Hi

In Sagatafl, all weapons have a Durability value, derived from the
weapon's size (Medium size, equivalent to shortsword, is optimal) and
type (sword-like, polearm-like, staff-like, axe-like...), and what
material it is made from. This is then modified according to the
craftsmanship quality, and can be further modified by magic that adds a
temporary (spell or Power) or permanent (Enchantment) bonus to the
Durability.

Thus it is metaphysically possible to make a broadsword out of gold.
Just make the sword, then Enchant it with a huge Durability bonus such
that the final Durability is equal to that of a broadsword made of
primitive steel.


But how *much* lower should the Durability be of weapons made of more
reasonable metals such as bronze, silver or copper?

Sagatafl's Durability scale is fairly coarse-grained.

"Iron", the game-mechanical term for primitive steel, has no Durability
modifier. "Steel", the game-mechancial term for more sophisticated
steel, has a +1 Durability bonus. "Advanced Steel", meaning
post-medieval steel (which should be sufficiently good that useable
rapiers can be made of it) has a +2 Durability modifier, and modern
steel alloys have a +3 modifier, and perhaps +4 for really expensive
NASA-grade alloys (such as the "magic" sword depicted in John
Christopher's "Sword of the Spirits" YA post-apocalyptic science fition
trilogy).


I'm thinking bronze should be -1, but is that proper, or should it be
-2? Or even be +0? (Keep in mind, this is for making swords and similar
weapons out of it - not making armour.)

What about silver? Should it be -1 or -2, or even -3? What about copper?

I've decided that in the Ärth setting, "meteoric iron" is a
fantastically good weapons alloy, equivalent to advanced steel (+2
bonus), because it's cool and it simulates many *myths* about the
material, even though realistically meteoric iron should probably be a
mere +0, perhaps with a tiny degree of rustproofness relative to ordiary
"iron".

So that's the scale. Where should I place silver, bronze and copper?
(Information about other metals and alloys, such as gold, is welcome,
but not badly needed.)

--
Peter Knutsen
sagatafl.org