Posted by Hilaego on November 29, 2000 at 00:58:02:
Small pre-introduction: To the Immortals: I don't know, if you need these kind of posts. If you don't, inform me and I will not waste your time or the time of the other forum readers. Thinking of the making of scrolls, while daydreaming I came up with this idea (I think it's very original, but it's worth a try). Introduction. Description Many famous smiths have died, leaving us some great weapons, but even they Skills of the smith Smith's have a few different skills: 1. smithing 1. Smithing - skill used in the smithing process. Depends on if the smith will make a blade or destroy it. 2. Sharpening - depends on the skill. The smith could add additional bonuses to the blade. True masters need only four (and this is in real life) swings on the whetstone. 3. Strengthen - this skill may be used on hammers, staffs and everything 4. Smithcraft - this is the hardest skill to master. Quality of the blade depends on it - the better you know smithcraft, the better the quality of the blade you can forge. It may also give a blade an additional +/+ or other random bonuses, such as +dex etc. Technical aspects Balance - limiting a smith's power And it could be avoided. Smiths cannot master their skills by spamming it. Beginning with 10% in each skill, it will take awhile to actually become proficient in the skills. Leaving them unable to make a good weapon immediately (unless they had a moment of pure luck). Though smithing, sharpening and strengthening could be learned easily enough in the process of smithing. Materials. Worthy materials for smithing, even in a real life are hard to find. It could be mithril, iron, steel, silver, gold, bronze etc. Tools Side notes Maybe only a warrior who has specialized in maces/hammers may become a smith. Maybe not, if smithing is a replacement for the second specialization. There will not be many smiths - the process is much harder then perfecting all of an invokers spells. I think everyone who would like to play smiths would be outstanding roleplayers. Smiths may make a special weapon by request - if someone asked a smith to make him a blade (and provides the materials and payment if needed), the smith may attempt to make a personal blade, that only that person may wield. This is overpowered and would have to be extremely limited - for example, once per month - 720 hours). Maybe smiths could choose a focus - armorcraft or weaponcraft. Or even utility? I think 99.9% of smithes would be a Trouper. Drunk, as usual. Now another question - what could a drunk smith forge? But if the smith had a little chance to make such weapon, it would be great. And finally: Many many many thanks to Sylvanus for his patience in spell-checking!
This is one of my crazy ideas. I wrote this post not to offend anyone or as
a flame-war - if you are in mood for flaming, just skip this post. If you are
really interested in it, I would be glad to hear your criticsm. Thank you.
In our lives we all heard about the great smiths. Some of them made masterwork weapons, some of them made great armors. Being a smith isn't just a job. It's a way of life, it's an understanding of the spirit of the metals, fire, and many other (sometimes abstract or surreal) things. Smiths have always been respected, no matter what they forged be it horseshoe, tool, weapon or armor.
Only warriors may become a smith. In this case, they sacrifice their second weapon specialization and become a smith. The best suited as smiths are dwarves and surprisingly fire giants. Exceptions are possible, but for the other races it is difficult to become an exceptional smith. Smithing is not just a job. It's a way of life.
couldn't completely master the art. Long ago it was told that before their death a master smith could make a unique weapon. The legends told that some were aided by the creatures of fire - known as salamanders. While others had the support of the Heavens, or even the Abyss.
Sometimes, if the smith was skilled enough other people could be involved in the process of the smithing - these were usually mages and priests. Granting their power to the blades they were able to strengthen it in some way or even give it special powers. This process was difficult and dangerous to the blade and more often then not the blade became a useless piece of metal.
2. sharpening
3. strengthen
4. smithcraft
Apprentices would sharpen it until they think that it is enough. sometimes damaging the blade causing penalties.
else that does not sharpening. Hammers may be better balanced, staffs encrusted with something and so on.
First of all we must avoid not balancing the smith
Why easy? Because they will not be able to forge often, and the lifespan of a character is around 400 hours.
Smiths were famous for their long lives, by the way. Perhaps as a result of their physical work?
Unskilled smiths cannot work with the harder metals, such as mithril or
adamantite. Every beginning smith can work with softer metals - gold, silver,
bronze.
"Weak" materials could be found in special shops. Worthy materials may be found somewhere else - and it's not an easy thing. Some materials may be unique (meteoritin? :) ).
Smiths cannot work without the proper tools - an anvil, and hammer would be required (if need be I'll ask my friend more about the smithing process and the tools used in it). Quality of the blade depends on quality of the anvil and tools too.
PKillers would not be interested in this class - it gives them no power to hack-n-slash (at least at the start).
Vampiric effect would be sick.
Dagger imbued with power word kill.
Whip with sleep in hands of warrior whip-spec would be damn funny.
I know, I've missed a lot. This idea needs a lot of work yet and your constructive criticism is welcome. Though please do not flame - I'm not interested in it.