Cold Iron... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Cold Iron... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Khan the Destroyer
07-20-07, 10:40 AM Nothing too important here. I'm building a warforged character and am having trouble visualizing what Cold Iron Tracery would look like.

What does Cold Iron look like? I keep imagining a dark blue metal, but that's more than likely my associating cold with blue.

Is there even a difference in appearance between Iron and Cold Iron?

Please point me to the source (if any) and thanks in advance :).
JellyPooga
07-20-07, 10:45 AM I've always imagined Cold Iron to be darker than normal Steel (more iron-like), but at the end of the day, it can look like whatever you want. I don't think any 'official' source actually gives a description of its appearance.
lord_xarallon
07-20-07, 11:00 AM I just image it like as dark metal, but not black.
unfortunate_crow
07-20-07, 12:06 PM It is just iron that was pounded into shape without the use of heat. It looks like normal iron.
Kouk
07-20-07, 01:50 PM It is just iron that was pounded into shape without the use of heat. It looks like normal iron.

No in it is a separate material.

In D&D, cold iron is described as "... iron, mined deep underground, known for its effectiveness against fey creatures, is forged at a lower temperature to preserve its delicate properties." It also is resistant to magic, which makes enchanting it cost more than normal iron or steel.

Though I have read other books where cold iron was described as normal iron worked without heat (Minor usefulness against werewolves and such).
spyderfreek
07-20-07, 02:35 PM My group had a discussion about this not that long ago. We looked up lots of sources for cold iron and found some interesting facts, but as for its look nothing was difinitive. One answer I can put forth is this... Wrought Iron is used to keep spirits contained in graveyards and when buried before the front door of a house it keeps witches at bay.

SO cold iron could look like wrought iron fencing... blackish in color.
Mark_Aged
07-20-07, 02:44 PM I pictured it to be like iron, but be really cold, and maybe have a bit of frost on it. And be less round and smooth, more bumpy like.
Khan the Destroyer
07-20-07, 03:55 PM Strange, I imagined it to be dark as well.

Does anyone know if forging at a lower temperature in real life can have any affect on the color of the metal, or the texture?

At this point, it seems entirely up to our imaginations, but any little bit to go on would be nice.

Thanks for the input so far everyone :).
unfortunate_crow
07-20-07, 04:56 PM Color (within a single ore) depends mostly on how it is polished/finished and the method used for heat treatment. From my own experience, portions of the blade exposed to more drastic changes in temperature (like very high heat to room temperature water) will tend to "lighten up". Areas where the temperature change were less drastic/more gradual (like under a coating of clay for instance) will be somewhat darker than a "drastic" dip, but never really much darker than the original metal.

Then I have never worked with straight iron...I only have used steels.

Different steel types however(All steels are alloys), will have different tones. Compare 1085 to L6 for instance.
NobodyRemembersThis
07-20-07, 05:45 PM Khan, check >THIS< (http://www.beautifuliron.com/usingthe.htm) out. From what I can gather, wrought iron is the iron type you are looking for as a real world comparison. Also check the actual sight for some pretty nifty stuff on forging and blacksmithing.

It appears that Wrought Iron (Iron mixed with silicone) is what IRL closely represents Cold Iron.
Propane
07-20-07, 05:58 PM I always pictured it as just normal iron with some fine blue streaks veining through it. It's nice to think that they really are physically cold, so I imagine air condensating on it, with some frost steam stuff falling down from it.
risner
07-22-07, 12:54 AM Is there even a difference in appearance between Iron and Cold Iron?

Think casted iron. Blacker metal with a rough surface (with tiny craters.)
DinwathSereglin
07-22-07, 11:00 AM The weight and lack of flexibility on such weapons make them strictly fantasy fare.
Steevo
07-22-07, 11:14 AM It is just iron that was pounded into shape without the use of heat. It looks like normal iron.

In the real world, cold iron is just wrought iron. In D&D world(s) though, cold iron is a separate material entirely. A magical material with properties that defy the fae.
MasterBlaster
07-22-07, 01:56 PM ive always seen it to be like iron, but slightly darker and a little pitted, like it was poorly forged.
NobodyRemembersThis
07-22-07, 09:43 PM ive always seen it to be like iron, but slightly darker and a little pitted, like it was poorly forged.Actually, that's the impurities from the silicone in wrought iron. ;)
Wrought Iron Up Close (http://www.gaudidesigner.com/uk/sagrada-familia-candlestick-detail_326.html)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Khan the Destroyer 07-20-07, 10:40 AM	Nothing too important here. I'm building a warforged character and am having trouble visualizing what Cold Iron Tracery would look like. What does Cold Iron look like? I keep imagining a dark blue metal, but that's more than likely my associating cold with blue. Is there even a difference in appearance between Iron and Cold Iron? Please point me to the source (if any) and thanks in advance :).
JellyPooga 07-20-07, 10:45 AM	I've always imagined Cold Iron to be darker than normal Steel (more iron-like), but at the end of the day, it can look like whatever you want. I don't think any 'official' source actually gives a description of its appearance.
lord_xarallon 07-20-07, 11:00 AM	I just image it like as dark metal, but not black.
unfortunate_crow 07-20-07, 12:06 PM	It is just iron that was pounded into shape without the use of heat. It looks like normal iron.
Kouk 07-20-07, 01:50 PM	It is just iron that was pounded into shape without the use of heat. It looks like normal iron. No in it is a separate material. In D&D, cold iron is described as "... iron, mined deep underground, known for its effectiveness against fey creatures, is forged at a lower temperature to preserve its delicate properties." It also is resistant to magic, which makes enchanting it cost more than normal iron or steel. Though I have read other books where cold iron was described as normal iron worked without heat (Minor usefulness against werewolves and such).
spyderfreek 07-20-07, 02:35 PM	My group had a discussion about this not that long ago. We looked up lots of sources for cold iron and found some interesting facts, but as for its look nothing was difinitive. One answer I can put forth is this... Wrought Iron is used to keep spirits contained in graveyards and when buried before the front door of a house it keeps witches at bay. SO cold iron could look like wrought iron fencing... blackish in color.
Mark_Aged 07-20-07, 02:44 PM	I pictured it to be like iron, but be really cold, and maybe have a bit of frost on it. And be less round and smooth, more bumpy like.
Khan the Destroyer 07-20-07, 03:55 PM	Strange, I imagined it to be dark as well. Does anyone know if forging at a lower temperature in real life can have any affect on the color of the metal, or the texture? At this point, it seems entirely up to our imaginations, but any little bit to go on would be nice. Thanks for the input so far everyone :).
unfortunate_crow 07-20-07, 04:56 PM	Color (within a single ore) depends mostly on how it is polished/finished and the method used for heat treatment. From my own experience, portions of the blade exposed to more drastic changes in temperature (like very high heat to room temperature water) will tend to "lighten up". Areas where the temperature change were less drastic/more gradual (like under a coating of clay for instance) will be somewhat darker than a "drastic" dip, but never really much darker than the original metal. Then I have never worked with straight iron...I only have used steels. Different steel types however(All steels are alloys), will have different tones. Compare 1085 to L6 for instance.
NobodyRemembersThis 07-20-07, 05:45 PM	Khan, check >THIS< (http://www.beautifuliron.com/usingthe.htm) out. From what I can gather, wrought iron is the iron type you are looking for as a real world comparison. Also check the actual sight for some pretty nifty stuff on forging and blacksmithing. It appears that Wrought Iron (Iron mixed with silicone) is what IRL closely represents Cold Iron.
Propane 07-20-07, 05:58 PM	I always pictured it as just normal iron with some fine blue streaks veining through it. It's nice to think that they really are physically cold, so I imagine air condensating on it, with some frost steam stuff falling down from it.
risner 07-22-07, 12:54 AM	Is there even a difference in appearance between Iron and Cold Iron? Think casted iron. Blacker metal with a rough surface (with tiny craters.)
DinwathSereglin 07-22-07, 11:00 AM	The weight and lack of flexibility on such weapons make them strictly fantasy fare.
Steevo 07-22-07, 11:14 AM	It is just iron that was pounded into shape without the use of heat. It looks like normal iron. In the real world, cold iron is just wrought iron. In D&D world(s) though, cold iron is a separate material entirely. A magical material with properties that defy the fae.
MasterBlaster 07-22-07, 01:56 PM	ive always seen it to be like iron, but slightly darker and a little pitted, like it was poorly forged.
NobodyRemembersThis 07-22-07, 09:43 PM	ive always seen it to be like iron, but slightly darker and a little pitted, like it was poorly forged.Actually, that's the impurities from the silicone in wrought iron. ;) Wrought Iron Up Close (http://www.gaudidesigner.com/uk/sagrada-familia-candlestick-detail_326.html)