Legend of the Runeforger
Possumtail & MoonQuill
A dwarven progression fantasy with a strong emphasis on crafting. I am just a miner, but I will rise. I will forge the toughest armor, the sharpest weapons. The caverns will know my name. Zathar is a young dwarf miner with no titles, no weapons, and no guild — only a dream of forging his way into the ranks of the Runeknights and carving his name into Dwarven legend. From the mines beneath the mountains to the guild trials of the Red Anvil and the lightless depths of Gholaz-Dwoth, he builds his power one hammer strike at a time in this completed-two-volume (and ongoing Royal Road serial) LitRPG epic by Possumtail.
Progression: LitRPG with heavy game mechanics built around runecraft and the forge. Zathar, a titleless dwarf miner, advances by crafting progressively more powerful arms and armor to earn a place among the Runeknights, the ranked martial-smith order of the dwarven cities. Advancement is gated by guild trials (the Red Anvil Guild arc, the Traitor's Trial chapter arc), material tiers, and mastery of rune-forged gear including weapons of light. The system features a progression of pets, boss fights, spells, and unique magic. Stakes escalate with craft: a single flaw in a light-weapon can leave a smith permanently blind. Power is built one hammer strike at a time — weak-to-strong crafting progression where every rank-up is earned at the anvil.
Royal Road
Goodreads
