Let me think about it, and discuss with some other GMs. My gut reaction is probably not, because it already replaces so much of Forging. Would you be willing to pick up a Weaponsmithing tech for it? I could maybe justify giving more variability if you already have knowledge of some appropriate technique, and it doesn't replace as much of Forging if you have to interact with the system to get the techs.

Javac
That one guy

If you have questions or comments in regard to this post please email me at DR-JAVAC@play.net.

Weaponcraft Metallurgy, Weaponcraft Theory, Weaponcraft Acumen, Metal Weapon Tempering, Weapon Balancing, and Weapon Honing are all prime candidates for adding additional summon weapon abilities.

I'd love some real flexibility for diving deep and getting Acumen. tweaking balance and suitability, shifting around damage or FoI, tweaking weight and density.

Thanks for considering it!

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"Game balance is sobbing over in the corner as it considers the ramifications of AoE Blufmor Garaen. Your spell slots send their condolences." - GM Raesh

>>I currently don't do anything with forging, but I'd be far more interested in using it if the techniques also paid dividends in my summoning.

If you're saying you'd like to see forging techs influence summoned weapon quality, this is already the case.

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Uzmam! The Chairman will NOT be pleased to know you're trying to build outside of approved zones. I'd hate for you to be charged the taxes needed to have this place re-zoned. Head for the manor if you're feeling creative.

> "That's awesome! I need to do that."

I think crafting is something that won't appeal to everyone. I have one character that I want to be the god of crafting (albeit at a glacial pace). I want them to be the best at it for no other reason than being able to do it.

I couldn't care less about it on my other characters, save a few very specific exceptions:

- Arrange all (usually in engineering).
- Repair techs (leather, armor, weapons, and tools).
- Weapon techs (Warrior Mage, definitely, and moon mage, maybe).
- Leather, basic weapon crafting (necro, because I want it to be more or less self-sufficient - not a good gameplay choice, but an RP one).

>>I don't know for sure if my opinion is a critique of summoning not being something amazing or the crafting system not engaging my interests. It is just my own view on the subject.

Summoning has two nice features, weapons and familiars. Pathways need broadening (like into other skills, or being elemental based, since TM isn't our wheelhouse anymore). Barrage is very lackluster, but there's a nice thread of suggestions (splash damage ftw) a few pages back.

The decision of being able to fine tune summoned weapons requiring weaponsmithing techniques was done as a preventative measure of eliminating the need to craft/buy said weapons for (I think) the largest guild in the game, and it gave the system something more dynamic than X ranks = Y quality. Do I think they nailed it? No, but it's pretty close to where it needs to be. Personally I'd like techniques to allow earlier access, but higher weapon and summoning ranks to also be usable. (i.e. T3@200 T4@500 T5@1000) There are more important fish to fry than broadening summon weapon access though, in my opinion.

Crafting is, like many systems in Dragonrealms, quite repetitive. It's a more transparent system, so some players enjoy diving deep into the mechanics of input -> output, plus the access to rare stuff. Alchemy isn't done yet, and remedies are very useful, but very boring in terms of crafting. (Do you have the skill? Here ya go). I think once cooking and poisons are released, Alchemy will round out a bit.



I do know that with the technique and rare ingot, a 6 density tier 5 fiery scimitar and Mark of Arhat will do the same damage as a tyrium cutlass (which the mundane version outclasses). It's not always the case, but it's still nice to know that with the right setup, we can wreck face like a barbarian, but with outer fire.

And.. there's this.

The branded lines of fire on a kra'hei hatchling flare a brilliant blue-white!
< You slice a fiery scimitar at a kra'hei hatchling. A kra'hei hatchling fails to evade.
The scimitar lands a heavy strike that combusts the throat and larynx causing smoke to issue from the hatchling's mouth.
A kra'hei hatchling's tail thrashes as it venomously hisses out its last breath.
The fiery marks branding a kra'hei hatchling slowly fade away.
[You're nimbly balanced]
[Roundtime 3 sec.]

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"Game balance is sobbing over in the corner as it considers the ramifications of AoE Blufmor Garaen. Your spell slots send their condolences." - GM Raesh