Editing v0.34:Make your own weapons

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'''Making your own weapons''' on [[embark]] can save embark points and kick-start your [[metal industry]]. It can also serve as a minimalist embark and add an early-game challenge for advanced players. Just keep in mind, that you'll need time to forge your axes and picks, potentially leaving your [[wood cutter]] and [[miner]] standing around waiting. Also, you'll probably have other concerns during your first year; choose wisely.

Nevertheless, making your own weapons is quite easy. Currently a [[wood]]en training axe created at a [[carpenter's workshop]] is capable of [[wood cutting|felling trees]], which is by far the least expensive option for your fortress's early woodcutting (requiring no embark supplies). Picks are slightly more complicated, requiring [[metal]], an [[anvil]], and [[fuel]].

The embark savings can be quite considerable, allowing you to concentrate points on other skills or supplies, or even an early steel-equipped military. <!-- add current numbers -->

==Crude copper supplies==
The basic item selection in "Prepare for the journey carefully" comes with two copper picks (at ? points each), two copper battle axes (? points each), and an iron anvil.  Since copper ore costs ? points a piece, and bituminous coal costs ? points each, you can carry the supplies for FOUR copper items for less than the cost of ONE copper battle axe:
* 1 copper ore (any type):  ? points
* 1 [[coke]] (to smelt the coal): ? points
* 1 [[bituminous coal]] (for 9 fuel):  3 points
* 2 stone: ? points
* Total:  ? points

Build a stone smelter and process your bituminous coal to fuel. Smelt the copper ore into 4 copper bars. Build a stone forge and start creating copper equipment. 

NOTE: If your embark has trees you can skip bringing any fuel. Deconstruct your wagon to yield 3 logs, build a [[carpenter's workshop]], create a [[wood]]en training axe, and cut wood and process to [[charcoal]] as necessary for fuel. This process takes a little longer, but saves ? points. 

NOTE: [[Ash]] counts as a "fire-safe bar", and can be used to construct buildings in place of the stone if you prefer. 

==Better bronze supplies==
For a minimal increase in costs you can upgrade to [[bronze]] equipment. An additional ? will provide up to EIGHT bronze items:
* 1 copper ore (any type):  ? points
* 1 [[cassiterite]]:  ? points
* 1 [[coke]] (to smelt the coal): ? points
* 1 [[bituminous coal]] (for 9 fuel):  3 points
* 2 stone: ? points
* Total:  ? points

Build a stone smelter and process your bituminous coal to fuel. Smelt the ores into 8 bronze bars. Build a stone forge and start creating bronze equipment. 

==Superior steel supplies==
Unfortunately, iron ores will cost you ? points each, so if you're hoping to go directly for [[steel]] equipment you'll need:
* 1 iron ore (any type):  ? points
* 4 [[flux]] (any type):  ? points
* 1 [[coke]] (to smelt the coal): ? points
* 2 [[bituminous coal]] (for 17 fuel):  6 points
* 2 stone: ? points
* Total:  ? points

Build a stone smelter and process your bituminous coal to fuel. Smelt the iron ore into 4 iron bars. Smelt two iron bars into pig iron. Smelt the pig iron into steel. Build a stone forge and start creating steel equipment.

== Minimalist challenge ==

For the hardcore survivalist dwarves only.  

Start out with ''only''
:* 1 [[iron]] [[anvil]] 
:* 1 [[copper]] [[ore]].

And figure it out from there. Real dwarves (or real DF players) won't need to peek.

{{Spoil small|
* Deconstruct the initial wagon for the 3 wood it provides.
* Build a wood furnace with the copper nugget.
* Make 1 ash and 2 charcoal from the wood.
* Deconstruct the wood furnace.
* Build a smelter with the ash ''(a fire-safe "bar")''.
* Smelt the copper ore into 4 copper bars.
* Deconstruct the smelter.
* Build a metalsmith's forge with the anvil and ash bar.
* Forge a copper battle axe.
* Deconstruct the forge.
* Cut down 2 trees.
* Build a wood furnace with the ash bar.
* Make 2 charcoal.
* Deconstruct the wood furnace.
* Build a metalsmith's forge with the anvil and ash bar.
* Forge 2 copper picks.
... and proceed as normal.
''(this procedure can be shortened considerably if you are willing to cut down trees with a training axe)''
|Step-by-step}}