is intended more or less, but I'm thinking about changing it.

 

 

Edited July 20, 2025 by illanzung
Update 20250720

[Raion]

I think you can look up some code from Rimsential Homebound. That mod have a feature that can 'petrify' your colonist into statues and it's fully reversible.

[illanzung]

3 hours ago, Raion said:

I think you can look up some code from Rimsential Homebound. That mod have a feature that can 'petrify' your colonist into statues and it's fully reversible.

I've been using a much more complicated method, harmony patching `RenderPawnAt`. That mod uses `PortraitsCache` and it's much better. Thanks for the help!

[nermerner]

That's crazy, I was just about to try making a similar mod but wanted to see if anyone was already doing it! Happy to help with coding or writing if that's something you're interested in? I really enjoy the style of lore in RimWorld and Pawnmorpher, as an example. Very familiar with ASFR so I'd be interested in including other mechanisms, too!

[illanzung]

1 hour ago, nermerner said:

That's crazy, I was just about to try making a similar mod but wanted to see if anyone was already doing it! Happy to help with coding or writing if that's something you're interested in? I really enjoy the style of lore in RimWorld and Pawnmorpher, as an example. Very familiar with ASFR so I'd be interested in including other mechanisms, too!

Sure - I'll clear up some mess and send you the link, there are currently tons of wild... things out there.
 

Edit:

https://github.com/apflu/VimPetrify

 

I took it a little bit too casual, so there might be too many spaghetti things around. I'll set things up in the following few days, documents, proper formulating ideas, i18n and so on. Feel free to ask anything.

Edited July 27, 2025 by illanzung
update link

[nermerner]

57 minutes ago, illanzung said:

Sure - I'll clear up some mess and send you the link, there are currently tons of wild... things out there.
 

Edit:

https://github.com/apflu/VimPetrify

 

I took it a little bit too casual, so there might be too many spaghetti things around. I'll set things up in the following few days, documents, proper formulating ideas, i18n and so on. Feel free to ask anything.

Awesome, thank you! I'm looking over the code to get a better understanding of what you have, and then I'll test it out myself ingame. Thinking ahead, I think it'd be good to establish the core mechanism of pawn -> statue with stored pawn, thoughts, kept alive, etc.

 

After that, it should just be a matter of defining what causes the transformation - pedestals, potions, guns, etc.

 

Looking forward to what you set up in the document!

[illanzung]

On 7/27/2025 at 11:29 PM, nermerner said:

Awesome, thank you! I'm looking over the code to get a better understanding of what you have, and then I'll test it out myself ingame. Thinking ahead, I think it'd be good to establish the core mechanism of pawn -> statue with stored pawn, thoughts, kept alive, etc.

 

After that, it should just be a matter of defining what causes the transformation - pedestals, potions, guns, etc.

 

Looking forward to what you set up in the document!

Hi - it is done. You can find something to do in the issues tab, check the wiki from some short descriptions, or any other things you would like to implement.

 

I'd suggest creating a branch in this repository, and use the PR to merge (and I'll do the same as well). But if you want, I can grant you full write access and work on the main branch (or dev) directly.

 

Feel free to ask anything or discuss the ideas. It seems there are already good amounts of progress here.

 

 

Edited August 2, 2025 by illanzung
typo

[Eiiker]

I discovered this mod in the Steam Workshop. It enables you to create statues with the same texture as the pawn. It achieves this using a completely different method from the statues in the Odyssey DLC, and it works well for other race mods as well. So I think... perhaps it can give you some inspiration.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3446605621