Repairing weapons

[saladasalad]

I don't really like the current system of repairing weapons, it doesn't make sense to me. When a weapon needs repairing, what exactly needs to be done to fix it and what is in a weapons repair kit? I imagine that most of the 'repairing' would just be sharpening, in which case a whetstone would be the major component of a weapons repair kit. But in RL, whetstones can be used many times. Also, when crafting weapons players use a sharpening stone. This implies that the use of sharpening/whetstones is a skill acquired in the weapon making skill which makes the weapon repair skill redundant.

A solution that I would like to see, is long-lasting whetstones being introduced as a mine-able material (near the river, in sedimentary rock). Whetstones should not be sold by NPC's and they should be rare enough that they fetch around 5000t on the open market. Weapon repair kits should also be completely removed.

A solution for the problem of overlapping skills is one that I haven't thought of a solution for yet, but I'm sure other people have ideas.

[Maju]

I agree with the sharpening stone issue (except for maces/hammers obviously, which should endure more) but I don't agree with the high cost of them. Sharpening stones are pretty cheap in RL.

[bilbous]

A weapon in need of repair can have such things wrong with it as: broken blade or handle, bent blade or handle, missing or broken hilt guard, among other things depending on the weapon. Unless you are going to get into specifics about type of damage, a certain amount of abstraction is necessary. A weapon that is 0/50 is not likely merely dull it is likely completely unusable until repaired. Indeed a weapon at 10/50 is likely pretty much unusable too. As much as realism is a good thing, some concessions towards playability must be made.

A whetstone might be part of a repair kit but it would not be the whole thing by any means. Repair kits also contribute to the economy by being a continuing expense. Of course that is a different matter.