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Reading on the suggestions of others, I actually do think that a combat system/fighting with your weapons would do hurt the game. Although exploring the area just without fighting does increase the fun factor. Same thing with bows and arrows, this is a blacksmith not a fletcher. Armor on the other hand I do agree.. maybe unlocked as one of the upgrades later ingame (see my other post). I would advise a different anvil for that so you still can use the Z button to change stuff.

The costumers would not order armor, but if a full set is displayed in the shop (snap on armor mannequin display) they will buy it.

Image

That is an image of a full plate armor set, reducing the complexity a bit would be nicer to play as suggested here:

1 Ingot parts:

Visor

Skull

Gauntlet

Sabaton(Boot)

2 Ingot Parts:

Legs (Greave, poleyn,cuisse)

Arms (vambrace, couter, pauldron)

3 Ingot Parts:

Breast plate

Tasset (Skirt of chainmail maybe)

Only the helmet would be a two piece item that snaps together. There should be no left or right variants of legs, gauntlets, boots... even though in reality there are.

A full set of armor would cost 22 Ingots and would have 11 pieces (12 if you count visor + skull). therefore it will be the most expensive "item" so far but also takes a lot of time and energy to create.

Several other suggestions:

1. Crystals:

the fear crystal placed on the counter in a special forged holder/stand will reduce the chance of being robbed cause they fear your shop.

the light crystal placed either in the forge or on the torch above the blacksmithing area will increase the daily energy (a sunny day just makes you feel better doesn't it?)

the blue(maybe water)crystal placed in the water basin will give the modifier Hardened instead of cooled ... increase value a tiny bit.

the red (maybe fire or pressure) crystal placed in or on the anvil will make damascus blades .. increase value but also doubles the time you have to use the hammer

less thieves, more daytime, and hardened damascus copper blade...

(create and hide more crystals with more special powers..f.e. charisma buffs, more time buff, more positive random events instead negative)

2. random events

I do know you have to get the game steady and bugfree first. before even starting with this one here. The thieves at night would be one random event, the big order from a kingdom(previous post of mine) would be another, make several more.

get a delivery with random stuff and a self destructive letter (1-2 days till it vanishes to reduce clutter) "local lord ..... ..... (put names of donators in here for example) contributes to your shop with this little patronage"

finding coin bags in the woods with little to many coins --exploring makes more sense

getting special delivery from your mines (see suggestion 3) with 2-5 ingots more.

breaking material while hammering it. you loose 1-2 ingots there.

3. buying/leasing/renting mines

like many tycoon games you first have to buy your copper or salavage it yourself. later you can hire, rent or even buy such basic material

leasing and buying would have running costs , each morning though you would find a delivery made from that specific mine (copper f.e.)

in the eand leasing would be cheaper than buying the ingots but because the difference is only noticeable with higher amounts you first have to have enough money to lease it. leasing a mine would be the cost of 25 ingots of that specific ore, but would grant you 24-30 ingots (luck is a factor here).

also with random events .. the mine could collaps and you would receive nothing for a day.

buying a mine should be around 200 ingot price costs but the daily cost would be reduced only to wages (3 ingot price of that ore). you also can close down a mine if you moved on to the next ore type (reducing deliveries). Maybe limit of open mines to 2 anyway. Would otherwise break game with all that ingots.

I do know that these suggestions do change the games intentions from a manufactor to a factory assembly belt working style (especially if you add the hirelings from previous posts to this list). But that is the way a successfull business develops most of the time.

4. Outsourcing :D

Outsource the costumers service to india :D .... just kidding

hope you like some of the suggestions^^

I love the game so far, great job !

So my suggestions are based on a lot of upgrades for the shop like many suggested it already. The upgrades would be listed in the selling/ordering menu under upgrades. [ Ingots Grips Guards Upgrades]

Basicly you get in addition to XP also shop reputation points based on the selling price. Your reputation will unlock shop upgrades and attract more costumers. You might even consider implement modifier on weapons based on your blacksmithing skill. The general modifier names like Basic, Masterful, Legendary would be good. They will modify the selling price of course.

First unlocked upgrades for the shop would be storages. You would be able to upgrade the yard with a ingot stacking storage. They will snap on each other like the ingots do with the anvil. Placing ordered chests with ingots on that area and destroying the chest will even automaticlly stack the ingots. The stacks could look like reallife gold stacks in banks.

Upgrades-> Ingot storage -> Copper Ingot (50)

Tin Ingot (500)

Irong Ingot (5000)

....

each ore type has increased (balanced price)

The next unlocked upgrade would change the upper shelves in the store to snapping shelves for one hand and two hand guards. same with one hand and two hand grips (work with fancy ones too). They will hold 10 of each.

Upgrades -> shelves -> One hand Guard

Two hand Guard

one hand grip

two hand grip

pole arm grip

Next upgrade would be in the yard sword/hammer head storage racks. they can store 5 of each the style does not matter. Of course snap on. dagger, small blade, large blade, small hammerhead, large hammerhead all nicely stored.

The next suggested upgrade would be a hireling/assistant. He or she will cost daily no matter if you even sell something.

if you give him/her a hammerhead/bladehead he/she will start replicating it in style and in ore if you have the ingot storage and the racks for the finished product.

the next upgrade would be the in front counter displays made functional. they will snap on your specific type weapon and hold it. If a costumer comes buy and wants to order an already displayed one he or she will immediatly get it and your bonus time will be just one second.

Later you would be able to upgrade the displays holding 3 and holding 5 of each kind.

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These were my upgrade the store suggestions that will reduce flying or stuck items and make the store look organized.

other ideas were given you by some people with allowing higher tier of items : altars (f.e.magic weapons)

it can be combined with my idea of upgrading/reputation system

Some other suggestions here:

1. make a ingame handbook snapped in one of the shelves that can be browsed through with mouse wheel, it will contain your level, your reputation if you do implement that, the chance of higher modifier being made if you do implement that, and of course all your sheets and tutorial advisements you find on the walls and the little papers there.

2. maybe make the furnance use up fuel, higher ore need more pricey fuel, fuel may increase modifier chance?

f.e. wood, coal, fire essence, soul fragments

3. maybe get later ingame bulk orders by kings(via mail) 10 small swords please! you have to put them in a special delivered crate. order time is increased of course

4. maybe craft unique and one time items/upgrades for the player - one ingot ->hammer head->blacksmith hammer

the higher tier the hammer the faster/higher chance for better modifier

hope you can see just even one of my suggestion as useful. Keep the good work up!!