Originally posted by alex:

Armor(don't forget the -10% movement speed) is not any better than troll hide, you don't need a bronze pickaxe to mine scrap iron, bronze weapons are not a huge improvement in comparison to flint weapons (especially the needed amount of bronze).
You may only need some nails and some copper for the forge. Why is bronze so useless?
Bronze is @ss.

Disagree. You have to stand and fight in the swamp biome and a mace is a must. Yes bronze IS sturdier than troll armor when fully upgraded, especially if you have to absorb some hits. A bow is fine until you get swarmed; skeletons don't make a lot of noise as they creep up on you, but they don't have a lot of resistance to a mace in the face. Shield and mace kept me alive as I got to know the swamp. I had no issue whatsoever with the slower movement sped as I paused every 10 seconds to stop, look and listen.