Hammers Mysteries Explained
By Axbeard
Often I see players lamenting that they cannot find or unlock [insert game element here]. “Why would the game mention X in Area 1 if we can’t find X until Area 3 ?!?”…
TL;DR If any element of the game is important for the area you are currently in, you will find yourself “soft-locked” from progressing. If you do not experience a soft-lock, keep going. Simply view it as a mystery and hope that it is solved by the end of the game… or in a future update, expansion or sequel.
Heavy Spoilers Ahead!!!
The most common examples are:
Black Diamonds
In Campaign mode, the first mention of this resource is very early in the game. Let’s call it “Area 1”. Because Black Diamonds are clearly linked to a highly desirable game feature (and much more), you will be on high alert for them. Unfortunately, you will not find your first one until, let’s call it, “Area 3”.
If this resource were detrimental to your progress, it would be available sooner. In fact, when it does become detrimental to progress, your progress becomes soft-locked until you acquire the requisite amount of Black Diamonds.
Adamant Hammer
This items existence can be learned about as early as Area 1, when you find a Kings Brew Tank. The first clue that you shouldn’t be concerned with your lack of the mystery hammer is that you have no recipes for such a station. Additionally, lacking the mystery hammer will Soft-lock your progress, in one certain direction, somewhere around the mid-point of the storyline.
That shouldn’t stop you from progressing entirely. It should push you in other directions, to complete story points you are capable of. Though it is not mentioned, it should be apparent that the mystery hammer will be acquired by the time you truly need it. If you were to take Durin’s Axe to the Doors of Durin and attempt to exit the mountain there, this would help you understand this.
Steel Pickaxe
I mention this simply as another example of “soft-locking”. Though it isn’t made clear, you obtain the resources for crafting steel relatively early in-game, but no recipes that require it. You may find your self facing a wall that looks like others you have mined through but this one is telling you “stronger pick axe needed”. That’s it.
You’re soft-locked from progressing until you solve the mystery of crafting a stronger pickaxe. It’s not until you relight The Great Forge of Narvi, thereby unlocking the recipes for Steel Ingots and the Steel Pickaxe that you can proceed through the Compacted Dirt and into the next area.
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