Earthdawn 4E: Example Character 12 - Obsidiman Weaponsmith

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

While not iconic, this is certainly popular combination. The idea of a enormous, solemn rock man working tirelessly in a forge, only to come out when needed and lay the smack down is certainly an appealing one.

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: Weaponsmith
Race: Obsidiman

Attributes:
DEX: 13 (6)   STR: 22 (9)   TOU: 19 (8)
PER: 16 (7)   WIL: 16 (7)   CHA: 7 (4)

Characteristics:
Initiative: 1 (Recommended: Crystal Plate [-5])
Physical Defense: 10 (Recommended: Crystal Buckler [+1])
Mystic Defense: 13 (Recommended: Crystal Buckler [+1])
Social Defense: 5

Physical Armor: 16 (Recommended: Crystal Plate, Forged +6 [13])
Mystic Armor: 13 (Recommended: Crystal Plate, Forged +3 [10])

Damage: 24 (Recommended: Troll Sword, Forged +9 [15])

Unconsciousness: 78 (87, Temper Flesh)
Death: 94 (103, Temper Flesh)
Wound Threshold: 14 (23, Temper Flesh)

Recovery Tests: 5
Knockdown: 17
Karma: 24
Karma: Craft/repair items, Recovery Tests, Damage tests with weapons adept crafted.

Talents: 
Forge Weapon: 9 (16)
Item History: 8 (15)
Melee Weapons: 9 (15)
Steel Thought: 9 (16)
Thread Smithing: 8 (15)
Craftsman: 8 (15)
Shield Bash: 8 (17)
Conversation: 8 (12)
Fireblood: 8 (16)
Suppress Curse: 8 (15)
Avoid Blow: 8 (14)
Wound Balance: 8 (17)
Awareness: 6 (13)
Forge Armor: 9 (16)
Earth Skin: 8 (15)
Temper Flesh: 9 (16)
Fire Heal: 8 (15)
Spot Armor Flaw: 8 (15)
Resist Taunt: 8 (15)
Lion Heart: 9 (16)
Battle Shout: 8 (12)

In contrast to the dwarf Weaponsmith, this is not a well-rounded character. To call this adept gruff would be putting it nicely. I imagine they are interested in doing their duty and doing it very well, but do not have the time for those of a flightly nature. Which would be most everyone. This adept is likely to be the soul of a group as well, but a group which probably spends most of its time hunting Horrors in the darkest places and returning alive time and time again.

This obsidiman Weaponsmith is no nonsense and incredibly dangerous in combat. While still not a full combat discipline, they come very close. Weaponsmiths are still primarily defensive, but the sheer power of an obsidiman supplemented with Spot Armor Flaw, Shield Bash, and Battle Shout allows them more offensive power. This is the kind of adept which haunts the nightmares of spellcasters and Horrors alike. Their arsenal of active defenses (they have collected them all) means there is little which they do not have a chance to shrug off.

Beyond their speed, which is remarkably slow, this adept is very susceptible to social attacks. Once they get access to Resist Taunt, this problem will become less significant (as it uses Willpower, rather than Charisma, an attribute of which they have plenty).