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[Idiom]

First of all, some of the gem values should be reconsidered. Alexandrite should be  THE most valuable. Realistically, it only exists somewhere in the Ural mountains, and is harder than diamond (look it up). Next, Tanzanite should be worth more, again only found in one country (in Africa, Tanzania or something). Emerald is worth more than diamond. Diamonds are more plentiful than you could imagine. If the mines released all their current stockpiles of diamonds into the market, they would be a dime a dozen. Emeralds are a soft gem, they damage easily, so a flawless diamond is worth 3x (trying to remember) than a flawless diamond of the same weight/size.

As for more gem uses, Diamond/Alexandrite edged(and/or tipped) weapons and bolts. That would be some crazy armor penetration power.

[ December 21, 2007: Message edited by: Idiom ]

[Captain Failmore]

Actually, diamond edged weapons would be rather poor for use in combat. Diamonds shatter rather easily - even though they're very hard, they're not very tough and can be broken with relative ease. (Though I wouldn't advise doing this, one strike with an ordinary steel hammer can make short work of a diamond. The only exceptions to this are Ballas diamonds and Carbonado 'black' diamonds, which are uniquely structured and, as I understand it, very rare.)

Alexandrite is also found and mined in several parts of the world, though the finest stones are found in the Ural mountains. It's not harder than diamond, but is rather hard in any case. (Yes, I have looked it up, and I'm afraid your information is incorrect.) Fine Alexandrites are extremely valuable though, so that point remains. It'd make sense to occasionally find some mixed in with Chrysoberyls.

[Tamren]

Oh god, we had this discussion before. Hardness does NOT equal epic cutting power.

[Capntastic]

I dunno.   I bet a neutronium longsword could mess someone up.

[Captain Failmore]

quote:Originally posted by Capntastic:
<STRONG>I dunno.   I bet a neutronium longsword could mess someone up.</STRONG>

Please tell me nobody has actually suggested this.

[Draco18s]

quote:Originally posted by Idiom:
<STRONG>First of all, some of the gem values should be reconsidered. Alexandrite should be  THE most valuable. Realistically, it only exists somewhere in the Ural mountains, and is harder than diamond (look it up).</STRONG>

Really?

Chrysoberyl:
Mohs Scale hardness: 8.5 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandrite  (and scroll up to the top)

[0x517A5D]

quote:Originally posted by Capntastic:
<STRONG>I dunno.   I bet a neutronium longsword could mess someone up.</STRONG>

While I have not actually checked the predicted physical properties of neutronium, I rather imagine that it cannot be shaped.  I predict it to be a fluid, because neutrons cannot form bonds with other neutrons, so Pauli principle repulsion would dominate.  It might even be a superfluid, like isotope-4 liquid helium.  (Pop quiz: why wouldn't it be a superfluid like isotope-3 liquid helium?)

We can't test this in the game because we can't mod in densities that high.

[Quarthinos]

Some more reasons why this discussion is moot...

The reason emerald is worth so much is to get the beryllium out of it so it can be used as radiation shielding for nuclear reactors..  Somehow I doubt dwarves have any need for rad shielding, so the demand for emeralds would be a bit lower.

Yes, tanzanite is only found in a couple of places, all in a small area of Tanzania.  But it is simply ziosite with some extra chromium.  On other worlds, the rarity of tanzanite could not be predicted.  And don't forget that the lovely purple color possessed by retail tanzanite is not how it is found in nature.  Tanzanite is heat-treated to enhance the purpleness of the stone and prevent it from looking green or white depending on which angle you see the stone from.  And its optical qualities are by no means unique, so that's not a reason to want to have it.

Basically, do the research like Toady One has before you try to change the game!

[Align]

quote:Originally posted by Quarthinos:
<STRONG>On other worlds, the rarity of tanzanite could not be predicted.</STRONG>

Hmm. Randomized gem occurrence rate on world-gen?

[Karlito]

quote:Originally posted by Align:
<STRONG>Hmm. Randomized gem occurrence rate on world-gen?</STRONG>

Needs to wait until we get a proper supply and demand economy.

[Draco18s]

quote:Originally posted by Capntastic:
<STRONG>I dunno.   I bet a neutronium longsword could mess someone up.</STRONG>

I'd also like to add that a neutronium longsword would mess up the someone holding it.  That's whole "one pound weighing a thousand pounds" thing  (I believe the correct ratio is a teaspoon weighing one ton).

[0x517A5D]

quote:Originally posted by Draco18s:
<STRONG>

(I believe the correct ratio is a teaspoon weighing one ton).</STRONG>

Oh, no no no.  You're off by a factor of 8 or 9.  Googling turns up estimates between one hundred million tons and one billion tons.  If it was one ton, we could mod that in easily.

[Capntastic]

I don't even remember making that offhanded neutronium comment.

[0x517A5D]

What, don't you like to hijack threads?

[Draco18s]

quote:Originally posted by 0x517A5D:
<STRONG>

Oh, no no no.  You're off by a factor of 8 or 9.  Googling turns up estimates between one hundred million tons and one billion tons.  If it was one ton, we could mod that in easily.</STRONG>

My mistake.  Its one of those things you hear once and shove it into memory and truncate a few zeros.