D&D 3E/3.5 [semi-OT] [semi-3.5] What is "Cold Iron?"

[MerakSpielman]

It is just forged iron? Susceptible to rust and all that?

 

[AuraSeer]

In other rules systems I've played, it's iron that has been worked without heating. If you took a chunk of iron ore, and beat it into a sword using pure muscle, you'd have a cold iron weapon that got bonuses against certain enemies. If you ever used a blacksmith's forge to heat the metal and make it easier to work, it would cease to be "cold iron" (even after it cooled).

In D&D I'd expect there to be a bit more to the requirement. Maybe you'll need special iron to start with, or some such.

 

[Zhure]

http://www.uow.edu.au/commerce/econ/modbusiness/Iron & steel.pdf

 

[MerakSpielman]

That link didn't help much, zhure.

The only reference to "cold iron" was when talking about the forging of pig iron, and seemed to be referring to the iron ingots after they cool off.

I.e., it describes "cold" iron as opposed to "hot" iron, and I don't think that's what is intended by the phrase...

 

[Zhure]

Sorry, lol.

Best I can find on a quick search and based on my understanding:

Cold Iron is iron ore that's not an alloy, not steel, but iron ore that's smelted and skimmed then cooled, then worked from that state. All "cold iron" weapons have to be heated to be melted.

Greg

 

[Enkhidu]

Zhure's right - Cold iron is iron that doesn't have carbon impurities added for strength (which makes iron into steel).

 

[isoChron]

Zhure's right - Cold iron is iron that doesn't have carbon impurities added for strength (which makes iron into steel).

So something like the gladius of the ancient rome legions ?
That kind of "metal bar" that had to be straightened every two strikes because it's so ductile ? Or the javelins with the tips that could be used only ones (for the "don't-throw-it-back" reason... ) ? Why should I buy or fight with such a primitive weapon ? If not for the reason to overcome the DR of some critters ?

And how will you ever get Iron ???? Remember : Iron Ore is an oxid of iron and must be reduced to iron using reducing agent like ... coal ! There you get a heated (even melted) iron with a high carbon content (not steel, more like cast iron, but melted).
OK, some meteors are made of metal (iron and nickel in general) but this would be meteoric iron (another categorie of DR I guess).

I am very curious what kind of iron that "cold iron" will be.
Well we will see ... *counting the days*
BYE

 

[Silver Surfer]

Or the javelins with the tips that could be used only ones (for the "don't-throw-it-back" reason... ) ? Why should I buy or fight with such a primitive weapon ? If not for the reason to overcome the DR of some critters ?

IIRC, the "don't-throw-it-back"-reason was only one of two, the other was the "Oops-I-got-a-bent-Javelin-in-my-Shield-and-can't-use-it-anymore"-reason. That's what the pilum was designed for: to overcome the feared greek phalanx, a heavy infantry with mighty tower shields. The romans would throw their pili in the "first round", but not to kill their enemies directly. The greek of course tried to block the missile with their shields, and the pilum got stuck. Because the tip was made of soft (cold?) iron, the spear bent and was impossible to remove quickly, which rendered the shield useless and the phalanx defenseless.

/closes ancient roman military tactics book/

regarding cold iron, I found a (german) passage here. I try to translate: Iron ore is melted by use of coal burning, the result is raw iron, with a rather high carbon content (4%, makes the iron brittle). The smith refines the raw iron by heating it strongly, thereby reducing the carbon content to 0.6-1.5% (steel) or 0.5% (wrought iron). Wrought iron can be formed in the warm or in the cooled state. The product of the latter process would be called cold iron.

But somehow I doubt it will be so easy to acquire in 3.5

 

[smetzger]

I believe it was called cold wrought iron in 1e.

 

[nameless]

I believe that the myths of Sidhe call for cold iron, which is the same as wrought iron. It contrasts with cast iron, which is completely melted and then formed into the desired shape.

As far as the myth goes, stuff that's considered cold iron can be worked with heat, but it can't be made into steel. Basically, the simplest/most primitive process of iron smelting produces cold iron. More advanced processes make steel or cast iron.