User:SQUANTO/Squanto's Crafting for Dummies

Disclaiming Disclaimer

Crafting does not have to be hard. When we add more content you will be AMAZED with the amazing and yell "Amazeballs!" as you stare in amazement!
This page is a work in progress... so go away, or watch for changes, but please keep comments to yourself until it is done <3

FORGING FOR DUMMIES

Forging consists of three separate disciplines, each resulting in different types of items; Blacksmithing, Weaponsmithing, and Armorsmithing. In this section, we are going to dive head first into an anvil and see what we can bang out! ( bad jokes are important, stop rolling your eyes or they will get stuck that way!!) We are providing a log with step by step instructions working through a project from the beginning, showing the steps, and prompts for every action. Since some actions are done repeatedly, we are including the system message for those but not making you read the same command 50 times. (For example: "pound awl on anvil" may need to be done several times, you will only see the command once in the log but all the system messages that you might get after doing it.)

BLACKSMITHING

Blacksmithing is the discipline of forging where tools are made, not the jerk that threw a hammer at you for no reason kind of tool, but the tools to make other things kind of tools. (for clarity's sake)

Tools required:

• a forging hammer - for the banging on things
  
• a set of tongs - for the handling of things
  
• a shovel - for the shoveling of things (like fuel and sweat)
  
• some bellows - for the blowing on things
  
• a flask of oil - for oiling!
  
• extra parts for the item you are crafting - pole/cord/etc, these can be found in the forging society, if they are needed, it will be listed in your item's instructions
  
• blacksmithing book - how else would you know what to do?
  
• an ingot - because you need something to make into something
  

Item creation demonstration! The tale of the slender awl

>get your ingot and place it on the anvil.

>get your blacksmithing book

>study my book (note: Before studying the book, make sure that it is turned to the appropriate chapter and page, for the sake of this example, we are making a slender awl.)
You scan the slender awl instructions with a glance and completely understand all facets of the design.
You now feel ready to begin the crafting process.
Roundtime: 6 sec.

>stow your book and get your tools, you will need both your forging hammer and your tongs.

>pound ingot on anvil with my hammer
After using the tongs to warm the awl over the forge fire, you place it down upon the anvil and make some adjustments to its shape with carefully timed hammer taps. The forging proceeds exceptionally well and free of mistakes.
Roundtime: 12 sec.

>pound awl on anvil with my hammer (note: notice that initially you are pounding the ingot, but once the crafting process begins, the noun changes to the item you are creating)
Sparks fly into the air as you transfer the awl back and forth between the forge fires and the anvil, alternating heating with vigorous hammering of the metal. With expert precision the metal takes shape without any faults.
As you finish the fire flickers and is unable to consume its fuel.
Roundtime: 14 sec.

(note: the "fire flickers" message is going to be random through out the crafting process, so pay attention!)

>put your tongs away and get your bellows

>push bellow
You stoke the fire with strong pumps of your bellows.
Roundtime: 18 sec.
>put your bellows away and grab your tongs again. You stoked the fire so you can get back to the pounding.

>pound awl on anvil with my hammer
Sparks fly into the air as you transfer the awl back and forth between the forge fires and the anvil, alternating heating with vigorous hammering of the metal. The work proceeds as planned and you avoid introducing any defects.
As you complete working the fire dies down and needs more fuel.
Roundtime: 12 sec.

(note: needing more fuel requires shoveling, just like with the bellows, this will happen randomly through out the crafting process.)

put away your tongs, and get out your shovel. ""

>push fuel with my shovel
Gripping the shovel tightly, you slam it deep into the pile of fuel and give it a hard kick. Straining, you remove the shovel with a mound of coal atop and toss it onto the fire.
Roundtime: 13 sec.

>stow the shovel, grab your tongs, the fire has fuel, time to pound! (note: if you feel inspired, sing a forging song, don't be a dullard!)

>pound awl on anvil with my hammer
Following solid heating in the forge, you carefully fold the glowing red metal back onto itself and hammer it until both ends are fused. With expert precision the metal takes shape without any faults.

As you complete working the fire dies down and needs more fuel.
Roundtime: 14 sec.
(note: here we would get out the shovel and add fuel to the fire again, for brevity's sake we refer you up a few lines to look at the process there, once shoveling is done, we continue with more pounding! Remember, you need your tongs to hold the ingot/project steady and your hammer to pound on it)

> (note: in the example log we pounded the snot out of the awl a couple more times, this is the messaging you may see)

pound awl on anvil with my hammer
Sparks fly into the air as you transfer the awl back and forth between the forge fires and the anvil, alternating heating with vigorous hammering of the metal. The forging proceeds exceptionally well and free of mistakes.
Roundtime: 11 sec.

Sparks fly into the air as you transfer the awl back and forth between the forge fires and the anvil, alternating heating with vigorous hammering of the metal. Blow after blow rings out without any problems at all.
The awl could use some straightening along the horn of the anvil.
Roundtime: 12 sec.

R>turn awl on anvil with my tong (note: just like with the stoking and fuel adding, the straightening will not always need to be done at the same time in the crafting process. When you see that message you will use this command and then go back to the pounding.)
You angle the awl downward along the anvil's horn with your tongs, and then gently tap it with your hammer.
Roundtime: 12 sec.

R>pound awl on anvil with my hammer
You scoop up the awl with your tongs and heat it over the flames of the forge. Once the metal is glowing hot you place it back upon the anvil and hammer it steadily with your hammer. The forging proceeds exceptionally well and free of mistakes.
Roundtime: 12 sec.
You scoop up the awl with your tongs and heat it over the flames of the forge. Once the metal is glowing hot you place it back upon the anvil and hammer it steadily with your hammer. Blow after blow rings out without any problems at all.
Roundtime: 12 sec.
After using the tongs to warm the awl over the forge fire, you place it down upon the anvil and make some adjustments to its shape with carefully timed hammer taps. Blow after blow rings out without any problems at all.
The metal now appears ready for cooling in the slack tub.
Roundtime: 11 sec.

>push tub with awl (note: Once you see the "cooling in the slack tub message" you simply push the slack tub with the item you are crafting)
Wisps of hot smoke curl up from the tub as you slip the slender awl into it.
The worked metal looks to be in need of some oil to preserve and protect it.
Roundtime: 13 sec.

>put your tongs and hammer away, once you get to the oiling, you are done with the forging part of making an item.

>get awl from anv (note: put your tools away and snag your item!)
You get an unfinished steel slender awl from atop an iron anvil.

>get oil
You get a flask of oil from inside your ornate lootsack.

>pour oil on my awl
You unwrap the cloth surrounding the oil, and use it to rub grime and grit off your slender awl. Then, you pour a small amount on the metal and work it in.
Roundtime: 22 sec.
Applying the final touches, you complete working on a steel slender awl.

(note: this item does not require extra materials, like cords or poles so there is no further assembly required. For items that do need those parts you would simply hold them and use the command "assemble awl with my pole/cord/etc". These items are available in the forging society)

>put your oil away, and assemble your creation if necessary. Now is when you would get out your makers mark stamp and stamp your item.

(note: you don't HAVE to stamp your work, but you should! You made it! Be proud!)

>mark my awl with my stamp
You lay the awl into the hot coals of the forge and carefully hammer the stamp into the metal's surface.
Roundtime: 9 sec.

TA-DA! WE HAVE AN AWL!!

Tempering to make things STRONGER! (then yesterday, now it's nothing but my way...)

(note: tempering an item will make it stronger and more durable, it is not necessary but creates a better item. You do run the risk of damaging the item during the tempering process. This process is also faster than forging the item, so don't skip it!)

>put awl in forge
You glance down at the hot coals of the forge, and reconsider if you wish to do that.
[Putting a weapon or piece of armor on the forge begins the tempering process. This process can make an item more durable, but failing can cause damage to it as well. Put your item onto the forge again in the next 30 seconds, to proceed. You've been warned!]

>put awl in forge (note: see, you even get a warning! You have to do the action twice to start the tempering process)
You carefully disassemble the awl, apply a thin coat of clay to the metal and then place it on the forge.
Roundtime: 20 sec.

>get your tongs back out you don't need you hammer this time.

>turn awl on forge with my tong (note: for tempering you will be turning the item, as opposed to pounding it.)
You gently grasp the awl with your tongs and situate it deeper into the hot coals of the forge.
Roundtime: 14 sec.
You use your tongs to gently dislodge clumps of cooled ash from around the awl's clay shell.
Roundtime: 12 sec.
A whirl of ashes flies up as you use your tongs to heap glowing coals atop the awl laying in the forge.
Roundtime: 12 sec.

With a twist of your tongs, you adjust the orientation of the awl laying in the forge's hot coals, ensuring heat spreads evenly throughout the metal.
As you complete working the fire dies down and needs more fuel.
Roundtime: 18 sec.

(note: OH! Would you look at that! Even in the tempering process you may need to add fuel to the fire. Just put away your tongs for a moment, grab your shovel and "push fuel with my shovel"! Don't forget to get your tongs back out before you get back to turning your item)

>turn awl on forge with my tong
You use your tongs to gently dislodge clumps of cooled ash from around the awl's clay shell. Roundtime: 18 sec.
You grab ahold of the awl with your tongs, and place it outside of the forge's hot coals where it can begin the cooling process.
Roundtime: 15 sec.
Little by little you use your tongs to break away the clay encasing the awl and remove any lingering hot coals.
The worked metal looks to be in need of some oil to preserve and protect it.
Roundtime: 12 sec.

>put your tongs away and get your awl from the forge, you need to get your oil out now. (note: almost finished! Just like with the original creation of the item, you will oil it to complete the tempering.)

>pour oil on my awl
You break the cooled clay off from around your awl and then reassemble the weapon. Next, you unwrap and dampen the oil cloth and thoroughly clean the metal's surface.
Roundtime: 12 sec.

The awl's metal shows improved signs of durability and wear resistance from the successful tempering process.

And just like that, you have tempered your awl!

Awl-analysis!

>analyze my awl (note: here is the analysis of the final project, yours will vary based on the type of ingot you used and your skill level)

You analyze every minute detail of the slender awl and smile knowingly to yourself.
This appears to be a crafting tool and it is in pristine condition.
Sharp pointed tool for making holes in leather.
The workmanship is masterfully-crafted.
Assessing the awl's durability, you determine it is extremely weak and easily damaged.
About 4 volume of metal was used in this item's construction.
The metal appears to be composed of: 67.03% high carbon steel, and 32.97% oravir.
This tool appears to be exceptionally effective at increasing crafting speed.
You recognize this work as your own.
The metal appears to have been slowly tempered to improve its durability.
Roundtime: 10 sec.