I like this approach better

minetest-api.d.ts

@@ -557,15 +557,15 @@ declare global {
   }
   
   export interface ItemDropSpec {
-    tools: string[]
-    rarity: number
-    items: string[]
-    inherit_color: boolean
-    tool_groups: string | string[]
+    tools?: string[]
+    rarity?: number
+    items?: string[]
+    inherit_color?: boolean
+    tool_groups?: string[] | string[][]
   }
   
   export interface NodeDropSpec {
-    max_items: number
+    max_items?: number
     items: ItemDropSpec[]
   }
   

mods/blocks/normal.lua

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 Blocks = Blocks or ({})
 do
     local sounds = Sounds
+    local pickaxe = Tools.Pickaxe
     minetest.register_node(
         ":stone",
         {
@@ -8,7 +9,13 @@ do
             tiles = {"default_stone.png"},
             sounds = sounds.stone(),
             groups = {stone = 1},
-            drop = "cobblestone"
+            drop = {items = {{tool_groups = {
+                pickaxe.A,
+                pickaxe.B,
+                pickaxe.C,
+                pickaxe.D,
+                pickaxe.E
+            }, items = {"stone"}}}}
         }
     )
     minetest.register_node(

mods/blocks/normal.ts

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 namespace Blocks {
   const sounds = Sounds;
+  const pickaxe = Tools.Pickaxe;
 
   minetest.register_node(":stone", {
     drawtype: Drawtype.normal,
@@ -8,7 +9,21 @@ namespace Blocks {
     groups: {
       stone: 1
     },
-    drop: "cobblestone"
+
+    drop: {
+      items: [
+        {
+          tool_groups: [
+            pickaxe.A,
+            pickaxe.B,
+            pickaxe.C,
+            pickaxe.D,
+            pickaxe.E
+          ],
+          items: ["stone"]
+        }
+      ]
+    }
   })
 
   minetest.register_node(":cobblestone", {

mods/testing/init.lua

@@ -1,4 +1 @@
 Testing = Testing or ({})
-do
-    minetest.register_tool(":pickaxe", {inventory_image = "default_tool_stonepick.png", tool_capabilities = {full_punch_interval = 0.5, max_drop_level = 1, groupcaps = {stone = {times = {[1] = 1}, maxlevel = 1, maxdrop = 0}}}})
-end

mods/testing/init.ts

@@ -2,20 +2,4 @@ namespace Testing {
   // minetest.register_globalstep((delta: number) => {
   //   print(`globalstep is: ${delta}`)
   // })
-  minetest.register_tool(":pickaxe", {
-    inventory_image: "default_tool_stonepick.png",
-    tool_capabilities: {
-      full_punch_interval: 0.5,
-      max_drop_level: 1,
-      groupcaps: {
-        stone: {
-          times: {
-            1: 1.0
-          },
-          maxlevel: 1,
-          maxdrop: 0
-        }
-      }
-    }
-  })
 }

mods/tools/init.lua

@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+Tools = Tools or ({})
+do
+    Tools.Pickaxe = Pickaxe or ({})
+    Tools.Pickaxe.A = "pickaxe_1"
+    Tools.Pickaxe.B = "pickaxe_2"
+    Tools.Pickaxe.C = "pickaxe_3"
+    Tools.Pickaxe.D = "pickaxe_4"
+    Tools.Pickaxe.E = "pickaxe_5"
+    minetest.register_tool(":pickaxe", {inventory_image = "default_tool_stonepick.png", tool_capabilities = {full_punch_interval = 0.5, max_drop_level = 1, groupcaps = {stone = {times = {[1] = 1}, maxlevel = 1, maxdrop = 0}}}, groups = {[Tools.Pickaxe.A] = 1}})
+end

mods/tools/init.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+namespace Tools {
+  // Alphabetical ordering, A = 1, B = 2, etc
+  export enum Pickaxe {
+    A = "pickaxe_1",
+    B = "pickaxe_2",
+    C = "pickaxe_3",
+    D = "pickaxe_4",
+    E = "pickaxe_5"
+  }
+
+  minetest.register_tool(":pickaxe", {
+    inventory_image: "default_tool_stonepick.png",
+    tool_capabilities: {
+      full_punch_interval: 0.5,
+      max_drop_level: 1,
+      groupcaps: {
+        stone: {
+          times: {
+            1: 1.0
+          },
+          maxlevel: 1,
+          maxdrop: 0
+        }
+      }
+    },
+    groups: {
+      [Pickaxe.A]: 1
+    }
+  })
+}

mods/tools/mod.conf

@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+name = tools
+description = Forgotten Lands tools library.
+depends = sounds, utility
+optional_depends =