Artisan

An Artisan is a Unique Non-Playable Character (NPC), who serves the player in many ways. There are many types of Artisans, the prime example of an Artisan is the Blacksmith. Different types of Artisans provide different services. Artisans are integrated into the Main Storyline, having their own lore and being part of quests, such as The Crown of Mad Leoric.

Overview

Concept art of the Artisan Blacksmith.

Artisans are basically vendors, they provide the same function other vendors provide but with unique abilities and a possibility to be upgraded over time which will have a visual effect on the Artisan and his shop, check the gallery at the bottom of the page to see the transition.

They can Buy and Sell Equipment, however, there are different types of Artisans, and each one has its own unique set of abilities. All Artisans can Craft items for the player, provided they provide supplies and gold. Crafted items are standard, some are magic and some are rare magic items, But every crafted item has 1 or more random properties attached to it, that are finalized upon being crafted. Artisans will have recipes for crafting, but Unique recipes can be found in Sanctuary, from monsters and other sources.

Artisans are found throughout Sanctuary and are inaccessible to the player until he earns their trust by completing a quest or some other currently unknown way. Only then will an Artisan become accessible. After an Artisan is fully trained, he can be specialized in different areas of Expertise. For example if you love to use Axes, you can specialize the Blacksmith Artisan into Axes, meaning they will have more Axes for Selling and Crafting. The player's commitment to a specialization on an Artisan is not permanent, every specialization requires its own time and crafting material required and do not cancel each other out.

Types of Artisans

There are many types of Artisans in the world of Sanctuary, from jewelers who craft extremely valuable gems to blacksmiths who forge equipment for the player.

There are only 3 artisans in the game, which are:

Blacksmith

Abilities: Shop, Craft, Training
Special Abilities: Creating Sockets in Armor and Shields (Only), Repairing
Speciality: Weapons, Armor

Mystic

Abilities: Shop, Craft, Training
Special Abilities: Enchanting Items, Identifying Items
Speciality: Magic Equipment, Runes/Charms/Potions/Scrolls

Jeweler

Abilities: Shop, Craft, Training
Special Abilities: Un-socketing Items, Gem Splicing (Combining Gems to improve quality)
Speciality: Jewelery, Gems

Training

Artisans can rise through the ranks and in doing so will be able to offer you better products or services. To further their training they need to practice their trade, crafting, enchanting and gem splicing. This will cost the player reagents and gold each time.

The levels so far revealed are Apprentice and Journeyman.

Specialization

Each type of Artisan can train to specialize in one (or more) types of items or crafting recipes. Jay Wilson spoke on this from Gamescom, in August 2010.[1]

Jay Wilson: After you’ve maxed leveled your Artisan, you can specialize them in areas. They’re not exclusive, if you want to just make axes, you don't omit the ability to make swords or armor. Each path is its own time and resource commitment. And you can specialize in item types that you like the best.

Another comment on the same issue: [2]

Moreover, you can specialise the three Artisans. The Blacksmith, for instance, can specialise in the crafting of axes. Then you will mostly see axes lying at his stall. Those specialisations will not exclude other ways, however. If you are completely specialised in the crafting of axes, you can still try to make the Artisan learn another specialisation, by gathering the right recipes and resources.

How specialization will work for the Mystic and Jeweler isn't yet known.

Development

Artisans were revealed during GamesCom 2010, in Germany.

Media

A Blacksmith has set up shop in this camp.
The Blacksmith started making a bit of coin.
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