Chapter 1 - Non-weapon Proficiencies

Smelting Non-weapon Proficiency

The smelting proficiency is closely tied to the Mining Proficiency. Between them they provide all of the metal to the strongholds. With this proficiency a smelter can be operated.

A smelter is a very hot furnace used to separate metal from ore-bearing rock. The furnace is super-heated by forcing air from a bellows, often operated by two or more smelters, through burning coal. Ore is fed into the smelter in iron buckets moving along a chain, which tows the buckets along a rail and dumps their contents into the furnace.

The ore is heated to the metal's melting temperature (which is below the rock's). Water or acid are occasionally added to enhance the process. The molten metal runs out from the base of the smelter and into molds or troughs known as "pigs," hence the term pig iron. The pigs are sold to blacksmiths, weaponsmiths, and armorers to produce metal goods, weapons and armor. Smelters can also make alloys, such as steel or bronze.

The amount of ore that can be processed is more a function of the size of the smelter than of any character's work rate. A small smelter can process ore as fast as four miners can dig it. A medium smelter can process the ore produced by up to 20 miners. A large smelter can process ore excavated by up to 100 miners.

In addition to the cost of smelting equipment, a smelter is expensive to maintain because of the materials required to operate it. A small smelting operation costs 5 gp per day to operate, the cost of a medium operation is 12 gp per day, and a large one costs 25 gp per day to run. Smelter costs only apply when the smelter is in operation. To keep it operating at maximum efficiency, it is common practice to collect a stockpile of ore before firing the furnace. Once all the ore is smelted, the equipment is allowed to cool and is then cleaned.

Given its bulk, even a small smelter is not very portable.

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