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[SnuffleKitty]

Alright, so, I was wondering how materials rank with regards to armor and weapons.

My embark has a ton of silver. Lots of Galena and Horn Silver and Native Silver. But my understanding is that, for whatever reason, Silver is crap for armor () and that it's low sheer strength makes it crap for edged weapons. But, because of it's high density/mass, it is good for blunt weapons.

Is that all true?

As I said, I have a lot of silver, and I also have a lot of Zinc and Tin, but I have yet to find any copper deposits, so I cannot make bronze.

Am I going to be stuck with "crappy" silver armor?

- Snuffles

[blue emu]

If yo have no copper or Iron ore, you may have to rely on Goblinite for your Armor. That is most easily harvested with traps.

[GaxkangtheUnbound]

If you can, bones of a powerful creature make excellent armor.

[Gearheart]

It's VERY rare for a map not to have any copper, since tetrahedrite is found in all stone layers.

Just keep looking.

[Quietust]

Silver armor isn't even possible in the first place (aside from moods, of course) - silver is only permitted for melee weapons (including trap components) and ammunition.

[zilpin]

If you can, bones of a powerful creature make excellent armor.

Is this verified by science?

[GaxkangtheUnbound]

If you can, bones of a powerful creature make excellent armor.

Is this verified by science?

No, but I've found it blocks goblin attacks.

[Quietust]

If you can, bones of a powerful creature make excellent armor.

This is complete nonsense - all bones in Dwarf Fortress have the exact same properties (since they all use the same material template), so armor made from dragon bone is exactly as effective as armor made from cat bone.

[GaxkangtheUnbound]

If you can, bones of a powerful creature make excellent armor.

This is complete nonsense - all bones in Dwarf Fortress have the exact same properties (since they all use the same material template), so armor made from dragon bone is exactly as effective as armor made from cat bone.

Well, I never DID test whether cat bone armor is better than dragon bone.
I suppose you're right. My bad.

[zilpin]

Link for anyone searching for useful weapon and armor material comparisons:
Weapon research (by zagibu)

[blue emu]

If you can, bones of a powerful creature make excellent armor.

This is complete nonsense - all bones in Dwarf Fortress have the exact same properties (since they all use the same material template), so armor made from dragon bone is exactly as effective as armor made from cat bone.

True that Dragon Bone doesn't make any more "excellent" armor than Cat Bone... but it does make more Awesome armor. Full points for style.

[Urist Imiknorris]

A dragon bone breastplate would be a mark of awesomeness, especially if there was an adamantine mail shirt underneath it.

[zilpin]

Does anyone know how materials impact ammo?
If I make steel bolts versus copper bolts, does it matter?

[Mckee]

I'm sure it will, but I find that quantity is better than quality. Marksdwarves fire a lot of bolts and they'll do damage when they hit non-armored sections. I guess material would help with piercing armor though.

[Alastar]

Silver makes good bolts and hammers, so weapons aren't a big issue... armour is though.

@ zilpin: Bronze, copper and silver all make good bolts, silver being best against flesh and bronze against goblin-level armour. Iron, steel and adamantine are worse, probably on account of being too light.