The Book of Obsidian

[IAmBatman]

Originally Posted by quozl

Roll an additional unblockable attack die if either Obsidian or the enveloped figure is on a shadow tile?

That seems like an extra item for Enveloped in Shadows. I'm looking for a totally different, third ability (if any). I'm wondering if figures with Sensory Assault should be immune to Enveloped in Shadows, though?

Johnny - not a terrible idea. I don't see him as an Ambushing type, but a straight up +1 attack on a shadow tile could work.

quozl - not sure what exactly you're suggesting in that second post. Are you saying swap out the free disengage for +1 to their defense in an aura? I'm not completely sure I want to add any more defensive auras to the game with Invisible Woman already around .... (we don't need multiple "Raelin" types).

For the record, here's his power set:

• Unlike his sister Jade, whose powers resemble their father's, Obsidian has various shadow-based powers from his father's exposure to shadow energy after a battle with Ian Karkull. Obsidian is connected to the Shadowlands, a dimension of primordial, quasi-sentient darkness. At will, Obsidian can merge with his own shadow and possess the shadows of others. In his shadow form, he is stronger than in human form, can pass through solid objects and can fly. After being corrupted by the Shadowlands, Obsidian was able to control his shadow powers to the point that he could grow to enormous size and create objects out of shadow, in a similar way that his father and sister can create objects out of green energy.
• Obsidian also has limited telepathic abilities and can force a person to see the evil side of their own soul, which has been known to drive people insane.
• During Crisis on Infinite Earths, Obsidian learned that in his shadow form he is resistant to low amounts of antimatter, for instance the amount of antimatter a shadow demon is made of. In his shadow form, shadow demons cannot hurt him, but he can hurt them.
• It is unknown what effects Obsidian's connection to the Shadowlands will have on his aging process. Others connected to it, like the Shade, have displayed immortality, while residual Shadowlands energy slowed the aging of the original JSA members.
• Manhunter #31 shows Obsidian being a skilled helicopter pilot.

[IAmBatman]

Hmm, nothing in that Wiki power set really calls to me ... right now I'm leaning either towards a static +1 to his attack on a shadow tile, or the equivalent of Swamp Tunneling with Shadow Tiles (which I think I prefer right now).

What do you guys think?

[quozl]

Yeah, I was thinking you wanted to modify his existing powers for a more shadowy feel. For an additional power, I suggest:

SHADOW FORM
Instead of moving normally, place Obsidian on any shadow space on the battlefield. While on a shadow space, Obsidian adds one additional die when attacking.

[Hahma]

That sounds pretty interesting Quozl, does Obsidian travel in that manner in the comics? Should there be a range like there is for water tunnel type powers, like 5 spaces?

Being intangible and getting to teleport to any different shadow tile can make him pretty beefy defensively since he'll get the +1 defense for shadow tile if someone gets adjacent to him.

Should he start out with some shadow tiles on his card like Mika Connour ?

Lots of shadowy powers to choose from there

[quozl]

Kinda. He enters the Shadowlands dimension and then pops out of it. I do think adding shadow tiles to the battlefield would be very cool for him.

[IAmBatman]

Hmm ... well I like the Enveloped in Shadows power still, so I'd want to keep that and Intangibility. Anything else we do would have to fit on there in addition.

[Spidey'tilIDie]

Shadowlands Teleport sounds perfect! I would increase the Range from Water Tunneling, but only the Shade should have unlimited Range on this.

[IAmBatman]

Something like this, maybe?

SHADOWLAND PASSAGE
If Obsidian ends his normal movement on a shadow space, you may place him on any same-level shadow space within 8 spaces.

[johnny139]

I like the sound of that.

[IAmBatman]

I could also call it Shadowland Ambush and give him a +1 to his attack on Shadow spaces as well, but I'm afraid of making him too map dependent ....

[johnny139]

I think that making it an "instead of moving" power (and maybe upping it to 10 spaces) would give him more tactical flexibility on Shadow maps without really doing anything to his point cost overall.

I'd avoid adding the attack boost though, yeah.

[IAmBatman]

Hmm, what would that look like written up?