Bay 12 Games Forum

Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Advanced search  

Author Topic: About Obsidian  (Read 911 times)

viskaslietuvai

  • Bay Watcher
    • View Profile
About Obsidian
« on: August 31, 2008, 08:16:20 pm »

Now, I realize I may get some flak for this idea, but I feel like obsidian should not be as strong as steel for damage purposes. I think it should be more along the lines of bronze. This is more for gameplay than realism. I have no idea how strong obsidian can be, but given how easy obsidian is to use and how difficult, and time consuming steel is to create, the only reason to take steel in regards to weapons over obsidian is for the value. It could still be used for massive numbers of traps and the initial military only to be taken over by steel later on. Plus obsidian would still be useful for furniture and such.
On the other hand I think that obsidian should be able to be used for additional weapon types. Specifically spears, daggers (though I'm not too sure of how useful that would be), and maybe axes. I'd say arrows too, but that would require some wood as well.
Logged
The open way's too dangerous / Listen close they're watching us
One more time you're losing us / Hold still they're shooting us
First wave down / I wonder when they're coming back
First wave intact
-Secret Machines- First Wave Intact
Gobbo Invasion Song!

Neonivek

  • Bay Watcher
    • View Profile
Re: About Obsidian
« Reply #1 on: August 31, 2008, 08:19:59 pm »

Obsideon can only be made into a sword right now outside of the Artifact system (which is allowed to make superpowerful Leather Swords!)

If Obsideon is as strong as steel as you said, I can only assume that is to simulate the fact that Obsideon makes what is known as "Glass Swords" which is VERY sharp!
Logged

Dragooble

  • Bay Watcher
    • View Profile
Re: About Obsidian
« Reply #2 on: August 31, 2008, 08:25:38 pm »

yeah obsidian technically isnt a stone its a type of volcanic glass.
so yeah i assume it would be very sharp.
Logged
A creature the size of europe can occupy only one tile.

Techhead

  • Bay Watcher
  • Former Minister of Technological Heads
    • View Profile
Re: About Obsidian
« Reply #3 on: August 31, 2008, 08:31:07 pm »

Quote
Morphologically, obsidian was worked into a variety of tool forms, including knives, lance and projectile points, prismatic blades, general bifacial tools, and utilized flakes. Blades have been found in situ with rabbit, rodent, and mollusk remains, indicating their use in butchery. The practical use of obsidian is obvious considering that the material can be used to make some of the sharpest edges on earth. When skillfully worked, the edges of prismatic blade made from obsidian can reach the molecular level (i.e., the material has a cutting edge that is only one molecule thick).
I want to tip arrowheads and spears with obsidian please.
Logged
Engineering Dwarves' unfortunate demises since '08
WHAT?  WE DEMAND OUR FREE THINGS NOW DESPITE THE HARDSHIPS IT MAY CAUSE IN YOUR LIFE
It's like you're all trying to outdo each other in sheer useless pedantry.

Idiom

  • Bay Watcher
  • [NO_THOUGHT]
    • View Profile
Re: About Obsidian
« Reply #4 on: August 31, 2008, 08:40:26 pm »

Quote
I want to tip arrowheads and spears with obsidian please.
Only useful against unarmored targets really.
Logged

viskaslietuvai

  • Bay Watcher
    • View Profile
Re: About Obsidian
« Reply #5 on: August 31, 2008, 09:03:27 pm »

Only useful against unarmored targets really.

Exactly!
Meanwhile steel can do something against metal armors. I'm guessing. I don't really know. But I do think there's a reason that knives are made from steel and the obsidian resources of the world have not been stripped.
Besides all that, I was making the suggestion just for gameplay balance rather than realism.
Logged
The open way's too dangerous / Listen close they're watching us
One more time you're losing us / Hold still they're shooting us
First wave down / I wonder when they're coming back
First wave intact
-Secret Machines- First Wave Intact
Gobbo Invasion Song!

Paul

  • Bay Watcher
  • Polite discourse with a dash of insanity.
    • View Profile
    • Need an affordable website? I can help.
Re: About Obsidian
« Reply #6 on: August 31, 2008, 09:20:51 pm »

The obsidian swords are supposed to be something like this I believe.

I'd imagine something like that would be pretty effective, even against armor.

It wouldn't be as durable as a steel sword, though. Plate armor might shatter the blades. Even then you'd still have the clubbing action, and some of the shards might even go through. But you would likely have to replace or at least sharpen the obsidian bits fairly often to maintain effectiveness. Every hit would likely make it duller and duller until its basically a light club.

The best way to balance it would make them lose effectiveness after every hit and need to be repaired after every fight, but I'm not sure how that would be implemented into DF.
« Last Edit: August 31, 2008, 09:35:30 pm by Paul »
Logged
Do you like Science Fiction? I'm writing the Weaveborn Saga over on Royal Road and my website. Link

Idiom

  • Bay Watcher
  • [NO_THOUGHT]
    • View Profile
Re: About Obsidian
« Reply #7 on: August 31, 2008, 10:29:37 pm »

The edge would shatter against armored targets.
Logged

motorbitch

  • Bay Watcher
    • View Profile
Re: About Obsidian
« Reply #8 on: September 01, 2008, 04:54:00 am »

they wuld be verry effective, but only for one battle i think. with every single hit some of the blacds wuld scatter, and i guess they culd not easyly been sharped.

so what about let them decay like clothings?
Logged

Pilsu

  • Bay Watcher
    • View Profile
Re: About Obsidian
« Reply #9 on: September 01, 2008, 07:27:10 am »

They're planned to be prone to breaking eventually

Bronze is better than iron by the way
Logged

Tormy

  • Bay Watcher
  • I shall not pass?
    • View Profile
Re: About Obsidian
« Reply #10 on: September 01, 2008, 07:42:52 am »

Now, I realize I may get some flak for this idea, but I feel like obsidian should not be as strong as steel for damage purposes. I think it should be more along the lines of bronze.

I agree, especially since its way too easy to get obsidian.
Logged

Soadreqm

  • Bay Watcher
  • I'm okay with this. I'm okay with a lot of things.
    • View Profile
Re: About Obsidian
« Reply #11 on: September 01, 2008, 12:39:07 pm »

I think this should wait for general wear and tear. Then we could have all weapons (except artifacts, by virtue of being artifacts) get worse with use, and some would get worse faster than others.
Logged