1114: Metallurgy

Explain xkcd: It's 'cause you're dumb.
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Metallurgy
This exotic blade was wrought from a different fallen star. The meteorite was a carbonaceous chondrite, so it's basically a lump of gravel glued into the shape of a sword. A SPACE sword!
Title text: This exotic blade was wrought from a different fallen star. The meteorite was a carbonaceous chondrite, so it's basically a lump of gravel glued into the shape of a sword. A SPACE sword!

Explanation

The comic explains how weapons would really behave if they were made out of unusual materials. In fantasy stories, using unusual materials for weapons traditionally makes the weapons more powerful and cooler despite limited explanation for exactly why materials of extraterrestrial origin are so superior to their earthen counterparts.


Transcript

[Cueball and Megan are in a weapon store talking to a bearded salesman wearing a hat.]
[Salesman holds up a sword]
Salesman: This sword was forged from a fallen star. Antimony impurities make the blade surpassingly brittle and weak.
[Salesman holds up a dagger]
Salesman: And this dagger is made of metal from a far-off kingdom. It glows blue.
Off-panel: When orcs are near?
Salesman: No, always. Radiation from the Actinium content.
Megan: ...Does it have eldritch powers?
Salesman: It gives the wearer +2 to cancer risk.
Cueball: I think we should find another shop.