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 What metal is used for armor and weapons?

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charger28alpha Posted - 01 Feb 2009 : 02:53:02
Greetings,

I am planning campaign set in Tethyr (1370DR). I downloaded the Lands of Intrigue set from WOTC, and loved it. My question for the assorted experts here is the same as the title of this post, what metal is most often used for armor and weapons? I am curious about all of Faerun, not just Tethyr and its neighbors.

If it is iron, would the Dwarves in Iltkazar produce steel equipment? If it is steel, how common are iron weapons and armor?
12   L A T E S T    R E P L I E S    (Newest First)
charger28alpha Posted - 09 Feb 2009 : 05:12:51
Thanks to all for the info.

Markustay,

As a follow up on the skipping of the Iron Age. How advanced would steel weapons and armor be? Here on on earth steel has improved over the centuries.

PS: Your maps rock.
Markustay Posted - 04 Feb 2009 : 16:05:23
I think FR had Steel replace Bronze almost immediately, unlike our RW which had an 'Iron Age', because of the involvement with the Dwarves.

Once Iron came into use amongst humans, Dwarven smiths would have almost certainly taught them the various techniques of alloying metals , once they had reached that level of sophistication.

Also, Armor and weapons made form 'Cold Iron' are anethema to the Fey races, and almost certainly all of them would have done everything possible to "help move the human technology along" past an Iron Age.

Considering the Le'Shay (Fey) involvment with the Imaskari, one can surmise that it was they who taught the workings of steal and magical metals to the early people of Imaskar. That would have given humans steal a good seven thousand years before we had it here on Earth.
Ashe Ravenheart Posted - 04 Feb 2009 : 15:53:10
Possibly. But it then becomes too cumbersome to move in then (double the Armor Check and Max Dex penalties).

Another idea would be to check out the Arcana Unearthed optional rules that split the Armor bonus into a Defense bonus and DR, but it's not really anything extra, like what you're looking for.
Wrigs13 Posted - 04 Feb 2009 : 15:40:41
Cheers for that will have a look now.

Do you think that if you make your armor twice as thick, ie twice as heavy, it would gain extra protection? and in the case of adamantite would your DR double?
Ashe Ravenheart Posted - 04 Feb 2009 : 15:27:08
Check out some of the 'shirts' in the Magic Item Compendium, p. 134-136. (e.g. Shirt of Bone - 3/Bludgeoning, Shirt of Angels - 3/evil, Shirt of Ironskin - 3/adamantine)
Wrigs13 Posted - 04 Feb 2009 : 15:21:14
Yeah that was kind of mt opinion too.

The problem I have got is a fighter with dex 20 who wants the benefit of damage resistance.
Ashe Ravenheart Posted - 04 Feb 2009 : 15:16:14
There's been nothing published. My personal feeling is that Mithral and Adamantine go in opposite directions for metallic compositions.
Wrigs13 Posted - 04 Feb 2009 : 15:10:02
Is there any material that has composite properties of mithril and adamantite?

I am trying to find a precedent for armor that is light enough to grant decent dex bonuses but also give some DR/- as well.
IngoDjan Posted - 01 Feb 2009 : 06:43:08
Iron and steel. And others metals too. All is the same thing. Except some, like cold iron and adamantine.
Hoondatha Posted - 01 Feb 2009 : 05:53:27
It's one of the best, no doubt. The gemstone section alone leaves me in awe each time I read it.
charger28alpha Posted - 01 Feb 2009 : 05:27:50
Thanks Hoondatha,

I figured as much, just could not find anything concrete. I just downloaded Volo's Guide to All Things Magical, and it looks like a great piece of work.
Hoondatha Posted - 01 Feb 2009 : 03:55:38
I'd check Volo's Guide to All Things Magical, it has a section specifically on various metals (both mundane and not-so-mundane) used throughout Faerun.

But in general, if you're talking about your run-of-the-mill sword or armor, you're talking steel. A few places (Mulhorand) still use bronze, but in general it's steel or better-than-steel like the mithril coming out of Iltkazar. After all, there's a reason it's called the Mithril Kingdom.

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