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[Fruitpunch]

My fortress is loaded to the brim with obsidian. But I cannot figure out how to use it. I understand it is an economic stone and I cannot use it for certain things however whenever I try to make rock short swords I get the message "Needs sharpenable rock"

Thanks in advance to those who help.

[Quatch]

you can undesignate it an economic stone in the z menu, which is good to build walls and blocks from.

You also need wood for obsidain swords (they are a club with lots of sharp flakes stuck in it). Not sure if it would give you that error or not. Sure you've got some mined, and not called for for some other task? might turn off the eco designation and see if its that.

[Albedo]

Obisidian is usable for weapons from the start - that's the sole default use.

I'm guessing Mr. FP hasn't actually (to use the technical term) "mined" any yet.

[Fruitpunch]

How do you "mine" it? I try clicking the "Mine" designation but I cannot mine it.

[Albedo]

Oy.

Okay, where to start...

Nah, not worth it.  Sorry, I actually tried, but just deleted it - there's too much to explain.

Read this:
http://www.dwarffortresswiki.net/index.php/Your_first_fortress

[Fruitpunch]

Oh, I thought there was some sort of special way to mine rocks, which sounded weird to me since my last fortress' entire economy was based on dolomite products. In that case I will try Quatch's suggestion.

[Quietust]

Obsidian is mined just like any other stone.

[Albedo]

This may come as a shock, but miners have to dig anything out of the ground before it can be used.

(You sure that isn't your real name?  Meh, it always will be for me.) 

[Fruitpunch]

Okay I got it too work. I was under the impression that rock found above ground was usable.

[Sweedumz]

I tend to make Obsidian the main pillar of my economy. If you want a quick and dirty solution to using Obsidian, just build swords as mentioned. However, this is heavy on wood supplies, and you need those for barrels, bins, and training bolts.

What I tend to do is create a craftsmans shop close to, or in the middle of a large supply of obsidian. (Right above an obsidian factory is a good spot). I then change the profile of the shop so that only the best stonecrafters can use it, and change other workshops so they can't use them. (This works best if you have a Legendary stonecrafter.) Having done this, I order crafts, etc to be built at the "obsidian" workshop.

If you have a legendary stonecrafter, with the workshop sitting over an obsidian factory, this method is insanely profitable. Your biggest concern will be clutter at the workshop and the colossal amount of hauling jobs a legendary stoncrafter can generate. Your entire economy can easily and profitably be based around the export of obsidian crafts. You can get ~300 for the best crafted items.