The Craftsman's Material Guide

When machines no longer work, we still need to build, fight, and survive. A blacksmith, leatherworker, or armor-maker needs to know what they're working with, quickly and reliably.

This guide provides a universal grading system that any craftsman can use with simple tools. No electricity. No computers. Just your hands, some reference objects, and a basic testing station.

Every material (whether stone, metal, bone, hide, wood, or something from a creature never seen before) can be graded using this system.

A material is written as: H_/F_/B_/D_ -- for example, H7/F8/B4/D2

Each grade runs from 1 to 10. Higher is "more" of that property.

Each test is designed to be performed by one or two people with simple tools. No technology required.

Scratch Test (for Hardness)

Required Tools -- The "Scratch Kit"

1. Your fingernail
2. A copper coin or copper rod
3. An iron nail
4. A steel knife blade (known good steel)
5. A piece of quartz (common clear/white rock crystal)
6. A corundum fragment (if available: ruby, sapphire, emery stone)
7. A diamond chip (if available)

Procedure

1. Clean the material surface.
2. Starting from softest tool (fingernail), firmly drag each tool across the surface with moderate pressure.
3. Check for a visible scratch mark (not just a color streak; wipe the area and look for an actual groove).
4. The grade equals the highest reference tool that fails to scratch the material, plus one.
5. If the material scratches your steel knife, it is at least H7. Continue with harder references if available.

Bend Test (for Flex)

Required Tools

• The Standard Bending Rig (two supports, one span apart)
• A set of standardized weights (see Section IX)
• A measuring stick marked in small increments

Procedure

1. Prepare a sample of standard dimensions: Bar: 1 hand-span long, 1 thumb-width wide, 1 finger thick. Sheet: 1 hand-span long, 4 fingers wide.
2. Place the sample across the two supports of the bending rig.
3. Hang the lightest weight from the center point.
4. Measure how far the center sags below the support line.
5. Add heavier weights step by step, recording sag each time.
6. Compare sag values to the Flex Grade reference table.
7. If the sample breaks during testing, note the weight and record this for the Break Grade as well.

Standard Weight Set

Drop Test (for Break Grade)

Required Tools

• The Drop Tower (a tall post with height markings and a guide channel for the drop weight)
• A standardized drop weight (~2 kg iron block or heavy stone)
• A flat anvil or stone base

Procedure

1. Prepare a standard sample (same dimensions as Bend Test).
2. Place the sample flat on the anvil/base, supported at the ends (bridged).
3. Raise the drop weight to the lowest height mark (~10 cm).
4. Release the weight so it falls onto the center of the sample.
5. Inspect for cracks, chips, fractures, or full break.
6. If intact, increase height and repeat.
7. Record the height at which the material first shows damage, and the height at which it fully breaks.
8. Compare to the Break Grade reference table.

Forge Test (for Ductility)

Required Tools

• A hammer (medium weight)
• An anvil or large flat stone
• A heat source (forge, campfire with bellows, or equivalent)
• Tongs

Cold Test

1. Take a small sample bar.
2. Attempt to bend it 90 degrees by hand or with pliers.
3. Observe: Does it bend cleanly? Crack? Snap?
4. Attempt to hammer it flatter.
5. Count how many hammer strikes before cracks appear.

Hot Test

1. Heat the sample until it glows (if it can; note the color).
2. Attempt bending and hammering again.
3. Compare performance to cold test.
4. Record both grades.

Beyond the four core grades, these additional properties are useful. Record them when possible.

Use this template to record any material you test. Copy it and fill in the blanks for each new material.

Use these as your baseline. When testing unknown materials, compare against these known profiles.

( "-" means the property does not apply or is not meaningful. )

When you encounter a new material (especially from an unknown creature or a source that didn't exist before) follow this procedure:

Step 1: Observe

• Color, texture, smell, weight in hand.
• Does it look like anything familiar? (Bone-like? Metal-like? Stone?)
• Is it warm or cold to the touch?
• Does it have any unusual features? (Glows, hums, pulses, etc.)

Step 2: Toxicity Check (First!)

1. Place a small piece near insects. Observe reaction.
2. Rub on a covered area of skin through cloth. Wait.
3. If safe so far, brief bare skin contact on wrist. Wait one hour.
4. Assign X grade before proceeding with other tests.

Step 3: Run the Four Core Tests

• Scratch test → H grade
• Bend test → F grade
• Drop test → B grade
• Forge test → D grade

Step 4: Run Secondary Tests

• Weigh it → W grade
• Heat it → T grade
• Sharpen and cut-test → E grade
• Soak in water → R grade

Step 5: Record Everything

Fill in a Material Profile Sheet (Section V). Give it a name. If you don't know what it is, name it by source and appearance:

• "Red Boar Tusk" -- H6/F7/B5/D3 | W3 T3 E4 R2 X0
• "Cave Serpent Scale" -- H8/F4/B7/D2 | W2 T4 E- R3 X1

Store the profile with a sample piece for others to reference.

Step 6: Share the Knowledge

• Post the profile at your workshop or trading post.
• Teach others to test materials the same way.
• Consistency is everything. Use the same testing rig and weights.

General guidelines for what material profiles are good for.

Every workshop should have a dedicated testing station. Here's how to build one with no technology.

The Scratch Kit

Collect and label these items. Keep them in a pouch or wooden box:

1. Copper piece (coin, wire, or rod)
2. Iron nail
3. Steel knife (known standard; protect this, don't use it for anything else)
4. Quartz crystal
5. Any harder reference stones you can find

Label each item with its Hardness grade.

The Bending Rig

Construction

• Two upright posts, firmly planted, exactly one hand-span apart (measure and mark your standard span on a stick; use this forever as your standard).
• A flat, level support surface on each post at the same height.
• A hook or notch at the center point between the posts, below the supports, for hanging weights.

Standard Sample Size

• Length: 1.5 hand-spans (so it overhangs each support)
• Width: 1 thumb-width
• Thickness: 1 finger-width (pinky)

Measuring

• Mark a vertical stick in even increments (use a knotted string for consistent spacing).
• Measure the sag at center under each weight.

The Drop Tower

Construction

• A tall post or frame, at least 2 arm-lengths high.
• A vertical guide channel (two parallel boards or rails) so the drop weight falls straight.
• Height markings every half-hand-span up the post.
• A flat, hard base (stone slab or anvil) at the bottom.

Drop Weight

• A dense, uniform weight, ~2 kg.
• Ideally iron or a very dense stone, shaped into a block.
• Must fit smoothly in the guide channel.

Standard Sample

• Same dimensions as bending test.
• Supported at both ends (bridged), centered under drop point.

Standardized Weights

Calibrate using water:

• Find or make a watertight container of known volume.
• 1 liter of water = 1 kg (approximately).
• Fill a container, then find stones/metal that balance against it.
• Mark and label your weights clearly.

Recommended set: 0.5 kg, 1 kg, 2 kg, 5 kg, 10 kg, 20 kg

The Forge Test Area

• A small anvil or flat stone surface near your forge.
• Hammer of known weight.
• Tongs.
• Mark a 90-degree angle on your anvil for consistent bend tests.

Consistency Is Everything

The exact numbers don't matter as much as everyone using the same standards. If your hand-span is your unit, use the same hand (or better, a marked measuring stick) every time. If your drop weight is a specific stone, keep that stone and never swap it.

Teach Others

This system only works if craftsmen everywhere use the same method. When trading materials, share the profile. When training apprentices, teach them to test first.

Trust the Tests, Not Your Eyes

A shiny material isn't always strong. A dull one isn't always weak. Monster parts may look terrifying but test as H2/B2, which means useless for most purposes. Or a plain-looking bone might test at H8/F6/B8/D3, which is genuine treasure. Always test. Always record.

Update This Guide

As new materials are found, add them to the reference table. As testing methods improve, refine them. This is a living document.

When in Doubt, Combine

No single material is perfect for everything. The best gear is often made from layered or combined materials:

• Hard blade edge + tough blade spine
• Rigid plate over flexible padding
• Stiff frame with flexible joints

Understanding each material's profile lets you combine them intelligently.