That ' s because everyone thinks Iron is the starter metal . My guys are walking around using Copper because copper is probably the first metal humans used for tools . Copper is found in native form , meaning that it ' s literally a lump of copper and not copper ore . You can beat copper into shape while it ' s still cold . Heating Copper up to forging temperature hardens it , and quenching it actually softens the metal . Its behavior is basically the opposite of Iron , which softens when you heat it and hardens when you quench it . It ' s not the best metal for tools or weapons , but it ' s the best of the easily accessible metals . I was planning to have them stumble onto Bronze next turn . You have to melt Copper and Tin to alloy them , but those temperatures can be reached with a relatively simple smelter Copper Melts at ~ 1 , 000 Degrees Centigrade , and its the hottest of the lot . Reaching those temperatures for long periods of time can be difficult at the current techlevel . but the Forging Temperature of bronze is significantly lower once the alloy is made . Yes , I ' m a bit of a metallurgy geek .