Let's be serious about metal returns

[sabinati]

i think panning for gold flecks would be better than changing the way gold ore functions. but that's just me.

[Peter]

Well, coins might still have advantages over dust for a couple reasons- one is that they are premeasured, while dust needs a scale to separate fairly. Or, maybe gold nuggets still need to be purified with quicksilver before they can be smelted, while coins can be melted right up. Anyway, who doesn't like prospectors haggling over small bags of gold dust or frontier markets with scales and nimble thumbs. It'd fit in with panning, as well. Ya can't just pick a whole bar up out of the stream.

I ought to know. I got a stream in my backyard you can dredge gold out of.

[Axehilt]

I agree with the gist of this thread, however, returning "Gold dust" or "Gold nuggets", or whatever, would make my coins pointless!

I want coins, damn it!

I'll think about it.

Well if that's the case, the rarity should come from how often gold is found/mined.

I've never touched mining so far, so I was under the impression people were mining gold ore, then smelting it, and randomly getting screwed over by getting nothing. If that's not the case and gold actually comes from generic ore being smelted, my earlier suggestion for gold flecks is bad -- I would instead feel that either the existing system is fine, or maybe gold should be a distinct type of ore mined from mines.

[jorb]

who doesn't like prospectors haggling over small bags of gold dust or frontier markets with scales and nimble thumbs. It'd fit in with panning, as well. Ya can't just pick a whole bar up out of the stream.

Like I said, I like the gist of the thread.