Artful Engraving

Hey folks Gav here. I got a quick question.  I have a lot of down time waiting for Gramps to leave his room. I've taken up rune carving and engraving in the meantime.
So my question is, is there any better practice medium than potatoes?
Gramps says it's the best, but that's millennia old advice. I'm really just checking for any innovations in the last age.

I'm not a rune carving expert, so take this with a grain of salt or two, but if it's just for practice, maybe something like Play-Doh would still work for practice while feeling less weird in your hand than a raw potato? Also could just smush it down instead of having to get a new potato.

GeicoWizard wrote:I'm not a rune carving expert, so take this with a grain of salt or two, but if it's just for practice, maybe something like Play-Doh would still work for practice while feeling less weird in your hand than a raw potato? Also could just smush it down instead of having to get a new potato.

Great idea, I'll give it a shot. But one thing that the potato has is you can always engrave a simple heat rune, and have a baked potato for your failures.

potato too soft
play-doh also too soft
try carrot

I am a runesmith by trade. I have the younger runesmiths practice with clay. Its easy to erase and its far more reusable than potatoes and carrots.

I practice with tattoos. Not on me, on other people. Moving targets help you keep a steady hand. You also get to practice with delicate material that way.

SubtleSpellWildSurge wrote:I practice with tattoos. Not on me, on other people. Moving targets help you keep a steady hand. You also get to practice with delicate material that way.

That sounds somewhat unsafe for the person getting the rune inscribed upon them?

I find that packed sand or fine dirt make an excellent practice medium, and I spent much of my youth doing so with it. Easily accessible, and largely without risk. If you prefer to practice on the go, making a wax tablet and matching stylus is extremely easy and cost effective.

These days I admit I've taken to using the iPad my former Master gifted me when I completed my most recent Necromancy Licensure exam. She said it was a tool most unique and I'm inclined to agree with her.

GeicoWizard wrote:

SubtleSpellWildSurge wrote:I practice with tattoos. Not on me, on other people. Moving targets help you keep a steady hand. You also get to practice with delicate material that way.

That sounds somewhat unsafe for the person getting the rune inscribed upon them?

They sign the contract before we start. They also pick the runes. I'm not trying to hurt people, I just need money. Spells aren't cheap.

SubtleSpellWildSurge wrote:

GeicoWizard wrote:

SubtleSpellWildSurge wrote:I practice with tattoos. Not on me, on other people. Moving targets help you keep a steady hand. You also get to practice with delicate material that way.

That sounds somewhat unsafe for the person getting the rune inscribed upon them?

They sign the contract before we start. They also pick the runes. I'm not trying to hurt people, I just need money. Spells aren't cheap.

Fair enough, so long as they understand the dangers.

Thanks everyone, I'll give it a shot. Except the tattoos, that's the last step.