How to make a metal with extraordinary property worthless?
In a RPG scenari, players will look for a MacGuffin Metal (aka MGM.), experiencing the farwest gold fever.
Short Story:
Context : Farwest(~1880), steam punk.
1. First encounter :
In a 3-5 minutes time frame, players will have to handle a MGM door.
Metal property : Lighter than aliminium, strong as steel, silverish.
Inspection method: pick it, move it, throw it, trust into, punch bite and claw.
2. MGM Discovery :
After the "MGM fever", the frenzy and chaos surround thing this quest of a incredible medal, only remain a leaving a bitter taste.
The MGM is an already know medal! Already discoverd decades ago by Dr. <PERSON>, he judges it worthless. And he is right. 183
The veins is there near the Xyz town, the mine already exist but somehow the MGM is worthless.
Question :
How to make a metal with extraordinary property worthless?
The MGM has property that make it comparable to Titanium.
In-game restriction :
The game cannot accept any kind of Op MGM Armor, or gold like revenue.
No full armor or bullet proof vest, light canoe, shield etc.
Thing it can be used for : horse thing, knife, small things with no impact from spoon to frypan
Out side restriction :
One of the player is a engineer in a metalurgy compagny. He knows a lot about metals, and as the knowledge to bring industrial metal into the West if I let him enought time to.
He starts his study/career because as a kid he was wondering what it will take to make the bronze age, the steel age.
He is the real reason of my question because I'm afraid he could destroy the plot.
Possible answer I already have:
* It's magic. It's a precious metal revolutionary! ..Changed my mind it's worthless.
* You are the engineer, you tell me why it's worthless.
* Good question, your char ask that but the answer he got is too complexe for him to understand.
The answer doesn't need to be hard science, just reasonable enought. You can judge the reasonable based on your own comprehension, Will it fool you? The argument can include magic, curse, haunted. No hard science needed. 446