Editing 23a:Skill

{{quality|Fine|19:26, 1 September 2010 (UTC)}}{{av}}


'''Skills''' and '''Professions''' are two different things, and are distinct from '''[[labor|labor preferences]]''', which are distinct from '''[[job]]s''', but all four are closely related.

The '''skills''' a dwarf has in an area determine how well that dwarf accomplishes [[job]]s in that area. A dwarf's [[labor]]s can be turned on or off by the player (by {{k|v}}iewing that dwarf's {{k|p}}references for {{k|l}}abors), and determine what sort of jobs a dwarf is ''allowed'' to do.  A dwarf may have great skill, but until you designate the appropriate labor and queue up some corresponding [[job]]s, and then the dwarf actually responds and takes and finishes that job, nothing gets done. Skills increase in level with [[experience]]; every time a dwarf completes a task successfully, the corresponding skill will increase by an amount of experience. Once the experience total reaches the amount required for the next level, the skill level will increase.

'''Profession''' tends to describe what a dwarf does best, as defined by their skills, ''not'' what [[labor]]s they are currently designated to perform.  Their profession is usually, but not always based on their best skill.  A dwarf with cooking at level 1 and no other skills has the profession of "[[Farmer]]", but a dwarf with [[cooking]] 14 and [[armorsmith]] and [[weaponsmith]] and a dozen other skills all at 12 is ''also'' seen as having the profession of "[[Farmer]]".

Any dwarf can have ''any'' [[labor]] activated, even if they have absolutely no [[experience]] or levels in that skill. They are still the same '''profession'''.  The only difference is the speed they complete the task, and/or the [[Item quality|quality]] of the final product.  So by turning different [[labor]]s on/off, you can have your [[legendary]] [[armorsmith]] designated with the [[cook]]ing labor, and your expert [[grower]] making weapons - probably a bad plan, but nothing stops you from doing that.

When {{k|A}}ctivated for the [[military]], a dwarf's profession temporarily changes to a military one, but they will return to their civilian profession (if any) when de-Activated.  Note that dwarves with military skills in excess of Great skill (level 10) will become a [[Hero#Heroes_and_Champions|hero]], abandoning any civilian professions and becoming permanently military, and that making a dwarf into a [[Guard]] will disable all labors.

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:''(If you are a new player and find yourself boggled at the variety of skills for your starting seven dwarves, see [[Starting build]] for a general discussion on and examples of starting skill selection.)''

== Profession ==

'''Professions''' are determined by the highest skill or skills of a [[dwarf]].  Also, as your fortress grows, some unique professionals will arrive, one-of-a-kind dwarves who perform a very specific function in the community - even if that function is not always appreciated or welcome.  Such [[noble]]s will be labeled with their noble "professions", regardless of any skills.  Also, a dwarven "baby" or "child" will carry that label as their "profession" until they are adults.

Activating or de-activating a dwarf for the military changes their listed profession from civilian to military.  Having some military skills along with civilian skills does not make a dwarf a professional [[soldier]]. If a Carpenter has some levels in Axedwarf or a Trapper has some levels in Marksdwarf, they are still a Carpenter or Trapper, civilian professions, until they are activated. A dwarf with novice level of Axedwarf and Legendary Brewing will be activated as an axedwarf if that's their highest weapon skill, while a dwarf with high skill level in axedwarf and novice level in brewing will be a [[Farmer]] as a civilian if [[brewing]] is their highest civilian skill.

A dwarf's profession also governs the possibility and likelihood, relative to the rest of the population, of entering a [[Strange mood#Chance|strange mood]].{{verify}}

Some non-dwarves will show professions that are not available to dwarves, like "[[Thief]]", or non-dwarf [[soldier]]s with non-dwarf [[weapon]]s, like a [[pikeman]].

In Adventure Mode, there are professions that are not available or relevant in Fortress Mode, like [[Drunk]] or Pikedwarf.

=== Professions, colors, & skill categories ===
Different professions are associated with a different [[Color schemes|color]] of dwarf. If the profession changes (due to skill levels increasing), the profession may change and the color of the dwarf with that, if appropriate.  ''(See chart below for [[color]]s associated to skills and professions.)'' A dwarf with the "[[peasant]]" profession is a dwarf that has no skills above dabbling level and/or only has skills as shown in the "No profession" box below plus isn't an active military member.  

All non-noble civilian professions are a general category for similar skills - "Craftsdwarf", for example, covers weaving, clothes making, leatherworking, stone crafting, bone carving, and wood crafting. Some categories, such as "Miner" or "Mechanic", consist of only a single skill.

On the {{k|u}}nit page, your dwarfs are always listed ''by profession'' in the order below (provided you have any of that type) - [[miner]]s first, [[peasant]]s last* ''(represented in the "No profession" category below)''.  The colors displayed in this chart are the default Dwarf Fortress [[Color_schemes#Default_Scheme|color scheme]]; if you have altered those, your colors will, obviously, be altered as well.

:''(* and [[child]]ren and [[noble]]s, not listed here)''

{| style="margin: 0 auto"
|-
| valign='top' |

{{Skill Box|Miner|7:0|7:0|
* [[Miner]]
}}

{{Skill Box|Carpenter|6:1|6:1|
* [[Bowyer]]
* [[Carpenter]]
* [[Engineer]]
}}

{{Skill Box|Mason|7:1|7:1|
* [[Engraver]]
* [[Mason]]
}}

{{Skill Box|Trapper|2:0|2:0|
* [[Ambusher]]
* [[Animal caretaker]]
* [[Animal dissector]]
* [[Animal trainer]]
* [[Trapper]]
}}

| valign='top' |

{{Skill Box|Metalsmith|0:1|0:1|
* [[Adamantine smelter]]
* [[Adamantine worker]]
* [[Armorsmith]]
* [[Furnace operator]]
* [[Metal crafter]]
* [[Metalsmith]]
* [[Weaponsmith]]
}}

{{Skill Box|Jeweler|2:1|2:1|
* [[Gem cutter]]
* [[Jeweler]]
}}

{{Skill Box|[[Craftsdwarf]]|1:1|1:1|
* [[Adamantine extractor]]
* [[Adamantine weaver]]
* [[Bone carver]]
* [[Clothes maker]]
* [[Glassmaker]]
* [[Leatherworker]]
* [[Stone crafter]]
* [[Weaver]]
* [[Wood crafter]]
}}

| valign='top' |

{{Skill Box|Peasant|3:0|3:0|
* [[Alchemist]]
* [[Building designer]]
* [[Operator]]
* [[Wood cutter]]
}}

{{Skill Box|Fisherdwarf|1:0|1:0|
* [[Fish cleaner]]
* [[Fish dissector]]
* [[Fisherdwarf]]
}}

| valign='top' |

{{Skill Box|[[Farmer]]|6:0|6:0|
* [[Brewer]]
* [[Butcher]]
* [[Cheese maker]]
* [[Cook]]
* [[Dyer]]
* [[Grower]]
* [[Herbalist]]
* [[Lye maker]]
* [[Milker]]
* [[Miller]]
* [[Potash maker]]
* [[Soaper]]
* [[Tanner]]
* [[Thresher]]
* [[Wood burner]]
}}

{{Skill Box|Mechanic|4:1|4:1|
* [[Mechanic]]
}}

| valign='top' |

{{Skill Box|Military|5:0|5:0|type=m|
''Dwarven''
* [[Armor user]]
* [[Axeman]]
* [[Crossbowman]]
* [[Hammerman]]
* [[Maceman]]
* [[Shield user]]
* [[Spearman]]
* [[Swordsman]]
* [[Wrestler]]

''Other''
* [[Blowgunner]]
* [[Bowman]]
* [[Knife user]]
* [[Lasher]]
* [[Pikeman]]
* [[Thrower]]
* [[Druid]]
}}
|}
::''(Note - Exact colors may vary with different tile-sets or [[color schemes|color settings]] in [[init.txt]].  The above are correct for standard DF.)''


The "other skills" do not affect profession.  Military skills do not affect civilian professions (until they become [[Soldier#Heroes and Champions |Heroes]]).

When a dwarf is activated as a [[soldier]], their listed profession is generated by their best [[weapon]] skill. [[Armor user]] and [[Shield user]] do not affect these military professions.  Note that in the {{k|m}}ilitary menu you can assign a dwarf a different weapon, to fight or train with, than what is listed as their profession.  A soldier with no military skills above dabbling is called a "recruit".

When increases in a dwarf's skills cause their profession to change, an announcement is generated.  Any dwarf can change professions if they train (enough) with a different skill.

=== Custom profession labels ===
It is possible to give a dwarf a custom profession name, similar to giving them a [[nickname]], through the {{k|u}}nits list or by {{k|v}}iewing them individually, or before embark if you are "preparing carefully" by viewing them in that menu.  This custom label has no effect on color, or on the actual profession that the dwarf is associated with in the game.  You can ''label'' them as Dyer or Duke or Dragonslayer, Wood Cutter or Weaponsmith or the Grand Wazoo, but if their skill levels determine that they're a Farmer, then they're a Farmer, until their skills change that.

== Skills ==
A skill reflects the amount of [[experience]] a dwarf has.  With (or without) that skill, they can be assigned one or more different labor preferences in their individual labor menu, general activities that you approve them pursuing.  Once they accept a particular assignment, a job is generated and they proceed to apply their skill to that job.

A single skill can be applied to many different [[job]]s.  For instance, a Bone Carver might carve a totem out of a skull, craft bone practice bolts for a crossbow, create bone armor, or carve bone crafts to trade.  Higher skill levels may increase the speed at which jobs are performed, the quality of the items produced, or both.

Note that many labor preferences, especially [[hauling]], have no associated skill, do not generate experience, and do not improve with practice. Additionally, several labors cover ''multiple'' skills, most notably Metalsmithing and Craftsworking.

=== Starting a new skill ===

Dwarven peasants and members of other trades can learn a new skill by having the [[labor]] associated with the skill turned on in their preferences screen. The first task related to their new skill they preform will grant them the "Dabbling" skill level. Dwarves may then advance through the skill levels listed below.

=== Skill levels ===

To reach Novice level in any skill requires 500 XP. Reaching each successive level requires an additional 100 XP, so to go from Novice to ''No label'' requires 600 XP; ''No label'' to Competent requires 700 XP, and so on. The following figures are the ''cumulative'' XP needed to go from unskilled to any given skill level.  

Although [[Legendary]] is the highest skill level displayed, there are actually five skill levels above it.  These are known to have an effect on [[item quality]]; a Legendary dwarf will make masterpiece items 15% of the time, on average, where a Legendary+5 dwarf will make masterpieces 27% of the time (and exceptional items the other 73% of the time).  Skill beyond Legendary+5 does not increase the probability of creating a masterpiece item.

You can't find out exactly when a dwarf gets to Legendary+5, but it will happen 1000 XP before their eighth [[attribute]] if they have no other skills -- so when they get eight attributes, they are at Legendary+5.  Although skill is capped at Legendary+5, experience is not capped at any level; a dwarf can keep gaining attributes by using a skill that has long since maxed out.


{| style="margin: 0 auto; border: 1px solid black; border-spacing: 0"
|-
| width="33%" style="border-right: 1px solid black;" |
{| width="100%"
! Level        !! XP
|-
| Dabbling     || align="right" | 1
|-
| Novice       || align="right" | 500
|-
| ''No label'' || align="right" | 1100
|-
| Competent    || align="right" | 1800
|-
| Skilled      || align="right" | 2600
|-
| Proficient   || align="right" | 3500
|-
| Talented     || align="right" | 4500
|}
| width="33%" style="border-right: 1px solid black;" |
{| width="100%"
! Level        !! XP
|-
| Adept        || align="right" | 5600
|-
| Expert       || align="right" | 6800
|-
| Professional || align="right" | 8100
|-
| Accomplished || align="right" | 9500
|-
| Great        || align="right" | 11000
|-
| Master       || align="right" | 12600
|-
| High Master  || align="right" | 14300
|}
| width="33%" |
{| width="100%"
! Level        !! XP
|-
| Grand Master || align="right" | 16100
|-
| Legendary    || align="right" | 18000
|-
| Legendary+1  || align="right" | 20000
|-
| Legendary+2  || align="right" | 22100
|-
| Legendary+3  || align="right" | 24300
|-
| Legendary+4  || align="right" | 26600
|-
| Legendary+5  || align="right" | 29000
|}
|}


=== Skills with odd associated labors ===

Each skill has a corresponding [[labor]] which is usually named similarly - Miners do Mining, Carpenters do Carpentry, etc.  However, there are some exceptions:

{| style="margin: 0 auto; border: 1px solid black; border-spacing: 0"
|-
| width="33%" style="border-right: 1px solid black;" |
{| width="100%"
! Skill        !! Labor
|-
| Ambusher     || Hunting
|-
| Bowyer       || Crossbow-making
|-
| Building Designer || Architecture
|-
| Engraver        || Stone Detailing
|}

| width="33%" |
{| width="100%"
! Skill        !! Labor
|-
| Grower      || Farming (Fields)
|-
| Herbalist   || Plant Gathering
|-
| Soaper      || Alchemy
|-
| Thresher/Cheese-<br />maker/Milker || Farming (Workshop)
|}
|}

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'''See also:''' [[Labor]]

{{Category|Skills}}