Dwarf Fortress's main idea isn't about Geology at all
Dwarf Fortress may not set out to be a geology simulator, but that doesn't change the fact that it is (perhaps incidentally) a geology simulator.
There is a world of difference between the Settlers' brand of "iron + coal => sword", and Dwarf Fortress' complex mineral trees.
Iron + Coal doesn't equal a sword anyway. Also, as for Dwarf Fortress, I'm just saying that if he wasn't a realistic game, he can have them trees in if he wants to.
As A Beginning Developer, please don't expect much from me.
[background='Grey']I'm planning a game to make. Want details? Hmm, maybe later.[/background]
Coal -> Fire
Coal used to make Fire. Fire used to heat Iron. Hammer used to hit the heated Iron. Repeatedly. Iron becomes Blade. Blade combines with Hilt. Results in a Metallic Pointy Stick of Sharpness.
Coal -> Fire
Coal used to make Fire. Fire used to heat Iron. Hammer used to hit the heated Iron. Repeatedly. Iron becomes Blade. Blade combines with Hilt. Results in a Metallic Pointy Stick of Sharpness.
Depending on time of course. Back in Sword times, if I am correct, they used wood more than they used coal. Wood was used frequently in medieval times, instead of Coal, because it was easier to get.
As A Beginning Developer, please don't expect much from me.
[background='Grey']I'm planning a game to make. Want details? Hmm, maybe later.[/background]
Depending on time of course. Back in Sword times, if I am correct, they used wood more than they used coal. Wood was used frequently in medieval times, instead of Coal, because it was easier to get.
I don't know what " sword times" is, specifically. 
The sword was used for a very long time.
Here's a pretty good run down of smelting techniques used during "sword times". <3 For a game I'd never heard of before. http://www.modernparapsychology.com/Gamer/Moloch/Smelt.html
And, as ever, Wikipedia is a fair springboard for historic research. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mining_and_metallurgy_in_medieval_Europe
ADDENDUM: I rather enjoy this topic; it's gotten me to read into how smelting works (both now and then) which is something I knew very little about previously. Very interesting stuff.
Sword Times = Medieval Times. That's when they were very popular. But your right, they were used for many years. Norman's, and all that (I'm English, so I base it off English historical periods).
As A Beginning Developer, please don't expect much from me.
[background='Grey']I'm planning a game to make. Want details? Hmm, maybe later.[/background]
Sword Times = Medieval Times. That's when they were very popular.
Medieval is a specific time period in a specific geographical location. Europe (and to some extent, parts of the Middle East and some parts of Asia) in a Pre-industrial Revolution (<1700 AD), and post-Roman Empire (>350 AD) time period.
Swords have been in use for the majority of human history, in many geographical areas, and were "very popular".
But now I'm just nitpicking. And offtopic. 
I think you're right about the wood burning, though. An interesting addition to the link @thade posted: Wootz Steel.
This topic is really interesting.
As A Beginning Developer, please don't expect much from me.
[background='Grey']I'm planning a game to make. Want details? Hmm, maybe later.[/background]
