Supply of metal (iron) in the Wilderland

[Glorelendil]

I wouldn't worry too much about how to stick to historical chronology.

In what year, for example, did European blacksmiths figure out how to enchant weapons so they glow when enemies are around?

[Otaku-sempai]

I wouldn't worry too much about how to stick to historical chronology.

In what year, for example, did European blacksmiths figure out how to enchant weapons so they glow when enemies are around?

Exactly. With a setting like Middle-earth, we have to allow for such things as magic and alchemy.

[Arthadan]

About the Elves of Mirkwood, it's worth noting Elves in general have a very low birth rate. So by the end of the Thirg Age elvish population there would be lower than when they settled (taking in account the Battle of the Five Armies). Anyway they favour spears and bows, perhaps because the lack of metal in their realm. However i they can get wine from Dorwinion, I'm pretty sure they can get iron or even weapons from the Dwarves, either directly or through intermediaries.

Another source of metal tools in western Mirkwood could be the rivermen, getting metal tools and weapons in Rohan or Gondor and selling them in Mirkwood.

[DavetheLost]

Middle Earth has fireworks. If they have those, I'll grant the Dwarves coke ovens. Goblins too for that matter.

The Lakemen may have access to deposits of bog iron from the Long Marshes, although I am not sure if bog iron would be found in sufficient quantities to be a significant source even for Lake Town itself.

What I wonder is where the Shire gets its iron from. It seems to be a fairly isolated and backwater place, although teh occasional company of Dwarfves does pass through.

[Otaku-sempai]

What I wonder is where the Shire gets its iron from. It seems to be a fairly isolated and backwater place, although teh occasional company of Dwarfves does pass through.

Even before the Dwarves of Erebor resettled in the Blue Mountains there were still Dwarves in the southern range.

[Deadmanwalking]

My impression has always been that the Lakemen get their iron from trade, just like they get everything else. The whole economy of Laketown is based almost entirely on trade. Ditto Dale in many ways. The folk of Sunstead seem to do the same (plus use some...found items, in all likelihood). They get a fair amount of metal that way, and are correspondingly metal-rich by the standards of the area.

The Dwarves obviously mine their own, and may trade for some as well, at need. They have lots of metal, and thus wear mail almost universally.

The Elves of Mirkwood have their own artisans, but they're also fading. I generally assume that they mostly use swords and spear-heads from centuries ago. The same is true of any mail they wear, though wearing mail seems rare among them.

The Beornings and the Woodmen use exclusively axes and spears because, as others mention, they're metal-poor. They almost never wear mail armor, as their cultural rewards and (in the case of Beornings) even their Virtues indicate and encourage. So...they don't need a lot of metal, and what they have is likely from Mountain Hall, as mentioned.

[Robin Smallburrow]

This post underlines a point made in the rulebook about why swords and armour are so valued - because they are rare and expensive to make (except for the Dwarves) for nearly all other cultures. In my view by the time of TOR only the Dunedain of Gondor, the High Elves of Rivendell and Erebor have the relevant smithing skills to continue to produce swords etc. IIRC this is actually mentioned in the rulebook somewhere, too... Because of the shortage of both metals and skill to work it, this is why spears, axes etc. are more common.

You need to keep this theme of decline and lost knowledge in mind when considering things like trade. The Woodmen of Mountain Hall would not have the skill to create their own swords, even if they had the supplies of metal etc.....

Otherwise rewards lose their importance!

Robin S.

[Glorelendil]

I can get behind the idea of Men having "forgotten" fine blade smithing.

But the Elves? Why would they have lost the art? I don't buy that. Also, both weapon options for Mirkwood elves have Sword as secondary weapon.

[Terisonen]

They would not loose the art, but merely only made what they need. After the end of Second Age, they would have too many of weapon by the Rivendell storage, and this would be compounded by the fall of Eregion... Too many weapons and too few to wield them.

[Arthadan]

This post underlines a point made in the rulebook about why swords and armour are so valued - because they are rare and expensive to make (except for the Dwarves) for nearly all other cultures. In my view by the time of TOR only the Dunedain of Gondor, the High Elves of Rivendell and Erebor have the relevant smithing skills to continue to produce swords etc. IIRC this is actually mentioned in the rulebook somewhere, too... Because of the shortage of both metals and skill to work it, this is why spears, axes etc. are more common.

You need to keep this theme of decline and lost knowledge in mind when considering things like trade. The Woodmen of Mountain Hall would not have the skill to create their own swords, even if they had the supplies of metal etc.....

Otherwise rewards lose their importance!

Robin S.

Other cultures could work other metals/alloys of inferiot quality, for example haradrim have armours of overlapping bronze plates and I can picture the Hill-men of Gundabad with iron weapons. And Misty Mountains orcs should have crude but effective steel weapons, enough to supply Saruman's army.

How would you reflect inferior quality arms and armour game? More encumbrance points and less damage/protection (and easily broken when rolling an Eye/pierced)?