Unusual materials for items

hcobb · 06-09-2024, 08:01 AM

Duracrystal - Weapons and armor made of this material are non magnetic and cost fifty times more than steel items, but are enchanted in the same way. They are twice as durable as steel items. They stop the same number of hits when used as armor or shields, but it takes twice as many hits to destroy the item itself and they have half the chance to be broken as steel items. When made into shields they are given a one-way mirror polish so that the user can see through their own shield, reducing the DX penalty of the shield by one.

David Bofinger · 06-18-2024, 10:14 AM

TFT has a problem with materials. Bronze armour is not as good as iron (or steel?) armour, but really none of them is better than leather armour or cloth, except that there is more of it. Unless you fix this problem it's always going to be weird talking about the superiority of one material over another. But I don't see a clean way to fix it.

Axly Suregrip · 06-18-2024, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Bofinger

TFT has a problem with materials. Bronze armour is not as good as iron (or steel?) armour, but really none of them is better than leather armour or cloth, except that there is more of it. Unless you fix this problem it's always going to be weird talking about the superiority of one material over another. But I don't see a clean way to fix it.

I agree. Bronze armor (and weapons) should have the same damage reduction as iron (same damage for weapons), but either be heavier or have a higher DX reduction.

David Bofinger · 06-19-2024, 07:14 AM

I toyed with rating armour in sixths of a point of protection (roll a die for any fraction) and that would have made technology effects or ST dependence a bit more practical. But I'm doubtful anyone cares enough.

hcobb · 06-19-2024, 09:45 AM

Bronze is about 8% heavier than steel with about half the yield strength.

Silver is 33% heavier than steel so Cidri smiths must use a very light metal in their alloy.

Axly Suregrip · 06-19-2024, 07:25 PM

I'm changing my answer.

This makes more sense:

Maybe the point of bronze armor being off by -1 point is that there is no point in bronze chainmail.

So bronze age armors (-damage reduction / -DX reduction):

Cloth -1 / -1
Leather -2 / -2
Bronze Half-Plate -3 / -4
Bronze Plate -4 / -5

Bronze Half-Plate will be the bronze age breast plate and greaves.

06-09-2024, 08:01 AM	#1
hcobb Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Pacheco, California	Unusual materials for items Duracrystal - Weapons and armor made of this material are non magnetic and cost fifty times more than steel items, but are enchanted in the same way. They are twice as durable as steel items. They stop the same number of hits when used as armor or shields, but it takes twice as many hits to destroy the item itself and they have half the chance to be broken as steel items. When made into shields they are given a one-way mirror polish so that the user can see through their own shield, reducing the DX penalty of the shield by one. __________________ -HJC

06-18-2024, 10:14 AM	#2
David Bofinger Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Sydney, Australia	Re: Unusual materials for items TFT has a problem with materials. Bronze armour is not as good as iron (or steel?) armour, but really none of them is better than leather armour or cloth, except that there is more of it. Unless you fix this problem it's always going to be weird talking about the superiority of one material over another. But I don't see a clean way to fix it.

06-19-2024, 07:14 AM	#4
David Bofinger Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Sydney, Australia	Re: Unusual materials for items I toyed with rating armour in sixths of a point of protection (roll a die for any fraction) and that would have made technology effects or ST dependence a bit more practical. But I'm doubtful anyone cares enough.

06-19-2024, 09:45 AM	#5
hcobb Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Pacheco, California	Re: Unusual materials for items Bronze is about 8% heavier than steel with about half the yield strength. Silver is 33% heavier than steel so Cidri smiths must use a very light metal in their alloy. __________________ -HJC

06-19-2024, 07:25 PM	#6
Axly Suregrip Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Durham, NC	Re: Unusual materials for items I'm changing my answer. This makes more sense: Maybe the point of bronze armor being off by -1 point is that there is no point in bronze chainmail. So bronze age armors (-damage reduction / -DX reduction): Cloth -1 / -1 Leather -2 / -2 Bronze Half-Plate -3 / -4 Bronze Plate -4 / -5 Bronze Half-Plate will be the bronze age breast plate and greaves.