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v0.34:Attribute

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This article is about an older version of DF.

A creature has numerous attributes which affect its performance at various tasks. These attributes are split into physical factors associated with the body and mental factors associated with a creature's soul.

Attributes can be viewed in the Thoughts and Preferences screen. Body attributes are listed just above prefstrings, and soul attributes are listed immediately thereafter. Positive attributes are shown in dark green while negative attributes are shown in red.

Attributes are associated with skills, so that shield use will raise endurance as an attribute, but not attributes like memory. Different attributes raised by one skill may not be raised by the same amount. Attribute gain and rust rates, along with skill gain and rust rates, are moddable in the raws as a Creature token.

Attributes can be viewed for individual dwarves by selecting view dwarves, z, enter or by going to the units menu, view, then enter.

Body Attributes[edit]

The attribute values given in the tables correspond to default racial averages for dwarves only. Modded dwarves or any other creature will report the same phrases, but the underlying numbers may be very different. In almost every case, a higher attribute value is better, as opposed to personality traits where one may prefer higher or lower depending on the situation.

Strength[edit]

Alters the damage done in melee (increases velocity of weapon swings), increases muscle mass (thicker muscle layer also resists damage more), and increases how much a creature can carry. Higher strength also increases the speed with which a creature, even a naked creature, may move.

Value (+) Description
2250 - 5000 unbelievably strong
2000 - 2249 mighty
1750 - 1999 very strong
1500 - 1749 strong
751 - 1000 weak
501 - 750 very weak
251 - 500 unquestionably weak
0 - 250 unfathomably weak

Agility[edit]

This attribute increases the speed at which a creature works in the same way as strength -- a creature with maximum agility and strength can move around three times faster than a creature with minimum agility and strength.

Value (-) Description
1900 - 5000 amazingly agile
1650 - 1899 extremely agile
1400 - 1649 very agile
1150 - 1399 agile
401 - 650 clumsy
151 - 400 quite clumsy
0 - 150 totally clumsy
NULL abysmally clumsy

Toughness[edit]

Reduces physical damage.

Value (+) Description
2250 - 5000 basically unbreakable
2000 - 2249 incredibly tough
1750 - 1999 quite durable
1500 - 1749 tough
751 - 1000 flimsy
501 - 750 very flimsy
251 - 500 remarkably flimsy
0 - 250 shockingly fragile

Endurance[edit]

Reduces the rate at which dwarves become exhausted.

Value (AVG) Description
2000 - 5000 absolutely inexhaustible
1750 - 1999 indefatigable
1500 - 1749 very slow to tire
1250 - 1499 slow to tire
501 - 750 quick to tire
251 - 500 very quick to tire
1 - 250 extremely quick to tire
0 truly quick to tire

Recuperation[edit]

Increases the rate of wound healing.

Value (AVG) Description
2000 - 5000 possessed of amazing recuperative powers
1750 - 1999 incredibly quick to heal
1500 - 1749 quite quick to heal
1250 - 1499 quick to heal
501 - 750 slow to heal
251 - 500 very slow to heal
1 - 250 really slow to heal
0 shockingly slow to heal

Disease Resistance[edit]

Reduces the risk of disease.

Value (AVG) Description
2000 - 5000 virtually never sick
1750 - 1999 almost never sick
1500 - 1749 very rarely sick
1250 - 1499 rarely sick
501 - 750 susceptible to disease
251 - 500 quite susceptible to disease
1 - 250 really susceptible to disease
0 stunningly susceptible to disease

Skills By Body Attribute[edit]

Soul Attributes[edit]

The attribute values given in the tables correspond to default racial averages for dwarves only. Modded dwarves or any other creature will report the same phrases, but the underlying numbers may be very different. In almost every case, a higher attribute value is better, as opposed to personality traits where one may prefer higher or lower depending on the situation.

From this post by Toady One

With respect to skills: most of these attributes only affect duration, when that is the only available skill effect to begin with, but they are factored into outcomes when it applies.

At the bottom is a list of which attributes affect which skills. This pair of charts provides an easier to read summary of the soul attributes that are useful for doctors and soldiers.

Analytical Ability[edit]

Value (+) Description
2250 - 5000 awesome intellectual powers
2000 - 2249 great analytical abilities
1750 - 1999 a sharp intellect
1500 - 1749 a good intellect
751 - 1000 poor analytical abilities
501 - 750 very bad analytical abilities
251 - 500 a lousy intellect
0 - 250 a stunning lack of analytical ability

Focus[edit]

Value (++) Description
2542 - 5000 unbreakable focus
2292 - 2541 a great ability to focus
2042 - 2291 very good focus
1792 - 2041 the ability to focus
1043 - 1292 poor focus
793 - 1042 quite poor focus
543 - 792 really poor focus
0 - 542 the absolute inability to focus

Willpower[edit]

Willpower directly reduces exertion and pain effects.

Value (AVG) Description
2000 - 5000 an unbreakable will
1750 - 1999 an iron will
1500 - 1749 a lot of willpower
1250 - 1499 willpower
501 - 750 little willpower
251 - 500 a large deficit of willpower
1 - 250 next to no willpower
0 absolutely no willpower

Creativity[edit]

Value (+) Description
2250 - 5000 a boundless creative imagination
2000 - 2249 great creativity
1751 - 1999 very good creativity
1500 - 1750 good creativity
751 - 1000 meager creativity
501 - 750 poor creativity
251 - 500 lousy creativity
0 - 250 next to no creative talent

Intuition[edit]

Value (AVG) Description
2000 - 5000 uncanny intuition
1750 - 1999 great intuition
1500 - 1749 very good intuition
1250 - 1499 good intuition
501 - 750 bad intuition
251 - 500 very bad intuition
1 - 250 lousy intuition
0 horrible intuition

Patience[edit]

Some non-skill tasks are affected by Patience.

Value (+) Description
2250 - 5000 absolutely boundless patience
2000 - 2249 a deep well of patience
1750 - 1999 a great deal of patience
1500 - 1749 a sum of patience
751 - 1000 a shortage of patience
501 - 750 little patience
251 - 500 very little patience
0 - 250 no patience at all

Memory[edit]

Value (+) Description
2250 - 5000 an astonishing memory
2000 - 2249 an amazing memory
1750 - 1999 a great memory
1500 - 1749 a good memory
751 - 1000 an iffy memory
501 - 750 a poor memory
251 - 500 a really bad memory
0 - 250 little memory to speak of

Linguistic Ability[edit]

Value (AVG) Description
2000 - 5000 an astonishing ability with languages and words
1750 - 1999 a great affinity for language
1500 - 1749 a natural inclination toward language
1250 - 1499 a way with words
501 - 750 a little difficulty with words
251 - 500 little linguistic ability
1 - 250 very little linguistic ability
0 difficulty with words and language

Spatial Sense[edit]

Value (++) Description
2542 - 5000 a stunning feel for spatial relationships
2292 - 2541 an amazing spatial sense
2042 - 2291 a great feel for the surrounding space
1792 - 2041 a good spatial sense
1043 - 1292 a questionable spatial sense
793 - 1042 poor spatial senses
543 - 792 an atrocious spatial sense
0 - 542 no sense for spatial relationships

Musicality[edit]

This attribute doesn't affect any skills.

Value (AVG) Description
2000 - 5000 an astonishing knack for music
1750 - 1999 a great musical sense
1500 - 1749 a natural ability with music
1250 - 1499 a feel for music
501 - 750 an iffy sense for music
251 - 500 little natural inclination toward music
1 - 250 next to no natural musical ability
0 absolutely no feel for music at all

Kinesthetic Sense[edit]

Most skills involving any movement at all (lots of them), and many non-skilled tasks as well are affected by Kinesthetic Sense.

Value (AVG) Description
2000 - 5000 an astounding feel for the position of own body
1750 - 1999 a great kinesthetic sense
1500 - 1749 a very good sense of the position of own body
1250 - 1499 a good kinesthetic sense
501 - 750 a meager kinesthetic sense
251 - 500 a poor kinesthetic sense
1 - 250 a very clumsy kinesthetic sense
0 an unbelievably atrocious sense of the position of own body

Empathy[edit]

Value (AVG) Description
2000 - 5000 an absolutely remarkable sense of others' emotions
1750 - 1999 a great sense of empathy
1500 - 1749 a very good sense of empathy
1250 - 1499 an ability to read emotions fairly well
501 - 750 poor empathy
251 - 500 a very bad sense of empathy
1 - 250 next to no empathy
0 the utter inability to judge others' emotions

Social Awareness[edit]

Value (AVG) Description
2000 - 5000 a shockingly profound feel for social relationships
1750 - 1999 a great feel for social relationships
1500 - 1749 a very good feel for social relationships
1250 - 1499 a good feel for social relationships
501 - 750 a meager ability with social relationships
251 - 500 a poor ability to manage or understand social relationships
1 - 250 a lack of understanding of social relationships
0 an absolute inability to understand social relationships

Skills By Soul Attribute[edit]

Skills by Associated Attributes[edit]

If your browser cannot display this table properly you can view the legacy version.






Skill
Agility Analytical Ability Creativity Empathy Endurance Focus Intuition Kinesthetic Sense Linguistic Ability Memory Patience Social Awareness Spatial Sense Strength Toughness Willpower
Ambusher X X X X
Animal caretaker X X X X
Animal dissector X X
Animal trainer X X X X X X
Appraiser X X X
Archer X X X X
Armor user X X X X X
Armorsmith X X X X X X
Biter X X X X X X
Blowgunner X X X X
Bone carver X X X X
Bone doctor X X X X X
Bowman X X X X
Bowyer X X X X
Brewer X X X
Building designer X X X
Butcher X X X X
Carpenter X X X X X
Cheese maker X X X X X X
Clothier X X X X






Skill
Agility Analytical Ability Creativity Empathy Endurance Focus Intuition Kinesthetic Sense Linguistic Ability Memory Patience Social Awareness Spatial Sense Strength Toughness Willpower
Combat(*) X X X X X X
Comedian(**) X X X X
Cook X X X X
Crossbowman X X X X
Crutch walker X X X X X
Diagnostician X X X
Dodger X X X X X X
Dyer X X X X
Engraver X X X X
Fish cleaner X X X
Fish dissector X X
Fisherdwarf X X X X X
Furnace operator X X X X X
Gem cutter X X X X
Gem setter X X X X
Glassmaker X X X X X X
Grower X X X X
Herbalist X X X
Intimidator(**) X X X
Judge of intent X X X






Skill
Agility Analytical Ability Creativity Empathy Endurance Focus Intuition Kinesthetic Sense Linguistic Ability Memory Patience Social Awareness Spatial Sense Strength Toughness Willpower
Knapper X X X X X
Leatherworker X X X X X X
Liar(**) X X X
Lye maker X X X X
Mason X X X X X X
Mechanic X X X X X X
Metal crafter X X X X X X
Metalsmith X X X X X X
Milker X X X X
Miller X X X X
Miner X X X X X X
Observer X X X
Organizer X X X
Potash maker X X X X
Pump operator X X X X X
Record keeper X X X
Siege engineer X X X X X X
Siege operator X X X X X X
Soaper X X X X
Social(***) X X X






Skill
Agility Analytical Ability Creativity Empathy Endurance Focus Intuition Kinesthetic Sense Linguistic Ability Memory Patience Social Awareness Spatial Sense Strength Toughness Willpower
Stone crafter X X X X
Strand extractor X X X X X
Student X X X
Surgeon X X X X
Suturer X X X X
Swimmer X X X X X X
Tanner X X
Thresher X X X X
Trapper X X X X
Weaponsmith X X X X X X
Weaver X X X X
Wood crafter X X X X
Wood cutter X X X X X X
Wood burner X X X X
Wound dresser X X X X
Wrestler X X X X X X

(*) Combat skills: Axeman, Fighter, Hammerman, Kicker, Knife user, Lasher, Maceman, Misc. object user, Pikeman, Shield user, Spearman, Striker, Swordsman, Thrower. Does not include Dodger.

(**) Unless otherwise prohibited by traits.

(***) Social skills: Conversationalist, Flatterer, Negotiator, Persuader, Consoler, Leader, Pacifier, Teacher, unless otherwise prohibited by traits. Does not include Comedian, Intimidator, Judge of intent, or Liar.

Implemented but unknown: Shearer, Spinner, Presser, Beekeeper, Potter, Glazer, Wax worker

Notes: This data assumes, without evidence, that the same skills use some of the attributes that they train (i.e. that high agility improves chance of dodging). Game version 31.18.

  • Spatial Sense and Kinesthetic Sense are almost everywhere
  • Nothing trains Disease Resistance, Recuperation, or Musicality
  • Intimidation and Comedy, social skills, raise Agility. Dwarven comedy is slapstick/clowning, not stand-up.
  • knowledge_acquisition (student) doesn't boost skill gain except for teacher-student relations in a barracks
  • Choose high-volume labors that train useful attributes for milita day-jobs/bootcamp
  • Fishing, Siege Operating, and Record Keeping are useful for marksdwarves as they train the Focus attribute
  • Hunting (ambusher/sneak) has identical attribute gain to Crossbow and Archer skills

Attributes trained by skills[edit]

Strength:

Miner, Carpenter, Wood cutter, Mason, Bone doctor, Brewer, Cheese maker, Dyer, Grower, Lye maker, Milker, Miller, Potash Maker, Soaper, Thresher, Wood burner, Fisherdwarf, Armorsmith, Furance operator, Metal crafter, Metalsmith, Weaponsmith, Glassmaker, Leatherworker, Strand extractor, Mechanic, Pump operator, Siege engineer, Siege operator, Swimmer, all general combat and close combat skills (but not Dodger)

Agility:

Bowyer, Carpenter, Wood cutter, Engraver, Mason, Animal caretaker, Animal trainer, Trapper, Bone doctor, Crutch-walker, Surgeon, Suturer, Wound dresser, Brewer, Butcher, Cheese maker, Cook, Dyer, Grower, Herbalist, Milker, Miller, Tanner, Thresher, Fish cleaner, Fish dissector, Fisherdwarf, Armorsmith, Metal crafter, Metalsmith, Weaponsmith, Gem cutter, Gem setter, Bone carver, Clothier, Glassmaker, Leatherworker, Stone crafter, Weaver, Wood crafter, Strand extractor, Mechanic, Siege engineer, Alchemist, Swimmer, Comedian, Intimidator, Student, Druid, Coordination, all general combat, close combat, and ranged combat/hunting skills (but not Biter or Armor user)

Toughness:

Miner, Animal trainer, Lye maker, Potash maker, Soaper, Wood burner, Furnace operator, Pump operator, Siege operator, Druid, all general combat and close combat skills

Endurance:

Miner, Wood cutter, Mason, Animal trainer, Crutch-walker, Butcher, Cheese maker, Dyer, Grower, Lye maker, Milker, Miller, Potash maker, Soaper, Thresher, Wood burner, Fish cleaner, Armorsmith, Furnace operator, Metal crafter, Metalsmith, Weaponsmith, Glassmaker, Leatherworker, Strand extractor, Mechanic, Pump operator, Siege engineer, Siege operator, Swimmer, Armor user, Biter, Dodger, Druid

Disease Resistance:

Nothing!

Recuperation:

Swimming while drowning(Slow gain) [Verify], Recovering from wounds [Verify]

Analytical Ability:

Animal caretaker, Trapper, Diagnostician, Cheese maker, Cook, Furnace operator, Gem cutter, Strand extractor, Mechanic, Siege engineer, Siege operator, Alchemist, Knapper, Appraiser, Building designer, Organizer, Record keeper, Student, Military tactics, Tracker

Memory:

Animal caretaker, Diagnostician, Herbalist, Appraiser, Record keeper, Student, Reader

Creativity:

Bowyer, Carpenter, Engraver, Mason, Trapper, Cheese maker, Cook, Armorsmith, Metal crafter, Metalsmith, Weaponsmith, Gem setter, Bone carver, Clothier, Glassmaker, Leatherworker, Stone crafter, Weaver, Wood crafter, Mechanic, Siege engineer, Alchemist, Building designer, Organizer, Comedian, Liar, Military tactics, Poet, Wordsmith, Writer

Intuition:

Animal trainer, Diagnostician, Alchemist, Appraiser, Observer, Military tactics, Poet, Wordsmith, Writer

Focus:

Bone doctor, Surgeon, Suturer, Fisherdwarf, Siege operator, Record keeper, Concentration, Observer, Student, Tracker, Discipline, Reader, ranged combat/hunting skills

Willpower:

Miner, Wood cutter, Crutch-walker, Pump operator, Swimmer, Concentration, Discipline, all general combat and close combat skills

Patience:

Animal trainer, Fisherdwarf, Concentration

Spatial Sense:

Miner, Bowyer, Carpenter, Wood cutter, Engraver, Mason, Trapper, Bone doctor, Crutch-walker, Surgeon, Suturer, Wound dresser, Armorsmith, Metal crafter, Metalsmith, Weaponsmith, Gem cutter, Gem setter, Bone carver, Clothier, Glassmaker, Leatherworker, Stone crafter, Weaver, Wood crafter, Mechanic, Siege engineer, Siege operator, Swimmer, Knapper, Building designer, Observer, Tracker, Coordination, all general combat, close combat, and ranged combat/hunting skills (but not Armor user)

Kinesthetic Sense:

Miner, Bowyer, Carpenter, Wood cutter, Engraver, Mason, Bone doctor, Crutch-walker, Surgeon, Suturer, Wound dresser, Brewer, Butcher, Cheese maker, Cook, Dyer, Grower, Herbalist, Lye maker, Milker, Miller, Potash Maker, Soaper, Tanner, Thresher, Wood burner, Fish cleaner, Fish dissector, Fisherdwarf, Armorsmith, Furnace operator, Metal crafter, Metalsmith, Weaponsmith, Gem cutter, Gem setter, Bone carver, Clothier, Glassmaker, Leatherworker, Stone crafter, Weaver, Wood crafter, Strand extractor, Pump operator, Swimmer, Knapper, Comedian, Intimidator, Coordination, all general combat, close combat, and ranged combat/hunting skills

Linguistic Ability:

Comedian, Conversationalist, Flatterer, Intimidator, Liar, Negotiator, Persuader, Consoler, Leader, Pacifier, Teacher, Poet, Wordsmith, Writer, Reader, Speaker (personality traits may preclude access to some of these skills)

Musicality:

Nothing!

Empathy:

Animal caretaker, Animal trainer, Conversationalist, Flatterer, Judge of intent, Negotiator, Persuader, Consoler, Leader, Pacifier, Teacher (personality traits may preclude access to some of these skills)

Social Awareness:

Organizer, Conversationalist, Flatterer, Judge of intent, Liar, Negotiator, Persuader, Consoler, Leader, Pacifier, Teacher (personality traits may preclude access to some of these skills)

How Your Dwarf Gets Attributes[edit]

Each attribute is a number between 0 and 5000, but in dwarven terms anything below 200 is rare [1] and anything above 2500 is extraordinary. In the default raws (/raw/objects/creature_standard.txt), dwarven attributes come in four levels.

Focus and Spatial Sense are referred to as "++", or two steps above default. Their range is defined as [700:1200:1400:1500:1600:1800:2500], which sets out six ranges: 700-1200, 1200-1400, etc. Dwarves have an equal chance of dropping into any of these ranges, and an equal probability again of getting any number in that range. So the bottom one-sixth of your dwarves will be really low, the top one-sixth really high, and the two-thirds in the middle huddled around average. This also means that the median and the mean are slightly different: the mean for ++ is 1516.66... while median is 1500.

Strength, Toughness, Analytical Ability, Creativity, Patience, and Memory are +, or one step above default. Their ranges are [450:950:1150:1250:1350:1550:2250], and their mean is 1266.66...

Endurance, Disease Resistance, Recuperation, Intuition, Willpower, Kinesthetic Sense, Linguistic Ability, Musicality, Empathy, and Social Awareness are AVG, or the default. Their ranges are not specified in the raws, but they are [200:700:900:1000:1100:1300:2000] for Physical and [200:800:900:1000:1100:1300:2000] for Mental.

Agility is "-", the only attribute to be below default. Its ranges are [150:600:800:900:1000:1100:1500], mean 862.5, median 900.

Gaining Attributes[edit]

It would seem that various skills train various attributes at different rates. For Physical Attributes and Willpower, military training works best. It relatively quickly gives a Dwarf some extra Agility and Strength, making him walk and work faster in all areas (According to [2] speed is a factor in determining how fast a labor is completed).

Attributes are capped in Adventure mode and probably also in Dwarf mode. Those caps are governed by MENT_ATT_CAP_PERC and PHYS_ATT_CAP_PERC. By default the maximum attribute values (barring increases from vampirism and other interactions) are governed by the starting value as well as the median for that caste (that is the middle value in PHYS_ATT_RANGE, for example 1000 for most attributes for Dwarves). attribute_cap = starting_value + max {starting_value, median}

The speed of learning attributes is governed by "cost to improve" in PHYS_ATT_RATES and MENT_ATT_RATES. By default CTI for attributes is 500, which means the counter for using that attribute has to be incremented 500 times for the Dwarf to gain 1 in that attribute. The lower the CTI, the faster an attribute increases. According to [3] the counter is incremented every ten ticks a skill using that attribute is in use. This means it takes 5000 TUs or just over 4 in-game days of continuous labor to improve an attribute by 1. The improved attribute gain from military training may stem from the fact, that sparring and individual combat drills train multiple skills at the same time.