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− | {{Quality| | + | {{Quality|Exceptional|14:28, 17 May 2015 (UTC)}} |
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− | : ''(This page ''will'' cover the mechanics of combat - as they're all figured out. For now, you may want to refer to [[Combat skill]]s, [[Armor]] and/or [[Weapon]]s) for specific information on those | + | {{Translation |
+ | | dwarven = zoluth | ||
+ | | elvish = moÿira | ||
+ | | goblin = nur | ||
+ | | human = thec | ||
+ | }} | ||
+ | : ''(This page ''will'' cover the mechanics of combat - as they're all figured out. For now, you may want to refer to [[Combat skill]]s, [[Armor]] and/or [[Weapon]]s) for specific information on those aspoects. The effects of many [[material]] properties on combat are somewhat understood (see the [[Material science]] page. | ||
: For a "How to", [[Military]] is the main article, or see [[Attack]] for the quick "right now!" version.)'' | : For a "How to", [[Military]] is the main article, or see [[Attack]] for the quick "right now!" version.)'' | ||
− | [[File: | + | [[File:dwarf_fight.jpg|thumb|250px|right|{{DFtext|Urist McSwingdeath felt|7:0}}{{DFtext| satisfied|2:0:1}}{{DFtext| striking his enemies with perfect poise.|7:0}}]]'''Combat''' in ''Dwarf Fortress'' is unlike that in most strategy and role-playing games. Rather than having hit points, units have a collection of body parts, such as limbs, head(s) and a torso. These have sub-parts: limbs have skin, fat, muscle, tendons, bones, nerves and arteries; heads have brains, eyes, noses, mouths, teeth and tongues; and torsos have internal organs. Damage to these parts and sub-parts causes various negative effects, such as fainting, vomiting, loss of mobility due to bone fractures or nerve damage, and eventually leading to death from organ failure or blood loss. The combat system tries to present a fairly realistic depiction of combat, with several important consequences. |
Although [[creature]]s and players may direct and focus their attacks, combat is random in nature. A glancing blow can get lucky and damage a vital organ, or open an artery to cause massive blood loss. Weapons cause damage specific to their class, be they [[Battle axe|axes]] or [[Short sword|swords]] or [[backpack]]s. You will often see creatures attacked with impaling weapons such as [[spear]]s or [[crossbow]] bolts die of asphyxiation when their lungs are pierced, while slashing weapons are more likely to open an artery or lop off a limb, and blunt weapons will cause fractures. Some weapons may become stuck in the enemy: if the weapon wielder can maintain control he can continue to do damage and immobilize the enemy, but if the enemy gains control of the stuck weapon, the weapon's wielder will be disarmed. | Although [[creature]]s and players may direct and focus their attacks, combat is random in nature. A glancing blow can get lucky and damage a vital organ, or open an artery to cause massive blood loss. Weapons cause damage specific to their class, be they [[Battle axe|axes]] or [[Short sword|swords]] or [[backpack]]s. You will often see creatures attacked with impaling weapons such as [[spear]]s or [[crossbow]] bolts die of asphyxiation when their lungs are pierced, while slashing weapons are more likely to open an artery or lop off a limb, and blunt weapons will cause fractures. Some weapons may become stuck in the enemy: if the weapon wielder can maintain control he can continue to do damage and immobilize the enemy, but if the enemy gains control of the stuck weapon, the weapon's wielder will be disarmed. | ||
− | + | Reading the combat {{k|r}}eports will give you a gruesome blow-by-blow of the fighting, telling you exactly what each strike did. It is important to note that, while most natural creatures have the same sorts of vulnerabilities due to their similar collections of body parts, procedurally-generated creatures such as [[bogeymen]], [[forgotten beast]]s and [[titan]]s may lack these vulnerabilities entirely. Killing a shambling pile of refuse may prove to be a very, very long process due to the fact that it has no vital parts, and metallic creatures may prove to be nearly invulnerable. When all else fails, a [[cave-in]] or [[obsidian]] casting means certain death for anything caught in it. | |
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As in real life, combat in ''Dwarf Fortress'' is chaotic, deadly, and gruesome. Numbers seem to matter, as defending against multiple opponents can be difficult, even for a decent fighter. Your warriors will not suffer loss of generic hit points, and cannot simply rest to regain them. Injuries must be dealt with in an appropriate fashion for healing to occur: broken bones must be set, wounds must be cleaned and stitched up, and for some things such as concussions, you can only wait and hope the victim eventually regains consciousness. | As in real life, combat in ''Dwarf Fortress'' is chaotic, deadly, and gruesome. Numbers seem to matter, as defending against multiple opponents can be difficult, even for a decent fighter. Your warriors will not suffer loss of generic hit points, and cannot simply rest to regain them. Injuries must be dealt with in an appropriate fashion for healing to occur: broken bones must be set, wounds must be cleaned and stitched up, and for some things such as concussions, you can only wait and hope the victim eventually regains consciousness. | ||
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==General observations== | ==General observations== | ||
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* Blunt weapons use contact area, IMPACT_YIELD, IMPACT_FRACTURE and weapon mass to scale damage. As such, metal effective for blunt weapons are [[Adamantine]] 🡆 [[Copper]] 🡆 [[Iron]] 🡆 [[Bronze]] 🡆 [[Steel]] 🡆 [[Silver]], from lowest to highest. It should be noted that steel is just about as effective as silver due to the impact values, as well as iron and copper. Higher contact area has higher potential damage but has a harder time getting through armor. | * Blunt weapons use contact area, IMPACT_YIELD, IMPACT_FRACTURE and weapon mass to scale damage. As such, metal effective for blunt weapons are [[Adamantine]] 🡆 [[Copper]] 🡆 [[Iron]] 🡆 [[Bronze]] 🡆 [[Steel]] 🡆 [[Silver]], from lowest to highest. It should be noted that steel is just about as effective as silver due to the impact values, as well as iron and copper. Higher contact area has higher potential damage but has a harder time getting through armor. | ||
* Edge weapons use SHEAR_YIELD and SHEAR_FRACTURE for material strength. As such, metal effectiveness for edged weapons are [[Silver]] 🡆 [[Copper]] 🡆 [[Iron]] 🡆 [[Bronze]] 🡆 [[Steel]] 🡆 [[Adamantine]], from lowest to highest. | * Edge weapons use SHEAR_YIELD and SHEAR_FRACTURE for material strength. As such, metal effectiveness for edged weapons are [[Silver]] 🡆 [[Copper]] 🡆 [[Iron]] 🡆 [[Bronze]] 🡆 [[Steel]] 🡆 [[Adamantine]], from lowest to highest. | ||
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*Example: A goblin might suffer fatal upper spine injury from a blunt attack, rendering everything below their head useless - however, the dwarves will fail to recognise this and can continue to attack their body. This can result in dwarves becoming tired needlessly, increasing their own chances of death, especially in sieges. | *Example: A goblin might suffer fatal upper spine injury from a blunt attack, rendering everything below their head useless - however, the dwarves will fail to recognise this and can continue to attack their body. This can result in dwarves becoming tired needlessly, increasing their own chances of death, especially in sieges. | ||
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==General terms== | ==General terms== | ||
:'''Stress''' - Pressure = Force per area = F/A | :'''Stress''' - Pressure = Force per area = F/A | ||
:'''Strain''' - Deformation of a solid due to stress = Stress/Elastic Modulus | :'''Strain''' - Deformation of a solid due to stress = Stress/Elastic Modulus | ||
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:'''Yield Strength''' is the amount of stress required to permanently deform (bend) a material (plastic deformation) | :'''Yield Strength''' is the amount of stress required to permanently deform (bend) a material (plastic deformation) | ||
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==Other combat factors== | ==Other combat factors== | ||
− | * Both adventurer mode and fortress mode keeps track of which way a creature is facing, based on its last actions. Attacks from behind will have increased accuracy, especially if the target hasn't spotted the attacker yet. | + | * Both [[adventurer mode]] and [[fortress mode]] keeps track of which way a creature is facing, based on its last actions. Attacks from behind will have increased accuracy, especially if the target hasn't spotted the attacker yet. |
* Movement speed plays an important role in melee combat, as it determines both dodging efficiency and opponent's accuracy. Creatures that are either prone or naturally slow (such as [[giant snail]]s) will have a hard time dodging attacks, so breaking one of the opponent's legs is worth the effort. | * Movement speed plays an important role in melee combat, as it determines both dodging efficiency and opponent's accuracy. Creatures that are either prone or naturally slow (such as [[giant snail]]s) will have a hard time dodging attacks, so breaking one of the opponent's legs is worth the effort. | ||
* Creature size, especially relative to other combatants, has a considerable effect on combat. In addition to individual strength stats, larger targets hit with greater force, though whether this is absolute or relative to the target's size is uncertain. Charging and wrestling also favor the larger combatant. | * Creature size, especially relative to other combatants, has a considerable effect on combat. In addition to individual strength stats, larger targets hit with greater force, though whether this is absolute or relative to the target's size is uncertain. Charging and wrestling also favor the larger combatant. | ||
− | * As of update 0.43.04 shakes and strong attacks will translate to other bodyparts. For example | + | * As of update 0.43.04 shakes and strong attacks will translate to other bodyparts. For example if you hit an enemy in the head with a blunt weapon, the force from that attack may also hurt the neck of the enemy. Even if the attack is blocked by armor, the force of the blow can still damage other bodyparts. |
* Attacks can have modifiers that affect their speed and properties: heavy attacks increase the prepare and recover time, but have a higher velocity; precise attacks nearly double the prepare time, but have much higher accuracy; quick attacks reduce prepare and recover to about 2/3, but have lower velocity; wild attacks are slightly faster in preparation and have higher velocity, but lower accuracy and take significantly longer to recover. | * Attacks can have modifiers that affect their speed and properties: heavy attacks increase the prepare and recover time, but have a higher velocity; precise attacks nearly double the prepare time, but have much higher accuracy; quick attacks reduce prepare and recover to about 2/3, but have lower velocity; wild attacks are slightly faster in preparation and have higher velocity, but lower accuracy and take significantly longer to recover. | ||
* Only wild attacks are usable by berserk creatures. | * Only wild attacks are usable by berserk creatures. | ||
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{| class="wikitable" style="border:1px solid #ccc;" | {| class="wikitable" style="border:1px solid #ccc;" | ||
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− | | {{k|8}} {{k|2}} {{k|4}} {{k|6}} {{k|7}} {{k|9}} {{k|1}} {{k|3 | + | | {{k|8}} {{k|2}} {{k|4}} {{k|6}} {{k|7}} {{k|9}} {{k|1}} {{k|3}} |
| Attack adjacent hostile creature | | Attack adjacent hostile creature | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | | + | | {{k|↑}} {{k|↓}} {{k|←}} {{k|→}} |
− | | | + | | Attack adjacent hostile creature |
− | | {{k| | ||
− | | Attack hostile creature | ||
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| {{k|A}} | | {{k|A}} | ||
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| {{k|t}} | | {{k|t}} | ||
| Throw an item | | Throw an item | ||
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| {{k|C}} | | {{k|C}} | ||
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[[Combat]] is the fine art of using physical force to cause injury and death, and it is particularly fun in ''Dwarf Fortress''. | [[Combat]] is the fine art of using physical force to cause injury and death, and it is particularly fun in ''Dwarf Fortress''. | ||
− | + | === Melee/ranged attacks === | |
− | + | Hostile creatures can be attacked using a non-aimed attack by simply advancing towards your enemy using the arrow keys. Doing a non-aimed attack will also have a chance of freeing up any stuck weapon, though you are more likely to accomplish this by moving away from the enemy, or doing a complex interaction with the weapon. | |
− | + | Any creature can be attacked by standing next to it and pressing {{k|A}}. Attacking a friendly or unconscious creature (which includes wild animals for elves) will further require a confirmation, given using {{k|alt}}+{{k|y}}. | |
− | + | After selecting (and maybe confirming) which creature you want to attack, {{k|a}} will allow you to make an '''aimed attack'''. You must first select the body part that you want to attack. Look at the difficulty rating for various possible attacks. Impossible attacks will be nearly impossible to land and Easier attacks will be very easy to land. The difficulty rating for an attack does not change depending on your weapon skill. Based on player experiences, a Grand Master weapon user can almost always land a "Tricky" strike, while a Novice generally cannot. Attacks on various locations will also have limits on how "squarely" they can land (due to being out of reach, for example). Square and very square attacks will deal more damage.{{Verify}} Attacks which "can't land squarely" are generally still effective. | |
− | + | Attacks aimed at the head are the most effective; a single attack to the cranium with a weapon will usually put an end to the fight. Aimed attacks are especially useful for dismembering opponents. Opponents who are missing a foot will fall over, thereby greatly lowering their speed, and giving you an immediate edge in the fight. Cutting off both hands is also highly recommended for obvious reasons. After all, a field full of armless, one-legged enemies can be a big experience booster for your character and your companions. | |
− | + | Aimed attacks are also especially helpful when fighting giant beasts. Some enemies like giant desert scorpions have lots of redundant body parts, and random attacks waste valuable time on low priority areas while the scorpion is busy injecting venom into the whole party. Lastly, aimed attacks allow you to grab trophies that are not available via butchering. For example, a minotaur's horns can be cut off during a fight, but since it's a humanoid, most adventurers will refuse to butcher its corpse after the fight. However, in DF2014, all butcherable corpses are able to be butchered, as long as the corpse isn't too mangled. | |
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− | + | There are several options below the hitting menu. '''Quick attacks''' are faster than regular attacks but weaker. '''Heavy attacks''' are slower but hit harder. '''Wild attacks''' are faster and hit harder but are inaccurate. '''Precise attacks''' are very slow but are much more likely to hit. '''Multi-attacks''' allow you to attack several times in a row, at a great cost to the effectiveness of any one of the chosen attacks. | |
− | + | In addition to aimed attacks, pressing {{k|A}} also allows for the three defensive maneuvers: blocking, dodging and parrying. They do not have fixed keys, because their order changes if one or more is impossible (e.g. no blocking without a shield). When dodging you will be able to pick a direction, and your character will move one step in this direction, possibly avoiding any number of attacks. Note that you can dodge even if you are not being attacked. When blocking or parrying you can pick one attack and attempt to stop it, if several attacks are incoming, the remaining attacks will not be affected. | |
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To attack with a ranged weapon press the {{k|f}} key with a ranged weapon (bow, crossbow, etc.) equipped on one hand and select the square where you want to attack. Note that you need to have some sort of ammo, corresponding to the type of ranged weapon you are using (for example, bows use arrows, crossbows use bolts). Otherwise, a message stating "You have nothing left to fire." is displayed in brown. Similarly use the {{k|t}} key to throw any random object in the same manner. Random objects appear to make a random attack if they happen to have more than one possible type.{{Verify}} For example, if you throw a sword it may hit with a blunt impact, a stabbing impact, or a slicing impact. Throwing crossbow bolts with sufficient throwing skill and strength seems to have an effect similar to firing them, although less powerful. On the plus side, you will never lose ammo if you throw it. | To attack with a ranged weapon press the {{k|f}} key with a ranged weapon (bow, crossbow, etc.) equipped on one hand and select the square where you want to attack. Note that you need to have some sort of ammo, corresponding to the type of ranged weapon you are using (for example, bows use arrows, crossbows use bolts). Otherwise, a message stating "You have nothing left to fire." is displayed in brown. Similarly use the {{k|t}} key to throw any random object in the same manner. Random objects appear to make a random attack if they happen to have more than one possible type.{{Verify}} For example, if you throw a sword it may hit with a blunt impact, a stabbing impact, or a slicing impact. Throwing crossbow bolts with sufficient throwing skill and strength seems to have an effect similar to firing them, although less powerful. On the plus side, you will never lose ammo if you throw it. | ||
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{{k|t}}hrowing is generally a good skill to have for any adventurer, as it allows you to slow down fleeing foes, both on the ground and in the air without the need of equipping a (cross)bow. Just like {{k|l}}ooking, you can use throwing to view and hit enemies multiple Z levels away from you. If you're lucky, you can simply land a hit that causes the flying enemy to give in to pain, and then let gravity do the rest of the work. Even if the fall doesn't kill them, they will most likely be stunned long enough for you to run up and slaughter them. | {{k|t}}hrowing is generally a good skill to have for any adventurer, as it allows you to slow down fleeing foes, both on the ground and in the air without the need of equipping a (cross)bow. Just like {{k|l}}ooking, you can use throwing to view and hit enemies multiple Z levels away from you. If you're lucky, you can simply land a hit that causes the flying enemy to give in to pain, and then let gravity do the rest of the work. Even if the fall doesn't kill them, they will most likely be stunned long enough for you to run up and slaughter them. | ||
− | === Wrestling === | + | === Wrestling and unarmed attacks === |
:''Main article: [[Wrestling]]'' | :''Main article: [[Wrestling]]'' | ||
− | '''[[Wrestling]]''' (grappling) can be performed by selecting an enemy via {{k|A}} followed by {{k|b}} to wrestle. You can wrestle any enemy. Wrestling works somewhat like a targeted attack: Once you grab a creature by some body part, you may be able to make another wrestling attempt that will allow you to perform a throw or takedown. For a detailed list of moves, such as takedowns, throws, choke holds, etc., see [[Wrestling]]. | + | '''[[Wrestling]]''' (grappling) can be performed by selecting an enemy via {{k|A}} followed by {{k|b}} to wrestle. You can wrestle any enemy. Wrestling works somewhat like a targeted attack: Once you grab a creature by some body part, you may be able to make another wrestling attempt that will allow you to perform a throw or takedown. For a detailed list of moves, such as takedowns, throws, choke holds, etc., see [[Wrestling]]. It's also possible to punch, kick, and bite. These are not in the wrestling menu, but are performed like normal targeted attacks with {{k|A}}. |
− | === | + | === Weapons === |
− | + | [[Weapon]]s are basically divided into [[axe]], [[sword]], [[spear]], [[pike]], [[mace]], [[whip]], [[bow]] and [[hammer]], with various versions of these taking up the gray area. | |
− | + | === Wounds === | |
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− | If you have some bolts or arrows stuck in your body, they can be removed by using the complex {{k|I}} | + | If you get wounded during combat, there's not much that you can do except perhaps run before you get more wounded. Be aware that movement speed while stunned, nauseous or winded is reduced, and might leave you open to fatal blows. Your wounds will heal over time, so just travel around or sleep in a safe place. Some wounds, however, may never heal, leaving you permanently crippled. Obtaining a crutch may help with this. Or, if you are not already a vampire, then you can get bitten by a werebeast during full moon, which will heal all injuries once per month. If you have some bolts or arrows stuck in your body, they can be removed by using the complex interaction menu {{k|I}}. Select the stuck bolt or arrow from the list and then pull it out with {{k|a}} You'll probably start bleeding after you pull it out, but the bleeding is rarely anything to worry about. |
=== Combat preferences === | === Combat preferences === |