The smelter proficiency is closely tied to the miner
proficiency, since between them they provide all of the metal
used in the campaign world. A character with this proficiency can
operate a smelter, which is essentially an extremely hot forge.
Using this forge and the occasional application of certain liquids,
including water and acids, the smelter separates the metal from
the rocky ore with which it is usually mined.

The amount of ore that can be processed is more a function of the
size of the smelter than the character's working rate. A small smelter
can process ore as fast as four miners can produce it. A medium
smelter can process the ore excavated by up to 20 miners. A large
smelter can process the ore excavated by up to 100 miners.

Because of the materials needed to operate it, a smelting
operation costs money to maintain. This expense is in addition to the
cost of the smelting equipment itself (listed on the new equipment
tables). A small smelting operation costs 5 gp per day, and
a large smelting operation costs 25 gp a day to run. The smelter
only costs money when it is operating. Thus, it is common practice
to collect a stockpile of ore before beginning to smelt it, so
that the smelter can run at maximum efficiency until all the stockpiled
ore has been processed.
 

Smelter, Equipment: A character pursuing this vocation must set up a
large, sophisticated, and rather expensive operation. An efficient
furnace capable of creating extremely high temperatures is central
to the smelting operation. A bellows system, usually operated
by an individual, is necessary to fan the fire. A system of feeding
the ore into and removing it from the fire is also necessary. This
might be a series of iron buckets that slide along a rail or track
through the furnace, or a huge cauldron or stone trough.
Cost: 2,000 gp
Space: 50' x 50'
 
 

Smelting Ore +

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DSG