diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c82a6d6..6db9311 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -71,8 +71,8 @@ Alpha. One season, bandit raids plus two friendly events, six buildings.
   trousers and jerkin; every cloth tier a hood, leggings and robe. Higher
   bars need coal; each metal past copper needs a Smithy level (rune needs
   level 5, so a city). Gear needs the combat level of its tier (15, 30, 45,
-  60, 75) to wear, and the areas open at the same levels; tools need a skill
-  level to use.
+  60, 75) to wear, and the areas open at the same levels; tools need the
+  same level in their skill.
 - **Classes are trades,** from gathering to finished goods, so each player has
   a quiet gathering side and a busier crafting side: miner (mining, smithing,
   jewelcrafting),
diff --git a/game.py b/game.py
index 4bf3fdf..53da5ca 100644
--- a/game.py
+++ b/game.py
@@ -80,8 +80,7 @@ ITEMS = {
 # ladder generates its items and recipes below; the copper and iron ids
 # predate the ladders and are kept as they were.
 
-TIER_LEVELS = [1, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75]     # gathering / smelting level of each tier, and the combat level to wear it
-TOOL_LEVELS = [1, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50]     # skill level to use a tool or station
+TIER_LEVELS = [1, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75]     # each tier's gathering / smelting level; also to wear and use it
 
 # key, name, ore (item id, name, icon, value), coal per bar, bar icon, bar value, smithy level, handle wood
 METALS = [
@@ -214,7 +213,7 @@ for _tier, (_key, _name, _ore, _coal, _bar_icon, _bar_value, _smithy, _wood) in
     for _skill, (_tool, _icon) in TOOLS.items():
         ITEMS[f"{_key}_{_tool.replace(' ', '_')}"] = {
             "name": f"{_name} {_tool}", "icon": _icon, "value": round(2 * _bar_value * 1.4), "tier": _tier,
-            "slot": f"tool_{_skill}", "tool": _skill, "speed": TOOL_SPEED[_tier], "req": [_skill, TOOL_LEVELS[_tier]],
+            "slot": f"tool_{_skill}", "tool": _skill, "speed": TOOL_SPEED[_tier], "req": [_skill, TIER_LEVELS[_tier]],
         }
 # Jewelcrafting: a gem from each tier's rock, set in a band of copper, silver or gold.
 # Silver and gold are soft metals the jeweller smelts, no smithy needed. Past the first
@@ -321,7 +320,7 @@ for _tier, _wood in enumerate(WOODS):
     for _skill, (_suffix, _noun, _glyph, _kind) in STATIONS.items():
         ITEMS[f"{_wood}_{_suffix}"] = {
             "name": f"{WOOD_NAMES[_tier]} {_noun}", "icon": "🪚", "tier": _tier, "slot": f"station_{_skill}", "station": _skill,
-            "speed": TOOL_SPEED[_tier], "req": [_skill, TOOL_LEVELS[_tier]], "value": 0}
+            "speed": TOOL_SPEED[_tier], "req": [_skill, TIER_LEVELS[_tier]], "value": 0}
     ITEMS[f"{_wood}_strongbox"] = {"name": f"{WOOD_NAMES[_tier]} strongbox", "plural": f"{WOOD_NAMES[_tier]} strongboxes",
                                    "icon": "🧰", "tier": _tier, "slot": "storage", "slots": STRONGBOX_SLOTS[_tier], "value": 0}
 for _tier, (_fibre, _level, _time, _xp, _cloth, _prefix, _label) in enumerate(CLOTHS):
diff --git a/tests/test_game.py b/tests/test_game.py
index ce10667..f82a5e2 100644
--- a/tests/test_game.py
+++ b/tests/test_game.py
@@ -768,7 +768,7 @@ class TierTest(unittest.TestCase):
         world = world_with(("wil", "commoner"))
         p = world["players"]["wil"]
         self.assertEqual(game.equip_problem(p, "rune_sword"), "Needs combat level 75")
-        self.assertEqual(game.equip_problem(p, "steel_pickaxe"), "Needs mining level 20")
+        self.assertEqual(game.equip_problem(p, "steel_pickaxe"), "Needs mining level 30")
         self.assertIsNone(game.equip_problem(p, "copper_sword"))
         p["xp"]["combat"] = game.XP_TABLE[75]
         self.assertIsNone(game.equip_problem(p, "rune_sword"))