In real life, making swords out of anything but carbon steel (maybe with a few minor elements alloyed in) is a bad idea. In fantasy, just about every material has awesome magical properties. But even in fantasy one does not simply forge a sword out of pure diamond. You can't thwack diamonds with a hammer and expect them to forge into shape. Thus, the techniques, catalysts, and metallurgical secrets of blacksmiths are highly guarded and valued, because they can produce truly wonderful results.
Exceptional Materials
Weapons and armor, otherwise bearing the same form as their steel counterparts, can be imbued with extraordinary or supernatural traits by using unusual materials.
Every material on this list is more rare than iron, and harder to work with, but generally speaking, the more rare and difficult to forge, the greater the reward.
Cold Iron
With patience, the right chemicals, and a back you don't mind breaking, it is possible to form iron into weapons and armor without it ever touching the heat of the forge. Physically speaking, this is pointless, but it is not the physics that matters...it is the magic.
Cold iron has power over magic--specifically, it absorbs and deflects it. Cold iron weapons can ignore and dispel magical protections, while cold iron armor protects its wearer against magic more aptly than ordinary steel.
Cold Iron Weapon
- 25% chance per strike to ignore any magical protection against the sword's damage (magical meaning provided by a spell or supernatural ability)
- bonus damage die against creatures composed primarily of magic (elementals, fey, outsiders, any extraplanar or summoned creature)
| Weapon Class | Level | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Light | 5 | 1 gp |
| Medium | 5 | 1.5 gp |
| Heavy | 5 | 2 gp |
Cold Iron Armor
- Reduces damage from all spells:
- 2 for light, 5 for medium, 10 for heavy
- For non-damaging spells, grants wearer proficiency bonus to saving throws
| Armor Type | Level | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Light | 3 | 5sp |
| Medium | 5 | 2 gp |
| Heavy | 8 | 6 gp |
ideas
- pyrite: metal that never melts due to heat. Absorbs near limitless fire. Put it in flame, let it charge up, and it adds fire damage to attacks.