...hemogoblins? 
Hmmm...one can see why a “mad wizard” might create a rust monster in such a setting.
Hmmm...one can see why a “mad wizard” might create a rust monster in such a setting.
D&D 5E Setting Idea: Bronze Age Utopia
Baron Opal II
Hero
In modern terms-
Phosphor bronze is your typical Cu / Sn alloy. There's a smidgen of phosphorus to increase wear resistance.
Bismuth bronze swaps out some tin for bismuth. This makes it more workable, and can take an exceptional polish. Excellent for mirrors. The Incas new how to work it, some examples were found in Peru. Leaded bronze is similar, I think.
Nickel-Silver is a Cu / Ni bronze with up to 30% nickel. Very corrosion resistant, and silvery. I would like to say this showed up in Germany / Alpine region, but I may be misremembering that as there are a lot of nickel deposits there. This was also known to the Chinese.
Arsenical bronze can be silvery like Nickel-Silver, takes work hardening better and doesn't get as brittle as phosphor bronze. It is also the only naturally occurring, mineable bronze. Oldest examples are from the Caucuses, I think?
Corinthian bronze was the best bronze, but if it existed none has survived to modern times. This may have been an alloy of Cu, Au, Sb, Sn. Hepatizon also was known Hellenistically, but I don't think we have samples of that either.
Phosphor bronze is your typical Cu / Sn alloy. There's a smidgen of phosphorus to increase wear resistance.
Bismuth bronze swaps out some tin for bismuth. This makes it more workable, and can take an exceptional polish. Excellent for mirrors. The Incas new how to work it, some examples were found in Peru. Leaded bronze is similar, I think.
Nickel-Silver is a Cu / Ni bronze with up to 30% nickel. Very corrosion resistant, and silvery. I would like to say this showed up in Germany / Alpine region, but I may be misremembering that as there are a lot of nickel deposits there. This was also known to the Chinese.
Arsenical bronze can be silvery like Nickel-Silver, takes work hardening better and doesn't get as brittle as phosphor bronze. It is also the only naturally occurring, mineable bronze. Oldest examples are from the Caucuses, I think?
Corinthian bronze was the best bronze, but if it existed none has survived to modern times. This may have been an alloy of Cu, Au, Sb, Sn. Hepatizon also was known Hellenistically, but I don't think we have samples of that either.
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Baron Opal II
Hero
Oh, and as a follow-up, it is theorized that the toxicities inherent in working with arsenic and tin are inspirations for the "lame smith" archetype (e.g. Hephestus, Volund). There are some neurologic issues that crop up...
Ghost mirrors are a Japanese mirror made from a leaded bronze that have a cool effect.
Arsenical bronze can be yellow, too. It's a specific mix that can look silvery / steely. Crocea Mors may have been arsenical bronze.
Tin, arsenic, and antimony are hardening additives, zinc is softening. Brass can take, but not hold, an edge.
Ghost mirrors are a Japanese mirror made from a leaded bronze that have a cool effect.
Arsenical bronze can be yellow, too. It's a specific mix that can look silvery / steely. Crocea Mors may have been arsenical bronze.
Tin, arsenic, and antimony are hardening additives, zinc is softening. Brass can take, but not hold, an edge.
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