Editing v0.34:Trap component

{{quality|Exceptional|17:13, 13 August 2010 (UTC)}}{{av}}
Any [[weapon]] in Fortress Mode can be placed into a [[Trap#Weapon Trap|weapon trap]].  However, there are five '''trap components''', or '''trap weapons''', that are ''specifically'' for weapons traps (and two also have additional uses).  As with any weapon, a total of up to 10 of these can be put in a single weapon trap, creating a true "Indiana Jones" type of threat to any beast of any size, and potentially simply making a fine mince (or paste, depending on the weapons) of lesser creatures.  
In the order they appear on the various menus, they are the '''menacing spike''', the '''serrated disc''', the '''spiked ball''', the '''enormous corkscrew''', and the '''giant axe blade'''.

<!--Is this true?
In Adventure Mode, these trap components can actually be wielded in combat; in Fortress Mode, their only meaningful use is in your mechanics' contraptions.-->

All trap component weapons can be made out of [[metal]]s (by a [[weaponsmith]]) or [[glass]] (by a [[glassmaker]]), with appropriate damage. Three can also be made out of [[wood]] (by a [[carpenter]]), as noted below, which can be useful in getting some heavy weapons traps set up before you have a steady [[smelting]] operation going, or if you are short on metal.  Each trap component takes one unit of the material that you are using (eg. Each menacing iron spike will take one [[bar]] of [[iron]])

<!--Is this true?
Trap weapons also provide the highest return of any weapon for [[melt]]ing, 50%, compared to 30-40% for conventional weapons, which is good to know for training [[weaponsmith]]s on maps with little metal.-->
Trap components are a separate sub-section of a [[forge]] menu, but are at the bottom of the general [[glass furnace]] or [[carpenter's workshop]] menus.

Most of these weapons do make good trade goods, most especially large serrated discs.

==The 5 trap weapons==
===Menacing spike===

The '''menacing spike''' can be mounted in both traditional [[Trap#Weapon_trap|weapon traps]] and [[Trap#Upright_Spear/Spike|upright spike traps]], which act quite differently.  Its small contact size and high penetration depth makes it a decent choice against enemies with impale-able internal organs.

Menacing spikes can also be made from [[wood]].

===Large, serrated disc===
'''Large, serrated discs''' deal large amounts of damage, and have a tendency to sever their victims' limbs. While amusing, this can create several [[hauling]] tasks for [[dwarves]] as they have to move each severed body part to a [[butcher's shop]] or [[stockpile|refuse pile]]. Large serrated discs attack three times, giving them a very high damage potential.

===Spiked ball===
The '''spiked ball''' doesn't deal a blunt attack at all, but it does do three attacks with its spikes. Like the menacing spike, it has only a small contact area, but has a very low penetration depth compared to the menacing spike.

Low penetration depth edged attacks can still break bones with impact damage, just like blunt attacks do.  In addition, if an edged weapon is unable to cut the material of the target's armor, its attack is converted to blunt type.  Because the small contact area concentrates the force, spiked balls should be more effective against targets in superior armor than either serrated discs or giant axes.  

Spiked balls can also be made from [[wood]]. If trees are not in short supply then wooden spiked balls make [[exploit|excellent]] trade items (except to the elves) due to the fact that spiked balls have an extremely high item value, almost to the extent of being a bug.

===Enormous corkscrew===

'''Enormous corkscrews''' can be used as components in [[Trap]]s as well as for [[screw pump]]s. As a result, the corkscrews from unneeded screw pumps can be used to make serviceable weapon traps.

The enormous corkscrew performs a small contact area deeply penetrating attack, much like the menacing spike. It is currently unknown which of these two trap components is the strongest over all.

Enormous corkscrews can also be made from [[wood]].

===Giant axe blade===

The '''giant axe blade''' is a very similar weapon to the large, serrated disc, but only strikes once, compared to the disc's three attacks. However, due to its larger size, its single attack is stronger than each of the large, serrated disc's. It is currently unknown which of these two trap components is the strongest over all.  

However, if the variables behave like those of the wieldable weapons, size determines mass (along with material density) and mass determines impact (BLUNT) damage.  An edged weapon, like the giant axe, only deals this type of damage when it is unable to penetrate armor, or if the target is large compared to its penetration depth.

This suggests that a steel serrated disc's multiple attacks will outweigh the giant axe blade's somewhat larger size in most cases.  If only inferior materials are available, the giant axe '''might''' be better at hurting armored targets, but the disc's three attacks probably still outweigh this advantage.

==Data & comparison==

{|cellpadding="2" border="1"
! Name !! Size !! Number of hits !! Contact Area !! Penetration Depth !! Wood? !! Base Value
|-
| Giant axe blade || 1600 || 1 || 100000 || 10000 || No  || 66
|-
| Enormous corkscrew&dagger; || 1600 || 1 || 100 || 10000 || Yes  || 66
|-
| Spiked ball || 1000 || 3 || 10 || 200 || Yes  || 126
|-
| Large, serrated disc || 1000 || 3 || 100000 || 10000 || No  || 126
|-
| Menacing spike&Dagger; || 1600 || 1 || 10 || 6000 || Yes  || 66
|-
| colspan=8 | &dagger; ''This trap component can also be used in [[screw pump]]s.'' <br> &Dagger; ''This trap component can also be used in [[Trap#Upright_Spear/Spike|upright spike traps]].''
|-
|}
:''(Most of this data has been compiled from raw/objects/item_trapcomp.txt)''

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'''See also:'''
:*[[Weapon]]
:*[[Trap]]

{{Category|Weapons}}
{{Category|Traps}}