Quote:
Originally Posted by johndallman
As far as I can see, a metal-worker doesn't need this skill if he acquires metals ready-refined, and doesn't alloy them. If your smith wants to start from ore however, she needs this skill.
|
From what I understand, the smith doesn't need the skill in the specific circumstance of getting a billet of metal of
the type they want.
Is it Metallurgy to make a billet of Damascus steel or other mixed-steel billet? Or is that Smith because it's done by forge-welding at an anvil and forge, rather than in a smeltery and/or crucibles?
It definitely seems like you need Metallurgy to deal with metal of unknown or uncertain origin - if you're salvaging metal from a junkyard (which is a thing with some modern smiths) or in an After The End game (where the entire gameworld is a junkyard), or perhaps if you just don't entirely trust the merchant or craftsman who you got the billet from. If only to figure out what it is to avoid a Smithing penalty.