I think the only way to make smithing relevant in RuneScape without disrupting the bronze - rune process would be to enlarge it so that it is used for something else. I enjoyed the idea of firemaking and also the worldwide firepits, and STASH units with construction is good also. For smithing I think introducing some overworld stuff could be intriguing, easy machines or other pieces of metal work. Or making metal statues used for different things. Hell create potions with it who knows and melt the pubs. I like the concept of enthusiast figurines in places, something such as a prayer that is conserve that is free looks balanced.
Smithing carving or molding if bronze makes them not makes statues. I believe smithing could be changed i. Wah that you could smith rune plate in 92smithing and addy armor much sooner. Some high level loot combining could be move higher like dragonfire protect and dragonhunter lance etc and much more stuff like that may be added to make use of higher smithing lvl. Also buff smithing cape so that it might be worth while.Artistic bronze/iron casting certainly feels like smithing irl. Carving the mould on the other hand could be more like crafting, but in the event that you simply bought the moulds in game I think making statues would fit with smithing.
RuneScape already using crafting for casting rings and bracelets is a counterargument, but I feel like people are so small and delicate it's not as extreme and foundry-y as using giant crucibles to cast statue parts and weld them together.See thats the thing: I believe we ought to just disrupt the present system. Create Rune smithed at level 60, add 3-4 fresh ores between 70-90, rescale exp rates, change alch values, etc. etc.. I don't have any doubt the JMODS can do it correctly. Disrupt it by making barrows worthless because most of the RuneScape playerbase remains just wearing armour 3 steps up from rune?
The rework worked for RS3 since they are way fucking farther ahead in terms of armour tiers. Blast furnace gold bars and the fact OSRS is tough stuck tier 70 means a smithing rework will and shouldn't ever happen. Jagex let smithing become fire making by letting the exp rates get out of control so now nothing worthwhile can be inserted to smithing top end because you're able to get 99 in a week. Can it make barrows useless? I do concur that the fix tier 70/75 is pointless. We have enough weapons to stratify up to tier 90 weapons which wouldn't even make a difference in the majority of cases (very few people are using a twisted bow with 75-89 range).
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