Lumbering is the craft dealing with the toppling of trees. Not all trees can be lumbered, only those found in forests ( on the hexes). Since you will be out in the wilds remember to bring lots of food and have a weapon handy, in case something unfriendly should wander into your encampment. You will also need to be holding a woodaxe or doloire in order to fell a tree.
Syntax: lumber wood s=num
The more common types of wood in temperate regions are: pine, ash, maple, oak and ironwood (in order from softest to hardest). "s" is size. Larger trees are more difficult to fell properly and will yield more board when milled (see below).
The density of the woods (the number of the %'s in the hex) has a large effect on finding trees, especially the more rare varieties. The more dense the woods is, the easier it is to find trees.
Lumbering is self-taught and a beginner can start out by either of the following methods - gathering walnuts (in any outdoor hex), or lumbering small (size 1) pine trees (syntax- lumber pine s=1). As you progress try larger sized trees. Harder woods are more difficult to fell, so as you get better, try harder woods.
You may need to 'stop lumbering' before you become exhausted. There are a wide variety of trees (about 40 different kinds), from furniture woods like cherry and teak to different sub-species of the common woods, like tiger maple and yellow pine. Some of these varieties are quite rare and some only grow in the southern climes of Tirachi.
Milling:
Once you have a tree cut down, you need to mill it, or cut it into board. You can do this either at the sawmill, which is quick and efficient but you have to transport the trees there, or you can do it with a hand saw, which is slow and exhausting.
Syntax: mill tree
Milling is somewhat more difficult to do than just felling the tree and you may be able to fell a tree before you'll be able to mill it. Larger trees will yield more board, but are more difficult to mill. You may not be able to get the full yield from a tree until you become more proficient at lumbering.
There are three different grades of board you can get, depending on the quality of the tree.
Poor: the board is warped and may have visible checks and splits or may be worm-eaten. Knotty: the board is basically sound, but has a twisted and knotty grain to it. Basic construction grade material, but some people think that knotty board gives a piece of furniture "character." Clear: good board with a straight, fine grain. Furniture grade material. This is the 'standard' grade of wood and the word 'clear' is usually omitted from its description as being implied.
Rarer and harder woods are worth more, and the knotty and poor grades of board are worth considerably less than clear board.
Milling a tree only provides board. It takes a saw and a spokeshave to make dowel from board and a minimal amount of wood working skill.
Lumbering -- Ogma 11/99