Tyranny Lore and the Bronze Age

[Digod]

Worth noting that historically iron supplemented bronze because it was cheap with raw materials more available. Tin is rare and this is alluded to be the case in Tyranny too with Tiers having no tin deposits. Neither wrought (relatively soft, mallable, tough, produced by smelting ore and forging) or cast (hard, brittle, cast into molds as with bronze) iron are exactly superior weapons grade materials to bronze. That would be steel.

You are right, of course, though we can suspect that Forge-Bound iron actually is steel, maybe even a high-quality one

 

[EisenKreutzer]

I even suspect that Forge-Bound Iron can be something like Damascus steel or Bulat, especially considering its superior qualities and the fact that the technology is highly treasured and guarded.

This is my suspicion as well. The Forge-Bound use magic heavily in their forging process, both to heat the forges past technological limitations, to handle the iron with their bare hands and to enhance their own skills and their tools preision and performance.

 

[Bobwoodword]

I thought the setting was one of the best parts of the game. I loved how none of the characters were decked out in heavy armor except for the Disfavored. I would be surprised if Forge-bound were inspired by Damascus steel as they are centuries apart in terms of development but I do think they are reminiscent of those ancient blacksmiths in the sense that they are producing a quality of metal that is many centuries ahead of their time. I think most of the naval and city aspects of the Tiers was shrouded due to budget and time. There is a reason you can visit the Bastard City but can only attend Tunon's Court. I expect this to change.

 

[Kropka]

I will just leave it here One of the sowrds looks almost the same - Unietic culture, bronze age (1800-1500 BC)

 

[ringhloth]

It is rather odd playing the game how it's supposed to be Bronze to Iron Ages but there seems to be more influence from Hellenistic Greece & Rome. And picking up on the point of bronze weapons vs iron weapons. It's funny how iron weapons are shown to be superior & rare when it should be the reverse. I guess the developers wanted to take some artistic license to build up on the fact that Iron = Kyros, Bronze = Everyone else.

Something can be rare even if it is easier to make. For instance, by controlling the source of iron, as Kyros does. Kyros can equip her legions with as much iron as she wants, but it never gets too far outside. The Scarlet Chorus uses bronze because they aren't given weapons at all, and all of the loot they find is bronze, . Merchant licenses for vending war goods conspicuously leave out iron, for instance. The easiest source of iron is under the table deals with ironsmiths as a favor. As for iron being higher quality, well, the forge-bound use magic to be supernaturally good at forging things, and they're making all of the iron.

 

[Antediluvian Monster]

Something can be rare even if it is easier to make. For instance, by controlling the source of iron, as Kyros does. Kyros can equip her legions with as much iron as she wants, but it never gets too far outside.

I considered this but don't think it makes lot of sense ultimately. The Disfavored are just too small (they invaded Tiers with 10.000 and have apperantly not been reinforced since) and themselves make heavy use of light armour aside helmets (e.g. Stone Shields). Sounds like empire of Kyros' size should easily be able to outfit them in bronze if they wanted. What would make sense is outfitting the Chorus with cheap iron kit, allowing more well armed warriors on the battlefield.

Magically aided steel production as suggested before does make sense. Magically enchanted iron less so, as it needs to explain why bronze can't be similarily enchanted.

 

[ringhloth]

I considered this but don't think it makes lot of sense ultimately. The Disfavored are just too small (they invaded Tiers with 10.000 and have apperantly not been reinforced since) and themselves make heavy use of light armour aside helmets (e.g. Stone Shields). Sounds like empire of Kyros' size should easily be able to outfit them in bronze if they wanted. What would make sense is outfitting the Chorus with cheap iron kit, allowing more well armed warriors on the battlefield.

Magically aided steel production as suggested before does make sense. Magically enchanted iron less so, as it needs to explain why bronze can't be similarily enchanted.

Kyros has other armies, though, and bronze seems to be really limited (other armies seem to be on the scale of hundreds and thousands, not tens of thousands). And, again, the Scarlet Chorus doesn't give any weapons to their armies.

 

[aono]

Magically enchanted iron less so, as it needs to explain why bronze can't be similarily enchanted.

I believe there is a lot of in magic theory there needs to be explained.
Maybe they just know magical formulaes for iron, but not for bronze?