Rules Update: Smithing (July 2010)

The following changes are being made to the Smithing system.  We apologize for the abrupt change so recently after the last update - this should strike an even balance between extreme crafting times, and extreme CP costs, neither of which were desirable.  Additionally, some other enhancements are being added to help the bold citizens of Travance, and those who serve their smithing needs.

I will have updated Smithing Sheets at the July 2010 events, and will be glad to sit down and go over the new rules with anyone In-Game at the Forge as Gideon.  The Rules Marshals as a whole have put a lot of effort into this to try and make the Smithing system easier to use, more balanced, and making it easier for Non-Smiths to get smithing services done by balancing and aiding the production requirements for the Smiths.

I'll work on updating the Smithing page with the new values this evening.

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The modifiers for the material used to craft an item will be applied to time, and not Crafting Points.  This will create a balance between the materials (which require more time), and the quality (which requires more CP), instead of both modifiers applying to just Time or CP alone, resulting in extreme values.

The amount of time and materials to craft an item have been directly linked to the CP required to craft them as well, at a ratio of 1 to 5.  This change allows a Smith to quickly calculate the values needed to craft any item with only one piece of information - the base CP value of the item.  For example, if a Smith knows that a 2HE takes 4 CP to make, he also knows it requires 20 units of material, and 20 minutes to make, based off the same number.  As a result of this, the CP costs for some items have changed (mostly to become less expensive) - please see the Smithing page for a full listing.

The AP values for armor have been changed to be directly proportional to the CP required to create the piece of armor.  Leather Armor provides 4 AP per CP of the item, Chain Armor costs half again as many CP as Leather (rounded up), and provides 6 AP for the same area, while Plate Armor costs double the CP and 8 AP for a given area.  This makes all armor proportional in the AP it provides for the CP and Materials invested into it.  As a result of this, the CP costs for some items have changed (mostly to become less expensive) - please see the Smithing page for a full listing.

Note: For the most part, the AP values for various armor pieces have increased a marginal amount (Upper Arm and Lower Leg are the only parts that have a lower AP value under the new system).  A full suit of armor will have slightly more AP under the new system than the old one.  Because of this, you are not required to update the AP values of your armor cards, although you may do so if you wish for free.  If you choose to do this, the entire set of armor must be updated, not just the parts that benefit.

The 3rd Rank ability "Forge Superior Weapon / Armor" has been updated to: This ability allows the smith to produce an item of the highest quality. The smith must expend double CP requisite to the item being produced. When an superior weapon is honed, tempered, or balanced, the effect lasts for the duration of the event (though the weapon can only benefit from one honing at a time).  A superior weapon may have the weapon guard ability used on it multiple times per period.

The 4th Rank ability "Forge Exalted Weapon / Armor" has been updated to:  This ability allows the smith to produce an item that takes well to mystic rituals. The smith must expend double CP requisite to the item being produced. An exalted item that later becomes ritually enchanted can still benefit from the effects of honing, reinforcing, tempering, weapon guarding, girding, and balancing.  An item may be both Exalted and Superior in nature - the cost of making such an item is triple the normal CP.

Players with Exalted Weapon Cards dated before the July 2010 event may turn them in for Superior + Exalted weapon cards if they desire.

The In-Game cost of crafting an item is equal to the time required to craft it, in SP, multiplied by the multiplier for the quality of the item.  For example, forging a normal one-handed edged weapon takes 10 minutes, and would cost 10 SP.  A superior sword would cost 20 SP in labor (x2 for x2 CP).  A mithril sword would cost 30 SP (as it takes 30 minutes to forge).  A superior, exalted, mithril sword would cost (10 x 3 x 3) 90 SP in labor costs, not including the materials.

The skills Hone Weapon, Gird Shield, Balance Armor, Reinforce Armament, and Temper Armament, along with the description for bestowing AP, all have the following line added to their description:  "The time and Crafting Point cost of this ability is not modified by the quality or material of the target item."  (i.e. - imbuing mithril armor does not take x3 as long as normal armor, and bestowing Exalted armor with AP does not take x3 the CP.)

The 2nd Rank Weaponsmithing skill "Forge Exotic Weapons" has been removed from the game.  All exotic weapons are now considered normal weapons, and require no special skills to craft.  A new skill will replace it:

Weapon Guard
The Smith can enhance the handle or shaft of a weapon, at a cost of one third the CP and time required to make an armament of the same type, allowing the wielder to resist one attack that would disarm one of her weapons. The attack fails and the attack skill, spell, or ability is considered used.  The time and Crafting Point cost of this ability is not modified by the quality or material of the target item.  This ability cannot be used on an armament that has been ritually enchanted.  A weapon may only have this ability used on it once per period.

The item produced by the Smith Promotional Skill "Legendary Work" is always considered to be both Superior and Exalted quality.

A new skill has been added to the Smithing list:

Smithing Assistant
Continuous, 3 build
With this skill, a smith can assist another smith in crafting an item.  The item takes half as long to create, and the assisting smith may choose to contribute up to half of the required CPs, rounded down.

This has been updated in the Online Rulebook.

Figure I'll get this question out of the way early Geoff.

What happens in the case of multiple smithing assistants? Or should there be an added, "A Smith can only benefit from the help of one smithing assistant at a time." clause?

Also, if the CP are increases through any means, does that also increase the amount of AP the item would bestow?  Or is the AP amount based off of the base amount for creating a "Normal" version of the armor?

Adam: Good catch, the intent is one assistant.  (Think of it like Medical Assistant.)

Matt: AP are determined by the "base" CP of the item.  Multiplying the CP cost gets you other benefits (Superior & Exalted quality benefits) instead of more AP.

*Looks at two rulebooks he JUST printed.*

*Looks at KR forums*

*Looks back at the two rulebooks*

*Looks back at KR forums*

*Throws a chair *