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[StagnantSoul]

So, you've probably ran into a vault or two, and been cut down rather fast. You probably learned that this is because of the divine metal weapons. The alchemist skill still exists in game, so why don't we have a shop set up for making single bars of divine metal, amongst other things?

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The alchemist would be given his order, "make steaming metal" or whatever metal you choose, he'll go to the shop, and you'll see a list of needed regents he needs when he's in the shop, like a strange mood, for that type of metal. Say, a bar of rose gold, some ash, flux stone, fuel, and a wood log. He takes these to the shop, and works for maybe a week game time. Then, you'll see an announcement in the bottom of the screen about his success or failure. It'd be totally skill based, just like crafting, with basic to superior percentage being failure, exceptional and masterwork percentage being a successfully created bar of divine metal. I can't remember which page has the skill to quality statistics, but if I find it, I'll put the numbers here. A legendary alchemist, therefore, would be just as important to a thriving fort as a legendary weapon or armour smith. For each metal, the needed items would always be the same for that world, with part of their generation being randomizing the items needed for the alchemist shop. In a different generated world, you would need different items for the same metal as the last world. This way, you can't just load up on what you need for a divine metal you know, and get it pumping fast. Also, you could have the option to make normal metals too, using other metals as the base. Say, three copper and a log for a tin bar. The alchemist wouldn't be a new forge, he'd work much slower, even at legendary, compared to a forge, and cost a lot more, but you'd be able to get metals you have no access to, such as steel on flux stoneless embarks. In their strange moods, you'd get batches of 3-6 of a divine metal.

So who's up for seeing the alchemist back, and actually doing something good for the fort?

[4maskwolf]

I am 4maskwolf and I approve this message.

(lol politics).

But seriously, I like this idea.

[SixOfSpades]

I, personally, would be against this idea. I also am working on bringing the Alchemist back into the game--with emphasis on the chemist part of the name. When they're not producing useful items like incendiary bolts and vials of ether, Alchemists should spend the majority of their time conducting experiments and discovering things like new dyes, poisons, and other substances (like extracting mercury from cinnabar).

I would hold off on dwarves doing anything magical until Toady at least begins setting up the Magic arc. In my design, I'm keeping Alchemy completely realistic--partly because dwarves are tech-savvy enough to know the difference between actual magic, and just puttering about in a laboratory.

[Sirbug]

There was a suggestion to have moody dwarves sometime smelt few bars of divine metal. It seems like a better idea.

[Niddhoger]

There was a suggestion to have moody dwarves sometime smelt few bars of divine metal. It seems like a better idea.

Ha! Then Furnace operator wouldn't be scud labor anymore! You'd groom your fortress to have "Furnace operator" as the highest moodable skill.  Oh no! Urist's weaponsmithing has exceeded his smelting.  QUICK TO THE FURNACE! What? Those swords he was making? Just get that new cheesmonger to crap out a few more! Those bars of fire metal don't smelt themselves!

[Magistrum]

I think that divine metals are part of this magic stuff and all, so it doesn't suits dwarves well.
I think divine metals shouldn't be acquirable at all, or at least not by convenient / controllable means. Dwarves seem to be more steampunk, magic is for elves.
Maybe when taverns and armies get implement we can get it from adventurers, heartpersons or send raid parties to vaults.

[StagnantSoul]

If magic isn't for dwarves, then why do we have Adamantine? It's more magical than most things.

[MDFification]

Divine metals not being created by dwarves is Working As Intended. There's really no reason for them to be able to synthesize divine metals other than to let the player play around with even more OP soldiers - an making it easy to get divine metal really cheapens the idea of divine metal in the first place. 
Like I recognize that there's a gap between Steel and Adamantine that could be filled, but no enemy will ever attack in fort mode that brings better than iron gear atm. And adamantine is easily available.

So yeah, oppose. That and Toady likely won't be open to it anyway.

[Magistrum]

If magic isn't for dwarves, then why do we have Adamantine? It's more magical than most things.

Well, Adamantine has difficulties in being acquired, is just a mineral, and is limited.
Divine metals seem to be special, and making it a renewable resource makes it cheaper than raising livestock.