Fletching

Fletching is the art of creating arrows, bolts, and darts for use in combat. This guide is here to help you on your way to being a successful master of the art of Fletching.

Tools

This is a list of the tools available in Fletching. Some tools are required, while others are not.

Required

• A Handaxe based OHE weapon
• A Dagger based OHE weapon or Hook-knife based Brawling weapon
• A Short, Composite or Long Bow for arrows
• A Light or Heavy Crossbow for Light or Heavy Bolts
• A completed Dart for darts

Optional

• A Drill
• A Fletching Razor
• A Scriber

Materials

This is a list of the available Materials used in Fletching. Some materials are required, while others are not.

Required

• A source of Wood
• Fletching Glue
• Fletchings

Optional

• Paint
• Paintsticks
• Arrowheads
• Caps

Tools Guide

This section is a more in depth look at each tool available in fletching. As mentioned earlier, some tools are required while others are not. Each tool is described in detail to help you on your way. These tools are available at your local fletching shop and weapon shop.

Handaxe

The handaxe is an OHE based weapon used to pare down an item made of wood to create the shafts needed to make your projectile. There are four current possible projectiles created from fletching: Arrow, Light Crossbow Bolt, Heavy Crossbow Bolt, and Dart. Any OHE weapon that INSPECTs as a handaxe base weapon should be compatible for fletching.

Dagger

The dagger is an OHE based weapon that is used for more fine and precise tasks not possible with a handaxe. Paring the shaft down further, cutting nocks in the end of the arrow, making the projectile the proper length, and whittling a tip are all steps requiring the use of the dagger. Any OHE weapon that INSPECTs as a dagger base weapon should be compatible for fletching.

Bow, Crossbow, or Dart

A Ranged weapon is used in the fletching process in order to measure the proper length of the projectile. Current ranged weapons include: Short, Composite, and Long Bows, Light and Heavy Crossbows. A completed Dart is required to measure the correct length of a dart shaft.

Fletching Razor

The fletching razor is a tool that cuts fletchings from feathers found from creatures in the wilds of Elanthia. Though fletchings are easily purchased from the local fletching shop, the fletching razor allows the Fletcher to customize their arrows with fletchings not available in your local shop. Make sure that your fletching razor is OPEN so that you can use it.

Drill

The drill is a tool used to make a hole in the end of the projectile, which allows it to receive an arrowhead. Arrowheads are not required for a fletching projectile to work, but allows the Fletcher customize an arrow to their liking.

Scriber

There are other tools around Elanthia to further improve your enjoyment of fletching. Scribers are used to etch different designs into the wood of your projectile. There are even rare scribers that can etch your name.

Other Tools

There are also other various items and tools that have been released throughout Elanthia. Keep your eyes peeled and you never know what you may find.

Materials Guide

Now that you know what tools you need and what they are used for, lets get familiar with the Materials that you will need. As mentioned earlier, some materials are required while others are not. Each material is detailed below to help you.

Wood

The first and most important material required is the wood material needed to make the projectile. There are several different kinds of woods available for fletching, from a variety of sources. Your two main sorces of wood will either be plain wood or magical wood.

Plain Wood

Plain wood is the most frequent and easily attainable material that you can get your hands on. You can get plain woods by purchasing them from town fletching shops or FORAGEing for them in the wilds. Certain creatures also can provide a skin that can be used as a shaft material, mainly bones. You even have the option of purchasing large pole-arm weapons that you can cut down into shafts as well, just visit your local weapon shop to see their selection.

Magic Wood

Magic woods are woods that have inherent bonuses in them that can be used to increase your Ranged AS. Click on the material in the table below to see applicable information about each one. You can also refer to the Materials Guide on the Gemstone IV website if any of the information happens to be missing.

Unfortunately the woods can only be purchased either by having back-room access at town fletching shops, or by traveling/event merchants.

Below is a table showing you the different woods available at town fletchings shops. These woods come in three sizes: stick (S), branch (B), or limb (L), where stick is the smallest and limb is the largest.

Wood

Landing

Solhaven

Ice Mule

Ta'Vaalor

Sylvarraned

River's Rest

Teras Isle

S

B

L

S

B

L

S

B

L

S

B

L

S

B

L

S

B

L

S

B

L

Carmiln

X

X

X

X

X

Deringo

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Faewood

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Ironwood

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Kakore

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Messile

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Mossbark

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Rowan

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Villswood

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Fletchings

Another essential material needed are fletchings. Fletchings are glued to the back of the projectile to ensure a true and steady flight to its target. Without fletchings, the arrow would become very inaccurate and useless. Fletchings can be purchased from the local fletching shop or made from creature feathers by way of a fletching razor.

Fletching Glue

Need a way to attach those fletchings to the projectile right? Well, a nice “tasty” bottle of fletching glue is the answer. Fletching glue is available at your local fletching shop.

Paint

Tired of that dull “wood” look? Spice up your arrows with some color! The local fletching shops have a variety of colored vials of paint available all the time for your hearts content. Other rare colors can be found from the treasure system or purchased from special merchants throughout the year.

(Note: Painting the projectile with vials of paint coat the entire shaft. The color should show up in the description of the arrow or the show description if applicable)

Paintsticks

Want to add just a band of color to your arrow, or add a band of color over top of your current arrow color? Well, a paintstick is what you are looking for. Using a paintstick will add a small band of color near the end of the arrow. You can add a maximum of two color bands, of the same or different colors. As with paints, a paintstick can be purchased at the local fletching shops, found from the treasure system, or purchased from special merchants.

(Note: Painting the projectile with a paintstick will NOT paint the entire shaft. This will also effect the GATHER verb, as you will not be able to use the paintstick band color as a means of gathering the arrow. Example: a blue faewood arrow can be gathered by using the syntax: gather blue arrow. A blue-banded faewood arrow can be gathered by using the syntax: gather faewood arrow. Other help with the GATHER verb will be provided in the Fletching Commands Section.)

Arrowheads and Caps

Annoyed with those wimpy looking tips that you whittle at the end of your arrow or bolt? An arrowhead or cap is just the right thing for you. When using an arrowhead, you will need a drill to make a hole. If using a cap, just screw it on to the end of the shaft. Arrowheads and caps can be purchased from your local fletching shop, with various materials at your disposal. There are also arrowheads and caps that can be obtained from special merchants as well. Arrows can only accept arrowheads, while Darts can only accept caps. Bolts however, can accept either an arrowhead or cap, which is up to the Fletcher to decide.

Fletching Walk-Through

Tools? Check. Materials? Check. Ready to get started? Check. Now that you have your tools and materials, it is time to begin your journey in the art of fletching. This portion of the guide is an extensive walk-through to help you create projectiles step by step.

Making Shafts

Cutting the rough shafts from a source of wood. This step is required for arrows, bolts, and darts.

Tools and Materials required: a source of wood and a handaxe based OHE

With a source of wood in your right hand, and a handaxe in your left, enter the command:

• CUT <PROJECTILE> FROM MY <WOOD> WITH MY <HANDAXE>

Example: cut arrows from my branch with my handaxe, cut heavy bolts from my log with my hatchet.

This command will take the source of wood and cut it into several shafts of the specified projectile style. The amount of shafts created is somewhat random. Larger sources of wood will provide you with larger quantities of shafts.

This step is not required before every projectile, as this step provides you with several rough shafts for use. It may be preferred to cut several sources of wood in succession to create large bundles at once for ease.

Paring the Shaft

Whittling the rough projectile down to size. This step is required for arrows, bolts, and darts.

Tools and Materials required: a single rough shaft and dagger based OHE

With a single rough shaft in your right hand, and a dagger in your left, enter the command:

• CUT MY SHAFT WITH MY <DAGGER>

This command will take the rough shaft and whittle it down to its general shape for use. Skilled fletchers should see a very straight and smooth shaft, while unskilled fletchers may create wavy and curved shafts. High quality shafts will see an increased AS bonus when completed, while low quality shafts will see a negative AS bonus.

Applying Paint

Painting the projectile to your desired color scheme. This step is optional for arrows, bolts, and darts. If you do not wish to paint your shaft with any paint, please skip on to the next step.

Tools and Materials required: a projectile shaft and a vial of paint or paintstick

With a projectile shaft in your right hand, and a vial of paint or paintstick in your left, type the command:

• PAINT MY SHAFT WITH MY <PAINT/PAINTSTICK>

This command will either paint the entire shaft if you are using a vial of paint or add a band of paint if you are using a paintstick. If you want to paint the entire shaft a particular color, this must be done before any bands are painted on. Once applying the paint or band of paint to the shaft, you will have to wait for the paint to dry before continuing on. A quick LOOK at the shaft will tell you if the paint is dried or not. There is also an in-game message indicating when the paint is dry.

Nocking the Shaft

Nocking the end of the shaft for placement in a bow. This step is required for arrows only. If you are making a Bolt or Dart, please skip on to the next step.

Tools and Materials required: a projectile shaft and a dagger based OHE

With a projectile shaft in your right hand, and a dagger in the left, type the command:

• CUT NOCKS IN MY SHAFT WITH MY <DAGGER>

This command cuts a slot at the end of the shaft where the bowstring will be placed when reaching back to fire.

Measuring the Shaft

Measuring the shaft for correct length. This step is required for arrows, bolts, and darts.

Tools and Materials required: a projectile shaft and a bow, crossbow, or dart used for measuring.

With a projectile shaft in your right hand, and a bow, crossbow or dart in your left, type the command:

• MEASURE MY SHAFT WITH MY <BOW, CROSSBOW OR DART>

This command uses your bow, crossbow or dart to measure the correct length of your shaft. For arrows, you can use a short, composite, or long bow for measurement. The arrow will be able to work with all three bow types. For bolts, you must measure it using either a light crossbow for light bolts, or heavy crossbow for heavy bolts. The light/heavy crossbow must be cocked in order to measure the bolt correctly. Darts can only be measured by using another completed dart to get the correct measurement.

Cutting the Shaft to Length

Cutting the shaft down to the length that was measured. This step is required for arrows, bolts, and darts.

Tools and Materials required: a projectile shaft and a dagger based OHE.

With a projectile shaft in your right hand, and a dagger in your left, type the command:

• CUT MY SHAFT WITH MY <DAGGER>

This command will take the dagger and cut your shaft to the correct length that you measured for on the previous step.

Applying the Fletchings

Attaching fletchings to the end of your projectile. This step is required for arrows, bolts, and darts.

Tools and Materials required: a projectile shaft, fletching glue, and fletchings.

(Note: You are required to use three fletchings to attach to the end of the arrow. Remove a bundle of three fletchings and then attach them)

With a projectile shaft in your right hand, and a bottle of fletching glue in your left, type the command:

• PUT MY GLUE ON MY SHAFT

This command will apply a small amount of glue to the end of your arrow, bolt, or dart. The glue is used to apply the fletchings and keep them in place on your projectile. Quickly stow your glue away, and then remove three fletchings.

With a projectile shaft in your right hand, and a bundle of fletchings in your left, type the command:

• PUT MY FLETCHING ON MY SHAFT

This command will make you apply the fletchings to the glue that is on the shaft. If you do not attach the fletchings quickly after applying the glue, you run a chance of the glue drying before you can put them on. Once the fletchings are attached to the projectile, you will have to wait for the glue to dry before moving on to the next step. A quick LOOK at the shaft will tell you if the glue is dried yet. There will also be in-game messaging to indicate when the glue is dry.

Making the Tip

Finally Yet Importantly, you need to sharpen the other side of the arrow so that you may pierce that annoying Troll in plate armor. This step is divided into two sections. The first section is for whittling the end of the shaft to a point, while the other section is for adding an arrowhead or cap to the end of the arrow, bolt, or dart.

Whittle the Tip

Whittling the end of the shaft to a point to complete your project. This step is required for arrows, bolts, or darts.

Tools and Materials required: a projectile shaft and a dagger based OHE

With a projectile shaft in your right hand, and a dagger in your left, type the command:

• CUT MY SHAFT WITH MY <DAGGER>

This command will make you whittle the end of the shaft to a point, therefore completing your projectile shaft into the specified projectile style: arrow, light/heavy bolt, or dart.

Attach Arrowhead or Cap

Drilling a hole in the end of the projectile shaft to accept an arrowhead or screwing on the cap. If you are using a cap, you do not need to drill a hole in the end of the shaft. Skip ahead past the drill portion of this step and remove your cap to put it on.

Tools and Materials required: a projectile shaft, drill, and an arrowhead.

With a projectile shaft in your right hand, and a drill in your left, type the command:

• TURN MY DRILL

This command will place your drill at the end of the shaft, and drill a hole suitable for accepting an arrowhead. Stow your drill away and then remove an arrowhead.

With a projectile shaft in your right hand, and an arrowhead/cap in your left, type the command:

• TURN MY ARROWHEAD/CAP

This command will then make you screw your arrowhead in the shaft or screw your cap onto the end of the shaft until it is nice and tight. Once the arrowhead or cap is attached completely, your projectile is now a completed arrow, light/heavy bolt, or dart.

Additional Steps

Once your projectile is completed, there are a few additional options that you can do to it. If you own a scriber, you can now use it by RUBing it on your projectile for your desired effect, whether it be symbols or your name. There are also several different items throughout the game that interact with completed projectiles, but of course are optional. Enjoy the art of fletching. Now stow away your projectile and start over with a new one.

Experience

You can gain experience from felcthing in two ways. While you are learning, you will gain experience each time you gain a rank. For example, if you gain your 100th rank, you will gain 100 experience.^* Also, once you have mastered, you will gain 5 experience for creating an arrow. There is, however, a cap on the amount of experience you can gain for a particular time period by completing arrows as a master.

^* Note: This is only true if Fletching is your only artisan skill. Reference Artisan Skill Experience to see the complete details.

Reference Links

Archery Shop Listing from Keelty's Glade

Official Simutronics Guide - This is somewhat out of date because it does not include the most recent changes to fletching.