Earthdawn 4E: Example Character 15 - Obsidiman Warrior

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

The obsidiman Warrior is one of the iconic characters in Earthdawn. Enormously powerful, but with a quiet fortitude puts them in contrast with the other combat disciplines. This adept would never be considered a "people person".

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: Warrior
Race: Obsidiman

Attributes:
DEX: 16 (7)   STR: 25 (10)   TOU: 20 (8)
PER: 13 (6)   WIL: 10 (5)   CHA: 8 (4)

Characteristics:
Initiative: 7
Physical Defense: 12
Mystic Defense: 9
Social Defense: 5

Physical Armor: 12 (Recommended: Fernweave, Forged +7 [9])
Mystic Armor: 6 (Recommended: Fernweave, Forged +1 [4])

Damage: 27 (Recommended: Freakishly Large Hammer Thing, Forged +8 [17]), 36 (with Crushing Blow)

Unconsciousness: 96 (105, Temper Flesh)
Death: 112 (121, Temper Flesh)
Wound Threshold: 15 (24, Temper Flesh)

Recovery Tests: 5
Knockdown: 18
Karma: 24
Karma: Recovery Test, Damage tests.

Talents: 
Avoid Blow: 9 (16)
Melee Weapons: 9 (16)
Tiger Spring: 8
War Weaving: 8 (14)
Wood Skin: 9 (17)
Fireblood: 8 (16)
Wound Balance: 8 (18)
Anticipate Blow: 8 (14)
Air Dance: 8 (15)
Maneuver: 8 (15)
Waterfall Slam: 8
Danger Sense: 6 (12)
Earth Skin: 8 (16)
Lion Heart: 8 (13)
Temper Flesh: 9 (14)
Swift Kick: 8 (15)
Crushing Blow: 9 (19)
Life Check: 8 (16)
Second Attack: 9 (16)
Momentum Attack: 8 (15)

This adept is essentially raw power which has been unleashed. They are an offensive powerhouse; their damage is impressive, Initiative effectively at Step 23 using Air Dance and Tiger Spring, health ratings and Wound Thresholds put up some very impressive numbers, and this is before Wood Skin is added, which will give around another 17 without Karma (putting Unconsciousness and Death up to 122 and 138 respectively), multiple attacks, and numerous ways to stay in the fight for far longer than any opponent wants to come to terms with.

On the surface, they are pretty simple: point in the direction things need to be broken and wait as everything is slowly broken. However, there are a couple of tricks this adept employs. The first is Swift Kick; this talent is used exclusively for attacking to Knockdown. Even with a massive strength, there isn't much to be gained from damage against a reasonably armored opponent. However, when coupled with Waterfall Slam, opponents tend to fall over. Which sets up attacks against a downed opponent, which are more likely to trigger a Momentum Attack.

Mystic attacks are something of a weakness, though Earth Skin and Lion Heart both provide some breathing room. Not a lot, but some. Their most significant weaknesses are social attacks and mobility. Despite their impressive reflexes, they cannot dominate the field with movement. They may barely participate.

Outside of combat this adept has virtually nothing to offer. They are simply a staid guardian, waiting for their next battle.