Category:Materials

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A material is the substance or substances out of which a thing is or can be made. In GemStone IV, there are numerous materials that weapons, armor, shields, and other useful objects can be crafted of that may or may not have real life counterparts. Any articles involving details about any materials found in GemStone IV should be included in this category.

Decorative Materials

Decorative materials have no distinct functional properties, either because they are not suitable as weapons or armor, or because they fall within one of the existing broader material categories ("mundane wood" or "leather"). They may be used as jewelry, embellishments, or adornments.

Many real-world materials can be used as decorative materials as long as they are suitably "in-genre". However, be aware that just because something exists on Earth does not mean it is on Elanthia.

Note: When you hand an item to a GameMaster or a merchant, they are required to check that the decorative materials on it are approved and will be forced to change its description if the materials are not. If you are not sure about the existing materials on an item but would not like the item to be changed without your permission, verify before you hand it over.

Functional Materials

Functional materials are those which can serve as the base material for weapons and armor.

The standard material for all weapons (except ranged weapons and staves) and metal armor is steel. The standard material for ranged weapons and staves is wood. The primary material for shields may be either metal or wood. However, if the primary material for a shield is wood, it is assumed the shield is banded with steel. If the primary material for a shield is metal, then it is assumed the shield is ALSO made of wood.

Clothing and robe armors (ASG 1-2) are made of cloth, and leather armors (ASG 5-12) are made of leather. Cloth and leather are considered functional materials, but there are no mechanical distinctions between different types of cloth and leather. Armors from the "hard" leather group (ASG 9-12) may sometimes have a metal as a base material, where it is assumed the armor is mainly made of leather and the metal is used for reinforcements.

The base material of an item can be determined by INSPECT.

Properties

Each functional material has the following mechanical properties:

Level Restrictions

Characters cannot hold items made of a specific material until they have reached a required training level. For example, an adventurer must be at least level 10 to wield a +20 vultite weapon.

An inexperienced adventurer attempting to pickup such an item will quickly drop it: 

>get vultite longsword
As you reach for it, you feel a pulse, like an intensity of essence surrounding the vultite longsword.  It might be difficult to hold onto it for very long.

The following formula, which is based on the item’s inherent bonus, can be used to calculate the level required to wield it:

Character's Required Level ≥ Item's Enchantment Bonus / 2

The result must always be rounded up. With vultite, the +20 bonus clearly shows a level 10 requirement. With glaes, (15 / 2 = 7.5), the +15 bonus yields 7.5 which rounds up to a level 8 requirement.

Since there are so many materials in Elanthia, the bonus of combat gear is most commonly referred to in multiples of 5. Thus a +5 mithril item is referred to as 1x, a +15 glaes item as 3x, and a +30 item as 6x. Simply take the bonus and divide by 5 (vultite: +20 / 5 = 4x).

Also, objects can have a different bonus than might seem evident. For example, a wizard can increase an item's bonus by enchanting it. The highest possible enchantment bonus is +50, which can only be used by characters of level 25 and above.

Some rarer materials such as kroderine may have additional special restrictions. See the individual articles for more details.

Base Enchantment Bonuses

Click the "Expand/Collapse" button on the right to show/hide base enchantment bonuses table.
Enchant Level Bonus Materials
0x <0 alexandrite, bronze, modwir, obsidian, ruby, wood
+0 bone, iron, ironwood, leather, steel
1x +2 invar, yew
+5 drakar, gornar, mithril, rhimar, rowan, zorchar
2x +6 carmiln
+7 adamantine
+8 deringo, faenor
+10 black ora, kakore, kelyn, ora, razern, white ora, zelnorn
3x +12 hoarbeam, imflass, urglaes
+15 coraesine, glaes, mesille, mithglin, mossbark, obskruul, somnis, surita
4x +17 ipantor, witchwood
+18 eahnor, vaalorn, villswood
+20 aganjira, black alloy, eonake, faewood, lathonian, orase, rolaren, ruic, shadarl, urnon, vethinye, vultite, white alloy
5x +22 fireleaf, glowbark, kroderine
+24 wyrwood
+25 ghezyte, golvern, illthorn, krodera, lor, sephwir, veil iron, xazkruvrixis
6x +30 high steel, low steel

Gear Difficulty Modifiers

The following table shares the modifications each material can cause when attempting to enchant or ensorcell an item primarily made of such material. This list is subject to revision as materials are added or modified.

Click the "Expand" button on the right to show the gear difficulty modifier table.


Material Gear Difficulty Modifier
Material Modifiers for Adamantine to Ghezyte
Material Name Modifier
adamantine -150
aganjira (lesser) -60
aganjira (greater) -150
alexandrite -500
black alloy 0
bone -250
bronze -50
carmiln 10
cloth 0
copper -50
coraesine -200
deringo -20
drakar -50
drake 0
eahnor 15
eonake 0
faenor 15
faewood 0
feras 0
fireleaf 15
firewheel -35
ghezyte -50
Material Modifiers for Glaes to Low Steel
Material Name Modifier
glaes -10
glass 0
glowbark -10
golvern -10
gornar -50
high steel 0
hoarbeam 5
illthorn 0
imflass -30
invar 0
ipantor -40
iron -30
ironwood 0
kakore 0
kelyn 0
krodera2 -100
kroderine2 -100
leather -10
lor -25
low steel 0
Material Modifiers for Mein to Shadarl
Material Name Modifier
mein -10
metal1 -500
mesille 0
mithglin 15
mithril 20
modwir 0
mossbark 0
obsidian -500
ora 0
ora, black -75
ora, white 0
orase 0
razern -20
rhimar -50
rolaren -40
rowan 20
ruby -500
ruic -60
sephwir -25
shadarl -100
Material Modifiers for Silver to Zorchar
Material Name Modifier
silver -500
somnis -150
steel -10
stone -500
surita (lesser) -100
surita (greater) -250
urglaes -999
urnon -999
vaalorn 10
veil iron2 -50
vethinye -150
villswood 0
vultite 0
white alloy 0
witchwood -75
wood -10 / -1003
wyrwood -60
yew -20
zelnorn -250
zorchar -50

1 If the item inspects as "metal" (rather than a specific type of metal) something is wrong. ASSIST to get it fixed.

2 Materials with anti-magical properties cannot be improved via magical player services, such as Enchant (925) and Ensorcell (735)

3 'Wood' has a different difficulty for shield/bow/runestaff (-10) vs melee weapon/armor (-100).

Material Rarity and Use Tables

Table Key

Click the "Expand" button on the right to show the material rarity and use key.
Table Key for Material Rarity and Use Tables
Table Column Options
Rarity Extremely Common, Very Common, Common, Uncommon, Infrequent, Unusual, Rare, Very Rare, Extraordinarily Rare, Extremely Rare, Varies (see specific page)
Combat Y = Yes, this can be used in alterations subject to all ALTER rules
N = No, this cannot be used in alterations unless the item is already made from that material
A = Armor can be made from this material
Arr = Arrows can be made from this material
M = Melee weapons can be made from this material
Ra = Ranged weapons can be made from this material
Ru = Runestaves can be made from this material
S = Shields can be made from this material
Adornment Y = Yes, this can be used in alterations subject to all ALTER rules
N = No, this cannot be used in alterations unless the item is already made from that material
V = Whether or not this item can be used in an alteration varies dependent upon type
Other I = Instruments may be made of this
L = Lockpicks may be made of this

Cloth Rarity and Use Table

See more about cloth and fabrics here.

Click the "Expand" button on the right to show the rarity and use table.
Cloth Rarity and Use Table
Material Name Material Type Bonus Material Rarity Combat Adornment Other Special Properties
Aganjira ? -60 Extremely Rare N A N N Reduces the d100 against warding and bolt spells by 1d10 for the wearer, and (2d10)% chance to gain 1d10 mana or stamina, -60 material penalty
Aqilorn Silk Extremely Rare N Y N
Auroralaen Requires fodder Y
Baldachin ? Y
Batiste Linen Y
Bourde Silk Y
Broadcloth Cotton Y
Brocade Silk Y
Brocatelle Silk Y
Buckskin Leather Y
Burlap Jute Y
Cameline Wool Y
Canvas Cotton Y
Chainsil Linen Y
Chambray Cotton Y
Chamois ? Y
Charmeuse Silk Y
Chiffon Silk Y
Cloth, generic - Very Common
Cordetum - Y
Cordovan ? Y
Cotton Cotton Y
Damask ? Y
Dupioni silk Silk Y
Elesine Silk
Faille ? Y
Felt ?
Flannel ? Y
Flyrsilk Silk Y
Frieze ? Y
Fustian ? Y
Gauze ? Y
Gingham ? Y
Grosgrain ? Y
Jacquard ? Y
Lace ? Y
Linen Linen Y
Lotus silk Silk
Lyraigne ? Y
Marbrinus Silk Y
Mervaer Linen Y
Mink Fur and feather
Moire silk Silk Y
Muslin Cotton Y
Naiquard Requires fodder Y
Naraina Silk
Nubuck ? Y
Oilcloth ? Y
Organdy ? Y
Organza Silk Y
Paeline Wool Y
Paisley ? Y
Pashmina ? Y
Plumille Fur and feather Y
Ramie Linen Ramie Y
Ramie Silk Ramie Y
Saenira Silk Y
Samite ? Y
Shadarl Leather -100 Extremely Rare N A N N Innate Properties: +40 Stalking and Hiding enhancive ranks. +1% base spell hindrance. Cannot be dyed.
Silk Silk Y
Silk Gauze Silk
Silk Linen Silk
Spidersilk Silk Y
Suede ? Y
Taffeta Silk Y
Tartan ? Y
Tulle ? Y
Tweed ? Y
Twill ? Y
Velour ? Y
Velvet Silk Y
Velveteen ? Y
Watered silk Silk
Wool Wool Y
X'aganjira ? -150 Extremely Rare N A N N Reduces the d100 against warding and bolt spells by 1d25 for the wearer, and (2d25)% chance to gain 1d25 mana or stamina, -150 material penalty

Gem Rarity and Use Table

See more about gems here.

Click the "Expand" button on the right to show the rarity and use table.
Gem Rarity and Use Table
Material Name Bonus Material Rarity Combat Adornment Other Special Properties
Aetherstone Varies
Agate Varies
Agita
Amber Varies
Amethyst Varies
Aquamarine
Aranthium-bloom
Auboraline Varies
Azurite Varies
Baystone Rare
Beryl Varies
Bismuth Varies
Blazestar Varies
Bleakstone Rare Y
Bloodjewel Varies
Bloodstone Varies
Bluerock Varies
Carbuncle Varies
Chalcedony Varies
Cinderstone Varies
Coral Varies
Cordierite Varies
Corestone Varies
Crystal Varies
Cube Varies
Deathstone Varies
Despanal Varies
Diamond Varies
Diopside Varies
Doomstone Varies N Y
Dreamstone Varies
Duskjewel
Dust Varies
Egg Varies
Emerald Varies V
Eostone Varies
Eye Varies
Faenor-bloom Varies
Fang Varies
Feldspar Varies
Feystone Varies
Firedrop
Firestone Varies
Fluorite Varies
Galena Varies
Garnet Varies
Gem Varies
Gemstone Very Common
Geode Varies
Glimaerstone Varies
Goldstone Varies
Gypsum Varies
Haon, petrified Varies
Heliodor Varies
Hematite Varies
Hyacinth Varies
Idocrase Varies
Ivory Varies Y L
Jacinth Varies
Jade Varies
Jasper Varies
Kornerupine
Lapis lazuli Varies
Maoral, petrified Varies
Marble Varies
Marcasite Varies
Mekret Varies
Mica Varies
Mithril-bloom Varies
Modwir, petrified
Moonstone Varies
Mournstone
Nephrite Varies
Nightstone
Nugget Varies
Obsidian Infrequent Y Y
Oligoclase
Onyx Varies
Opal Varies
Ora-bloom Varies
Orb Varies V
Pearl Varies
Peridot Varies
Plinite
Pumice Varies
Pyrite Varies
Quartz Varies V
Razern-bloom
Rhimar-bloom Varies
Riftshard Varies
Riftstone Varies N
Rivertear Varies
Rock Varies
Roestone Varies
Rosespar Varies
Ruby Uncommon Y
Saewehna Varies
Sandsilver Varies
Sapphire Varies
Sard Varies
Sardonyx Varies
Scarab Varies
Sea glass Varies
Shard Varies
Shell Varies
Smoldereye Varies
Snowstone
Soulstone Varies
Spectrolite
Sphene Varies
Spherine Varies
Spinel Varies
Spur Varies
Starstone Varies
Stone Very Common
Sunstone Varies
Talon Varies
Tanzanite Varies
Teardrop
Thanot, petrified Varies
Thunderstone Varies
Titanite
Toadstool Varies
Tooth Varies
Topaz Varies
Tourmaline Varies
Turquoise Varies
Tusk Varies
Vultite-bloom Varies
Waterweb Varies
Wheel Varies
Wraithaline Varies
Wyrdshard Varies
Zoisite
Zircon Varies

Metal Rarity and Use Table

See more about metals here.

Materials with a rarity of 7 or above may require fodder during alterations.

Click the "Expand" button on the right to show the rarity and use table.
Metal Rarity and Use Table
Material Name Bonus Material Rarity Combat Adornment Other Special Properties
Adamantine +7 10 Extremely Rare N A M S N Y
Alexandrite -19 07 Rare Y M
Alum 06 Unusual Y L
Aranthium 09 Extraordinarily Rare
Balenite
Black alloy +0 09 Extraordinarily Rare N A M S
Black ora +10 09 Extraordinarily Rare Y M Y Y
Brass 02 Very Common Y L
Bronze -5 02 Very Common Y A M Y N
Copper 01 Extremely Common Y L
Coraesine +15 10 Extremely Rare N M N Y
Drakar +5 07 Rare A M N Y
Drake 07 Rare
Eahnor +18 08 Very Rare Y A M Y
Electrum 07 Rare Y
Eonake +20 09 Extraordinarily Y M S Y
Faenor +8 07 Rare Y M
Feras 03 Common
Ghezyte +25 10 Extremely Rare N M N Y
Glaes/Mein +15 07 Rare Y A M L N
Gold 01 Uncommon Y L
Golvern +25 08 Very Rare Y M A Y L
Gornar +5 07 Rare Y A M N Y
High steel +30 10 Extremely Rare N A M S N Y
Imflass +12 04 Uncommon Y A M N
Invar +2 06 Unusual Y A M L Y
Iron +0 01 Extremely Common Y A M Y N
Kelyn +10 09 Extraordinarily Rare Y M L
Krodera +25 09 Extraordinarily Rare Y M Y Y
Kroderine +22 10 Extremely Rare Y A M S N Y
Laje 05 Infrequent Y L
Lead 01 Extremely Common
Low steel +30 10 Extremely Rare N M S N Y
Metal, generic 01 Extremely Common
Mithglin +15 07 Rare Y A M N
Mithril +5 04 Uncommon Y A M L N
Ora +10 04 Uncommon Y A M L N
Pewter 05 Infrequent
Pink gold 05 Infrequent
Platinum 07 Rare
Razern +10 08 Very Rare Y M Y
Red gold 05 Infrequent
Rhimar +5 07 Rare N A M Y
Rolaren +20 08 Very Rare Y A M S Y L N
Rose gold 05 Infrequent
Silver 01 Extremely Common Y L
Steel +0 01 Extremely Common Y A M L N
Sterling silver 05 Infrequent
Tin 01 Extremely Common
Urglaes +12 09 Extraordinarily Rare Y A M Y Y
Urnon +20 10 Extremely Rare Y M N Y
Vaalin 07 Rare Y L
Vaalorn +18 07 Rare Y A M N
Veil iron +25 09 Extraordinarily Rare Y A M Y Y
Veniom 08 Very Rare N A M Y L Y
Vultite +20 04 Uncommon Y A M L N
White alloy +20 10 Extremely Rare Y A M S
White gold 05 Infrequent
White ora +10 08 Very Rare Y M Y Y
Xazkruvrixis +25 10 Extremely Rare N M N Y
Zelnorn +10 10 Extremely Rare N A M S N Y
Zinc 01 Extremely Common
Zorchar +5 07 Rare N A M N Y

Unknown/Other Rarity and Use Table

Click the "Expand" button on the right to show the rarity and use table.
Unknown/Other Rarity and Use Table
Material Name Material Type Bonus Material Rarity Combat Adornment Other Special Properties
Ahnver
Air Other 01 Extremely Common
Bone Other 01 Extremely Common Y A M S Y
Doeskin Y
Fur Y
Glass Other 01 Extremely Common
Hide Y
Iron boar hide Other
Kidskin Y
Leather Other +0 01 Extremely Common Y A Y
Mink Other Y
Organic Other 01 Extremely Common
Salmon skin Other
Sealskin Other
Trout skin Other
Ur-barath Y N

Wood Rarity and Use Table

See more about trees here.

Click the "Expand" button on the right to show the rarity and use table.
Wood Rarity and Use Table
Material Name Bonus Rarity Adornment Combat Arr M Ra Ru S I Other
Acacia
Afzelia
Alder
Applewood
Araucaria
Ash Y Y Y Varied colors
Aspen
Balsa
Basswood
Beech
Birch
Black willow
Blackwood
Bloodwood Bloodwood heartwood varies from gray-red to a deep rich red. Grain varies from straight to variable. It's texture is fine and smooth. The wood is lustrous and sometimes has variegated yellow and red stripes.
Boxwood
Butternut
Camphor
Canver
Carmiln +6 Uncommon Y Y Y Y Y
Catalpa
Cedar
Cherry
Chestnut
Cocobolo

Variegated tones of red and orange with darker contrasting grain lines. Grain often swirly and tight.

Coralwood
Cottonwood
Cucumbertree
Cumaru
Cypress
Deringo +8 Uncommon Y Y Y Y Y
Dogwood
Ebonwood
Elm Y Y Y Varied colors, pores visible amid grain
Faewood +20 Unusual Y Y Y Y Smooth brown to grey bark. Imaera favored.
Fel +0 Y Y Y Near black, fine-grained hardwood.
Fig
Fir
Fireleaf +22 Very Rare Y Y Y Ridged, grey-green bark.
Firewheel Flares fire, electricity, or both. Instruments are always master quality.
Ghostwood Unknown Unknown Y Y Y Y Unknown
Glowbark +22 Extraordinarily Rare Y Y Y Y Bears phosphorescent organisms in bark.
Greenheart
Haon +0 Y Y Y Y Purplish-smoky grey bark, pale blue-grey heartwood
Hackberry
Hawthorn Y
Hazelwood/Hazel +0 Y Y Y Varied colors.
Hemlock
Hickory
Hoarbeam +12 Unusual Y Y Y Y Silver-grey wood with irregular grain.
Illthorn +25 Extremely Rare Y Y Y Scaled and ridged grey bark.
Ipantor +17 Extraordinarily Rare Y Y Y Sighted.
Iriswood Evirissia is a type of evergreen tree similar to a hemlock. Its fragrant, flat needle-like leaves are a vibrant green on the topside and a silver-green beneath, and the tree has tiny reddish brown cones. The purplish bark is a shade reminiscent of mana irises, and the wood itself is lustrous red-blonde with a fine iridescent grain that creates intricate patterns when cut and polished by Evashiran woodworkers.
Ironwood +0 Infrequent Y Y Y Y Very dense wood, also suitable for weapons.
Jacaranda
Jadewood +0 Common N N N N N N A type of modwir found in Atan Irith. See Glassworking document for details.
Juniper
Kakore +10 Uncommon Y Y Y Y
Kingwood
Klysmar +0 Extremely Rare N Y Dark silvery green wood with darker grain from Ta'Loenthra. For instruments. Only Loenthra elven merchants can use.
Ko'nag +0 Very Rare Y Y Very pale wood with rough grain.
Lacewood
Larch
Lasimor +0 Very Rare Fine grained with narrow striations in varying shades, ranging from grey to yellow to reddish brown. From Ta'Vaalor. Only specific elven merchants may use this.
Lati
Lemon
Lime
Linden Also known as Lime and Basswood
Lor +25 Extraordinarily Rare Y Y
Magnolia
Mahogany
Maple
Maoral +0 Y Y Y Strikingly grained reddish wood.
Marblewood
Marri Marri's yellow to pale brown heartwood and paler to white sapwood contrast beautifully with the dark red gum that features on the tree's trunk. It has a coarse but even texture with slightly interlocked grain. The finished timber is honey-coloured with a distinctive vein structure.
Meranti
Mesille +15 Unusual Y Y Y Y Y Dense, golden brown wood.
Milkwood
Mistwood Y N Pale blond hue, decorative usage.
Modwir -10 Common Y Y Y Scaly grey bark with irregular grooves, suitable for weapons. Pale silvery heartwood.
Monir
Mopane Heartwood is medium to dark reddish brown, with black stripes. Color tends to darken with age.
Mossbark +15 Uncommon Y Y Y Y Y Light-hued wood, similar to pine.
Oak +0 Y Y Y Varied colors.
Olivewood
Orangewood
Orase +20 Uncommon Y Y Y Dense wood with highly defined grain.
Peach
Pearwood
Pecan
Pine
Plum
Poplar
Purpleheart
Ramin
Redwood
Rosewood
Rowan +5 Uncommon Y Y Y
Ruic +20 Uncommon Y Y Reddish-gold wood.
Sandalwood
Satinwood
Sephwir +25 Extremely Rare Y Y Silver-hued wood. Sighted.
Sequoia
Snakewood
Spinewood
Spruce
Sugi
Surita +15 Extremely Rare N N Y Storm cloud grey, white, and ebon. Changes d100 to d110 or d125.
Sweetwood
Sweetgum
Sycamore
Tambootie
Tanik
Teak Heartwood tends to be a golden or medium brown, with color darkening with age.
Thanot
Traesharm
Tupelo
Turpentine
Villswood +18 Infrequent Y Y Y Y Y Saw-blade grain.
Walnut Light brown to dark chocolate, with some blonde or yellow as well
Wenge
Whitewood
Widowwood +0 Very Rare Y N Blue-black wood with reddish sheen.
Willow Heartwood is tan to pinkish brown.
Witchwood +17 Very Rare Y Y Y Twisted and ridged tree, dark grey-brown bark.
Wood, Mundane Extremely Common
Wrotwood +0 Red wood with flaky black bark from Feywrot Mire.
Wyrmwood
Wyrwood +24 Extraordinarily Rare Y Y
Yew +2 Uncommon Y Y Y Y Varied colors. Sighted.
Zebrawood Golden brown with pronounced dark brown streaks.
Zitan Heartwood ranges from a dark orange to a deeper reddish purple, often with darker streaks throughout. Colors tend to darken significantly over time to deep reddish purple to nearly black.
Zydris +0 Silvered purple wood with silvery gold bark transplanted from Bre'Naere.

Behind the Scenes: History of Materials in GemStone

Main article: ICE materials

GemStone III had at least as many different types of materials in it as exist on Earth because everything from iron and steel to oak and yew can be found there. Where it gets more interesting is in the different magical materials that exist. Originally, these materials had names taken directly from Iron Crown Enterprises' "RoleMaster" gaming products.

Until 1998, ICE had the worldwide gaming rights to the Middle-Earth world-setting created by J.R.R. Tolkien. The names that he created--mithril, eog, galvorn, and others--are therefore found throughout ICE's gaming products.

When GemStone III was written, the names of these materials were used but the properties of them were not necessarily copied over as well. For example, in "RoleMaster" the material eog has a +30 magical bonus; in GemStone III, eog was only +10.

At the end of 1995 when the ICE age came to an end, Simutronics was legally required to change all references to materials with "RoleMaster" names. Items actually in the possession of characters were allowed to retain their old material names, with the stipulation that should the item ever be handled by a GameMaster, the material would be converted to whatever the corresponding new material was called. (For example, an old "galvorn" item that a GameMaster needed to work on for some reason would be returned to the player as a "golvern" item.)

Resources

Subcategories

This category has the following 4 subcategories, out of 4 total.

 

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G

  • Gems‎ (3 C, 147 P)

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