The Smelter produces Upgrade Stones. Its first plot requires Base level 12. It belongs to material production, alongside the hardwood-producing Material Factory.
How stone production works
At level 1, the Smelter produces 2 Upgrade Stones per hour. Each level adds 2 more per hour, reaching 20 at level 10, 40 at level 20 and 60 at level 30.
The production stat is a rate, not an upgrade reward. Raising the building improves its ongoing output. Additional Smelter plots have their own construction requirements, separate from upgrading an existing plot.
Stones and equipment
Gear Upgrade Stones are used in equipment development. The Gear Factory handles crafting, while enhancing a piece of gear increases its base stats. Its quality determines the enhancement level cap.
Dismantling upgraded gear returns all used Gear Upgrade Stones and part of the other used materials. That recovery comes from dismantling the item; it is separate from the new stones produced by your Smelters.
