Zippy's Sky Steel

<p><strong>Allow meteoric iron to be shaped using copper-age tools.</strong><br /><br />I am aware that another meteoric iron mod has already existed since version 1.19.4 called <a href="https://mods.vintagestory.at/mio">Meteoric Iron Overhaul</a> created by Squonk.&nbsp; Feel free to check it out.&nbsp; It's a very nice content-only mod.&nbsp; I usually try to avoid "reinventing the wheel" if possible, but I made this mod because it handles the refining and forging steps in a slightly more immersive way that could only be achieved through writing a C# code mod.&nbsp; Also, Squonk's mod may be abandonware at this point as the author has not communicated for over a year now (as of May 2025).<br /><br />The object of this mod is to transform meteoric iron from a mere curiosity only obtainable with iron-age tools to an "Oh Goody!" windfall for players in the early game. The crafting mechanics attempt to remain as true as possible to real life, albeit in a somewhat simplified and optimistic form.&nbsp; This mod gives an incentive for players in the early game to keep an eye out for meteorite impacts!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>How it works</strong><br /><br />In ideal circumstances, meteoric iron is actually a form of low-grade steel. It's an alloy of iron and nickel with a dash of carbon, smelted in the fires of creation and polished by the heat of atmospheric entry.&nbsp; Mother nature has done one of the more difficult parts of the blacksmith's job -- refining and smelting -- leaving only the crafting of the end product outstanding.&nbsp; Welding and shaping the metal does not require the same high temperatures as smelting.&nbsp; It only needs heat sufficient to make the metal somewhat malleable, and tools hard enough to shape it, of which charcoal and copper can be (barely) sufficient.<br /><br />Using this mod, meteorite blocks can be mined with a copper (or better) pickaxe and will drop from 1 to 3 (usually 1) large meteoric iron chunks (akin to iron blooms). These chunks can be heated with charcoal in a forge and shaped with a copper hammer on a copper anvil into meteoric iron ingots.&nbsp; The ingots can then be worked into items using the same copper-age hammer and anvil tech.<br /><br />Loose meteorite shards can be found around the impact site and collected.&nbsp; These meteorite shards can be heated 2 at a time in a firepit, where they will weld together into a large meteoric iron chunk which can then be forged into ingots as described above. (Meteorite shards can also be merged in a bloomery if you prefer).<br /><br />Unfinished work items can be re-processed into chunks by reheating them in a firepit.<br /><br />Distinct from meteorite shards, any meteoric iron bits -- obtained through loot, trade, or breaking down meteoric iron items with a chisel -- can be combined 20 at a time in a firepit (or bloomery) where they will be processed into a large meteoric iron chunk, which can then be forged as described above.<br /><br /><strong>Obtaining</strong><br /><br />Meteorite shards<br />-&gt; Gather shards<br />-&gt; Heat 2x meteorite shards in firepit to get...<br />Large meteoric iron chunk<br /><br />...or...<br /><br />Meteorite block<br />-&gt; Mine with copper pickaxe to get...<br />Large meteoric iron chunk<br /><br /><strong>Crafting</strong><br /><br />Large meteoric iron chunk<br />-&gt; Heat in forge to get...<br />Workable meteoric iron chunk <br />-&gt; Work on copper anvil with copper hammer to get...<br />Meteoric iron ingot <br />-&gt; Heat in forge to get...<br />Workable meteoric iron ingot <br />-&gt; Work on copper anvil with copper hammer to get...<br />Meteoric iron item<br /><br /><strong>Recycling/Reworking</strong><br /><br />Meteoric iron bits<br />-&gt; obtain via loot, trade or breakdown<br />-&gt; Heat 20x meteoric iron bits in firepit to get...<br />Large meteoric iron chunk</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Version 1.1.0 changes</strong><br />-Slightly de-buffed meteoric iron chunk drop rate when mining meteorite blocks (dist invexp =&gt; strongerinvexp). Blocks will almost always drop only 1 meteoric iron chunk. On rare occasions they will drop 2 or even 3 chunks, but only *very* rarely.<br />-Increased the required heating time for meteorite shards and meteoric iron bits.&nbsp; They now take longer to process.<br />-Changed temperature handling so that leaving a newly created meteoric iron chunk in the firepit will cause it to fairly quickly heat up to working temperature so it can immediately be transferred to an anvil.<br />-Added chiselling recipes that allow meteoric iron chunks and meteorite shards to be broken into meteoric iron bits.&nbsp; This is a *lossy* process which does not return the full amount of materials. This has been done on purpose as a way to partially recover materials from an item that the player has smithed improperly.<br />-Changed all metalbit grid recipes to require both a hammer and chisel when breaking items down into metalbits (because it just makes sense).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Version 1.2.0 changes</strong></p> <p>-Added compatibility with <a href="https://mods.vintagestory.at/smithingplus">Smithing Plus</a> (hopefully no more crashes!)<br />-New graphic assets; meteorite shards<br />-New texture for meteoric iron anvil<br />-New drops; meteorites now occasionally drop crystallized nickel</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Version 1.2.1 changes</strong></p> <p>-One extra change to support <a href="https://mods.vintagestory.at/smithingplus" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Smithing Plus</a>; mark meteoric iron metal bits as smithable on a copper anvil</p> <h3>If you like this mod then <a href="https://mods.vintagestory.at/show/user/e6086f78e5ce09378fcd" target="_blank" rel="noopener">check out my other ones!</a></h3>