Stoking The Flames - The Redrun Smithy

[Apupunchau]

In my continued effort to build a town from the ground up this week I look at blacksmiths on my blog. Why were they so important to medieval towns? What did they do other than blacksmithing? We have a brief discussion on the role of the blacksmith as well as a description of a smithy and a short background on the smith who runs it to add to our town or that can be used in any other game – there are no rules present so it can be used for any system – or ported into any story.

How have you used the blacksmith in your stories and games? Is he just the big guy with a hammer who forges weapons? What is his role in the community beyond being a smith? Who is the smith in your major an/or minor towns?

[Klorox]

Mostly, the >Smith is the guy who forges arms and armor... note that a village smith is unlikely to be able to forge you an enchantable grade sword or a suit of full plate, weaponsmith and armorsmith are distinct skills from basic smithing... but the smith is often a bit of an adept, he sets bones and knows the herbs to heal burns, and he knows how to contact the old witch of the woods that can tend to your other curing needs.

Depending on setting, the smith can be a notable, maybe the village mayor or a member of the council, or a near outcast, the guy you go to because you have to but who'll serve as executioner when there is need for one...