I'm working on a little side project to add more elements (and associated alloys) to DF for maximum fun. Currently I have four done, with key features intact!
*Note: This kinda waives the DF tech level. I'll work on adding advanced workshops later.
*Other note: It's not being released yet, I just wanted to get some discussion going. I do have the raws done though for all the metals (reactions aren't done yet). When I'm really happy with it I'll probably release it.
- Cobalt: Get it from cobaltite (with flux), it's a decorative metal that displays in blue (I wanted to give all the metals distinctive display colours, because in the files they're all gray) kinda like gold. Only dwarves and kobolds can access it.
- Beryllium: Extract it from beryl gems (close enough ) to get a very nice light-weight metal that isn't suitable for war-hammers or blunt weapons. But wear gloves, because if you inhale its dust or touch it for too long then your respiratory system will get inflamed. It's cyan/teal/whatever that "dingy not microcline but close" colour is.
- Uranium: Groan. Yes, it's uranium. It's also mostly for decoration only, but can be used for ammunition. It's warm to the touch (50 degrees celsius, enough for you to not want to touch it). We'll assume it's not really harmful so it has no syndrome. Yet.
- Tungsten: Extracted from the mineral wolframite (in the mod), it's a useful magma-safe metal.
Basically, I think this stuff is cool so I wanted to add it, and there are so many metals in the periodic table that we might as well use them for something. Suggestions are welcome!
And, of course, a question: can you make a material have different syndromes depending on the method of "infection"? Like, a dust that inflames anything that touches it, but in its solid form, it causes blisters when ingested (not based on anything specific).
Also, here is a list of Future Ideas!
- "Enchanted cobalt" that only kobolds can produce and use, it's as useful as iron because everyone loves kobolds
- "Chilled mercury", it needs a nether-cap log and cinnabar to produce. From a science point of view, the nether-cap is ground to powder and mixed in with the mercury, chilling it so that it stays somewhat solid (but its melting point is only raised a bit, to maybe 10120 Urist). Apparently frozen mercury behaves like tin, so it'll be like that.
- Molybdenum, which can be used to make ultra-strong molybdenum steel (and has a high melting point of 14721 Urist, making it magma-safe)
- Titanium is a pain in the ass but if we want to ignore the inherent work involved in extracting it then it could work (or, even better, a painful series of complex single-use workshops to refine it).
- Shiny chrome of some sort?