Grodin's Tome of Smithing

Welcome
This document will teach you core information about smithing
and discover how to implement Crafting in your world, as well Expanding your World
as decide how much impact it has in your story. You can also
This supplement lists out materials that can be renamed,
use this to construct treasure for your party, giving depth to
modified, or expanded to fit your world. Depending on your
your world and expanding various aspects. Determining
world's technology level you can adjust their rarity, or even
material availability, or even tying certain effects to nations and
make crafting easier in some ways.
cultures.
There are many other metals and their variations that are
used in construction, jewelry, and elsewhere, but this
The Medieval Smiths supplement focuses only on equipment usage.
In medieval times smiths were commonplace, essentially nearly
every village had at least one smith who would create various Guilds
everyday tools, door knobs, nails, horseshoes, household
Crafting Guilds and similar organizations are an important part
objects, door hinges, gates and sometimes weapons. Few even
of craftsmen life. Many joined one when young and became
made jewelry or torture devices. They produced items for
apprentices to a Master who was unlikely to be lenient as they
common people as well as for clergy, nobles, and knights.
were the ones taking financial risk. The guilds don't have to be
Blacksmiths affected the local economy with their work and
strictly focused on smithing, or crafting alone. It wasn't
were often found in village and town councils. In cities and
surprising that guilds were formed for merchants, musicians,
towns most belonged to a Guild through which they learned
craftsmen, and people from other professions. On other
their craft as an apprentice and ranked up until they were
extreme in some places there were guilds as narrow as solely
ready.
for nailmakers, knifemakers, horseshoe makers, and many
Blacksmiths living in castles were in charge of producing
other niches. If not within guild, smithing was passed down
weapons and armor for their knights and men at arms, and
within family.
blacksmiths were an important part of the army for making
The Master himself would have been raised through the
new weapons, maintaining and repairing equipment, and
Guild ranks in such manner, which was designed to forge
creating new arrowheads.
quality blacksmiths as well as to regulate the number of
Some monks in monasteries and abbeys were also
workers to reduce competition and preserve the prestige of the
blacksmiths.
business.
While blacksmiths were usually not aware of exact chemical
It is interesting to note the basic parallels between smiths at
processes happening during smithing like in the modern age,
this stage and the same process of advancement for young
they still recognized patterns and processes at a larger scale,
knights seeking recognition. The industry itself, like many
and their understanding of metallurgy and smithing grew with
others, assumed legitimacy by creating a guild that was
time.
administered by the Masters which served the purpose of
Skilled blacksmiths carried a prestige for the high quality regulating the number of smith apprentices permitted and the
items they produced, armorers were usually commissioned by materials allowed.
the upper class that could afford armor as armor was measured
and made precisely for the person wearing it.
During wartime it was common that all blacksmiths had to Ancient versus new?
fulfill a quota of weapons and shields for their lord, some One of main tropes of D&D is fallen advanced civilizations and
required armors made to fit a range of people - often that was recovering their powerful and technologically advanced relics.
chainmail. It is smith's direct exposure to war that advances The trope is usually opposite of reality where technological
equipment and innovation in an army as advantage in the battle advancement comes with age. With few exceptions. It is
can mean everything, so it is no wonder Lords value their important to keep this in mind to decide if you are
blacksmiths. rediscovering old ways or discovering new ways. Being aware
of this will help you distribute treasure, materials, schematics,
theories, and such.
Real Smithing A fall of an Empire, the rough passage of time, or an
This supplement will summarize every step of the apocalyptic event can cause knowledge to be lost, artifacts to be
process, but depending on your player's buried within the forgotten ruins, and experts to pass away.
investment you might want to look a bit deeper
into real smithing. Videos will help a lot!
 Smithing
Crafting in pratice

Crafting Example
The Preparation Stage
Here we determine what the player character wants, what is available in the world, and any bonuses.

1. Krodin is a level 6 fighter and wants to make a good Breastplate for himself with focus on Defense. He still has 1 Passion he did not
spend.
2. The party goes through the marketplace and private merchants to look for materials. The DM calls for a Persuasion or Investigation
check to look for resources for sale.
3. Materials vary and can be expensive, so from presented options Krodin picks Steel.
4. Since he has family in the city and his brother is a smith, he will use the Workshop while the brother is away.
5. For Breastplate he needs 6 Units of Steel, so he purchases them for a total of 300g, a standard price since there is no scarcity or
abundance of it.
6. The smithing will take ten days, and DC is +2 due to Breastplate being top tier of medium armor.
7. Krodin is proficient with Smith's Tools, due to his level his proficiency bonus is +3. The proficiency bonus means his Smith level is 3.
8. Base crafting DC is 14. He wants one effect which adds +3. Breastplate is +2. This sets DC to 19, which is not that easy.
9. With his Constitution modifier of +4, he has a total of +7 bonus to the roll.

The Crafting Stage

We begin the crafting process, and days start to go by hammering away. The DM describes the process beautifully throughout and calls
for a check halfway through.

1. With everything ready, Krodin begins to craft the item and rolls d20+7 against DC19.
2. On a success, Krodin makes the item! The DM can look over the Defense Effects and roll a d8 (ignoring non-applicable effects), or
while describing the process can ask Krodin in which direction does he want to take the item, offering several suggestions. With one
picked, the item is finished!
3. On a failure Krodin could spend his singular Passion to beat the DC if he rolled close enough, reroll, or go into Event Stage.
4. On a critical success (higher by 5) or by spending Passion to push it into a critical success, he goes into Event Stage for an
opportunity to gain another Effect.

The Event Stage

This serves as a safety net or an opportunity, as well as making the process more fun and engaging. The core DCs and Smith levels
balance the resulting item, the Event Stage helps the story be memorable.

1. As you describe the smithing process you can ask Krodin how he approaches certain processes to get an idea which Event category
will happen. Or have him roll a d6.
2. From the event options within the category, the DM picks the one that seems most appropriate for the environment and the
character.
3. Give the extended prompt to the player character and let them think of solutions. You can see solution samples and event ideas
listed out.
4. Once they figure out the possible solution they have to beat the same crafting DC again. Let them roll with Smith's tools (any
appropriate stat), or with whatever check is appropriate for their solution.
5. On a success they either successfully complete their item, or if this was an opportunity they gain another Effect!
6. If it is another Effect, you can think of what would be appropriate result given their applied solution, bring out a material Effect, or
roll the category and pick one within.
7. On a failure, the item does not gain the desired effect(s).
The Preparation
1. Pick the base equipment as template
The Effects will be placed upon this item, or if there are no 2. Materials
effects this is what you will create.
Apart from the materials the characters find as treasure during
2. What materials are you using and how many do you
their adventures, they can look for materials available in a
require?
location. Be it a large city, a single village, or a small region.
Check which materials you have, and which ones can you
obtain. Ensure that you have enough of it, and optionally grab
Availability and pricing
extra in case you have to redo.
Mining sources such as mining towns, outposts, and mining
3. Pick the Effect Type Category. companies usually have the lowest prices if there are any
Decide Effect Types you want on the item, and how many. This sellable materials left, as most shipments and routes are
determines the DC. Alternatively pick which magic item you already established. Depending on the location the ore
want to make. might not even be extracted and refined yet, and would
4. Determine Workshop and crafting duration require such process. The price of materials in these areas is
Having access to an appropriate workshop is important, so one step lower.
make sure everything is ready. And finally check the crafting Nearby towns that use the materials, and cities that have
duration. large shipments will have the standard listed prices.
Closest city that heavily relies on the material will fluctuate
1. Base Templates between cheap and expensive.
Cities far away and few towns out of the trade routes might
Units of material needed, crafting time, and any DC modifier. have the materials available at one step higher price due
to scarcity or high shipments costs. But often any place that
Armor doesn't actually need the special materials will not have it.
Someone might actually have it, but require a favor in return
Armor Units Time DC instead of coin.
Light armors, Shield 2 3 days
For the rare materials there might be certain individuals who
> Studded leather 4 5 days +2 can supply them, such as some important NPCs in your
campaign, or they might know where to go about obtaining
Medium Armors 4 7 days
them. A small adventure of its own like a cross-planar city,
> Breastplate, Half Plate 6 10 days +2 buried mines, and even the Underdark.
Heavy Armors 6 15 days Usually a single Investigation or Persuasion check will suffice
in finding available materials, and you have the option to add
> Plate Armor 8 30 days +2 complexity and layers.

Weapon Salvaging Materials

Weapons Units Crafting You can also obtain materials by salvaging them from their
natural occurring nodes, from creatures, or by breaking down
d4 , ammo x10 1 2 days
existing items. The GM can decide how many units of material
d6 2 4 days are on the target by standard, as well as the time required for
extraction.
d8, d10 3 5 days
Salvaging DC: 14 + 3 per Material rarity.
d12 4 7 days A low roll yields 1 unit less as it wastes a portion or grants poor
quality materials, while a much higher roll yields 1 unit more.

Mining takes a long time and focuses on mining and following

the ore vein, checking for cave-ins and weak stone/earth/sand
pockets, gas issues, dealing with burrowing creatures or
entombed forgotten ones. Afterwards the heavy ore is
transported elsewhere for refining or manufacture. It can be a
small adventure on its own, including requesting permission to
mine in the location or dealing with the authorities afterwards,
and making sure everyone involved is satisfied with their share.
Breaking down items removes all Smithing effects from
them, and reduces 1 Enchanting effect.
Special flames
Some rare materials need special fire in order to be softened
enough for shaping, often sung about in mythical tales, such as:
Dragon's Fire, Fire Elemental, Hellfire, Magical fire.
Alternatively an ember or coal with unique properties will
work as well, harvested from different planes, or even
creatures. Example is a Salamander's Ember.
Refining ore
In case of heavy unrefined ore that has been mined, it needs to
be purified after which the quality needs to be assessed. This
takes 1d4 days, or 2d4 if there is high amount of Units. Some
ore can be particularly difficult or take a very long time to
process, which is noted in the material section.
Creating alloys
Some listed metals are alloys that must be created if they aren't
purchased in such a state. A smith often experiments with
different ratios or combinations to gain a better understanding
of the material.
Creating alloys is Smith's Tools (Wis or Int) check.
Each alloy material shows the DC. On failure you either make
a lower quality of that alloy, or lose 25% Units (min 1).
3. Effect Types & Smithing
The smith describes what Effects they want for the item and
how many, the GM can let them know the core six categories.
If the smith is very specific the effect is likely not going to be
exact as described, but similar enough. The amount of Effects
they can place is determined by their Crafting Level. As they
craft with time they will learn about possible effects. You can
have them discover effects slowly and keep crafting mysterious,
or give them the full list. You know your group best.
Crafting Level
Your Crafting Level equals your Proficiency Bonus if you are
proficient with Blacksmith's Tools. If you have half-proficiency
it counts as half (rounded down).
Crafting level determines how many Effects can you
place on an item you are crafting.
Crafting Level unlocks:
0: Basic maintenance
1: Simple items and small repairs
2: PHB items
3: Items with 1 effect, common magic items
4: Items with 2 effects, uncommon magic items
5: Items with 3 effects, rare magic items
6: Items with 4 effects, very rare magic items
Effect Categories
Item Quality
These are the general +1, +2, +3 boosts on an item. They cost
multiple Effect.
Offense
Increasing the amount of damage the item does, and generally
improving the character's offensive capabilities.
Defense
Reducing the amount of damage the character receives, and
generally improving their defensive capabilities.
Versatility
Gaining new usage options with the item, ease of use.
Example
A high level smith wants a make a Longsword with Offense 2,
Versatility 1.
But they have previously crafted 'Massive' (Offense) so they
decide Massive will be one of the two Offense effects.
Passion
Every Smith gets a point of Passion every 5 levels.
The GM can also give Passion when a character really invests
themselves into crafting for a long time, a large character
development happens that they reflect in the moments of
smithing, or even internal conflicts and emotional investments
that they bring out during crafting.
You can spend a point of Passion to gain Advantage or +3
on your Crafting roll, or gain Advantage on a roll with an item
you have crafted, before or after you have seen the results of
the roll.
Optional adjustments
If you use Inspiration, you can merge Passion into
it. If you want players to make their own items
more often, set them to gain Passion every 4 levels
instead.

Optional rule: Manuals
Manuals come in forms of schematics and ancient tomes that
guide the crafter through creation of an item or enchantement.
In your world they might be incredibly rare, or nearly
commonplace.
X Manual: Your Crafting level is considered 1 higher for the
purposes of crafting this item, and you gain +3 for crafting it.
Manuals can be specific and require a certain Item Base with
two specific effects, or can be a loose theory book of a
particular Effect that will only grant the dice bonus.
4. Workshop
Smith's tools can be used for minor adjustments, repairs, and
maintenance of weapons on the road, but for the majority of
crafting a fully outfitted workshop is needed.
A character can try to rent one from a friendly guild, a
merchant company, or see if there are any smiths who are not
actively using it and could rent it out to you.
Eventually the smith might even have a Workshop of their
own.
The Workshop Tools
The smith's bread and butter is their furnace, anvil, hammers,
tongs, punches. Other common tools are chisels, axes, swages,
drifts, sledge hammers, nails, and molds for making popular
everyday items.
Assistants
Your fellow party members and friendly NPCs can be your
assistants during the crafting process, and so can be one of
many craftsmen hirelings you can hire. An Assistant has to be
there for at least half of the process to count.
Having 1 assistant: Reduces crafting time by 20%
Having 3+ assistants: Reduces crafting time by 33%
Apprentice Assistant: Equal or 1 lower Crafting Level, gain
+1 to roll (applies once).
Master Assistant: Higher Crafting Level than you, gain +2
to roll (applies once).
Spells: Not many spells can be helpful to a Smith for extended
periods of time, requiring constant re-casting and often
distracting them. Enhance Ability comes to mind as a possible
spell the party might use to help out. If someone focuses on
casting constantly on the Smith, you can count them as an
Apprentice Assistant as long as they help them around the
workshop, even if they are not proficient.
Long-term employees
If you are keeping assistants hired for a long time, they can craft
items for you and earn you gold. They use their own statistics
for crafting rolls, with you granting them bonuses instead:
Head Smith: You grant your assistants a bonus to their
crafting roll equal to the difference in your Crafting Level, as
long as you spend 10% of the craft time with them during it.
Instructing them during the planning or crafting phase. If you
are available during the Event phase you can also give them the
bonus then.
Apprentice Hireling costs
1gp per day for Crafting level 1, roll modifier +3 to +4.
3gp per day for Crafting level 2, roll modifier +4 to +5.
5gp+ per day for Crafting level 3, roll modifier +6 to +7.
Most master craftsmen go on and establish their own smithy
once they are skilled enough to finish their apprenticeship,
some go ahead and run their own stores, join guilds to rank up,
or begin exclusively working for nobility. Hiring and even
meeting them will be more difficult, as they already have the
skill and enough business sense to charge far more, so tailor
them towards your campaign.
Transfer of items
You can let your assistants send you an item once it is finished,
or have them use a service to send it through them. Careful
though as you risk losing it, depending on the security and
quality of transport. Transport prioritizes the sea, the rivers,
and then the land in that order. A single courier can however
rapidly move through land if transporting something easily
carriable that won't slow down the horses, often using
government or faction horses through an established route,
switching the horse when it tires in order to cross vast amount
of land rapidly.
Crunching
"8 hours is too little, I want to work 10-12h every day!"
Roll Constitution check DC18 to work another 2h. On
failure, you gain a level of Exhaustion. On critical failure you
gain two instead.
If you have apprentices they roll as well.
Workshop qualities
You could have a Workshop+1 that gives a +1
bonus to roll. Alternatively if they are trying to
smith without a workshop, you can grant them
Disadvantage or a flat -5. They are still required to
create a fire powerful enough to forge, which is at
least 750°c / 1400°f.
Material list
1 unit
price Description
COMMON
Copper 3 Used as currency, candlesticks, belt buckles, candelabra, fountains, bells, weighing scales.
Used as currency, in jewelry and tableware items, figurines, decorative house items, and
Silver 30
ornaments..
Currency, used in displays of wealth, power, and fashion. Crowns, altars. reliquaries . It is sought
Gold 300
after for enchanting and spellcasting.
Iron 10 The most commonly found metal.
Bronze 20 An alloy of copper with several variants, can be found in naturally mixed ore. Brass also fits.
Steel 50 An alloy of iron that is difficult to make in large quantities.
UNCOMMON
Superior Steel 400 Steel of exceptional quality, often made by chance and not design.
Glassteel 400 Created by wizards, it is glass with properties of steel. Nobility uses it for securing windows.
Cynabryl Steel 400 Has a vermillion (deep red) cast, which can be shined to a blood red colour.
Tungsten 400 Its workability decreases with impurity, advanced metallurgy skills are needed to purify it.
Obsidian 400 A volcanic rock glass, very rarely found far from volcanoes. More often used by tribes.
RARE
Orichalcum 600 A rare ore often mistaken for another. Associated with sun worship.
Darksteel 600 A forgotten alloy of steel, the secret of it is lost with the Dwarven clan that created it.
Cold Iron 600 Iron that never touches fire, must be mined, refined, and forged without it.
Cobalt 800 A difficult material to work with, favored by mage hunters for it's absorbing properties.
Moonsilver 800 Silver blessed by the moon or night deity. Rituals exist to create it, somewhere.
Mithril 800 A very light material favored by the ancient Elven civilizations.
Dragonscale 800 Value varies per scale quality which is determined by dragon's age and scale condition.
Arandzur 800 Natural metal that must be tempered with the blood of an ancient creature.
Adamantite (Drow
800 Adamantium alloy mostly used by the Drow in the Underdark. Two variants exist.
Steel)
VERY RARE
Infernal Iron 1600 Material similar to Iron found in Nine Hells.
Adamantine 1600 Adamantium alloy as crafted by the dwarves and kept a most guarded secret.
Shadowsteel 1600 A difficult alloy to make, found in Shadowfell.
Titanium 2000 A lustrous white metal, any remains and deposits of it are jealously guarded.
Starmetal
2000 Believed to be essence of dead gods, a gift from gods, or a great omen.
(Meteorite)
Scarletite 2000 Cursed ore that is extremely difficult to mine or work with.
Smithing
With the materials prepared, workshop setup for the project,
all tools in order, it is time to begin the crafting process.
Crafting roll
When you are trying to craft an item, roll to check if you are
successful. Using your Smith's Tools (Con).
Crafting DC = 14 + 3 per wanted Effect
On a success you successfully craft the item in the given
timeframe.
If you roll 5 above the DC or fail then you go into the Event
stage.
Example
A young adventurer is level 8, which means Crafting Level 4 due
to proficiency.
If they want to make a Longsword with 2 Offense Effects, the
DC is 20 (14 + 3 + 3).
If they wanted to make a Breastplate instead they would add
+2 DC due to item template. If they were using Cobalt, they
would also gain +2 DC but gain 'Spellcatcher' effect
automatically due to material properties.
This represents how hard it is to make powerful items, keeps
the balance in check by having a limit, and provides evident
character growth over a long period of time.
Attunement
Attunement slot is required for an item that has a total of 3
Effects on it, including automatically gained Effects.
You can increase crafting DC by 2 for each Effect that goes
over that limit in order to still not require Attunement.
Note: The DM can adjust the number to fit their campaign
balance.
Reshaping Item
A smith can make a check to reshape an item into another base
item of the same category as long as it requires same or less
units of material, while keeping all of its effects and magical
properties. This works great with DM granted magical treasure
as it allows the smith to reshape it so someone else can use it.
DC: 14 + item rarity
3 - Uncommon, 6 - Rare, 9 - Very Rare, 12 - Legendary
Splitting it into two items adds a +3 DC.
On success you replace the base item template.
On failure go to Event Stage.
Decorating
You can add 1 unit of decorating material and extend crafting
length by half, or 2 units while doubling the crafting length in
order todecorating the item can make it more impressive or
intimidating. The upper class and certain factions tend to like
such items.
Metal can be folded to show off layers of it, specific chemical
acids can be used to create interesting effects and beautiful
transitions, engravings can be added, ornamental decorations
can be made, and some metal can be poured and baked over
another. Certain items can be completely made for an
ornamental purpose rather than usability in actual combat, but
they still take time to fulfill such complex high profile orders.
Optional: Repairing
This rule helps survival or realistic campaigns. Basic equipment
maintenance takes care of most minor issues, but there is a
chance a larger flaw occurs when fighting powerful foes. Those
need to be carefully repaired with a check. The GM determines
when an item is damaged, likely when a fitting dramatic
situation calls for it, or when there are three bad critical hits
before a short rest. Or to save a weapon that is near a breaking
point.
The Repair check equals the item's original crafting dc, the
smith gets Advantage if they are the one who made it in the first
place.
On a success it is repaired, on failure go into the Event stage.
On failure there, the item is completely broken or gets -1
quality.

Describing Real Smithing
Steps for making metal equipment parts:
1. Heat metal until it obtains the correct forging color.
2. Shape the metal by hammering on the anvil (forging), re-
heat, repeat.
3. Join two same or similar metals (welding) if necessary.
4. Heat treat or quench to get specific hardness.
5. Repeat 1-4 for different pieces if making armor.
6. Combine the pieces (comfortable wood+leather handle,
crossguard, the blade)
7. Use grindstone for smoothness and edge.
8. Extra decorating and polish.
Shaping metal
The fundamental processes of shaping the metal are:
Drawing out, to lengthen the metal.
Upsetting, to shorten the length.
Bending, to give a turn to the shape.
Slitting and punching, to make holes.
Welding, to join two metals together.
Once the furnace is of high enough temperature, the metal is
held with prongs within as the smith carefully judges the colors
of the metal. Gaining a glowing yellow, red, or even white color
as it heats up. Then the smith is ready to start shaping the
metal, initially drawing it out and folding it back in. A process to
draw out ore impurities and spread them out instead of
creating one weakpoint that could crack a blade.
The Heat
Bellows are slowly replacing the old method of the apprentice
blowing air into tubes into the base of the fire to enable the
furnace to reach a high enough temperature. The heat in a
furnance is enough to warm the entire house, and keeping
everyone near it sweating. The shaping process is repeated and
the heat must be maintained throughout it, with each metal
having a different temperature point of becoming soft enough
to be forged.
Quenching is rapid cooling of a hot workpiece, usually
through submerging in water or oil. Water quenching is more
violent due to the much faster cooling rate than oil. While
quenching you usually want to move the piece up and down, as
the intense heat can make a vapor bubble around it. Quenching
is risky as it has a chance the metal will curve a certain way,
something that needs to be addressed afterwards.
Differential hardening: A blade will usually be
differentially hardened which means the the spine or the blunt
side side will be coated with an insulating layer, like clay, while
leaving the edge(s) exposed. When quenched the edge cools
faster and becomes hard, while the coated side cools slower
which keeps it softer. This keeps the spine of the blade more
flexible, while hardening the edge.
Tempering is done to achieve greater toughness by decreasing
the hardness of the alloy by controlled heating of the quenched
work-piece to a temperature below its "lower critical
temperature". Low tempering temperatures may only relieve
the internal stresses, decreasing brittleness while maintaining
a majority of the hardness. Higher tempering temperatures
tend to produce a greater reduction in the hardness, sacrificing
some yield strength and tensile strength for an increase in
elasticity and plasticity.
Grindstone is used to sharpen or adjust the edge. Usually
the smith can sit and spin it up with feet, or the apprentice can
with their hands, becoming fast enough that they can adjust the
edge.
A metal crossguard is also created, after which it is pushed in
place beneath the blade, and a finished wooden handle is
pushed onto the metal length that goes past the base of the
blade, usually nails go through the handle to lock it in place,
with holes places on the metal in advance. Leather is wrapped
around the handle, with some handles having an opening at the
bottom so a metal pommel can be screwed onto and secure the
whole blade.
Optional: Rarity pricing
As every campaign distributes wealth differently you are
encouraged to adjust the pricing of materials to fit your world.
However there is an option to charge for materials based on
rarity of the final item rather than the units, with players
spending gold as they progress through the crafting process.
Rarity Weapon price Armor price
Uncommon 500 to 1,000gp 1,000 to 2,000gp
Rare 4,000gp to 6,000gp 8,000gp to 10,000gp
Very rare 20,000gp to 30,000gp 50,000gp to 80,000gp
Exceptions:
Ammo bundles, d4 weapons, and weakest armors in their
category should be on the bottom of the price range or even
cheaper.
d12 weapons and strongest armors in their category should
be on top of the price range.
Item Effects
Keep smithing a mystery and don't show your players all the
mechanical effects. Instead allow them to explain what they are
trying to accomplish or get, to explore and enjoy the mystery of
smithing and creating powerful items. Let them keep notes, and
slowly explain some options as they grow in their mastery and
find out information and tricks in character.
Explanation
Bolded text= New Effect option
↑= Spend 1 additional Effect to increase bonus to this.
( ) Base item requirement
Item Quality
Weapon: +1/+2/+3 costs 2/4/6 effects.
Armor: +1/+2/+3 costs 3/5/7 effects.
Offense
Weapon
Balanced: Increase to hit by +1 (↑: +2).
Dangerous/Razor Edge: Increase damage by +1 (↑: +2).
Massive: Increase weapon die size by one (↑: two). Increase
Str requirement by 1 (↑: 2).
(Two-handed) Pommel strike: As a bonus action you
can strike your opponent with pommel for 1d4 blunt
damage.
(Axe) Splintering: On critical hit destroy the target's
shield, if no shield then reduce their AC by 1.
(Blunt) Disorienting: On hit, reduce the target's speed by
5ft. (↑: On critical hit, DC15 Con save or fall prone)
(Heavy) Powerful: As a bonus action you can Shove a
Medium or smaller target you hit this turn. (↑: Large or
smaller)
Armor
Spiked: If an enemy rolls a total of 10 or less with their
melee attack, they take 1d4 piercing damage.
(Shield) Slamming: The shield counts as a Light weapon
that can deal 1d4 bludgeoning damage.
Defense
Weapon
Parrying: When enemy rolls a natural 1 on attacking you in
melee range, as a Reaction you may perform an Attack of
Opportunity
(Has a shaft) Supportive: You ignore 5ft from any
movement reduction effects.
Hook & Bait: As a reaction you can move 5ft. If you
provoke an Attack of Opportunity this way, you can perform
Attack of Opportunity as part of this reaction.
Armor
Smooth: Reduce slashing damage by 2 (↑: 3).
Silver lining: Once per short rest you can give
disadvantage to attack of a creature that is vulnerable to
silver (↑: Twice).
(Shield) Gauntlet: Reduce AC gained from this shield by 1.
Unarmed attacks made while wearing it deal 1d4
bludgeoning damage plus strength modifier.
(Shield) Towering: As a bonus action, increase your AC
and Dex save by 1 until the start of your next turn.
(Medium armor) Comfortable: You can sleep in the
armor with ease.
(Non-Light armor) Grounded: Increase the weight of
armor by 10/20 if medium/heavy. Any effect that would
move the bearer against their will is reduced in distance by
5 feet, but the armor gains Disadvantage on Stealth.
Hardened: Reduce all physical damage taken by 1 (↑ 2).
Versatility
Patterned: There are patterns of contrasting metal on the
item.
Scary: You gain +1 to Intimidation (↑: +3)
(Weapon or Shield) Spell focus: The item can be used as
a spell focus for purposes of casting spells, but decrease the
weapon die size or AC by 1. (↑: Weapon die size doesn't
change.)
Weapon
Hook: Advantage on disarming shields with this weapon. (↑
Any held items)
Elongating: As a reaction your weapon gains Reach until
the start of your next turn. Once per short rest. (↑: Twice)
Altered edge: Adjusted or unusual edge. Your weapon die
is 2d4 instead or d8, 2d6 instead of d12. Or vice versa.
(Reach) Danger zone: Your range becomes difficult
terrain.
Footwork: When an enemy moves into your melee range,
you can move 5ft within their range.
Armor
Light-weight: Lower the weight of armor by 5/10/15 if
light/medium/heavy. Reduce strength requirement by 1. (↑:
Remove Disadvantage on Stealth)
Hidden pocket: Get +2 for hiding a small object on
yourself (↑: +4).
Blend in: Get +1 to Stealth checks, once per long rest you
can reroll a Stealth check but must use the new roll. (↑:
twice per long rest)
Event Stage
No creation is the same, and life of adventurers is full of
hurdles. The event stage is where you introduce a dynamic
event that will the affect creation of the item, if they fail the
main crafting roll this allows you to give them an opportunity
to complete their item successfully, or if they have rolled 5
above then they can struggle and push their skill past their
limit to create something truly magnificent.
All Events are different from one another, so assign Smith's
Tools to an attribute fitting for the situation, or even ask for
different skill check depending on Event and their improvized
solution.
Character decides which direction they are taking their item,
and events often influence the final Effects they get.
1. Think about which of the following six categories are most
likely to affect the smith, taking in mind the current location
and context. Or roll a d6 to decide.
2. Within the category find which one is the most suitable for
their situation, turn it into an event and let them find a
solution.
3. Once a fitting solution can be attempted, roll for Crafting
again.
The DC is the same as the main Crafting roll.
On a success the item creation is complete successfully, or the
extra Effect is gained.
On a failure one Effect is lost, or no extra Effect is gained.
Environment
Think about the environment and what could affect to the item
in question. A single check can suffice, an encounter, or even a
short adventure.
Region too cold/warm? Issues with heat, possible metal
cracking or too high flexibility.
Too much magic in the area? Find a way to shield against
it. Strange effects might latch onto the item.
Deity looking over the area, or cursed area? Stabilize
against strange surges of energy, or odd sensations.
Crafting area too crowded? Bad workplace? Minor
work accident, or a longer crafting time.
Distractions from others, sudden interest in
something else? Finish what is taking their focus, and then
continue. Get rid of people.
Material
There can rise issues through the crafting process related to the
materials used.
Combined materials have a unique interaction?
Rebalance the design, or sprinkle in something else to balance
the metal.
Material suddenly needs a stronger fire, or a unique
tool? Improvisation to quickly obtain it.
Material is too hard to shape? Exhaustion, higher
strength or fire needed.
Assistants
Did someone make a mistake? Try to fix their mistake, or
improvize around it.
Did one of them do something weird but interesting?
Go over the design again and ensure it won't break it.
Did you or them get injured during the process? Lose
an assistant temporarily, spend healing spells to get them up.
Crafting
Did the metal crack? Improvize a filler, or redo some steps.
Is the shape still wrong? Adjust the template, spend more
time, or improvize better tools.
Is there too much or too little material? Get more
material, or remove excess.
Did the item end up going completely in a different
direction? Redesign and keep going or spend time
reworking it.
Not aware you're crafting during a special event?
Strange things start happening, find an answer why.
The schematic seems impossible to do, or
contradicts itself ? Improvise or discover correct
information.
Magical
The item requires intense emotion as a part of the
crafting process? How do they channel it?
Strange sprites or spirits appearing? Deal with them.
The magic channel isn't stable? They have to find an
anchor and focus.
An otherworldly creature influences the item from
afar? Talk with the creature or try to ignore it.
Other
Unintentional symbolism? Bring it out or hammer it
away.
Driven by passion and unable to stop working? Check
against exhaustion, hallucinations.
Saboteur? Secure the area, get rid of intruder.
Rumours circle that you're creating something
dangerous? Withstand pressure or confront them.
A local noble or wizard wants to watch you work?
Can you keep calm while answering all their questions?
A smith is convinced you stole their crafting secrets?
Deal with it before it gets out of hand, or focus on crafting.
A noble or king wants the item for themselves and
demands it? Convince them you should keep it.
Quirk Examples
Unusual color
Looks more, or less valuable.
Creates a different noise than it should when used.
Reacts strangely when touched by a specific liquid.
Vulnerable to one specific type of damage.
Faintly glows.
The pattern looks holy, or disturbingly alien.
Materials & Effects
Explanation
✓= Automatically gain this effect.
🔨 = Affects Crafting process.
↑ = Spend 1 additional Effect to increase bonus to this.
Bolded text = New Effect option
( ) Base item requirement
Iron
The most common metal with plenty of versatility. No special
properties, sometimes steel is made from it with someone
knowledgeable or by accident. Different alloys exist, such as Pig
Iron, Wrought Iron, Cast Iron, Mallable Iron, White Iron, Gray
Iron. Some are more brittle, more or less resistant to rust.
🔨 Limited: After the 1st Effect every next Effect adds +2
DC.
Steel
Used or made by smiths with more experience or knowledge
who have at least a partial understanding of metallurgy.
Versatile, with many variants, it is sought after and rarely can
identical steel be found in two different locations.
🔨 Alloy: Requires DC20 to make.
🔨 Semi-limited: After the 2nd Effect every next Effect adds
another +2 DC.
Optional rule: Make Steel the default material for your
weapons and armor if your society is advanced enough.
Bronze
An alloy between copper, small amounts of tin, and other
metals in small amounts. The price of it varies depending on
the quality of the alloy, but it has been used since ancient times.
Supplying a large army with it can be difficult as it requires two
different supply lines, and cutting off one can completely cease
production and severely impact the army. It is also slightly
heavier than iron. Brass is another alloy of copper as well.
🔨 Alloy: Requires DC17 to make.
🔨 Limited: After the 1st Effect every next Effect adds another
+2 DC.
🔨 Enchanting DC -3
Silver
Mainly used as currency, in jewelry and tableware items,
figurines, decorative house items, and ornaments. ✓ Soft:
Count as -2 Item Quality for attack and defense purposes.
✓ Bane: The weapon deals double damage against creatures
that are vulnerable to Silver.
(Weapon) Silver coating: Removes the Soft property from
Silver, Bane also deals 2d6 radiant damage to Shapeshifters.
Gold
Symbol of the rich and often the main currency, Gold is too soft
to be anything more than on display, and is used in displays of
wealth, power, and fashion. Crowns, altars, and reliquaries are
made out of it. It is also sought after for enchanting and
spellcasting.
🔨 Enchanting DC -4:
✓ Royal: Items crafted by Gold look royal, increasing the value
of it.
✓ Soft: Count as -2 Item Quality for attack and defense
purposes.
Glassteel
Glassteel is expensive as only capable wizards can produce it.
The small amounts available are generally used for a variety of
laboratory equipment, windows in wealthy villas, or for an
exotic-looking weapon or armour suit. The exceptionally rare
winged elves prize glassteel, using it for much of their armoury
and architecture (which suggests they have an alternative
supply or means of manufacture).
🔨 In-between: Gain +1 DC for every Effect placed.
Weight reduction: Remove Heavy from weapon or
Disadvantage on Stealth from armor.
(Shield) See-through: As a reaction give disadvantage to a
single Attack of Opportunity against you.
(Armor) Blend in: In snowy environments, gain advantage on
Stealth.
(Weapon) Hard to track: Increase your to hit by +1 for every
attack after the first one, until the end of your turn. (↑: Until the
beginning of your next turn.)
Cynabryl Steel (Red Steel)
Red steel behaves similar to normal steel, in addition it protects
against harmful curses. Cinnabryl steel is hard to enchant due
to its natural effects. Means of creating it are unknown to most.
🔨 Enchanting DC +2
🔨 Semi-limited: After 2nd Effect, every next Effect adds +2
Crafting DC.
✓ Curse resistance: Gain advantage on Saving throws against
curses and hexes.
Blood-red: Gain +2 Intimidation.
Superior Steel
Steel of exceptional quality, often made by chance and not
design.
🔨 Creation DC: To make this alloy, you need to roll DC24
with Smith's Tools (Int or Wis).
Tungsten
Found deep underground and difficult to extract due to its ore,
Tungsten is used in small quantities for alloys with other
metals to increase their toughness and heat resistance. With
sufficient purity it is used to make equipment, however it is
difficult to work with due to its hardness.
🔨 Smithing DC +2:
Obsidian
A brittle volcanic glass, usually only found in towns near a
volcano which increases it's value elsewhere. But it is rarely
used in battle due to its short life span, favored by tribes.
🔨 Hard to work on Every Effect adds +2 DC.
🔨 Enchanting DC -2
✓ Too Brittle: After obsidian armor gets hit by a critical
attack, or obsidian weapon gets critical failure on an attack,
reduce its item quality by 1 until short rest.
✓ Thorns: When you deal damage (weapon), take melee
damage (armor), or are grappled, the target takes additional
1d4 piercing damage.
Cold Iron
A mystical metal, iron that must not be touched by flame and
must be coldforged into the wanted shape. There are difficulties
obtaining it as all ore is refined with fire, and verifying some
iron was not refined by it is almost impossible. Instead of using
the forge the smith must only use the anvil and hammer
without any heat.
🔨 Coldforged: Creating this material from iron ore is a DC25
Smith Tools (Str or Con) check, crafting time is doubled.
✓ Fae Bane: This weapon deals bonus 2d6 necrotic damage
against fae. On armor, Fae must succeed a Wisdom save DC15
or target someone else.
Fae Ender: On armor it gives Fae disadvantage to attacking
you, on Weapon after hitting Fae target it gives them on their
next attack or saving throw.
(Weapon) Fae Hunter: This weapon counts as +1 against Fae,
and you can reroll damage dice that lands on 1 against them.
Darksteel
Darksteel behaves like steel but is lighter, and when coated in
certain oils whose formula is known to few who found the last
remains of it, and heated in even a small fire, it becomes
molten, and can be poured into molds to be cast into a new
shape. Remarkably, darksteel can be melted and recast without
destroying or (usually) altering existing enchantments on the
metal. It has the further property of absorbing all natural and
magical lightning or electrical energy into itself, without
conducting any of it to a wearer or being in contact with it.
✓ Item quality +1
(✓ Armor) Unconductive: Gain resistance to Lighting and
Thunder damage (↑: Immunity.) but reduce your movement
speed by 5ft.
Orichalcum
A dark golden color, this material is a good conduit of magic
and surprisingly durable, unlike gold, it can be often found
paired with it in sun symbolism. The material always feels
warmer to the touch than it should be.
🔨 Enchanting DC -4
✓ Empowering: Gain +1 to Strength and Constitution saves.
(Weapon) Blaze: It deals an additional 1d4 fire damage when
set on fire.
(Armor) Warmth: Gain resistance to Cold damage and
weather. (↑: Immunity.)
Cobalt
This strong material has been favored by mage hunters for it's
magical absorbing properties, however it requires an incredibly
hot non-magical fire to be properly shaped, most often from
lava.
🔨 Crafting DC increased by 2.
🔨 Enchanting DC increased by 4.
✓ Spellcatcher: As a reaction you can reduce spell damage
taken by 1d6 + your proficiency bonus, once per short rest. (↑:
You can halve the damage instead.)
(Armor) Nullify: Once per short rest as a reaction you gain
advantage to a saving throw against a spell effect. (↑:
Permanently)
(Weapon) Disruptor: After hitting the target they have
disadvantage to their next concentration check.
Dragonscale
Obtained from dragons, the scales vary in quality depending on
the age of the dragon and the state of the scale. It is not unusual
for a small surge of the material to arrive to the market after a
dragon is slain, however it is quickly picked away by those
knowing its true value, and collectors with an expensive taste.
✓ Scale quality: If the scale is from Adult dragon, it gains Item
Quality +1. If it is from an Ancient dragon, it gains +2 instead.
✓ Dragon warning: The item glows when a dragon of sthe
ame color the scale is within 5 miles.
(Armor) Element immunity: Gain resistance to the element
of dragon's color. (↑: Immunity.)
(Weapon) Draconic rage: Deal additional 1d6 (element)
damage. The element corresponds to the dragonscale's color.
(↑: 2d6)
Arandzur
Arandzur is a rare natural metal found in igneous rock, usually
as streaks of blue-green ore amid vitreous glass. So that it does
not become as brittle as the glass it is found in, it must be
tempered with the blood of an ancient creature in its forging.
The finished forged metal is silver-blue with a green reflective
shine.
🔨 Enchanting DC -5.
(✓ Weapon or Shield) Spell focus: The item can be used as
a spell focus, but decrease the weapon die size or AC by 1. (↑:
No decrease.)
Empower: Increase Spell attack by 1. (↑: Also increase your
Spell save DC by 1.)
(Weapon) Tremble: Deal 1d6 magic damage with every hit.
(↑: 1d10 instead.)
(Armor) Ley Channels: Gain advantage on Concentration
checks.
Spellslinger: When damaged by a physical spell, your next
attack deals an additional 1d8 damage of the same type.
Adamantite (Drow Steel)
Drow in the Underdark have a bountiful amount of
adamantium ore, and Adamantite is their most used alloy due
to the effects it obtains from the magical radiation (Faerzress).
The process of creating the alloy takes at least a month and can
reach up to a year, after which two variants are revealed - a
successfully radiated one and nonradiated one. This process is
the reason so many of drow equipment loses its properties on
the surface, the non-radiated variant is usually sold or used by
the surface raiders.
(✓ Variant: Radiated): Item Quality +1. Enchanting DC -8. If
exposed to sunlight for a week it loses all of its enchantments,
and takes a month in the underdark to restore them.
(✓ Variant: Non-radiated): Item Quality +1.
Moonsilver
Silver purified through a ritual, often called Alchemical Silver or
Goddesses Tears by some. Moonsilver is silver touched by Luna,
and lends some of Luna's protean nature to the material. Helps
Werewolves control themselves by wearing it, but cutting on it
brings them memories of the betrayal.
🔨 Creating it requires a special ritual or process.
🔨 Enchanting DC -4.
✓ Moontouched: Deal additional 1d6 radiant damage as
weapon, or increase all Saving throws by 1 as armor.
Sacred: When Cleric uses this item to cast Channel Divinity, the
DC is increased by 1.
Mithril
A very light material favored by the ancient Elven civilizations,
a quality grade armor is highly sought after by spellcasters due
to its lack of interference with magic and ease of use, and its
light properties by everyone else.
✓ Item quality +1
✓ Feathery: Remove Stealth disadvantage (on armor), and
Heavy (on weapon).
(✓ Armor) Flexible: Increase Dex range by 1.
(Armor) Gentle wear: Reduce Armor Proficiency
requirement by one step, down to none.
(Non-heavy one-handed) Flowing: Gain the Light (non-
heavy, one handed weapon) or Finesse trait.
(Light one-handed) Cutting wind: Your Two-handed
Fighting attack becomes a part of the Attack action and you
don't spend a Bonus action on it.
Adamantine
A closely guarded secret by the dwarves, their most successful
alloy of incredibly hard to find adamantium ore. It is not
surprising to see them taking up arms over any known deposits
of it, often found warring against the underdark creatures to
guard it.
✓ Item quality +1
(✓ Armor) Enduring: All critical hits are turned into normal
hits against you, gain resistance to non-magical fire and cold.
(✓ Weapon) Superior structure: Add an additional weapon
damage die. (↑: On critical, deal an additional weapon die
damage.)
(Armor) Stand strong: Once per short rest, halve physical
damage taken from a single attack. (↑: Twice.)
(Weapon) Penetrating: Increases your critical hit range to
19.
Infernal Iron
Ore obtained from Nine Hells where it is often used for forging
Soul coins, and Hellfire weapons.
🔨 Soul Enchanting DC -10 (✓ Alloy variant) Infernal
Steel: You can turn Infernal Iron into Infernal Steel with DC 28.
Gain +1 Item Quality.
(✓ Weapon) Soul-catcher: Anyone slain by it has their soul
captured into the weapon and cannot be resurrected by anyone
else until the next soul replaces it (↑: Can capture up to 100
souls.). If resurrecting someone through it, halve the cost for
resurrection due to the target soul being nearby.
✓ Fiery: Deal an additional 1d4 fire damage (if weapon) or
obtain fire resistance (if armor) (↑: 1d8 or Immunity).
Wrathful: Once per short rest, gain advantage on all attacks,
but everyone else gets advantage against to attacking you.
Primal screams: Deals 1d4 psychic damage to all enemies
within 5ft of the target when you hit them (if weapon), or
around yourself when hit (if armor). (↑: 1d8 instead)
Shadowsteel
An alloy of strange ore from Shadowfell and iron, the forging
portion of making it is incredibly frustrating due to its
incorporeal properties it obtains when touching other non-
living matter.
✓ Item Quality +1:
(✓ Weapon) Fade in: Critical hit on rolling natural 19.
(✓ Armor) Fade out: When opponents rolls a natural 17, they
miss unless it is a natural weapon attack or an unarmed attack.
(Armor) Shade: Gain advantage on Stealth checks.
Titanium
Titanium is a lustrous white metal, most often mistaken with
Mithril in ancient texts. Any ore nodes of it are jealously
guarded for its incredible properties, being lighter than steel
but several times stronger. It is almost the perfect metal to craft
with.
(✓) Item Quality +2.
(✓ Armor) Non-corroding: Resistance to Acid damage. (↑:
Immunity)
(✓ Armor) Heat resistant: Resistance to Fire damage. (↑:
Immunity)
(Weapon) Deadly: Increase weapon die size by one.
(Light weapon) Momentum: If you have Extra Attack feature
and use Bonus Action for an off-hand attack, you make two off-
hand attacks instead of one.
Scarletite
As an ore it is very difficult to mine as portions of it can explode
and splatter, killing and infesting the miners. Refining it is a
complex poisonous process that stabilizes it enough to be
shaped into the desired object, after which some of its
properties are re-activated.
🔨 Refining it is a DC 28 check. ✓ Item Quality +1.
✓ Restoring: If the item is broken or damaged, it repairs itself
if at least 10hp worth of blood is spilled on it.
(✓ Weapon) Acquired Taste: Deal an additional 1d8
necrotic damage to any creature you have damaged previously
with it. (↑: Advantage on tracking it.)
(✓ Armor) Regenerate: You can spend up to 4 Hit Die to heal
yourself with once per short rest. (Armor) Blood-fueled: If
you take damage, as a reaction you gain +2 AC until the
beginning of your next turn.
(Weapon) Consume: You have advantage on Grapple checks
with it.

Starmetal (Meteorite):
Also called Meteorite. Believed to be the essence of dead gods, a
gift from gods, or a great (good or bad) omen. Starmetal shines
with the nature of the divine and warps fate slightly as part of
its basic nature. Can be found in meteors.
(✓) Item Quality +2.
(✓) Fated. Once per long rest, gain advantage to a single roll.
(✓ Armor) Non-corroding: Resistance to Acid damage. (↑:
Immunity)
Bind. Deals an extra 1d8 damage to creatures not on their
home plane.
 Want to help out?

End of version
Please let me know any feedback you have, and let
me know if you are using it! ♥

1.0
Enchanting will be in the next update, where you
will be able to place 0-4 level spells and other
fantastical effects on items. There will be a
couple of different Enchanting methods in order
to give it a unique spin.

Afterwards: Non-metal materials for weapons

that have shafts, light armors, and clothing.

Cover Art: Todor Hristov - Able Blacksmith

Armor Photo: Prince Armory Anvil: Pixabay
Smithy: Taehoon kang Blacksmith
Blacksmith: Bjorn Hurri?
Weapons: Grady Frederick Weapons
 This document was lovingly created
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