v50 Steam/Premium information for editors
  • v50 information can now be added to pages in the main namespace. v0.47 information can still be found in the DF2014 namespace. See here for more details on the new versioning policy.
  • Use this page to report any issues related to the migration.
This notice may be cached—the current version can be found here.

Editing Obsidian

Jump to navigation Jump to search

Warning: You are not logged in.
Your IP address will be recorded in this page's edit history.

If you are creating a redirect to the current version's page, do not use any namespace. For example: use #REDIRECT [[Cat]], not #REDIRECT [[Main:Cat]] or #REDIRECT [[cv:Cat]]. See DF:Versions for more information.

The edit can be undone. Please check the comparison below to verify that this is what you want to do, and then save the changes below to finish undoing the edit.

Latest revision Your text
Line 1: Line 1:
−
{{Quality|Superior}}
+
{{layerlookup/0}}{{av}}{{Quality|Exceptional|21:08, 8 June 2010 (UTC)}}
−
{{layerlookup/0}}
+
 
−
{{av}}
 
−
{{minorspoiler}}
 
 
{{For/see|the month|[[Calendar]]}}
 
{{For/see|the month|[[Calendar]]}}
  
−
'''Obsidian''' is one of the types of "[[stone]]" (technically volcanic [[glass]]) that forms entire [[Stone#Stones forming entire layers|layer]]s.  Obsidian is also found surrounding magma pools and volcanoes, exactly 1 tile thick, and has the distinction of being the only stone that can be [[obsidian farming|created during play]]. Obsidian is considered an [[Economic stones|economic stone]] by default; in order to allow general use at workshops, and in architecture, you must enable "obsidian" in the [[stocks]] "Stone" menu.  It is also notable in that it has the highest material value among non-ore stones and is also higher in value than some low-value ores like [[native copper]].
+
'''Obsidian''' is one of the types of "[[stone]]" (technically volcanic glass) that forms entire [[Stone#Stones forming entire layers|layer]]s.  Obsidian is also found surrounding magma pools and volcanoes, exactly 1 tile thick, and has the distinction of being the only stone that can be [[obsidian farming|created during play]]. Obsidian is considered an [[Economic stones|economic stone]] by default; in order to allow general use at workshops and in architecture you must enable "obsidian" in the [[stocks]] "Stone" menu.  It is also notable in that it has the highest material value among non-ore stones and is also higher in value than some low value ores like [[native copper]].
  
 
"Obsidian" is also the twelfth month of the dwarven [[calendar]], covering late Winter.
 
"Obsidian" is also the twelfth month of the dwarven [[calendar]], covering late Winter.
  
 
==Rock short sword==
 
==Rock short sword==
−
Obsidian can also be made into obsidian [[short sword]]s with one log at the craftsdwarf's workshop. If you embark on an obsidian [[mountain]] or manage to reach [[magma]] before finding metallic ores, these are good at first to defend your fort from early [[wolf]] and [[giant eagle]] attacks, but weak in comparison to any metal weaponry, being unable to defeat even basic copper armor, so keep that in mind once you start encountering metal-armored invaders. Note that as obsidian short swords use wood (used in the handle), [[Elf|elves]] will be offended if you trade obsidian swords, and refuse the trade.
+
Obsidian can also be made into obsidian [[short sword]]s with one log at the craftsdwarf's workshop. If you embark on an obsidian [[mountain]] or manage to reach [[magma]] before finding metallic ores, these are good at first to defend your fort from early [[wolf]] and [[giant eagle]] attacks, but weak in comparison to any metal weaponry being unable to defeat even basic copper armor, so keep that in mind once you start encountering metal-armored invaders. Note that as obsidian short swords use wood (presumably used in the handle), [[Elf|Elves]] will be offended if you trade obsidian swords and refuse the trade.
  
 
Obsidian is the only rock that can be used to make stone-based weapons.
 
Obsidian is the only rock that can be used to make stone-based weapons.
  
 
Previous versions lacked defined yield and shear values and used the defaults from the stone template; this rendered them very blunt and unable to cut skin. Since 40.05 obsidian features more proper yield and shear values, making these weapons much more viable. Obsidian now has glass-like yield and shear values, which allow rock short swords to slice through skin, leather armor, and wood armor used by [[Elf|elves]].
 
Previous versions lacked defined yield and shear values and used the defaults from the stone template; this rendered them very blunt and unable to cut skin. Since 40.05 obsidian features more proper yield and shear values, making these weapons much more viable. Obsidian now has glass-like yield and shear values, which allow rock short swords to slice through skin, leather armor, and wood armor used by [[Elf|elves]].
−
 
−
Interestingly, Obsidian short swords in the Premium version look completely different depending on who is using them, with [[dwarf|dwarves]] getting a less-[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macuahuitl Aztec-looking] sprite than everyone else; not that you'd notice in gameplay, unless a [[kobold]] gets particularly lucky.
 
  
 
==Obsidian formation==
 
==Obsidian formation==
Line 25: Line 21:
 
   
 
   
 
[[Obsidian farming]] can be used to produce large amounts of obsidian for masonry, crafting, or construction.
 
[[Obsidian farming]] can be used to produce large amounts of obsidian for masonry, crafting, or construction.
−
 
−
==Suspicious Rock Formations==
 
−
As of v50, [[Unusual volcanic wall|strange formations]] of obsidian have been observed within the [[caverns]]. Shallow cavern layers will often feature 3x3 squares of ([[magma|warm]] or [[water|damp]]) obsidian, while deeper layers may sometimes feature large clusters of obsidian. In all cases these formations are composed solely of obsidian and studded with many high-value gems such as [[emerald]], diamond, star ruby, and [[star sapphire]]. Exploratory miners have reported many fun things contained within the gem-studded obsidian, such as magma, spontaneous explosions, [[divine metal|divine]] [[artifacts]], [[forgotten beast]]s and other [[demon|fun]] [[angel|things]]. The full extent of new content is still being determined. Some [[scholars]] theorize that the precious gems were set as bait for careless dwarves who dig too greedily and too deeply.
 
  
 
==Real life==
 
==Real life==
−
A common misconception is that the dark color of obsidian indicates an inclusion of metals like iron. In fact, obsidian is almost entirely quartz, just at a microcrystalline level. As there has yet to be any known threat by dragon or animated frost wights, the historical use of obsidian was mostly decorative until several peoples discovered its use as a sharp tool and eventually weaponized. Localized variants like "snowflake obsidian" and "chocolate" obsidian (with brown inclusions) are typically attributed to inclusionary quartz crystals and mafic minerals, respectively. 
 
  
−
The use of obsidian to create short swords in ''Dwarf Fortress'' is almost certainly inspired by the ''macuahuitl'', a sword-club used by the Aztecs and the other native peoples of Mesoamerica. The weapon was a short, strong wooden staff (normally one-handed, but two-handed versions existed), set with obsidian-flake blades that were literally more than razor-sharp. Flaked obsidian can have a monomolecular edge; today, it's used for extremely high-quality surgical scalpels, which have to be handled with extreme care – a little pressure is enough for such a scalpel to cut deep, and if you cut yourself with one, you won't feel it until you start to bleed. The main disadvantage, however (other than the expense incurred from the labor to hand-knap high-quality blades), is that obsidian is quite brittle compared to metal (and alternative materials like chert or flint) – this can be mitigated to a degree through quality craftsmanship and skillful use, but there remains the risk that an obsidian blade will leave tiny but incredibly sharp glass flakes behind in the surgical wound.
+
The use of obsidian to create short swords in ''Dwarf Fortress'' is almost certainly inspired by the ''macuahuitl'', a sword-club used by the Aztecs and the other native peoples of Mesoamerica. The weapon was a short, strong wooden staff (normally one-handed, but two-handed versions existed), set with obsidian-flake blades that were literally more than razor-sharp. Flaked obsidian has a monomolecular edge; today, it's used for extremely high-quality surgical scalpels, which have to be handled with extreme care - a little pressure is enough for such a scalpel to cut deep; and if you cut yourself with one, you won't feel it until you start to bleed.
  
 
Macuahuitls could penetrate flesh and leather with ease; Spanish conquistadors reported one case where a blow from a two-handed macuahuitl decapitated a horse. But the obsidian edges shattered when they struck metal armor, and macuahuitls didn't have a thrusting attack. The Spanish soon learned to put their armored soldiers forward, to fight in chokepoints – and to recruit the Aztecs' enemies, to field macuahuitl-wielders of their own (and let them do more of the dying in their place).
 
Macuahuitls could penetrate flesh and leather with ease; Spanish conquistadors reported one case where a blow from a two-handed macuahuitl decapitated a horse. But the obsidian edges shattered when they struck metal armor, and macuahuitls didn't have a thrusting attack. The Spanish soon learned to put their armored soldiers forward, to fight in chokepoints – and to recruit the Aztecs' enemies, to field macuahuitl-wielders of their own (and let them do more of the dying in their place).
 +
  
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
Line 42: Line 35:
 
File:Snowflake_obsidian.jpg|Snowflake obsidian & an obsidian arrowhead
 
File:Snowflake_obsidian.jpg|Snowflake obsidian & an obsidian arrowhead
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
−
 
−
{{D for dwarf}}
 
−
Despite what other popular forms of media may perpetuate, obsidian – even when crafted into [[Block|blocks]] – will not provide any assistance in reaching the [[underworld]]. The only method of reaching the underworld known to dwarfkind is to physically dig down deep enough to get there.
 
−
 
−
All claims that obsidian can be combined with [[blue diamond]]s to [[Magic|magically]] improve weapons and armor have been shut down by extensive Dwarven science.
 
  
 
{{gamedata}}
 
{{gamedata}}
 
{{stones}}
 
{{stones}}
 
{{Category|Economic Stone}}
 
{{Category|Economic Stone}}

Please note that all contributions to Dwarf Fortress Wiki are considered to be released under the GFDL & MIT (see Dwarf Fortress Wiki:Copyrights for details). If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly and redistributed at will, then do not submit it here.
You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource. Do not submit copyrighted work without permission!

To protect the wiki against automated edit spam, we kindly ask you to solve the following CAPTCHA:

Cancel Editing help (opens in new window)

Templates used on this page:

This page is a member of 2 hidden categories:

Retrieved from "https://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/Obsidian"