i am in mistland, working on my carapice armor. I don't bother picking up black iron any more. not worth the space in my bags. I am still making runs into the swamps clearing crypts for iron.

Because the devs hate gamers and fun. Because black metal is easily farmable, it can't be useful. The WANT you to have to suffer for every tiny bit of progress, get used to it.

Originally posted by Winterfalke:

Because the devs hate gamers and fun. Because black metal is easily farmable, it can't be useful. The WANT you to have to suffer for every tiny bit of progress, get used to it.

lol true

black metal is used in a number of ammo recipes, including the ballista, as well as being used for the best chests (6 at a time I think). It would be a big bonus if they would make a black metal rebar/iron-bar type thing for home construction. That would make the game much, much kinder. But the answer is simply effort/reward. Black metal all but falls on your head from the sky in quantities so high you start tossing it aside. It takes 0 effort to get, so it isn't the most useful material.

Oh that is material next to iron i always lack. Its very usefull later in game when you start making chests and new defences and sap extractors.

You do find iron in mistlands (but you need upgraded pick), so no need to run swamp all the time.
Farming silver is still more pain than iron due to transport.

Also, we dont know yet if its gona be needed for new zones in future.

I find it realistic and also balanced.

Unlike for swamp gear, the new items don't actually require all that much iron. Carapace armor for example requires ten iron in total to upgrade, which is... close to nothing really.

atm anything is better than devs useing IRON again.... and again.... and again.....