Guide On Blacksmithing (Updated 4/8/2026)

[Cjmate 1270]

Guide on Blacksmithing

 

 

Forward

It’s rare to see blacksmithing roleplayed with any real sense of process. Most jump straight from “heated metal” to “finished weapon.” This guide aims to bring back a grounded, believable approach.

This is not the only way to roleplay blacksmithing, but it reflects how the craft actually works while staying flexible for storytelling.

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Necessary Tools

At minimum:

• Forge (coal, charcoal, or gas)
• Anvil
• Hammer (different weights for different work)
• Tongs (various sizes/shapes)
• Quench tank (water, oil, or brine)
• Bellows or blower
• Wire brush
• Grindstone or file

Optional but immersive:

• Vice or clamps
• Chisels and punches
• Fullers (for grooves)
• Hardy tools (cutters, bending forks)
• Flux (for welding)
• Molds (mainly for casting, not forging)

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Step One: Forging 

Start by heating your steel in the forge until it reaches a workable heat (typically a bright orange/yellow glow).

• Grip the metal with tongs
• Heat evenly in the forge
• Use the bellows/blower to control temperature

Once hot, bring it to the anvil and begin shaping.

Work in sections, not all at once:

• Draw out (lengthen) the blade
• Flatten and define edges
• Establish the tang (the part that goes into the handle)

You will repeat this cycle constantly:
heat → hammer → reheat

Important corrections from older methods:

• Letting metal “cool naturally” during forging does NOT strengthen it in a meaningful way
• Overheating (bright white/yellow) can damage the steel

At the end of this step, you have the rough shape of your object.

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Step Two: Normalizing 

Before fine work, the steel should be normalized:

• Heat the piece to critical temperature (non-magnetic, dull red/orange)
• Let it air cool naturally
• Repeat 1–3 times

This relieves internal stress and evens out the grain structure.

Roleplay tip: This is a quiet, patient step—good moment for character reflection or conversation.

---

Step Three: Annealing (Optional, for detailed work)

If you need to carve, engrave, or heavily refine:

• Heat the metal
• Let it cool VERY slowly (buried in ash, sand, or insulating material)

This softens the steel, making it easier to grind or engrave.

Note: This is not always required for blades, but useful for detailed pieces.

---

Step Four: Grinding and Refinement

Now refine the shape:

• Use a grindstone, files, or sanding tools
• Define the edge geometry
• Clean up hammer marks
• Add engravings or decorative elements

This is where the piece begins to look “finished,” but it is still not hardened.

---

Step Five: Hardening (Quenching)

This is the critical step.

• Heat the steel to critical temperature
• Quench quickly in water, oil, or brine

Different materials use different quenching methods:

• Water: fast, but risky (can crack)
• Oil: slower, safer (common for blades)

After this step:

• The steel is very hard
• But also very brittle

---

Step Six: Tempering (Making It Usable)

Hardening alone makes a weapon unusable. Tempering fixes this.

• Reheat the blade to a lower temperature (300–600°F depending on desired hardness)
• Let it cool (usually air cool)
• Repeat 1–2 times

This reduces brittleness while keeping strength.

This is the real “make or break” step, not repeated quenching.

---

Step Seven: Finalization

Now complete the piece:

For weapons:

• Attach guard, grip, and pommel
• Wrap handle (leather, cord, etc.)
• Sharpen and polish

For tools/jewelry:

• Set stones (if applicable)
• Polish and finish surfaces

---

Roleplay Tips

• Blacksmithing is repetitive and physical. Show fatigue, heat, and noise.
• Sparks, scale (flaking metal), and smoke add realism.
• Mistakes happen: cracks, warping, bad heat control.
• Time matters: a good blade takes hours or days, not minutes.
• A skilled smith doesn’t guess—they recognize color, sound, and feel.

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Quick Guide (for RP use)

1. Heat
2. Hammer (shape)
3. Reheat
4. Normalize
5. Grind/refine
6. Harden (quench)
7. Temper
8. Finish

[Ricky 321]

I think RP of professions is something for your plesure if you want to make more RP around professions may I suggest...

I think out of all the professions, making weapons and armour should be a lot more complex, with multiple parts and possible benefits depending on the quality of these. I think the interdepndability of professions can create RP, like for alchemists who have to draw their resources and training from others and someone who knows how to do the recipe after time and experimentation.

 

This will also create more value for professions, yes you may be a legendary blacksmith but that is only in skill, an only apprentice blacksmith may be able to make better armour than you through time and research.

 

Now there is the one problem, we are not all rich enough to put hours into experimenting with recipes like with enchanting and alchemy (admittedly this is a WIP) and what about the provider skills. Your farmers, breeders, miners and lumberjacks. These skills also have a way to be valued more, for they are the providers, their RP is in trade but the higher levels among these professions they get rare drops and caskets. This is the answer, these caskets are very rare but already offer aid for enchanting, general levelling and alchemy, what is stopping some of these drops being recipes(or in the case of your diamond gear part of a recipe).

 

If the forms were against letting these recipes on the forms to avoid OOC go around for new players who then because of probably not knowing anyone on the server has to RP to be taught a skill... RP FOR ALLL!

 

EDIT: Also that makes your character have more value and build more for their story be becuase if your a baker who is known for making a special kind of apple pie and all the people buy your pies etc, also could create cultural things like the dwarfs all eat salted meat...

[ScreamingDingo 20568]

There's no benefit to roleplaying this unless for their own enjoyment. Which is why it is so rare nowadays.

[Cjmate 1270]

There's no benefit to roleplaying this unless for their own enjoyment. Which is why it is so rare nowadays.

People don't roleplay professions because it is difficult. It is far easier to just put it in a machine and pump out stuff. It isn't about enjoyment, it's about not understanding. If you understand something, you will enjoy it. 

[_Jandy_ 3519]

Good guide, likely still won't be used by the majority of players (sadly), but overall I think that putting an emphasis on actually roleplaying the profession is important. Some professions seem easier to rp such as fishing and ..., others aren't such as farming, breeding, enchanting, most people tend to not rp the professions that would take too much effort sadly. Hopefully this thread can put some emphasis towards rping what can/would have massive effects on a character.

[Tirenas 677]

Personally, I find that I will only roleplay blacksmithing when I'm around others. If I'm alone, it's most likely because I'm grinding the skill and thusly doing something else during that waiting period.

[James 425]

A lot of Dwarves still RP blacksmithing in the sense that they RP it more than the general population. The only reason the Dwarven blacksmithing guild hasn't reformed is because everyone that can do it is lazy or too busy. Great guide though, hopefully this will encourage others to role-play their blacksmithing. 

[thesmellypocket 1859]

I don't use any of the Nexus professions as I have used professions outside the system, requiring to be RPed.It has actually been interesting. I think we need to encourage the roleplay of everything profession. +1

[Valor777 22]

I am glad someone has done something like this. I always like to see people who RP actual professions and such. +1

[CosmicWhaleShark 2488]

This is pretty cool man, good job. I'd also suggest adding pre-production stuff like the measuring process for certain orders, involves the customer a bit in your RP that way. Draws stuff out in a mutually engaging way because they're developing what exactly they want in the order and you're getting an idea of how to RP making the actual thing if they stick around.

[Pandasan 74]

This is a splendid guide!
A job well done, Cjmate!
It has been very helpful for me and I hope to see more people actually RPing as a blacksmith soon with a great guide. RPing your profession is a good site I'd love to see.
A pat on the back!
 

[+ Reggieo + 112]

I think RP of professions is something for your plesure if you want to make more RP around professions may I suggest...

I think out of all the professions, making weapons and armour should be a lot more complex, with multiple parts and possible benefits depending on the quality of these. I think the interdepndability of professions can create RP, like for alchemists who have to draw their resources and training from others and someone who knows how to do the recipe after time and experimentation.

 

This will also create more value for professions, yes you may be a legendary blacksmith but that is only in skill, an only apprentice blacksmith may be able to make better armour than you through time and research.

 

Now there is the one problem, we are not all rich enough to put hours into experimenting with recipes like with enchanting and alchemy (admittedly this is a WIP) and what about the provider skills. Your farmers, breeders, miners and lumberjacks. These skills also have a way to be valued more, for they are the providers, their RP is in trade but the higher levels among these professions they get rare drops and caskets. This is the answer, these caskets are very rare but already offer aid for enchanting, general levelling and alchemy, what is stopping some of these drops being recipes(or in the case of your diamond gear part of a recipe).

 

If the forms were against letting these recipes on the forms to avoid OOC go around for new players who then because of probably not knowing anyone on the server has to RP to be taught a skill... RP FOR ALLL!

 

EDIT: Also that makes your character have more value and build more for their story be becuase if your a baker who is known for making a special kind of apple pie and all the people buy your pies etc, also could create cultural things like the dwarfs all eat salted meat...

 

Agreed +_=

[Heff 2460]

There's no benefit to roleplaying this unless for their own enjoyment. Which is why it is so rare nowadays.

But... this is a roleplay server. So why not R-O-L-E-P-L-A-Y while your waiting for stuff to craft.

 

 

edit: remove nexus -> boost RP

[James 425]

But... this is a roleplay server. So why not R-O-L-E-P-L-A-Y while your waiting for stuff to craft.

 

 

edit: remove nexus -> boost RP

 

While my swords mc craft, usually I rp craft a couple as well during the process. Gives you something to do while you wait, as well as increasing rp. 

[Shambleau 24]

This should be updated.