Blacksmithing

	The subject of this article is undergoing testing and may be changed before implementation.
	Please see discussion on the talk page or check out the testing on the Ice Ocean.

A typical blacksmithing board. Click for larger view.

Blacksmithing is a crafting puzzle. It can be played in iron mongers. The puzzle is used to make swords and cannon balls.

Objective

The objective of the puzzle is to try and strike each square three times. This is accomplished by following the indicators, either a number or a chess piece, on each square. When a square is struck three times, it is considered "complete" and may no longer be used. The crafting session is over when either all squares have been "completed" or the player may make no more moves based on the indicators he has.

Pieces

The blacksmithing indicators: 1, 2, 3, 4, Bishop, Knight, Rook, Queen, and Rum Jug.

The chess pieces may only indicate moves to the outermost squares shown in green. For example, the Bishop(blue) which may only move diagonally may next strike any of the 4 red squares.

In blacksmithing, there are two different types of indicator that will appear on the squares: numbers and chess pieces. These indicators will tell the player what piece they may strike next based on their last move. They are: Numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4; and the chess pieces Bishop, Knight, Rook, and Queen. It is currently unclear what the Rum Jug icon indicates.

The numbers indicate the numerical value of squares you may move away from your last strike. For instance, if your last strike landed on a 2, then you may hit an available piece that is exactly 2 squares away either up, down, left, right or diagonal. If 2 spaces away in any direction is an already "competed" square or a wall, then a move can not be made in that direction and must be made in one of the other available directions.

The chess pieces generally have the same moving abilities as they do in the original game of chess. The Bishop may move diagonally, the Rook may move either left, right, up or down, the Knight may move in an "L" shape 2 squares by 1 square or 1 squares by 2 squares, and the Queen may move in any direction. The primary difference in their movement in blacksmithing as compared to chess is that, with the exception of the Knight, they will always move to the outermost rim of the board. This means that the player must have a strikable square on the outermost rim of their intended movement direction or the move can not be made. See the diagram to the right for a pictorial guide.

Progress Indicators

There are two major indicators that show the pirates progress in the blacksmithing puzzle. The first is the blade graphic behind the 6x6 board of pieces. It begins as a red hot bar, and then progresses through warm, cracked, rough, and smooth stages as the pirate progresses through the game. These are possibly connected to the messages presented at the end of the session.

The second indicator is shown embossed into the anvil on the left side below the board. It shows the current progress in completing a combo. When the recent progress matches part of the description of an "In the Rhythm" or "Fancy Hammerin'" combo each of the already hammered symbols is shown embossed in the anvil. When multiples of the same type of piece have been hammered most recently the piece, an "X", and the number of times it's been hammered in a row are embossed on the anvil.

Gameplay

From left to right: hot, warm, cool, complete.

The player begins with a fully hot board. This is indicated by all the pieces being a bright orange. See diagram to the right for more information on the heat indicators. The player may start on any square on the board. Once the player clicks on this first square, it is "struck" and the heat will change from hot to warm and the indicator that was on it at the beginning will change to a new one. The player must then make his next move following the rules of the original indicator. For example, if the indicator on the square was a 1 before it was struck, the player may now move 1 square in any direction. If a Queen was showing before it was struck, then the player may move to the outside rim of the board in any direction. Squares that are available to be moved to and "struck" will glow orange. This continues until either all of the squares have been struck three times (Starting on hot and moving to warm, cool, and complete.) or there are no more available moves to be made. As the player progresses, the background image will slowly change from rough metal, to smooth metal, to the image of a completed sword blade.

Scoring

Scoring is primarily based on the completion of the puzzle and combos. Completion means how many squares were left uncompleted at the end of the session. Fewer squares remaining will garner a higher score.

Combos may be set up in a variety of ways.

The first is matching identical indicators. For instance, starting on a 3 and moving to another 3 will be a double. If the player is then able to move to a third 3 it becomes a triple. If a fourth 3 is available it becomes a bingo then donkey, vegas etc... This method can be done with both numerical indicators and chess pieces.

The second combo is probably more difficult to achieve than the first one. This requires matching four of an indicator type, either numbers or chess pieces. For instance, if a player begins on a 2, moves to a 3, then a 1, and then a 4; they have completed a combo and receive a notification that they were "In the Rhythm". There is no particular order for this combo as long as all four numbers are included at the same time. Likewise with the four chess pieces, if a player manages to land on the four in any order consecutively, they will have completed the combo and receive a notification of "Fancy Hammerin'".

Once the puzzle is over either by completion or lack of moves, a message is given regarding the quality of the blade and usually is tied somewhat to the score of the session:

"Maybe use that one as a club"

"Finely balanced"

"Keen edge"

"A masterpiece!"

External/Other Links

• Commonly discussed ideas from Game Design
• Bia's announcement of the puzzle selected for "Blacksmithing"

Crafting Puzzles

Completed Puzzles: Alchemistry | Blacksmithing | Distilling | Foraging | Shipwrightery | Weaving Puzzles Under Development: Construction | Furnishing | Tailoring

See also: Labor