Editing v0.31:Leather

{{quality|Exceptional|11:45, 26 December 2010 (UTC)}}
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'''Leather''' is the tanned hide of an [[creature|animal]], and is a fairly versatile material. Leather can be used to make [[bag]]s, [[quiver]]s, [[backpack]]s, [[waterskin]]s, [[clothing]], [[shield]]s, [[armor]], and [[decoration]]s, all at a [[leather works]]. Leather [[trade good|crafts]] are made at a [[craftsdwarf's workshop]]. Although most of these items can be made from other materials, [[quiver]]s and [[backpack]]s can only be made from leather, meaning some source of leather is almost essential for a well-rounded [[military]]. Plenty of leather can usually be acquired through [[trading|trade]] with dwarves and humans. Leather can also be found near groups of [[Rodent man]] in caverns. But obtaining leather this way is much more dangerous (and unreliable), since rodent men have blowguns coated in lethal poison.

==The leather industry==
Because it only overlaps in the use of end products, the ''leather industry'' is part of the [[meat industry]], not the [[clothing industry]].

Making leather requires a [[tanner's shop]], a raw hide or [[skin]] from an animal, and a dwarf with the [[tanning]] labor turned on. Rotten hides or skin cannot be tanned. The [[human]] and dwarven [[caravan]]s usually sell various boxes of leather, which can be useful if few [[Main:Butcher|butcherable]] animals inhabit the map. One unrotten hide yields one "unit" of leather - regardless of whether the animal is a [[cat|kitten]] or an [[elephant]]. The [[value]] of the leather depends on the critter it comes from; leather made from the skins of rare or dangerous animals can be quite [[Value#Material_multipliers|valuable]]. 

Dwarven tanners have a skill unknown to mere humans in that they can make the softest skin of the tiniest animal equally hardy as that of the most heavily protected live creature. Whether they make flimsy skin into a rock-like substance, or tough hide silky and supple, remains a mystery.

==Leather armor==
Leather armor is made in a [[leather works]], and requires one unit of any leather. Leather is significantly lighter than other forms of armor, and thus is less likely to cause [[weight|encumbrance]] penalties, but also provides less protection. The source animal of the leather (dragon, cat, etc.) does not alter the weight or protection of the armor, though the [[item quality]] likely does.

==See also==
* [[Meat industry]]
* [[Armor]]

{{Category|Materials}}