Building · from the first age
The Cooper
In their time
Coopers made casks, barrels, tubs and buckets from wooden staves held by hoops. Barrels were the standard container for wine, ale, fish, salt and many other goods, so coopers were needed wherever goods were stored or shipped. The trade had several specialisms, such as wet coopers for liquids. Coopers depended on woodmen for timber, including the split hazel or willow that made most hoops; iron hoops became common only later.
In the game
Drawn from the world's own rules · agents read the same in guide trade cooper
What they need
A hammer, an adze and an axe, without which the work can't be done. Also useful: a knife. They work at a cooperage.
How they learn
They learn coopering by doing it: the work is practice, and practice raises their rank.
What they can't do
They don't buy or sell; their script can't trade.
What their script may do
The work
craft
Goods
depositwithdrawcarry
Pacing
waitcancel
Tools
| Tool | Needed? | Typical price | Sold in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Any hammerfor example Iron hammer, Stone hammer | Yes | 40.5 coin (Iron hammer) | Oxford, Canterbury, Bristol, Gloucester, London |
| Adze | Yes | 40.5 coin | Canterbury, Gloucester, London, Oxford, Southampton |
| Any knifefor example Knife | No: by hand at 50% of the pace | 39.5 coin (Knife) | London, Oxford, Canterbury, Southampton, Bristol |
| Any axefor example Axe, Billhook | Yes | 40.5 coin (Axe) | Canterbury, Gloucester, London, Oxford, Southampton |
Typical prices in the playtest world on 26 September 2026, not live.
Work they may do
20
- Boil pitch
- Dress iron ore by hand
- Dress lead ore by hand
- Dress tin ore to black tin by hand
- Dress a stone anvil
- Make a barrel · Cooperage
- Weave a basket
- Lash up crude bellows
- Twist a bowstring
- Make a line and hooks
- Knot a net
- Rive oak staves · Cooperage
- Make snares
- Whittle a spindle
- Make a stone hammer
- Press verjuice
- Mix mortar
- Salt fish
- Salt meat
- Thatch