Armorsmithing discipline
Armorsmithing controls the creation of metal armor using the Forging skill.
Creation of all Armorsmithing products, learning of Armorsmithing techniques, and choosing a Armorsmithing career/hobby are all done at a Forging Society.
Products
Armor Types
Armor comes in four types: chain, brigandine, plate, and shields. Each armor type comes in three styles which are outlined below. Generally, there is a light, normal, and heavy style for each armor type. As the weight increases, so does the hindrance, protection, and amount of metal in each piece of armor. Absorption is not based on the style of the armor, rather it is based on the armor type and metal density.
Chain
Styles: ring, chain, and mail
Ring mail is the least protective of the chain armors, bearing similarities to scale armor, in that it consists of individual rings applied to a backing material. While ring mail is called "mail", it is not made from linked rings. Chain, and its heavier cousin mail, are formed from interwoven metal rings, often with cloth padding worn underneath.
Brigandine
Styles: scale, brigandine, and lamellar
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
Styles: light plate, plate, and heavy plate
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
Sizes: small, medium, and large
Refer to the armor and shield player guide for further information regarding the different sizes of shields.
Techiques
Processes
See the Forging guide for a walkthrough of all Armorsmithing processes, specifically:
- Forging armor
- Tempering armor on a forge increases its durability.
- Lightening* armor reduces its weight by 10% by grinding away excess metal.
- Reinforcing* armor increases protection, hindrance, and weight by 20% through the addition of protective leather strips.
* Note: Lightening and reinforcing are mutually exclusive processes. Once one process is done to a piece of armor, the other can no longer be performed.
Tools
See Crafting Tools for an in depth discussion of tool properties.
- Anvil: A stationary forging tool used for pounding metal as part of the item creation process.
- Bellows: Used to keep the forge fires going when creation or tempering items.
- Armorsmithing instruction book: Instructions for creation of Armorsmithing products.
- Oil: Used to prevent rust on metal items as the final step in creation, tempering, lightening, or reinforcing.
- Forge: A stationary forging tool used for tempering items to increase the metal's durability.
- Forging hammer: Used to form ingots into items on the anvil.
- Maker's mark: Tool for stamping a crafted item with the maker's identity after creation.
- Pliers: Used to link, rivet, and form armor during the creation, lightening, and reinforcing processes.
- Shovel: Used to keep the fires going when creating and tempering items.
- Slack tub: A stationary forging tool used to quench hot metal as part of the item creation process.
- Tongs: Used to hold hot metal when pounding items on an anvil or heating in a forge.
- Wire brush: Used in armor repair.