...so alchemists/support mages can alter metals, change their shape, and reinforce the hardness... HOW THE FUCK IS THIS LOOKED DOWN ON??? no seriously, just think, you're in a sword fight with someone, you amp up the hardness of your sword so you can break theirs easily or change the shape to make it a sword breaker type of weapon, bam that's already one application that would make fighting someone like that a nightmare. holy shit