Obsidian (3.5e Equipment)

Obsidian

Obsidian is a type of naturally-occurring glass formed as an extrusive igneous rock. It is produced when felsic lava erupted from a volcano cools rapidly through the glass transition temperature and freezes without sufficient time for crystal growth. Obsidian is commonly found within the margins of rhyolitic lava flows known as obsidian flows, where cooling of the lava is rapid. Because of the lack of crystal structure, obsidian blade edges can reach almost molecular thinness, leading to its ancient use as projectile points. Eyewitness accounts from Spanish Conquistadors shows that some obsidian blades were capable of cleanly decapitating a horse in a single blow.

Obsidian is extraordinarily sharp, and can do grievous damage. Against creatures who have a Constitution score, a masterwork obsidian weapon in the hands of a proficient wielder does additional lethal damage equal to 1/2 of the weapon's dice.

Spears made from obsidian have obsidian heads and wooden shafts.

The disadvantage of obsidian is that it is more brittle than steel, and therefore more prone to being sundered. Obsidian has 15 hit points per inch of thickness and hardness 10.

‎ SRD Weapons¹

Weapon	Cost	Hardness	hp
Arrows (20)	2gp	10	3
Dagger	4gp	10	1
Dagger, punching	4gp	10	1
Javelin	2gp	10	2
Longspear	10gp	10	5
Shortspear	4gp	10	2
Any SRD Weapons that cannot be made from this material are omitted, as are SRD Weapons that have no game rule changes. The SRD does not give hardness for this weapon. Any supplied value is the author's best approximation. The SRD does not give hit point for this weapon. Any supplied value is the author's best approximation.

Notes

Some of the descriptive text has been drawn from the wikipedia article on obsidian.

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