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Difference between revisions of "v0.31:Crossbow"

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(Stuff about crossbows in melee.)
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{{quality|Tattered|05:15, 12 August 2010 (UTC)}}{{av}}
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{{av}}{{Quality|Exceptional|06:12, 16 June 2010 (UTC)}}
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''(This article also covers '''bolts''', '''arrows''' and '''quivers''' for completeness' sake.)''
  
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'''Crossbows''' are the only ranged {{L|weapon}} that {{L|dwarves}} can carry.  A dwarf will open fire at a range of about 20 tiles, but the bolts may travel further and hit something by accident.  Crossbows can fire at targets on higher or lower {{L|z-level}}s; doing so hurts the range slightly, even when firing from higher to lower levels.  There seems to be a "line of sight" rule, of about a 1:1 ratio (height difference to distance from edge of level) but the exact formula is not known.
  
'''Crossbows''' can be made from {{l|wood}}, {{l|bone}} or {{l|metal}}. Wooden and bone crossbows are made at a {{l|bowyer's workshop}} using the {{l|crossbow-making}} skill; metal crossbows are made at a {{l|metalsmith's forge}} using the {{l|weaponsmithing}} skill.
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A {{L|Bolts|bolt}} does a fine job at {{L|piercing}} the internal organs of a {{L|creature}} while also doing some damage to outside parts. This is of limited use against creatures without organs, such as {{L|Magma man|magma men}} or {{L|undead}}, but excellent against creatures with more "normal" internal anatomy.  Occasionally a bolt will get stuck in a target; the only known use for this is that a {{L|wrestling}} dwarf may grab the bolt and twist it in the {{L|wound}}.
  
In melee combat, crossbows use the {{l|Hammer}} skill. {{l|Cross-training}} your marksdwarves so that they can hold their own in a melee is advisable.
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==Crossbow usage==
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Once you tell a dwarf to use a crossbow (either from the {{k|m}}ilitary/{{k|w}}eapons sub-menu, or by {{k|v}}iewing the dwarf and accessing the {{k|s}}oldiering sub-menu), he will pick it up if he has either the {{L|ambusher|hunting}} {{L|skill}} enabled or if he is in the {{L|military}}. He will then pick up a {{L|Quiver|quiver}} and {{L|Bolt|bolts}}, preferring {{L|metal}} bolts if available. A dwarf can carry one stack of bolts in his hands, and one in his quiver.
  
{{l|ambusher|Hunters}} do use them and they can be assigned to your {{l|military}}. {{l|Ammunition}} for crossbows are {{l|bolts}}.
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When in range {{L|dwarves}} use crossbows to fire {{L|Bolt|bolts}}. If they are engaged in melee they will use the crossbow as a club, using their {{L|hammerdwarf}} skill.
  
<!-- All fixed in v0.31.10:
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Dwarves often do not return to base and pick up more bolts if they run out if there are enemies nearby; instead, they will enter melee.
There are reports that {{l|soldier}}s using crossbows is {{l|known bugs and issues|buggy}} currently, including problems with {{l|equipment|equipping}} bolts, practicing at {{l|archery target}}s and going into melee instead of shooting in {{l|Fun#Ambush|actual battle}}.  A workaround to getting them to practice can be found [http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=57660.msg1266683#msg1266683  here].
 
  
There are also various {{l|known bugs and issues|reports}} about problems with {{l|hunting}}, but a hunter will generally use a crossbow and  bolts and actually shoot at game.
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==Construction and quality==
-->
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Crossbows can be constructed from {{L|wood}}, {{L|bone}} or {{L|metal}}. Wooden and bone crossbows are created at a {{L|bowyer's workshop}}; metal ones at a {{L|metalsmith's forge}} using the {{L|crossbow-making}} or {{L|weaponsmith|weaponsmithing}} skills, respectively.
  
{{Category|Weapons}}
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The {{L|quality}} of a crossbow is added to the {{L|marksdwarf}}/{{L|ambusher}} and {{L|hammerdwarf}} skills.  The {{L|material}} used in construction of a crossbow does not affect the damage done when firing, but does affect the damage done when it is used as a melee weapon.
{{Category|Military}}
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Using {{L|masterpiece}} ammunition will not result in a bad {{L|thought}} for the maker, whether or not it breaks, nor will trading it away.  However, losing even one masterpiece bolt out of an original stack of 25 will, if at 1/25 of the usual penalty ''(which is still sizable; see {{L|Item_quality#Masterpiece|Quality/Masterpiece}} for a full discussion)''. If a single masterwork bolt left outside is stolen, or if a wounded enemy escapes with a masterpiece bolt stuck in them, it's possible to cause a {{L|tantrum}}. For this reason it may be wise to, as policy, either forbid masterwork ammo until the maker has churned out several stacks of them, or just {{L|trade}} them away.
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<!-- If you are ever so "fortunate" to have a weaponsmith create {{subst:subl|masterpiece}} ammo, be sure '''not''' to use it - {{subst:subl|trade}} it away at the first opportunity.  Broken masterpieces create bad thoughts, but traded don't, and bolts do tend to get broken.-->
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==Related information==
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===Off-Hand Items===
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According to [http://www.bay12games.com/forum/index.php?topic=47004.msg940332#msg940332 this forum discussion], marksdwarves are able to wield their crossbows one-handed, and so can use another item in their second hand. If they use a {{L|buckler}}, they may carry it plus an extra set of bolts in the off hand; if they use a {{L|shield}}, they still suffer no penalty to the crossbow usage but cannot carry the extra set of bolts.
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===Bolt===
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'''Bolts''' are used by crossbows and {{L|Weapon_trap#Weapon_Trap|crossbow traps}}. Making bolts from {{L|wood}} or {{L|metal}} gives a {{L|stack}} of 25 bolts, whilst making them from a stack of {{L|bone|bones}} gives a stack of {5 x number of bones}.
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Metal bolts are created at the {{L|metalsmith's forge}} and require the {{L|weaponsmith}} labor enabled.  Wood and bone bolts are created at the {{L|craftsdwarf's workshop}} and require {{L|woodcrafting}} and {{L|bone carving}} labors, respectively. Higher levels of {{L|skill}} will tend to produce higher {{L|quality}} bolts.  The {{L|material}} and quality{{verify}} of the bolts (not the crossbow) affects the amount of {{L|Weapon#Material damage modifiers|damage}} done.
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If you {{L|decorate}} a stack of bolts, the same decoration will be applied to every bolt in the stack simultaneously.  In older versions this allowed to generate stacks of huge value - value of decoration was multiplied by amount of bolts in the stack. This has been fixed now and decorated bolts are no longer that valuable.
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In {{L|adventure mode}}, bolts can also be thrown for about the same results as firing them, except that it uses the {{L|thrower}} skill and doesn't destroy the bolts if you happen to miss.
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===Quiver===
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A '''Quiver''' is an item used to store {{L|bolt}}s or {{L|arrow}}s. It is worn on the body, like a {{L|backpack}}.
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Quivers are made of {{L|leather}} at a {{L|leatherworks}}. Dwarves equipped with a crossbow will automatically wear quivers if they are available, and carry a stack of bolts in it. This allows a dwarf to carry one extra stack of bolts, typically {{L|bone}} or {{L|wood}} training bolts in the hand, and {{L|metal}} ones in the quiver.
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Invaders, merchants, and migrants often have {{L|silk}} and {{L|cloth}} quivers, even though you can't make them yourself.
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In adventure mode, a quiver can hold any number of arrows and bolts.
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==See also==
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*{{L|Marksdwarf}}
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*{{L|Ambusher}}
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*{{L|Archery target}}
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*{{L|Bowyer}}
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*{{L|Crossbow-making}}
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*{{L|Bow}}
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*{{L|Equipment and encumbrance}}
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{{Category|Weapons}}{{Category|Military}}

Revision as of 22:06, 7 September 2010

This article is about an older version of DF.

(This article also covers bolts, arrows and quivers for completeness' sake.)

Crossbows are the only ranged Template:L that Template:L can carry. A dwarf will open fire at a range of about 20 tiles, but the bolts may travel further and hit something by accident. Crossbows can fire at targets on higher or lower Template:Ls; doing so hurts the range slightly, even when firing from higher to lower levels. There seems to be a "line of sight" rule, of about a 1:1 ratio (height difference to distance from edge of level) but the exact formula is not known.

A Template:L does a fine job at Template:L the internal organs of a Template:L while also doing some damage to outside parts. This is of limited use against creatures without organs, such as Template:L or Template:L, but excellent against creatures with more "normal" internal anatomy. Occasionally a bolt will get stuck in a target; the only known use for this is that a Template:L dwarf may grab the bolt and twist it in the Template:L.

Crossbow usage

Once you tell a dwarf to use a crossbow (either from the military/weapons sub-menu, or by viewing the dwarf and accessing the soldiering sub-menu), he will pick it up if he has either the Template:L Template:L enabled or if he is in the Template:L. He will then pick up a Template:L and Template:L, preferring Template:L bolts if available. A dwarf can carry one stack of bolts in his hands, and one in his quiver.

When in range Template:L use crossbows to fire Template:L. If they are engaged in melee they will use the crossbow as a club, using their Template:L skill.

Dwarves often do not return to base and pick up more bolts if they run out if there are enemies nearby; instead, they will enter melee.

Construction and quality

Crossbows can be constructed from Template:L, Template:L or Template:L. Wooden and bone crossbows are created at a Template:L; metal ones at a Template:L using the Template:L or Template:L skills, respectively.

The Template:L of a crossbow is added to the Template:L/Template:L and Template:L skills. The Template:L used in construction of a crossbow does not affect the damage done when firing, but does affect the damage done when it is used as a melee weapon.

Using Template:L ammunition will not result in a bad Template:L for the maker, whether or not it breaks, nor will trading it away. However, losing even one masterpiece bolt out of an original stack of 25 will, if at 1/25 of the usual penalty (which is still sizable; see Template:L for a full discussion). If a single masterwork bolt left outside is stolen, or if a wounded enemy escapes with a masterpiece bolt stuck in them, it's possible to cause a Template:L. For this reason it may be wise to, as policy, either forbid masterwork ammo until the maker has churned out several stacks of them, or just Template:L them away.


Related information

Off-Hand Items

According to this forum discussion, marksdwarves are able to wield their crossbows one-handed, and so can use another item in their second hand. If they use a Template:L, they may carry it plus an extra set of bolts in the off hand; if they use a Template:L, they still suffer no penalty to the crossbow usage but cannot carry the extra set of bolts.

Bolt

Bolts are used by crossbows and Template:L. Making bolts from Template:L or Template:L gives a Template:L of 25 bolts, whilst making them from a stack of Template:L gives a stack of {5 x number of bones}.

Metal bolts are created at the Template:L and require the Template:L labor enabled. Wood and bone bolts are created at the Template:L and require Template:L and Template:L labors, respectively. Higher levels of Template:L will tend to produce higher Template:L bolts. The Template:L and quality[Verify] of the bolts (not the crossbow) affects the amount of Template:L done.

If you Template:L a stack of bolts, the same decoration will be applied to every bolt in the stack simultaneously. In older versions this allowed to generate stacks of huge value - value of decoration was multiplied by amount of bolts in the stack. This has been fixed now and decorated bolts are no longer that valuable.

In Template:L, bolts can also be thrown for about the same results as firing them, except that it uses the Template:L skill and doesn't destroy the bolts if you happen to miss.

Quiver

A Quiver is an item used to store Template:Ls or Template:Ls. It is worn on the body, like a Template:L.

Quivers are made of Template:L at a Template:L. Dwarves equipped with a crossbow will automatically wear quivers if they are available, and carry a stack of bolts in it. This allows a dwarf to carry one extra stack of bolts, typically Template:L or Template:L training bolts in the hand, and Template:L ones in the quiver.

Invaders, merchants, and migrants often have Template:L and Template:L quivers, even though you can't make them yourself.

In adventure mode, a quiver can hold any number of arrows and bolts.

See also