Mechanical Lore skill

Also called Mech or Mech Lore, Mechanical Lore is one of the most versatile skills. Every guild needs this for something or other: fletching arrows, carving talismans, forging weapons, making potions, cleaning your instrument. Nearly every game system that is mechanical in nature uses or trains Mech. So much falls under the umbrella of Mechanical Lore that development is currently under way to replace Mech with seven new lore skils.

The Mech Split

For several years, a split of Mechanical Lore into a group of more specifically-targeted creation skills has been discussed and under development. As of the first quarter of 2009, the release date is still classified as 'soon'.

What

When the split occurs, Mech Lore will become obsolete and be replaced by the following new skills in the Lore Skillset:

• Alchemy skill - Potions, poisons, medicines, oils, naphtha, weatherproofing, etc.
• Enchanting skill - Creation of magical devices and adding enchantment to existing items.
• Smithing skill - Making stuff out of metal, primarily armor and weapons.
• Carving skill - Making stuff out of wood, bone, and other soft materials, for example fletching, instrument making, and lockpicks, as well as creating bone or wooden weapons and armor.
• Artistry skill - Embellishing existing items: embroidery, heraldry, gem-cutting, engraving, painting, tattooing, and jewelry making.
• Engineering skill - Making complex mechanical things such as crossbows, siege equipment, repairing gates, and possibly home/caravan/ship improvements.
• Tailoring skill - Working with cloth and leather, to make leather/cloth armor and weapons (slings, whips, bolas), cloaks, packs, etc.

How

In all likelihood this will be a bit split such as occurred when the individual instrument skills were released into general usage.

Ways to Learn Mechanical Lore

• Braiding grass or vines to form bundling, lead, and heavy ropes.
• Origami
• Embroidery
• Carving
  • Fletching - carving bows and arrows
  • Prayer Beads
  • staff weapons - sticks, canes, and staves
  • Enchanter's Burin?
  • Divination bones
  • Talismans
• Tanning - scraping hides is quite popular!
• Alchemy
  • Crushing Items in a mortar with a pestle
  • Breaking tukai stones (then crush them in a mortar)
  • Drying items in a Wayerd Pyramid
  • Heating items on a stove?
  • Freezing items in an unlonchai bucket (may no longer teach)
• Forging weapons or armor
• Combining and removing stones, such as wearmodi. - "Still locking at 103" - Ithschade
• Dismantling boxes

Commentary

"Unless you have a patron to give you money/items the best way to start is probably by braiding grass and then vines, as you can forage these items for free. Make sure to check donation shelves, bins, etc at your guild for other items to help with mech." - --Khazera 17:41, 23 March 2008 (CDT)