Rune Factory 5 is the latest in the Rune Factory series, which started as a fantasy Harvest Moon spinoff. Almost two decades and multiple mainline titles later, it's grown enough to build its own identity as a franchise.
There's no shortage of life sim titles coming out, so this game stands out by highlighting its JRPG aspects. Between farming and schmoozing with the locals, Rune Factory 5 players will be dungeon crawling and upgrading their equipment.
Rune Factory 5 is more combat-heavy than previous entries, so upgrading equipment is more important now than ever. But in order to do that, players need to pass the Forging License Exam.
The Purpose of Forging
Forging is one of Rune Factory 5's many mechanics. It's a system focused on building weapons and farm equipment, as opposed to Rune Factory 5's crafting, which focuses on clothes and accessories. It works as expected, with players gathering recipes and converting materials and stamina, also known as RP, into goods.
Accessing the Exam
The player can only take the Forging License exam after completing the initial tutorial day. Players will know they're out of it when time is moving on its own, instead of moving forward as the player completes tasks.
After that, they just need to complete Livia's "First Directive" quest. All the player needs to do is check the task board, take the quest, and then talk to the wooden mascot Eliza in the Silo. She'll then give the player a rundown on the game's quest system overall.
Once that's done, the player just needs to talk to Eliza again and ask about Licenses. There will be two options, crafting and forging, and both of them cost 200 seed points.
Forging Exam Answers
The actual exam is only three multiple-choice questions. The answers will either be self-evident or easily found out by talking with Rune Factory 5's various townspeople. Still, for the sake of players who don't want to bother or want to double-check their answers, the correct responses are listed below in bold:
- "What do you need for smithing?"
- Guts and determination.
- Materials and RP.
- Friendship and Time.
- "Where can you forge items?"
- At a forge.
- In the baths.
- Wherever you want!
- "When you have a recipe for a weapon you already own..."
- You need less RP to make it.
- You use HP and might collapse.
- You lose HP and gain RP.
Rune Factory 5 is available now for Nintendo Switch.