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

[The Little Raven]

Ironically, steel contains more of the element iron than cold iron actually does. In fact, most of the things we associate with iron these days are actually steel or cast iron (cold iron which has been melted and poured into a mold). Cold iron is what we know is wrought iron. The best way to think about cold iron is not as a thing, but is a process, a very low-tech process. It must be produced from iron ore over a charcoal fire. The resulting lump of black-gray material can then be forged (hammered) into useful shapes. Cold iron weapons are heavier, softer, more brittle than steel and lose their edge more quickly.

 

[MerakSpielman]

I suppose, in a magical world, there's no reason to exclude refining iron ore without heat.

As a matter of fact, isn't there a "fabricate" spell that could make a sword out of iron ore in moments, no forge, no heat, no smith. Just magic.

Why can't somebody research a 2nd or 3rd level spell called "Refine Ore?"

I guess we'll all just have to wait and see...

 

[Alzrius]

I have a vague memory of a 2E Planescape product that included cold forges for making cold iron. Does anyone else recall this?

Wasn't that in the Planewalker's Handbook? Or maybe The Inner Planes...

 

[Vaxalon]

Until something canon comes out, here's how I'll handle "Cold Iron"...


Creating a weapon of cold iron requires three things: Great strength, unusual tools, and a very high grade of ore.

The finest grade of iron ore must be procured. Not one mine in a hundred produces this ore, and from those mines that produce it, not one pound in a hundred is fine enough.

The refining process must be done without the use of magic or fire. The ore is placed in a press, and squeezed the way one would squeeze cider from apples or wine from grapes. The pressure forces out the impurities, which appear on the surface as a crust of yellow and gray particles. These must be cut or abraded away to reveal the pure iron.

The resulting iron is hammered into shape without the use of a forge. Successfully doing this requires superhuman strength. The smith's strength must be 24+1 per pound of weight. This means that most cold iron is worked by giants, or by exceptionally strong humans backed up by powerful magic.

 

[AuraSeer]

Until something canon comes out, here's how I'll handle "Cold Iron"...

Before 3.5E comes out, there's no reason to have cold iron at all. When it does come out, it will have rules for creating/working the stuff.

What's the point in developing house rules for it now?

 

[The Little Raven]

Creating a weapon of cold iron requires three things: Great strength, unusual tools, and a very high grade of ore.

And according to real life, you'd need a charcoal fire.

The finest grade of iron ore must be procured. Not one mine in a hundred produces this ore, and from those mines that produce it, not one pound in a hundred is fine enough.

The funny thing about this statement is that cold iron is not a fine metal, it is one of the most primitive metals made. It is in all ways inferior to steel.

Except in the fantasy realm.

The refining process must be done without the use of magic or fire. The ore is placed in a press, and squeezed the way one would squeeze cider from apples or wine from grapes. The pressure forces out the impurities, which appear on the surface as a crust of yellow and gray particles. These must be cut or abraded away to reveal the pure iron.

A press is not going to separate two chemically bonded materials; quite the opposite, in fact. Compressing it all together would not force anything out.

The resulting iron is hammered into shape without the use of a forge. Successfully doing this requires superhuman strength. The smith's strength must be 24+1 per pound of weight. This means that most cold iron is worked by giants, or by exceptionally strong humans backed up by powerful magic.

Without heat, the metal is inflexible and brittle, and all those blows would merely weaken it until it would snap.

 

[green slime]

Great stuff mourn....

Do you complain about taking falling damage as well? Or any of the other fantastic materials available, where do they fit on the table of elements?

Getting things dropped on your head from above causing stupid, non-realistic amounts of damage, or taking subdual damage while submerged breathing water, are other samples, of more rediculous rules IMO, as they imply a greater discrepancy from RL physics, rather than a some minor changes to the properties of a single metal.

Or hit points at all, for that matter? There isn't a guy in the universe who wouldn't die from one well aimed knife stab. But the DnD universe is full of heroic dudes who just laugh at such.

I thought Vaxalon's ideas are great, whether it would actually WORK in RL or not, I couldn't care less. It is a freakin' game!!!

You want Real Life, turn your PC off, and go outside for some fresh air!

 

[Pax]

I couldn't agree with you more, GS.

In a world of magic, where real dragons roam the land, and real demons pop out of ancient ruins to chit-chat and talk shop with real evil wizards who cast real spells, while real dwarves mine for real mithril and real dryads discuss the latest weather with real satyrs ...

... WTH is the problem, after all, with a little real fantasy metallurgy ... ?

 

[Zhure]

Isn't a well-placed steak knife either a coup de grace, a critical hit, or a sneak attack? Any of those will explain a one-shot steak-kabob death.

OTOH, we're d4 commoners in a modern world and a 1d4 dagger can one-shot us as is.

Trying to relate the real world to a fantasty system is bad.

Trying to understand how a fantasy metal is made is a good thing. I contend that cold iron is the same as regular iron, as opposed to steel.

Greg

 

[MerakSpielman]

Mourne's point is that sure, the fantasy world makes up stuff that doesn't exist in the real world.

But nowhere does it say that when you try to do something without any sort of magic that the laws of science somehow work differently than it does here.

The closest they get are rules approximations for when something "realistic" would just be too complicated and no fun to play.

Do they talk about the refining process for mithril? The tools needed to carve and strengthen Darkwood? No. I have a feeling the creation of a cold iron weapon will be handwaved as "materials costing 500gp and a week of crafting. Craft Weapon DC 25." The numbers are wrong, I'm sure, but that's all we're going to get. Numbers.