Earthdawn 4E: Example Character 07 - Ork Cavalryman

This is the seventh Example Character in an ongoing series about Earthdawn. Introduction and Index.

Another iconic archetype: Ork Cavalryman. Scorchers are a common menace across Barsaive, though by no means are all ork Cavalryman in this category. Though they are all universally dangerous. This particular combination is likely to see more use as an antagonist than as a player because of the inherent difficulties associated with taking a thundra beast into a kaer.

Each Circle saw this character improve one attribute and take a new Talent Option. There are no Thread Items on this character, however unlikely it may be. 

Note: The entries in this series may be updated periodically as I master the coding to fit all eight of the Circles in a fashion which doesn't result in eye melting. Consider these living entries. Please leave comments if there is anyway this could be made more useful.

Discipline: Cavalryman
Race: Ork

Attributes:
DEX: 18 (7)   STR: 19 (8)   TOU: 16 (7)
PER: 13 (6)   WIL: 10 (5)   CHA: 13 (6)

Characteristics:
Initiative: 2 (Recommended: Wyvern Skin [-3], Crystal Raider Shield [-2])
Physical Defense: 15 (Recommended: Crystal Raider Shield [+2])
Mystic Defense: 10 (Recommended: Crystal Raider Shield [+2])
Social Defense: 9

Physical Armor: 12 (Recommended: Wyvern Skin, Forged +4 [12])
Mystic Armor: 7 (Recommended: Wyvern Skin, Forged +4 [5])

Damage: 23 (Recommended: Pole-Arm, Forged +8 [15]); 43 (with Charge)

Unconsciousness: 88
Death: 103
Wound Threshold: 10

Recovery Tests: 4
Knockdown: 8 (16 while mounted)
Karma: 40
Karma: Attack tests while charging and mounted Damage tests.

Talents: 
Animal Bond: 8 (14)
Charge: 9 (17)
Melee Weapons: 9 (16)
Mount Weaving: 8 (14)
Trick Riding: 9 (16)
Battle Shout: 8 (14)
Animal Training: 9 (15)
Blood Share: 8 (15)
Enhance Animal Companion: 8 (13)
Sure Mount: 8 (16)
Call Animal Companion 9 (16)
Avoid Blow: 6 (13)
Armor Mount: 8 (13)
Fearsome Charge: 8 (14)
Wheeling Attack: 9 (16)
Mount Attack: 7 (13)
Wheeling Defense: 8 (15)
Animal Companion Durability: 8
Double-Charge: 9 (16)
Lion Heart: 8 (13)

This adept is remarkably simple to play: point in direction where violence needs to happen, Charge in direction and cause violence. The damage when mounted on a thundra beast is nearly unparalleled (which this character is). There are a number of different abilities to benefit their mount (Animal Training, Enhance Animal Companion, Armor Mount, Mount Attack, and Animal Companion Durability), which when the mount in question is a thundra beast, start to become very relevant to the conflict. Battle Shout and Fearsome Charge just help to soften up the target, and reduce the effectiveness of a counter-attack.

For all of the offensive power, this adept has problems similar to the Sky Raider. Defensively they don't have many options and their best method of dealing with this, heavier armor, also makes them more vulnerable to held actions based around retaliation. This is particularly true of mystic attacks. While a crystal shield helps with this, it is still a notable problem.

Outside of combat this character doesn't have much to do. Really, nothing to do, but that is okay.