Continuing my three-part special on weapon upgrading, we find ourselves at the second upgrade level: the coat. It is quite arguable that this is where weapon customization becomes the most detrimental.In addition to chunks of metal, you can also find chunks of gemstones and crystals. While you can sell them for quite a lot of silver, you can also use them to improve your weapon power and give it a unique flair... or in some cases, a flare.
When you coat a weapon in a gem, it can take on elemental powers: for example, a ruby-coated weapon will deal fire damage. While this will help you destroy ice-based monsters, against fire enemies you may run into trouble. There are quite a few different gems that weapons can be coated with, each with unique effects- experiment and learn how to use these to your advantage. Armors can also be given a gem coat, but to inverse effect: a ruby coat, for example, will give you resistance to fire.
Once you apply a coat, however, the weapon can no longer be forged with metals unless the coat is melted off. Also, the coat cannot be changed until the same action is performed. Coating and decoating can be done by your local blacksmith.
