Equipment Study (Solo)

[Pyre]

Looking down at his own sword and shield laid out on the grass before him Pyre frowned. These weapons will only get me so far in this world if it's anything like the game was before the update. They were both simple and almost felt frail when he wielded them in mock combat but, that was the way of starter weapons. They weren't meant to sustain a character for very long in the game. For a guardian like himself, it was his equipment that kept him in the game as true player, if it wasn't for his high defense from his armor and shield he would be dead in an instant in a dungeon raid.

Picking up his sword, Pyre stood and giving the blade a few test swings he frowned. Resting the flat of the blade in the palm of his free hand he studied. He wasn't sure how he knew but, his gut told him that the sword was balanced well though not perfect. The grip met the guard sloppily and he wasn’t quite sure but the blade looked as if it had been pressed into a mold and mass produced hastily.

The more he studied the cruciform shaped sword the more small flaws he found in the blade. While it was made to be a double edged blade only one side of the sword seem to be sharpened and ready for battle the other side was so dull that Pyre doubted that if faced with hot butter it wouldn’t slice through it.

Sitting down in the grass field Pyre looked the blade over as he thought of all the ways he could make it better. One of the first things would be to use better quality metal. Then once the metal was decided he would work out the shape, the shape now was good but it could use some improvements; the guard would probably keep it's basic cross shape however he would add a knuckle guard down the side of the blade connected to the pommel.

Pyre frowned, where had he learned of the anatomy of a sword? Words like cruciform, pommel and guard were not his own. Was this part of the game or had it been something he picked up reading on the web or in school? No he was sure this knowledge wasn't his own, however it was welcome because knowledge was power and might just provide him with an edge in this godforsaken game. Studying the blade once more he realized the last thing he would do to improve on this design was to elongate and sharpen the blade on both sides. “Although the best thing to do would be just to scrap this sword and start from scratch.”

(Blacksmith - 456 words)

[Pyre]

Laying the sword back in the grass Pyre reached down and picked the shield and examined it in his hands. The undecorated metal shield was big enough to cover most of his upper body and down to his knees. It was the very definition of a tower shield that it should be: heavy and protective. Picking it up with his right hand he took the sword from the grass and struck the flat of the blade and was rewarded with an arm jarring vibration through the shield.

Okay so it is big and might block a fatal shot but, if I take a hit too hard I might just break my arm. In which case I would be better off without the shield. Taking a closer look at the shield he realized it lacked any support what so ever other than just being a large piece of metal that vaguely looked like a stereotypical shield.

Closing his eyes he let the knowledge of shield crafting come to him, not wondering how he knew what he did. Make it smaller, while a tower shield is great if you are paired with other people with them just you alone you are highly vulnerable due to the lack of mobility you have from it's weight and bulk. Next would be to add some sort of support and padding behind the metal face. Even just a few strips of sturdy metal in the back would greatly improve the ability to absorb the shock of a blow.

Running his fingers along the dull edge of the shield a smile came to his lips as did the next wave of ideas to turn a mainly defensive weapon into an offensive weapon. Sharping one side of your shields' edge would make for a nasty surprise if you had to swipe at an enemy in a group, but it would also mean that you would make that edge weaker and more likely to break off if it took a direct hit. However, something simple like a spike would help keep an opponent at a distance if it came to close quarters. A slit for a sword blade to slide through would also make for a nasty surprise. From the back of his mind his own voice of reason spoke up at the idea of making a shield that would allow a blade to slide through it...wouldn't that defeat the whole purpose of a shield.

Pyre's eyes flew open as sweat rolled down his forehead and a massive headache threaten to make him double over. The knowledge was almost overwhelming when he let it flow like that. “Well at least now I know that my sword and shield are appropriate to my level...and my level dictates that I wield nothing but trash right now.

Remembering his old character he deleted so that him and his friends could have a fresh start with this new patch made him feel a twinge of regret for a moment. If he had never made a new character he might not of been sucked into this world. And if he was he would have been high enough of a level to make the equipment he needed right then and there. “I will get there...back to that rank of master blacksmith.” Pyre smiled at the promise. “No I will be ever better than I was before!”

(Blacksmith - 561 Words)