>Mikos says, "Good evening.  Sorry for the delay.  The crash wasn't my doing, though...I think."
>Mordiam exclaims, "Its all his fault!"
>Mordiam points at Mikos.
>Mikos says, "We'll give it another five minutes for folks to log back in."
Mikos says, "Katrinia, I'm giving folks a chance to log back in.  We'll start in a couple minutes."
>Mikos calls the assembly to order.  After a moment the crowd quiets down.
s>Mikos says, "OK, let's get started."
s>Mikos says, "First off, my apologies for my lateness.  Thanks for sticking around."
s>Mikos says, "This forum is about forging, which is a new skill and weapon creation system that will be available in the game in the near future."
Mikos says, "During the course of the forum I'll cover - 1) how the forging system works to create a new weapon, 2) what is needed in order to be able to forge a weapon, 3) what factors are involved in learning the skill, 4) what factors influence successful use of the skill, 5) what limits exist on forging, and 6) where forging is at right now."
s>Mikos says, "1) How the forging system works to create a new weapon -"
s>Mikos says, "First off, the forging system is only capable of producing melee weapons.  It is not set up to produce armor, shields, or missile weapons of any sort.  If you like, you may want to consider it to be a weaponcrafting system rather than simply a forge, since many things you could create with a forge, you cannot create in this system."
A sudden bolt of lightning hurls down from the sky and strikes the ground in front of you causing a deafening BOOM of thunder!  When the smoke clears you see Tigrayne standing in front of you.
s>Mikos says, "In the forging process, every weapon is built from two components: the head or blade, and the handle or haft.  These two components, after they've been crafted from their respective raw materials, have to be assembled into a single weapon. "
s>Mikos says, "Within a two or three room workshop area, the weaponcrafting PC will need to do the following: 1) mark the raw material for the handle with the pattern of the weapon handle desired, 2) grind the raw material to its rough shape on a grinding wheel, 3) polish the rough piece to its finished form on a polishing wheel. "
s>Mikos says, "Then 1) mark the raw material for the blade with the pattern of the weapon blade desired, 2) fill the tempering trough in the forge with an appropriate liquid, 3) forge the raw material into its rough shape and dunk it in the tempering trough, 4) polish the rough piece to its finished form on the polishing wheel."
s>Mikos says, "Finally, the weaponcrafter needs to assemble the two finished components in the vise in order to complete the weapon. "
s>Mikos says, "2) What is needed in order to be able to forge a weapon -"
s>Mikos says, "Presuming that a forging workshop is available, the weaponcrafting PC will also need to have access to: a crafter's apron, the glyphs or patterns for marking a piece of raw material in order to be able to fashion it.  The forging system has to have some way of knowing which part of which weapon each piece is, so this "tags" the piece of raw material."
s>Mikos says, "Raw materials to make the components from..."
s>Mikos says, "Some type of liquid for setting the weapon's temper."
s>Mikos says, "And a lot of time."
s>Mikos says, "The forging system is similar to the Warrior's Guild skills.  It takes time to practice in order to improve."
s>Mikos says, "Right now the forging system involves two different skills."
s>Mikos says, "Crafting skill requires the crafter to possess and wear a crafter's apron, and is the skill involved during grinding and assembling."
s>Mikos says, "Forging skill requires that the crafter possess a forging-hammer, and the skill is used...when forging. ;)"
s>Mikos says, "In order to work within the system a crafter needs to first learn the crafting skill sufficiently to be able to craft both components of a forging-hammer and assemble them."
s>Mikos says, "From that point on, the crafter can begin to practice his or her forging skill."
s>Mikos says, "Both Crafting and Forging skills are on roughly a 1-100 range."
s>Mikos says, "Both skills are improved by use, regardless of success in the attempt."
s>Mikos says, "The max that can be achieved in either skill is approximately 100."
s>A shaft of scintillating light suddenly pierces the ceiling and strikes the ground next to you.  The beam of light then explodes in a shower of sparks and Ktrill is standing in its place.
s>Mikos says, "The quality of the parts that a crafter produces is dependant upon their skill."
s>Ktrill gestures and a shaft of scintillating light from somewhere above pierces the ceiling and engulfs him.  When the light recedes Ktrill is no longer there.
s>Mikos says, "Factors involved in learning the skills:"
s>Mikos says, "Each attempt to use the skill counts.  Every five attempts with Crafting skill, or ten attempts with forging skill, is enough for a skill improvement check."
s>Mikos says, "Please understand, they are two distinct skills and are tracked separately."
s>Mikos says, "Your chance to improve your skill is a 1-100 roll and it must be above your current skill value in order to increase your skill by 1."
s>Mikos says, "So as your skill improves, your chance to improve grows smaller."
s>Mikos says, "Learning is easy when you know very little, and it is very hard to learn the final ultimate bit of skill."
s>Mikos says, "Please don't confuse learning with experience gain.  The system does provide some small experience gain, but only when weapons are completed.  Working on parts does not gain any experience."
s>Mikos says, "Learning in the forging system is strictly a matter of improving either the Crafting or the Forging skills."
s>Mikos says, "There are Intelligence modifiers in the learning process.  Above average intelligence does get a small add to the chance to learn each time."
s>Mikos says, "And unusually low Intelligence will keep a person from every gaining 100 skill."
s>Mikos says, "As opposed to learning the skills, successful use of the skills is governed by personal stats, by profession, and by race."
s>Mikos says, "The primary factor in success or failure when using Crafting or Forging skill is the skill itself."
s>Mikos says, "The second factor is an average of applicable stat bonuses."
s>Mikos says, "For Crafting: (Dex bonus + Discipline bonus + Strength bonus) / 3 "
s>Mikos says, "This average is added to your current skill."
s>Mikos says, "As are racial bonuses: for Dwarves, Giantmen, Dark elves, and Elves."
s>Mikos says, "Sylvankind are the only race to have a minus."
s>Mikos says, "Profession-wise: there is a handicap.  It is 0 for Warriors, and grows to its largest for Sorcs and Wizards."
s>Mikos says, "So a Sylvankind Sorc will be the most limited in what materials he can make weapons from."
s>Mikos says, "All characters, regardless of race or profession can achieve a skill of 100 in both crafting and forging."
s>Mikos says, "Only Intelligence is a factor in learning."
s>Mikos says, "The modifiers are to the chance of success with the skill."
s>Mikos says, "If you figure it out, anyone with  100 in crafting and above 0 stat bonuses can forge a weapon."
s>Mikos says, "The factors that make it less than a sure thing are the size of the raw material you're working with, and the magical plus inherent in the material."
s>Mikos says, "So the racial bonuses, stat bonus averages, and professional handicap will effect how large and how magical a material you can work with."
s>Mikos says, "Success in use of either skill is broken down into Failure, Extraordinary Failure, Success, and Extraordinary Success."
s>Mikos says, "Success or failure determines whether you craft what you're trying to, have to try again, do the best you're able to, or wreck the material you're working with."
s>Mikos says, "Really bad failures in grinding are what resulted in the toothpicks that were seen back when the testing players were getting started."
s>Mikos says, "Really bad failures in forging will result in you shattering your raw material.  If it was a 25 lb ingot of glaes, it's just gone."
s>Romulus gestures and a shaft of scintillating light from somewhere above pierces the ceiling and engulfs him.  When the light recedes Romulus is no longer there.
s>Mikos says, "Forging skill also has a personal bonus.  It's composed of (Constitution bonus + Discipline bonus + Strength bonus) / 3"
s>Mikos says, "For forging, racial bonuses and professional handicaps are the same as they are for Crafting."
s>Mikos says, "But material minuses for magical plus are larger."
s>Mikos says, "As is the size minus."
s>Mikos says, "Once public forges open, players will be able to purchase crafter's aprons at the forge workshops.  You have to have and be wearing a crafter's apron in order to grind, polish, forge, or assemble."
Mikos says, "Right now each person's crafting skill is stored in their apron, but that will change in the very near future.  You'll still have to be wearing an apron in order to work in a workshop, but crashes won't wipe out skill records."
s>Mikos says, "Similar to crafting aprons, a person who intends to forge will have to first make the parts of his or her forging-hammer, assemble them, and then have the hammer in hand whenever he or she intends to forge."
s>Mikos says, "Right now the forging-hammer is the skill holder for forging skill, but that's changing too."
s>Mikos says, "However, you won't be able to forge without your own forging-hammer.  The system will check for ownership, and if you're using someone else's hammer, you'll have to use it enough to become attuned to it before it will function fully for you."
s>Mikos says, "Right now the only material that is forgeable is the iron from the kobold mine near the Landing."
s>Mikos says, "At least initially, the only source for other raw materials will be from GM merchants.  If a shop does sell raw materials, it will be infrequently."
s>Mikos says, "Each forge that is set up and opened will also be limited by what patterns or glyphs are in it for which weapons."
s>Mikos says, "Since the forging process needs to know which weapon you're making the parts of, glyphs or patterns for each part will be on shelves in the workshops."
s>Mikos says, "If you don't see a glyph for the handle and the head of a weapon, you can't make one."
s>Mikos says, "At leat initially, glyphs will only exist for base weapons, that is there will be no forging of renamed weapons."
s>Mikos says, "Everything that players forge will look like exactly what they are."
s>Mikos says, "Due to sytem limitations, all that will be possible is a weapon that contains the name of the material the blade is made from."
s>Mikos says, "Each weapon will need to have a handle component made, and these can be made from any of the appropriate materials, but only the blade material will show up in the final weapon name."
s>Mikos says, "For instance, "a laen longsword"."
s>Mikos says, "Because of the variety of weapon names there is currently no easy way to add colors or other description."
s>Mikos says, "EIther or both of those options may be added to the system later, but for the time being you'll have to look for the dyetent to get player forged weapons colored."
s>Mikos says, "On the plus side, any material that is appropriate to weapons, and that has stats within the game, can be forged by someone with high enough skill."
s>Mikos says, "Laje is a material that does not currently have set stats.  Another is Coraesine."
s>Mikos says, "Mithril, bronze, iron, invar, ora, imflass, glaes, vultite, rolaren, golvern, veil iron, mithglin, kelyn, krodera, vaalorn, eahnor, faenor, urnon, rhimar, zorchar, drakar, gornar, razern, and urglaes will all be forgeable and craftable."
s>Mikos says, "With the normal expected pluses that the materials are known for."
s>Mikos says, "And the normal flares or other properties."
s>Mikos says, "The forging system also allows for a +1, +2 or +3 skill plus that can become part of the weapon when the weaponcrafter's skill is high enough, and when the components are all crafted and assembled well."
s>Mikos says, "A weaponcrafter's skill will also influence the strength and breakage factor of a weapon."
s>Mikos says, "The investment for anyone choosing to craft weapons will be in the time spent learning the two skills."
s>Mikos says, "Actually making a weapon, in total time will take from 3.5 to 11.5 minutes."
s>Mikos says, "That includes all steps from start to finish."
s>Mikos says, "If you fail in any of those steps, the total time including a second attempt where ever you failed, will of course go up."
s>Mikos says, "So the final time to forge a weapon will be unrealistically short, but there is a limit to how long we want to run a process that will be adversely effected by a crash."
s>Mikos says, "And there is a limit to how long you'll be willing to sit and watch the system messaging scroll by."
s>Mikos winks.
s>Mikos says, "Right now the plans for opening public forges placement-wise is: None in Wehnimer's Landing.  Several in Solhaven when that opens.  One or two in Icemule Trace.  No idea on Teras Isle yet."
s>Mikos says, "None in Rivers Rest."
s>Mikos says, "WIth the only source for raw materials being the mine in the Landing, we are expecting some importing and exporting to go on amongst players."
s>Mikos says, "Other mines are being discussed, but none are likely to open in the near future."
s>Mikos says, "Although there are plans to double the size of the existing kob mine."
s>Mikos takes the lid off the question box.  Use ASK to submit a question.
s>Mikos says, "I'm about talked out."
s>Mikos says, "Vadric says, 'Mithos, will the iron needed for forging have to be in the form of raw chunks, or slabs?'"
s>Mikos says, "It will have to be in slabs."
s>Mikos says, "The system will work with slabs, blocks or ingots."
s>Mikos says, "That's metals.  Woods can be used for handles, and those can be boards, branches, etc.  The list is longer and I don't recall all the forms of woods that are acceptable."
s>Mikos says, "Vadric says, 'Mithos, will the iron needed for forging have to be in the form of raw chunks, or slabs?'"
s>Mikos rolls his eyes.
s>Mikos says, "Dantrotic says, 'dose this imply breakage returning? if so dose this imply being able to reforage weapons? And how dose one get involved in testing new mechanics like this?'"
s>Mikos says, "I have heard that breakage is returning.  I don't know how soon.  It will be up to whoever builds the breakage system whether or not forging will interact with it."
s>Mikos says, "Right now the forging system isn't capable of reforging."
s>Mikos says, "As far as testing the new mechanics go, that will be up to the GM who works on it.  I have no idea right now."
s>Mikos says, "Kraldrac says, 'when crafting with a metal that has flares and you have an extraordinary failure would it release its energy (i.e. fire, lightning, ice, ect.) in some sort of backlash upon the forger?'"
s>Mikos says, "It should, but right now the system doesn't."
s>Mikos says, "Right now you simply wreck your material. Somehow I thought that was severe enough."
s>Mikos winks.
s>Mikos says, "Tanzra says, 'if a weapon breaks and we can fix it, will its AvD be affected?'"
s>Mikos says, "I doubt it, but that's another system that's not built yet."
s>Mikos says, "Jafirnn says, 'Can you list the stats for the uncommon metals?  I've never heard of some of those metals towards the end.'"
s>Mikos says, "No.  I may post them at some point, but I won't list the stats now.  Most of the latter ones are new names for ICE metals that never saw much use in the old days."
s>Mikos says, "I have a revamp of Shift metals done.  In the next few days you should be able to see it in the game and you'll be able to see what got renamed to what."
s>Mikos says, "IT is not installed yet."
s>Mikos says, "Jecquelynn says, 'mikos what raw materials will be available,and in what abundance? and what new glyphs will be seenfirst?'"
s>Mikos says, "Beyond the iron from the iron mine?  Not much.  You'll likely see bronze in a shop in Solhaven.  It's easier to work than iron and a good practice material."
s>Mikos says, "Beyond that, you're best bet is watching for travelling merchants that will be selling raw materials."
s>Mikos says, "Lerys says, 'are there plans to add more metals to the kob mines?'"
s>Mikos says, "Not at this point."
s>Mikos says, "Any new materials that show up in mines will more likely show up elsewhere, just to avoid cramming more players into the kob mines."
s>Mikos says, "Loklor says, 'just to clarify..the +1, +2 added will be in addition to say vultites natural +20 correct? if so will there be a cap to extra bonuses?'"
s>Mikos says, "Yes, the skill bonus plus is in addition to any materials natural plus.  Will there be a cap?  Yes, in that any weapon can only gain a crafter's bonus plus once.  Beyond that you should see the existing limits extended by the +1-+3 of weaponcrafting players."
s>Mikos says, "So if merchants will enchant to +40 or 8x now, you should see merchants willing to enchant to 8x +3, assuming the +3 is already there."
s>Mikos says, "Stillggar says, 'what about adding the race of the maker into the name of the waepon?'"
s>Mikos says, "It's not in the system now.  Given the length of some of the race names, it's unlikely to be added."
s>Mikos says, "I should mention that the quality of forged weapons is somewhat apparent in the adjectives produced.  Weapons will show up as "a superior laen longsword" for instance, or "a flimsy little dagger"."
s>Mikos says, "I forgot to mention the quality tag words early when I was talking about the final weapon's appearance."
s>Mikos says, "Every weapon will have a quality tag word, even if it's just "plain"."
s>Mikos says, "Xathar says, 'Mithos, thee stated that there will be several dif'rent types of handles, will the type of handle determine the strength of the weapon?'"
s>Mikos says, "No, it won't."
s>Mikos says, "Unless we can build some greater diversity into the system, you'll be best off making handles out of the cheapest most plentiful material you can find."
s>Mikos says, "Sorry, I just realized I left part of Jecquelynn's question unanswered.  As far as new glyphs go, expect to see the basics in the public forges with some of the better weapons' glyphs scattered and only in one forge or another."
s>Mikos says, "Blaqtar says, "mikos 'Is it possible, of course with high enough skills, to produce a vultite claid with this process?""
s>Mikos says, "I haven't cleared with the powers that be whether glyphs for claidhs will be allowed in the game or not.  I suspect now, however."
Mikos says, "I also know that bastard swords cannot be player forged due to system limitations.  Their switchable ability makes them unreproduceable by a system.  They can only be made by hand by GMs."
s>Mikos says, "Galliphile says, 'Will we be able to mine glaes out of the kiramon mine in Teras?  After all, the glaes veins already exist and the mine is already there.  Seems like a limitless source of large chunks of glaes to me.'"
s>Mikos says, "Very true, but it's in the interests of not making glaes weapons as common as dirt, that that may not come to pass."
s>Mikos says, "It is a likely spot for mining, but if it does become a working mine, expect some kind of limiting mechanism."
s>Mikos says, "Sintalis says, 'Will any form of sanctified weaponry be forgable? Also, will you be releasing the actual descriptions of metals (not bonuses)?'"
s>Mikos says, "The forge is capable of producing holy weapons.  That is different from permablessed weapons.  The exact method is know public knowledge yet, though."
s>Mikos says, "Sorry, is not public knowledge yet."
s>Mikos says, "A description of all the metals is something I expect to be posting in the next few weeks.  If you don't see it posted by the time forges open, look for lists in the forges."
s>Mikos says, "Kythyn says, 'how long in elapsed hours do you think it will take to achieve 100 in both forging and crafting?'"
s>Mikos says, "There are members of the testing group that can tell you.  Frankly, I've never done the math.  To a degree I didn't want to know."
s>Mikos asks, "I do know it should take a person 1,000 attempts to get the final 1% of forging skill.  With iron that's 1,000 * 2.5 minutes?"
s>Mikos says, "Apandaa says, 'So there are no plans to provide a way for mein shards to be made forgeable?'"
s>Mikos says, "Right now mein shards are not forgeable.  That may change once mining of other materials is decided upon."
s>Mikos says, "Right now, the fact that mein shards are as unique as they are - that is they have other capabilities - keeps them from being forgeable.  Right now all raw materials that are workable are simply raw materials with no other capabilities."
s>Mikos says, "Kaag says, 'What will be the person capacity of the public forges, and the cost of aprons and possibily using the forges. And finally when can we expect to see forges opening'"
s>Mikos says, "The capacity of the forge/workshop is one person per piece of equipment at a time.  Each workshop has a grinder, a polisher, a forge, and a vise.  The different pieces of equipment all have differing elapsed times for use, with the forge being the longest."
s>Mikos says, "Right now I am expecting aprons to cost between 5,000 and 10,000 silvers each."
s>Suddenly, there is a puff of smoke and a blinding flash of light as Criteriun arrives to answer Matubaa's assist.
s>Mikos says, "There is no plan to charge for using a forge, although it is likely that the local weaponcrafters guild will simply "accept" your donation of every third completed item."
s>Criteriun slowly begins to fade, then suddenedly disappears all together.
 * Criteriun has disconnected.
s>Mikos says, "That's not for certain though.  If time doesn't permit, you're likely to see the forges usable for free at least in the beginning."
s>Mikos says, "As to when forges will open...expect them to be there when Solhaven opens.  If they're not, it's my fault, and you can bet I'll be working late to get them open.  In Icemule, they may show up before Solhaven opens.  Depending on how long Solhaven takes to finish."
s>Mikos says, "There'll be a period during final testing when there may be some slack time prior to Solhaven opening.  If that happens, we'll try to open Icemule's forges at that time."
s>Mikos says, "Danalan says, 'will we be able to add weighting to weapons(ie: damage, crit) and will we be able to shape the hilt or embed a design in it and third will we be able to embed gems into the weapon?'"
s>Mikos says, "Nope, nope, and nope."
s>Mikos asks, "Weighting may be added later.  Adding gems will at least require use of gemcrafting skill.  Can you say "next system?"
s>Mikos winks.
s>Mikos says, "Amoret says, 'Do you have plans to actually release all those weapons materials for forging, by merchant or auction and such?  Including the extremely rare ones such as veil iron and urglaes?'"
s>Mikos says, "In answer to the first question, yes.  In answer to the second, I've already seen a forgeable block of veil iron in the game, and it was ungodly large to boot.  But don't expect to see the high end materials often or in large amounts."
s>Mikos says, "Realize that it's in no one's best interest for us to make really nice weapons commonplace.  So how plentiful raw materials are is a primary control mechanism."
s>Mikos says, "If everyone is running around with veil iron weapons, we've just made the game more fantastic and less fun.  No one really wins if powerful items become too frequent."
s>Mikos says, "Merlock says, 'Forgive me, but this sounds much to easy -- and it only takes 12 minutes?  Also, what will be done to prevent people from scripting commands for forging, and virtually "forging while not forging".  Finally, what do you expect a merchant to charge for a slab of a rare metal, and will things be sold (rare things, possibly at auctions) which would improve chances greatly, or allow people to create different weapons?'"
s>Mikos says, "Several questions...First, once you've accrued the skills it will be relatively easy.  It's the long hours of practice that will be a real drag.  Second, I expect folks will script their skill practicing.  I would.  But we do have a policy against disruptive scripting, and it will be enforced.  I expect the forges to be major scripting-complaint centers."
s>Mikos says, "I don't know right now how much a merchant will charge for a slab of material. It depends on the material, the size of the slab, and the merchant.  As far as things to improve chances, the system is built to recognize skill-adders and success-guarantors, both kinds of items that players may come into the possesion of.  Creating different weapons?  A particular set of glyphs may be sold by a merchant for personal ownership.  That's certainly possible."
s>A shaft of scintillating light suddenly pierces the ceiling and strikes the ground next to you.  The beam of light then explodes in a shower of sparks and Aredan is standing in its place.
s>Mikos says, "Tsoran says, 'Mikos, how is a 'superior' weapon better than a 'flimsy' weapon?  More restant to breakage, hits harder, etc?'"
s>Mikos says, "Primarily more resistant to breakage, but if the quality is high enough, then the +1 to +3 that we've mentioned."