skills question

[Eric Spahr]

It has occurred to me that there are a few questions about skills that I have been mulling over. First, how long does making a normal (non magical) item take? I understand some would prefer that it happens during off screen downtime, or at the speed of plot, but other people would prefer a rule or formula to streamline the process and minimize arguments. If it is designed to flow at a slightly vague rate to keep the story moving, fine, but let's at least be clear on this.
. Also, how are the skills grouped? I understand obvious ones like shipbuilding is part of carpentry, but where do skills like glassmaking fit in. There are many other skills that also cause me confusion, hopefully we can resolve them easily.

[Don Jones]

Always good questions from you, Eric.

We didn't include a formula because it depends so heavily on what you might be making. If you are trying to make a quick, useful dagger, that takes about two days from what I've found in searches. If you want to make an ornate sword with runes and animal designs in it, then you are looking at weeks. Woodworking would take a different amount of time altogether.

Grouping skills should go from the most general and generic to the most specific. Your example of glass-making is a good one. Glass-making has enough of the basics in common with Ceramics, that it could be group under that general skill. However, working with glass and making glass is different enough that glass-making should be a specialization under Ceramics.