![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
iron: lore and barter
Jun. 19th, 2024 04:32 pmminecraft has this hell-like dimension called the Nether, where iron does not occur naturally but gold ore is abundant. the Nether is inhabited by porcine humanoids called Piglins. you can barter with them by giving them gold ingots, and in return they will toss you a random item from a set list of available items. among these is iron nuggets, which is the only way (other than looting chests in Fortresses and Bastion Remnants) to obtain iron in the Nether.
it actually strikes me that it should be the other way round. the Nether's inhabitants have access to gold in their environment, but iron comes from the Overworld. so one would think it would make more sense (in terms of economical worldbuilding) to import iron and receive local gold in return. and Piglins need iron for crafting the crossbows they wield (or would need it, if they had to craft equipment instead of spawning in with it).
lore-wise, Piglins are implied to be a declining civilisation, inhabiting semi-ruined structures called Bastion Remnants. i could imagine Piglins having had access to iron in the past but not having a source of it anymore. it would seem logical for them to barter it from players, but instead i think they're trading away the little they have left. also, while gold is also found in the Overworld, it is strongly associated with the Nether, so that is why Piglins desire it.
(this is all in terms of minecraft lore. in terms of game mechanics, it makes sense for Piglins to give out iron, making it obtainable for players in the Nether.)
it actually strikes me that it should be the other way round. the Nether's inhabitants have access to gold in their environment, but iron comes from the Overworld. so one would think it would make more sense (in terms of economical worldbuilding) to import iron and receive local gold in return. and Piglins need iron for crafting the crossbows they wield (or would need it, if they had to craft equipment instead of spawning in with it).
lore-wise, Piglins are implied to be a declining civilisation, inhabiting semi-ruined structures called Bastion Remnants. i could imagine Piglins having had access to iron in the past but not having a source of it anymore. it would seem logical for them to barter it from players, but instead i think they're trading away the little they have left. also, while gold is also found in the Overworld, it is strongly associated with the Nether, so that is why Piglins desire it.
(this is all in terms of minecraft lore. in terms of game mechanics, it makes sense for Piglins to give out iron, making it obtainable for players in the Nether.)
