Fantasy worlds are teeming with dangers from vicious beasts to people who seek to harm others. It’s imperative that people, especially travelers, know how to defend themselves and protect their loved ones when they’re attacked. They often carry swords and daggers, among other weapons, and where do you get them? Fantasy armor shops!
Armor shops are among the most important buildings in fantasy. They are where people purchase weapons and shields, both to attack and to defend. Their products give their customers a chance to live another day so they have more time to do what they love.
No matter where they’re located, you can count on fantasy armor shops to have common weapons like basic swords and bow and arrows. They’re a great place to restock if you’re running low on ammo or are preparing to set out on a dangerous journey far from town. It is for this reason that they’re among the first stops after travelers enter town after being on the road for a while.
While they carry many common weapons, each armor shop sells some that are exclusive only to them. Most of these special weapons are made using local materials or those obtained from places they have an exclusive contract with. These weapons are stronger and deal more damage than their common brethren. Some are even magic-based!
When envisioning a armor shop in terms of worldbuilding, it’s important to think of it as a real business. That is, it needs to obtain the materials needed to forge everything it sells. That means you have to come up with its supply chain. Doing so makes it feel more realistic to your readers.
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Much like inns and taverns, fantasy armor shops are a common feature in the genre, being found in practically every town and city in the kingdom. They play an important role in keeping the towns and cities they’re in afloat since people always need to stock up on weapons and ammo, especially in times of war.
One type of weapons you’ll definitely see in these places are swords. Whether they’re iron or steel, swords are armor shops’ number one selling product. Armorers make them lightweight so that they’re easy to carry but strong enough to inflict damage. They also have grindstones for people to sharpen their blades when they get dull though they may charge a fee for using them.
Next to swords, fantasy armor shops also carry a good number of bow and arrows. They come in light and heavy versions. The light ones are made using materials like wood whereas the latter use metals. The metal-based ones are considerably more powerful than the other thought at the cost of having a heftier weight. Armor shops also carry a flavor of arrows much like bows.
While not as popular as the first two, a decent number of armor shops have mace clubs in stock. These powerful weapons are capable of dealing massive damage due to their heavy weight. They’re great against slow-moving foes or those clad in armor. In peacetime, they don’t sell well but when the kingdom is at war, they sell out quickly.
Another popular weapon you’ll come across is the dagger. These small knives are ideal for assassins or stealth missions since they can take out enemies without drawing too much attention to yourself. Many travelers carry daggers to strike at their foes from a short distance.
Axes are a mainstay in the genre and it’s rare that an armor shop wouldn’t carry them. While most axes are iron-based, a good number are made of steel. Their heavy weight makes them hard to carry which precludes many people, save those who have a strong body, from being able to effortlessly wield them in battle.
Last and not least, fantasy armor shops have shields in stock. You gotta have something to protect yourself with when you’re attacked. Most are forged out of metal with a select few being made of wood. These shields come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from the small and easy-to-carry to those as tall as a human.
Though all fantasy armor shops carry common products and make most of their money selling them, they also offer those that are exclusive only to them. Selling unique products not found anywhere else ensures they have a competitive advantage over their rivals since their customers have no other place to go if they want them.
Many armor shops feature weapons made with rarer materials. The vast majority of those in the world are made of iron and steel and armorers are constantly seeking to make more powerful versions of them. To achieve this, they use materials like silver or gold and the forging process is more time-consuming than those for iron and steel. Since more time is expended and rarer materials are used, armor shops charge a higher price for these special weapons.
Though the majority of the threats in a fantasy world are physical in basis, people still have to contend with those brimming with magical power. To meet them, armor shops carry those that give their customers a chance to fend off or strike using magical attacks. These weapons are forged with magical gems or are blessed by wizards or other magical practitioners.
Some armor shops have blacksmiths who are so renowned across the world due to their expertise in the field, being capable of forging weapons in different shapes not many other can do. These unique shaped weapons are created using processes that they themselves developed and they have advantages in battle that other weapon has. These blacksmiths make them every now and then and the armor shops charge a premium price for them, knowing that they won’t have a problem selling them.
In nearly every shop there is an one-of-a-kind weapon. No matter what type of weapon it is, it is a highly coveted one since there is literally no other one like it. These special weapons are made with very rare materials or possess magical properties unique to them. As such, they’re displayed in a prominent spot in the shop to draw customers’ eyes. Due to them being an one-0f-a-kind, only those with deep pockets can afford them since the shop owners set a very high price for them.
As you put together an armor shop, it’s important to account for how it obtains the materials it uses in the forge(s) the owner owns. Though it may be a fantasy business, it doesn’t do things in a vacuum. Just like any company, it needs things to operate for its owner to make a living off on.
The number one component all fantasy armor shops require are ores. While many can be purchased at the marketplace, many armorers prefer to have their own source of ores to ensure that they don’t get muscled out by their competition. Thus, they obtain exclusive rights to nearby mines or make deals with a mining company to purchase their ores.
No matter how fantasy armor shops obtain the ores they need to create weapons, they need to have a way to bring them to their shop. Some owners have an in-house team of people who go back-and-forth between the mine and the shop daily and others contract it out to a transport company for a fee. Having a steady stream of deliveries keeps their doors open as they don’t have to worry about running out of materials.
Thirdly, these ores have to melted in order to be created into weapons. Forges are the perfect vehicle to accomplish this and armor shops have at least one or two at their disposal. They also do regular maintenance on them so that they don’t break down at a time they are needed since the longer they’re out of commission, the more money the shop will lose.
A crucial component is having the right quality of blacksmiths. Not just any blacksmith but those who actually know what they’re doing. Skilled blacksmiths can create beautiful and deadly weapons in a shorter span of time using less materials compared to those who expend more time and ores only to make shoddy weapons that the owner can’t sell.
The fifth and final part of the supply chain is having charismatic salesmen who enjoy socializing with their customers. Most of the time, it’s the owner himself as he stands behind the counter watching his customers walking around the shop; when he’s not there, he has someone he can trust to make sales. The staff personalizes their interactions with their customers and persuades them to buy from them, assuring them they will be pleased with their purchase and if they’d like to do business again, they know where to go.
Fantasy armor shops play a key role in the kingdom. They are the place where people go to buy weapons that will protect them as they hit the road. Customers have a nice selection of weapons to choose from as they browse the shop, searching for one that will do the job.
As people enter the shop, they see several kinds of weapons. No doubt they’ll see a variety of swords and bow and arrows since they’re two of the most popular. In some cases, they’ll see rarer ones such as mace clubs. Besides the weapons, they can also stock up on arrows or other ammo if they’re running low.
Besides the common types, there are unique weapons that are displayed in places that are meant to draw the customers’ eyes. These specialty weapons range from being imbued with magical powers or crafted with rare materials that increase their attacking powers. Unfortunately, their rarity means shop owners set a higher price which can deter some potential buyers from acquiring them.
To ensure that their shops keep their doors open, owners invest in a supply chain. The chain begins with the acquisition of ores from a mine that he owns and ends with the staff selling the weapons to their customers. Creating a supply chain helps reinforce the idea to your readers that the shop is a real, breathing entity working to survive and flourish and makes it easier for them to immerse themselves into the world you’ve built up from scratch.
The bottom line is, fantasy armor shops are an absolute must if you’re creating such a world. So if you haven’t done so yet, there’s no better time to start than today!
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