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[Draegur]

Just gonna shoot my shot: let's have aluminum armor.

We know aluminum's mechanical properties. Given how insanely light it is, though, it might be interesting to see how it performs in combat. I predict: not great. Better than copper but only insofar as dwarves have an easier time moving.

Light and non-encumbering similar to leather, but roughly only as durable as copper.

[SixOfSpades]

Given DF's technology limit, aluminum metal should be impossible to create. It wasn't even discovered until 1825, and the primary means of refining it requires huge amounts of electricity as well, so accurate aluminum production via technological means would clearly break the entire feel of the game.

Aluminum produced by magic, however, might be a possibility. As for making armor out of aluminum, I don't really see the point, but hey, play how you want. After all, it's no weirder than some of the things we currently get as artifacts.

[eerr]

Given DF's technology limit, aluminum metal should be impossible to create. It wasn't even discovered until 1825, and the primary means of refining it requires huge amounts of electricity as well, so accurate aluminum production via technological means would clearly break the entire feel of the game.

Aluminum produced by magic, however, might be a possibility. As for making armor out of aluminum, I don't really see the point, but hey, play how you want. After all, it's no weirder than some of the things we currently get as artifacts.

Ah but you forget, there is native aluminum that appears in soil layers.
Certainly not enough to outfit an army though.

i think it comes from asteroids?

[Pillbo]

Yeah, aluminum production and smithing is already in the game, just not for armor. https://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/DF2014:Aluminum

[Putnam]

Better than copper but only insofar as dwarves have an easier time moving.

Light and non-encumbering similar to leather, but roughly only as durable as copper.

significantly worse than copper, its SHEAR_FRACTURE and IMPACT_FRACTURE are both 1/4 as much as copper's which makes it about 1/4 as good. it'll break apart like tissue paper, it is actually not much better than wood against bladed weapons

[Draegur]

Better than copper but only insofar as dwarves have an easier time moving.

Light and non-encumbering similar to leather, but roughly only as durable as copper.

significantly worse than copper, its SHEAR_FRACTURE and IMPACT_FRACTURE are both 1/4 as much as copper's which makes it about 1/4 as good. it'll break apart like tissue paper, it is actually not much better than wood against bladed weapons

Oof. Actually, yeahhhh that convinces me; Pure aluminum, without sufficient metallurgical knowledge to create alloys and heat treatment to make it *at least* as durable as copper, would indeed not be good enough.

[Azerty]

Technologically, it hasn't its place in DF, apart if magical methods were introduced.

[A_Curious_Cat]

Do we have cardboard to form the core of the sword?

[Thunderforge]

Remember that dwarfs have a natural affinity/understanding of metals and stone, so they would be far in advance of any human technology in that field.