Sword materials for video game

[GameGuy]

Hello,

I'm developing a video game where the characters often use swords and other melee weaponry (hammers, axes, etc.). In short, the game has an upgrade system wherein the player can reinforce their sword with various materials to make it 'better' (do more damage).

In addition to this upgrade system there is also a 'base material' for the sword that is intended to define its overall quality.

The game is set in late 1800s early 1900s. We want the game to be at least somewhat grounded in reality and would rather avoid jumping into fake materials like "adamantium" if possible.

I realize that most blades since the 1300s are made of various kinds of steel. But, we want it to be simple and not read like "A20 Steel" etc. Ideally the game would read like...

Bronze Sword (worst)
Iron Sword (bad)
Steel Sword (good)
<?> sword (better)
<?> sword (best)

You could then reinforce your steel sword with an element such as Carbon. This would make your Steel sword do more damage in the game.

I've read some stuff on Titanium and it's often used in fiction as 'better' than steel but it sounds pretty dubious to me I wouldn't want to put any sort of thing where an educated audience would say "that's ridiculous". Cost of the sword is of course no issue since it's a video game

Anyways I thought I'd ask some people who know about swords to see if there is anything that would roughly fit as a 'base' material, and what would fit as a 'reinforcement' material.

Thanks

 

[Triton]

Hello,

I'm developing a video game where the characters often use swords and other melee weaponry (hammers, axes, etc.). In short, the game has an upgrade system wherein the player can reinforce their sword with various materials to make it 'better' (do more damage).

In addition to this upgrade system there is also a 'base material' for the sword that is intended to define its overall quality.

The game is set in late 1800s early 1900s. We want the game to be at least somewhat grounded in reality and would rather avoid jumping into fake materials like "adamantium" if possible.

I realize that most blades since the 1300s are made of various kinds of steel. But, we want it to be simple and not read like "A20 Steel" etc. Ideally the game would read like...

Bronze Sword (worst)
Iron Sword (bad)
Steel Sword (good)
<?> sword (better)
<?> sword (best)

You could then reinforce your steel sword with an element such as Carbon. This would make your Steel sword do more damage in the game.

I've read some stuff on Titanium and it's often used in fiction as 'better' than steel but it sounds pretty dubious to me I wouldn't want to put any sort of thing where an educated audience would say "that's ridiculous". Cost of the sword is of course no issue since it's a video game

Anyways I thought I'd ask some people who know about swords to see if there is anything that would roughly fit as a 'base' material, and what would fit as a 'reinforcement' material.

Thanks

Hmm well in the late 19th and early 20th century swords were pretty much all steel... and pretty much obsolete too (patton sabers and the idiocy of WWI to the contrary) except as a badge of office, so I'm not sure materials upgrades are the way to go. Nobody would have been using a bronze sword in the 1890s, not unless we are talking about John Carter of Mars or something. Perhaps instead of sword upgrades you could consider training upgrades to the characters? Better reflexes, more strength etc?

 

[Hesparus]

Everybody would have been using steel swords, but not all steel was equal. There were a few places in the world that made exceptional steel — such as solingen, toledo, etc — and other places that made crappy to fair steel. Therefore you could use place of origin as a your quality indicator.

- Chris

ETA: adding more carbon to your steel isn't necessarily going to help. A more important criteria is the purity of the steel (the lack of harmful elements and such) and the quality of the processing. Heat treat and geometry are also at least as important as the carbon content. None of these are really things you can change to upgrade your blade without just replacing it (with the partial exception of geometry).

 

[Longtrang]

Well you could have a crude steel blade or untempered blade. Upgrades could be the heat treat/temper, changing grind angles and adding a fuller (faster swing). Or maybe have the character learn things like zone tempering or something. Also details like balance and durability would be neat additions. The regional thing is a great idea for steel quality. Like Spanish steel, Japanese steel etc. Different blade styles would be cool too.

 

[SeaxyBeast]

Rusty militia blade.
Sharpened militia blade.
Regular armory blade.
Elite unit blade.
Elite unit balanced blade.
Heirloom blade.

Much can be done to improve blade performance, but most of it has to do with the physical characteristics of the blade. This sort of system seems less gimmicky to me than trying to re-treat or re-forge a crappy, mass-produced blade. Better to refine it with knowledge and upgrade when available.

Axes can be made sharper and quicker (thinner blade profiles) or have spikes added to the back, etc.

Knives can gain knuckle guards or pommel spikes.

 

[kaosblakblade]

it seems to me that your really looking for suggestions as to category types for your metal weapons. As an avid gamer i could see things like,....
differentially hardened
through hardened
Laminated steel
tamahagane
Alloy
cast vs. forged

Sounds kinda cool to be working on sometjing like this, especially if you can really get into specific properties like durability, damage etc. whereas i could see a cast steel blade requiring more frequent stops at the "smith" for repairs etc. Good luck with your game!!

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Most likely for the time period a character would be visiting a cutler rather than the smith, though of course smith is a more recognized layperson's term.

 

[not2sharp]

....I realize that most blades since the 1300s are made of various kinds of steel. But, we want it to be simple and not read like "A20 Steel" etc. Ideally the game would read like...

Bronze Sword (worst)
Iron Sword (bad)
Steel Sword (good)
<?> sword (better)
<?> sword (best)

I am guessing the game theme is something like a steampunk fantasy setting. If so we can dispense with reality and add domascus, folded, and titanium to your list. By the late 19th century the sword had been largely relegated to ceremonial wear, real combat had passed it by and was now conducted with artillery, bombs, first generation machine guns, repeating rifles and revolvers.

n2s

 

[GameGuy]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. In the end we made up a few elements (like 'mithril') that would be stronger, then combining this with "Crude->Flawless" designation in front. We'll supplement with visuals to make a crude weapon appear worse than a flawless weapon.