Armorsmithing discipline
Armorsmithing is a discipline of the Forging skill. There are places to practice it at the Riverhaven Forging Society, Crossing Forging Society, and Shard Forging Society.
Basics
The smelting and shaping processes are similar to those of Blacksmithing, but armorsmithing has a few different steps.
The ANALYZE command generally can be used to determine the qualities of items, as well as the next step they require. For more specific information, APPRAISEing the item CAREFULLY will tell you how it's inherent properties compare on the Trader Scale.
Techniques
Tools
See Crafting Tools for an in depth discussion of them.
- Armorsmithing Book: This book holds information on all the techniques and items that a standard armorsmith can make.
- Bellows: Used to keep the fires going when shaping metals or tempering final products.
- Shovel: Used to keep the fires going when shaping metals or tempering final products
- Pliers: Used to bend, form, and link armors.
- Forging Hammer: Used to form ingots into items on the anvil.
- Tongs: Used to hold metal when shaping it.
- Oil: Used to prevent rust to metal items.
Armor Types
Chain
Types: ring, chain, and mail
- Note: Some pieces are light chain, but the majority should be heavy.
Ring mail is the least protective of the chain armors, bearing similarities to scale armor, in that both are applied to a backing material. Chain, and it's heavier cousin mail, are formed from interwoven metal rings, often with cloth padding worn underneath.
Brigandine
Types: scale, brigandine, and lamellar
- Note: All pieces use light plate skill until skills 3.0 comes out.
Brigandine armors are similar in concept to ring mail. However, they are often sewn to a heavier backing, such as leather, and bear a higher volume reinforcement. Scale armor is formed by overlapping scales attached to the backing at the top of each scale. Brigandine armor is made by assembling the plates directly to the leather backing at various points. Lamellar armor is constructed by assembling plates in close fashion to each other.
Plate
Types: light plate, plate, and heavy plate
- Note: All pieces use heavy plate skill until skills 3.0 comes out.
Plate armors are differentiated primarily by their weight classification, ranging from light to heavy. Unlike chain and brigandine armors, plate armors are fashioned from large segments of metal.
Shields
Types: small, medium, and large
- Note:
Techniques
Products
Shaping
At times during chain armor production, the material may have to be TURNed to make the metal into wire.
In addition, to add various pieces onto their backings, the armor may need to be PULLed using a set of pliers.
Enhancements
Three types of enhancements may be added after the armor is complete.
Lightening
Reduces weight of the item by approximately 10%.
Tempering
Increases durability, with items having at least 50 durability on the Trader's Scale receiving the greatest benefit.
Reinforcing
Increases protection at the cost of increased hindrance and weight through adding reinforcing leather strips.