Noobish question on smithing.

[GreatLakesDad]

Do I need a runic hammer to create weapons with magic properties from colored ingots, or is it similar to fletching in that you have a % chance to create one with normal tools?

 

[wil3ur]

you need to have a runic hammer and use the same type of ingots as the hammer to create the magic items. You can risk doing it in the Britain Crafters Guild to get Runic Slayers... and it's a lot safer now that they made it nearly impossible to be a thief there.

 

[Mango]

you need to have a runic hammer and use the same type of ingots as the hammer to create the magic items. You can risk doing it in the Britain Crafters Guild to get Runic Slayers... and it's a lot safer now that they made it nearly impossible to be a thief there.

what did they do there to make it harder on thieves?

 

[wil3ur]

Added constant guard patrols that randomly appear and disappear so anything other than a 100% success gets you instawhacked.

 

[Blaine the Gypsy]

Hope this helps
Guide: Runic Hammers - by @halygon
"Blacksmiths Crafting in the Britain Crafting Area will also have a chance to create Slayer Types weapons" - UOF: Wiki Blacksmithing