Editing Archery

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[[File:dwarf_archer.jpg|thumb|229px|right|A dwarf archer.<br><small>''Art by Artigas''</small>]]'''Archery''' is the [[combat skill]] associated with all ranged combat, as well as the name given to using ranged weapons in general. Its exact function is unknown, except that it has been shown to decrease the probability of an enemy dodging a ranged attack. It serves as the ranged counterpart of the Fighter skill.

In terms of weapons, archery encompasses the [[crossbow]], the [[bow]], the [[blowgun]] and anything a creature has [[Thrower|thrown]] at another. Out of these, the crossbow is the only one available to [[Dwarf|dwarves]] outside of [[trading]], looting hostiles, [[strange mood]]s or [[modding]]; as such, this skill will be most relevant to your [[Crossbowman|marksdwarves]].

Dwarves will fire at targets 25 tiles away and are able to engage targets that are up to 3 z-levels up or down without any loss in firing distance.{{verify}}<!-- Easily tested in the Object Testing Arena, maybe Fortress mode will give a different result. -->

Assignment of ranged weapons is done through the [[Military interface|military equipment screen]] ({{k-|m|e}}). If you only have a few ranged weapons, [[military]] squads get first pick, and then [[ambusher|hunters]] can choose from the leftovers.  [[Squad]]s can be assigned a particular ''type'' of weapon, but hunters cannot be controlled so finely.

Assignment of ammunition is done through the [[Military interface|military ammunition screen]] ({{k-|m|f}}) for both military squads and hunters.  Ammunition must match the weapon: bolts for [[crossbow]]s, arrows for bows.

A living target can be selected from the {{k|s}}[[squad|quad]] menu by selecting the squad(s) you wish to have attack and then selecting the attac{{k|k}} target. You can then select a single target with the cursor, a number of targets by enabling selection by {{k|r}}ectangle, or selecting a number of targets through a {{k|l}}ist. Note that if your dwarves don't have the required ammunition, quiver, or bow/blowgun/crossbow, the squad members missing these components will attempt to engage the target in melee. There is no way to force dwarves to only attack from range, but adequately equipped dwarves stand the best chance of remaining at range.

[[Crossbow]] – [[Ammunition|Ranged Ammunition]] – [[Equipment#Quivers|Quivers]] – [[Archery target|Archery Target]] – [[Crossbowman]] – [[Ambusher|Hunters]] – [[Ranger]]

Higher skills in the bowman, crossbowman, or blowgunner attribute equates with greater accuracy and higher rates of fire. In order to increase the crossbowman/blowgunner/bowman skill, a dwarf must fire at something; if it misses a target, it will gain the same amount of experience points just as if it had been hit.

Firing at live targets gives much more experience points than firing on inanimate [[archery target]]s. The difference is about fourfold. Tests found that by firing around 67 practice bolts, which provided 7.5 experience for each shot at the archery target; the same experience total is gained by firing 17 bolts at a live target, providing 30 experience per bolt.

Dwarves using archery have their place in the military: They may fire at a distance without the threat of being attacked by [[weapon|melee weapons]] or by [[undead|being mauled to death]]. They can fire through allies without hitting them, allowing them to support friendly warriors from behind. They may fire from higher or lower [[Z-level]]s than the target intended. [[Archery target]]s must be engaged from the same Z-level and with no empty spaces in between the ranger and target. They may fire at enemy targets through [[fortification]]s and over empty spaces although their usefulness is thwarted by proper armor and tactics.

Archers will use their bows, or other ranged weapons, as melee weapons if they run out of ammunition, although regardless of having ammunition or not, they will prefer to run towards the enemy anyway. [[Crossbow]] melee uses the [[combat skill|hammerman]] skill while bows and blowguns use the [[combat skill|swordsman]] skill.  

* the current version removes the ability to assign ammo to squads - both ammo and quivers are automatically assigned to a dwarf with a ranged weapon assigned. You can tell that this has happened by checking the squad's/dwarf's equipment from the squad sidebar and seeing a quiver slot (to the left of backpack) and ammo slot (to the left of the quiver).

* It can be tricky to get dwarves to pickup ammo. This seems to be related to how squad equipment recipes are created and assigned. The default marksdwarf recipe seems to work for most people. If you deleted it, try the following:

** create a new equipment recipe. Include leather armor, cap, mittens (not gloves), boots, etc. Assign the ranged weapon of your choice. Save the recipe.

** delete the current squad. Create a new squad and select the ranged equipment plan you created.

* if you assign the squad to train at a barracks they will do melee training using the ranged weapons as clubs. Instead, assign them to the barracks for everything except training and to an archery range for training

* Assigning archers to fire from the top of a wall may result in the archers climbing down to engage the target in melee combat. Fully enclose towers and battlements with a roof and ensure your archers cannot path to attempt melee combat, even through climbing.