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Difference between revisions of "v0.31:Crossbow"

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(→‎Crossbow Safety: rm section -- not relevant to Dwarf Fortress, and potentially confusing!)
 
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{{av}}{{Quality|Exceptional|06:12, 16 June 2010 (UTC)}}
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{{quality|Fine|08:05, 27 September 2010 (UTC)}}{{av}}{{Buggy}}
''(This article also covers '''bolts''', '''arrows''' and '''quivers''' for completeness' sake.)''
 
  
'''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.
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:''See [[Weapon]] for a general overview of weapons and related information.''
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'''Crossbows''' can be made from [[wood]], [[bone]] or [[metal]]. Wooden and bone crossbows are made at a [[bowyer's workshop]] using the [[crossbow-making]] skill; metal crossbows are made at a [[metalsmith's forge]] using the [[weaponsmithing]] skill.
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A dwarf will open fire at a range of '''20''' tiles, but the bolts may travel further and hit something by accident.
  
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}}.
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== Crossbows in Ranged Combat ==
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Crossbows use [[Bolt|bolts]] as their [[ammunition]]. The quality of the crossbow affects the accuracy of the shot, while the material of the crossbow is unimportant.
  
==Crossbow usage==
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== Crossbows in Melee ==
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.
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In melee combat, crossbows use the [[Hammer]] skill. [[Cross-training]] your marksdwarves so that they can hold their own in a melee is advisable. Choosing a better material will, of course, result in a more damaging butt-stroke - but crossbows make a poor melee weapon anyway.
  
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.
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== Hunters and Crossbows ==
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[[ambusher|Hunters]] use crossbows to hunt with, and will automatically pick one up if they don't already have one.  They'll also carry a quiver and bolts. You can modify their ammunition allotment using the [[Military_interface#Ammunition|Military screen]].
  
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.
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Hunters will typically give up on hunting if they run out of ammunition, thus the material of their crossbows is unimportant.
  
==Construction and quality==
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==Bugs==
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.
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*If squad is assigned multiple ammo types, dwarves with "individual choice ranged" carry wrong ammo{{bug|1374}}.
 
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{{Category|Weapons}}
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.
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{{Category|Military}}
 
 
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.
 
 
 
<!-- 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.-->
 
 
 
==Related information==
 
===Off-Hand Items===
 
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.
 
 
 
===Bolt===
 
'''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}.
 
 
 
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.
 
 
 
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.
 
 
 
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.
 
 
 
===Quiver===
 
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}}.
 
 
 
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.
 
 
 
Invaders, merchants, and migrants often have {{L|silk}} and {{L|cloth}} quivers, even though you can't make them yourself.
 
 
 
In adventure mode, a quiver can hold any number of arrows and bolts.
 
 
 
==See also==
 
*{{L|Marksdwarf}}
 
*{{L|Ambusher}}
 
*{{L|Archery target}}
 
*{{L|Bowyer}}
 
*{{L|Crossbow-making}}
 
*{{L|Bow}}
 
*{{L|Equipment and encumbrance}}
 
 
 
{{Category|Weapons}}{{Category|Military}}
 

Latest revision as of 07:23, 19 February 2012

This article is about an older version of DF.
See Weapon for a general overview of weapons and related information.

Crossbows can be made from wood, bone or metal. Wooden and bone crossbows are made at a bowyer's workshop using the crossbow-making skill; metal crossbows are made at a metalsmith's forge using the weaponsmithing skill. A dwarf will open fire at a range of 20 tiles, but the bolts may travel further and hit something by accident.

Crossbows in Ranged Combat[edit]

Crossbows use bolts as their ammunition. The quality of the crossbow affects the accuracy of the shot, while the material of the crossbow is unimportant.

Crossbows in Melee[edit]

In melee combat, crossbows use the Hammer skill. Cross-training your marksdwarves so that they can hold their own in a melee is advisable. Choosing a better material will, of course, result in a more damaging butt-stroke - but crossbows make a poor melee weapon anyway.

Hunters and Crossbows[edit]

Hunters use crossbows to hunt with, and will automatically pick one up if they don't already have one. They'll also carry a quiver and bolts. You can modify their ammunition allotment using the Military screen.

Hunters will typically give up on hunting if they run out of ammunition, thus the material of their crossbows is unimportant.

Bugs[edit]

  • If squad is assigned multiple ammo types, dwarves with "individual choice ranged" carry wrong ammoBug:1374.