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Difference between revisions of "Military testing"

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* @ Wiki Editors: ''As a rule, Wiki-ettiquette does not allow "personalizing" an article, or part of it (specific citations and quotes being a notable exception).  Edits made on public pages are exactly that, "public", so no "ownership" is attached to any text. Editors usually do not add their names to a page or subsection - "anonymous" editing is the rule. This page allows for exceptions to that rule, but that does not prevent future editors from making changes to another's "research".''
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 +
: ''If you don't want it edited, put it on your Home page and link to it.''
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 +
 
This page on the wiki houses trials run within the game by players, with the intention of arriving at conclusions on how certain combat situations work, or just combat in general.
 
This page on the wiki houses trials run within the game by players, with the intention of arriving at conclusions on how certain combat situations work, or just combat in general.
  
−
If you want to know more about how to do your own testing go to the [[DF2010:Arena]] wiki article. To learn more about the military and how it works in Dwarf Fortress, go to the [[DF2010:Military]] article.
+
If you want to know more about how to do your own testing, go to the [[DF2010:Arena]] wiki article. To learn more about the military and how it works in ''Dwarf Fortress'', go to the [[DF2010:Military]] article.
  
 
The format in which trials are presented here is by no means a strict rule. Feel free to add and change elements but make sure the information is easy to read and understand. Try to provide any information you think is relevant and useful without digressing too much.
 
The format in which trials are presented here is by no means a strict rule. Feel free to add and change elements but make sure the information is easy to read and understand. Try to provide any information you think is relevant and useful without digressing too much.
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<u>'''Tester's conclusion:'''</u>
 
<u>'''Tester's conclusion:'''</u>
−
Like the dragon, the hydra has a very hard time with the dwarves. The fight is long and even though it can kill them all eventually, the damage it takes in the meantime is definitive. A slightly higher number of dwarves might have killed it and even if a whole squad dies, the threat the hydra poses is practically elimintated as it will probably eventually die on its own anyway.
+
Like the dragon, the hydra has a very hard time with the dwarves. The fight is long and even though it can kill them all eventually, the damage it takes in the meantime is definitive. A slightly higher number of dwarves might have killed it and even if a whole squad dies, the threat the hydra poses is practically eliminated as it will probably eventually die on its own anyway.
  
  
Line 343: Line 348:
 
|}
 
|}
  
−
This study seems to show that (for legendary dwarfs), silver war hammers are about equal with adamantine battleaxes, even with both sides being unarmored. The previous time I ran this test, hammers actually won 6 of the 10 rounds, but this time it was evenly split.
+
This study seems to show that (for legendary dwarves), silver war hammers are about equal with adamantine battleaxes, even with both sides being unarmored. The previous time I ran this test, hammers actually won 6 of the 10 rounds, but this time it was evenly split.
  
 
:(Is that because a grandmaster dwarf can disable or kill an unarmored dwarf with just one hit with either weapon?  Might be worth examining the combat logs.) [[User:Bognor|Bognor]] 09:08, 3 June 2011 (UTC)
 
:(Is that because a grandmaster dwarf can disable or kill an unarmored dwarf with just one hit with either weapon?  Might be worth examining the combat logs.) [[User:Bognor|Bognor]] 09:08, 3 June 2011 (UTC)
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! Side & Creature !! Number !! Skills !! Items
 
! Side & Creature !! Number !! Skills !! Items
 
|-
 
|-
−
| #1: Dwarfs || 6 ||  Proficient Fighter and swordsdwarf, skilled Dodger, Armor and Shield user<br>  || Full iron armor&Shortsword
+
| #1: Dwarves || 6 ||  Proficient Fighter and swordsdwarf, skilled Dodger, Armor and Shield user<br>  || Full iron armor&Shortsword
 
|-
 
|-
 
| #2: Skeletal horse || 6 || None || none
 
| #2: Skeletal horse || 6 || None || none
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! Side & Creature !! Survived !! Injury level !! Health tags !! Most common cause of death
 
! Side & Creature !! Survived !! Injury level !! Health tags !! Most common cause of death
 
|-
 
|-
−
| #1: Dwarfs || 6 || 1 with minor wounds, one with head bruising and some broken parts || 1 unconscious (Dwarf with head bruising) ||
+
| #1: Dwarves || 6 || 1 with minor wounds, one with head bruising and some broken parts || 1 unconscious (Dwarf with head bruising) ||
 
|-
 
|-
 
| #2: Skeletal horse || 0 ||  ||  ||
 
| #2: Skeletal horse || 0 ||  ||  ||
Line 377: Line 382:
  
 
<u>'''Notes:'''</u>
 
<u>'''Notes:'''</u>
−
Dwarfs began in a line, horses began slightly scattered
+
Dwarves began in a line, horses began slightly scattered
  
 
<u>'''Tester's conclusion:'''</u>
 
<u>'''Tester's conclusion:'''</u>
−
The test was a test of how a middling military would fare against an equal force of skeletal horses. The dwarfs did excellently with only one badly wounded and one other with a minor wound.
+
The test was a test of how a middling military would fare against an equal force of skeletal horses. The dwarves did excellently with only one badly wounded and one other with a minor wound.
  
 
= DF2012 (0.34.02) tests =
 
= DF2012 (0.34.02) tests =
Line 742: Line 747:
 
| #2: Swordswarf || 5, 0, 0, 0 || Torn muscle, Severed nerve, Opened arteries, Severed limbs, Missing Limbs || Pale, -N/A- || Bled to death
 
| #2: Swordswarf || 5, 0, 0, 0 || Torn muscle, Severed nerve, Opened arteries, Severed limbs, Missing Limbs || Pale, -N/A- || Bled to death
 
|}
 
|}
−
Third time last axedwarf actually fall into martial trance and finished three remaining sworddwarfs, last sword guy just bled to death while fighting.
+
Third time last axedwarf actually fall into martial trance and finished three remaining sworddwarves, last sword guy just bled to death while fighting.
−
It seems distance on which fighting is started influence outcome, though I'm not sure and this statement requires more tests.
+
It seems that the initiated distance of the engagement is a factor, though I'm not sure and this statement requires more tests.
 +
 
 +
= DF 2014 (v0.40.24) Tests =
 +
 
 +
 
 +
=== Sword vs. Axe, with iron armor (Tested by: Gitaxias) ===
 +
<u>'''Times run:'''</u> 2
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Initial setup:'''</u>
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Number !! Skills !! Items
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Dwarf || 5 || Adequate in all relevant skills || Full iron armor including shield, iron battle axe
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Dwarf || 5 || Adequate in all relevant skills || Full iron armor including shield, iron short sword
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Results:'''</u>
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Survived !! Injury level !! Health tags !! Most common cause of death
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Axedwarves || 2 || Severed limbs<br>Bruised internal organs, mangled body parts || Tired, Extreme Pain, Pale || Bled to death
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Swordsdwarves || 0 || NA || NA || Head smashed by shield bash
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Notes:'''</u>
 +
In both tests, all 5 swordsdwarves were killed by a single axedwarf after he lost his weapon arm and began favoring shield bashing attacks. No axe attacks appeared to have caused major injury.
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Tester's conclusion:'''</u>
 +
This test was intended to compare the effectiveness of swords and axes against armored targets. It shows fairly conclusively that the battle axe is the inferior weapon against armored targets, and that even if already injured a dwarf using iron shield bashes can still prove extremely deadly against enemies using weapons that cannot reliably penetrate their armor.
 +
 
 +
=== Sword vs. Axe, with leather armor (Tested by: Gitaxias) ===
 +
<u>'''Times run:'''</u> 4
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Initial setup:'''</u>
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Number !! Skills !! Items
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Dwarf || 5 || Adequate in all relevant skills || Full leather armor, wooden shield, iron battle axe
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Dwarf || 5 || Adequate in all relevant skills || Full leather armor, wooden shield, iron short sword
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Results:'''</u>
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Survived !! Injury level !! Health tags !! Most common cause of death
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Axedwarves || 0, 0, 4, 0 || Severed limbs, mangled body parts || Extreme Pain, Pale || Beheading or bisection
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Swordsdwarves || 5, 5, 0, 5 || Severed limbs, mangled body parts || Extreme Pain, Pale || Beheading or bisection
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Notes:'''</u>
 +
In the first and second tests, the swordsdwarves won easily with token or nonexistent injury. In the third test, the axedwarves won with moderate losses. In the fourth test, the swordsdwarves won with moderate losses
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Tester's conclusion:'''</u>
 +
This test was intended to compare the effectiveness of swords and axes against weakly-armored armored targets. It shows somewhat conclusively that the battle axe is the inferior weapon against such targets targets, but that the disadvantage can be overcome with luck.
 +
 
 +
=== MASTER-UNARMED vs. Wooden maces +  MASTER-UNARMED vs. 2 Cave spiders===
 +
<u>'''Times run:'''</u> 2
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Initial setup:'''</u>
 +
2 groups of 8 dwarves 7 tiles away
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Number !! Skills !! Items
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Dwarf || 8 || Adequate in all relevant skills || NOTHING
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Dwarf || 8 || Adequate in all relevant skills || 2 wooden maces
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Results:'''</u>
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Survived !! Injury level !! Health tags !! Most common cause of death
 +
|-
 +
| #1: UNARMED MASTERS || 7 ,8 || broken bones, bruising || unconscious nocious || head shot
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Master Maces || 0|| extreamley dead || dead || head explosion
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Notes:'''</u>
 +
master strikers and wrestlers are better than armed dwarves
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Tester's conclusion:'''</u>
 +
this was a good piece of evidence that wood weapons are ineffective.
 +
 
 +
TEST#2
 +
<u>'''Times run:'''</u>
 +
2
 +
<u>'''Initial setup:'''</u>
 +
The remains of the previous tests with 2 tiles between them
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Number !! Skills !! Items
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Dwarf || See ABOVE || Adequate in all relevant skills || NOTHING
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Giant Cave Spider || 2 || NOTHING || NOTHING
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Results:'''</u>
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Survived !! Injury level !! Health tags !! Most common cause of death
 +
|-
 +
| #1: left overs of last 2 tests || 6, 8 || no change || no change || Bleeding
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Giant Cave Spider || 0 || extreamley dead || dead || Brain bruised
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Notes:'''</u>
 +
I had to force the dwarves to do suicide after so i could go to the next test.
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Tester's conclusion:'''</u>
 +
master strikers and wrestlers are better than Giant Cave spiders
 +
 
 +
= DF 2016 (v0.42.06) Tests =
 +
 
 +
 
 +
=== War Hammer material effectiveness comparison (ongoing) (Tested by: Adonkares) ===
 +
<u>'''Test description:'''</u> After editing the object testing arena into 896 4x1 duel rooms and 84 5x5 5v5 brawl rooms the premise of gold war hammer superiority was put to trial using a variety of different hammer materials. A program was written to populate the arena more quickly as well as equip the dwarves. (If anyone has any tips on counting the results quickly or via a program, please let me know.)
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Acronym explanation:'''</u> Each test was assigned a number from 1-3. Each row in a table is named after Duel or Group results and is followed by a -s -g -c suffix to denote the material of the weapon equipped. And so 1solo-g means a group of 1v1 dwarf fighters with steel armor and gold hammers.
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Information:'''</u>
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Creature !! Number !! Skills !! Items
 +
|-
 +
| 1solo-s: Dwarf || 1 || Master in Fighter, Hammer, Dodge, Shield and Armor user || Full set of steel armor plus a steel shield, with a silver war hammer
 +
|-
 +
| 1solo-g: Dwarf || 1 || Master in Fighter, Hammer, Dodge, Shield and Armor user || Full set of steel armor plus a steel shield, with a gold war hammer
 +
|-
 +
| 1group-s: Dwarf || 5 || Master in Fighter, Hammer, Dodge, Shield and Armor user || Full set of steel armor plus a steel shield, with a silver war hammer
 +
|-
 +
| 1group-g: Dwarf || 5 || Master in Fighter, Hammer, Dodge, Shield and Armor user || Full set of steel armor plus a steel shield, with a gold war hammer
 +
|-
 +
| 2solo-s: Dwarf || 1 || Master in Fighter, Hammer, Dodge, Shield and Armor user || Unarmored, with a silver war hammer
 +
|-
 +
| 2solo-c: Dwarf || 1 || Master in Fighter, Hammer, Dodge, Shield and Armor user || Unarmored, with a copper war hammer
 +
|-
 +
| 2group-s: Dwarf || 5 || Master in Fighter, Hammer, Dodge, Shield and Armor user || Unarmored, with a silver war hammer
 +
|-
 +
| 2group-c: Dwarf || 5 || Master in Fighter, Hammer, Dodge, Shield and Armor user || Unarmored, with a copper war hammer
 +
|-
 +
| 3solo-s: Dwarf || 1 || Master in Fighter, Hammer, Dodge, Shield and Armor user || Full iron, with a silver war hammer
 +
|-
 +
| 3solo-c: Dwarf || 1 || Master in Fighter, Hammer, Dodge, Shield and Armor user || Full iron, with a copper war hammer
 +
|-
 +
| 3group-s: Dwarf || 5 || Master in Fighter, Hammer, Dodge, Shield and Armor user || Full iron, with a silver war hammer
 +
|-
 +
| 3group-c: Dwarf || 5 || Master in Fighter, Hammer, Dodge, Shield and Armor user || Full iron, with a copper war hammer
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Results:'''</u>
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Winners !! Win percentage !! Sample size !! Comments
 +
|-
 +
| 1solo-g: Duelists using Gold War Hammer || 56.47% || 1792 || Slight but consistent edge (more adequately flat) for gold hammers, it is reasonable to estimate gold's superiority over silver to be within 3-8% range.
 +
|-
 +
| 1group-g: Team of 5 using Gold War Hammer || 55.3% || 168 || Borderline standard error, more tests are needed. Duel results suggest a slight advantage for gold hammers.
 +
|-
 +
| 2solo-s: Duelists using Silver War Hammer || 53.57% || 1792 || Slight advantage for silver hammers, sample size too small and falls within standard error. For practical intents and purposes copper is equal to silver when used against unarmored opponents.
 +
|-
 +
| 2group-s: Team of 5 using Silver War Hammer || 59.5% || 168 || Sample size too small, more tests are needed. Duel results suggest no noticeable advantage for either material.
 +
|-
 +
| 3solo-s: Duelists using Silver War Hammer || 53.01% || 896 || Slight advantage for silver hammers, sample size too small and falls within standard error. For practical intents and purposes copper is equal to silver when used against ironclad opponents.
 +
|-
 +
| 3group-s: Team of 5 using Silver War Hammer || 56.5% || 84 || Sample size too small, more tests are needed. Duel results suggest no noticeable advantage for either material.
 +
|}
 +
<u>'''Results:'''</u> Based on the above 3 tests there's a slight ~5-6% advantage of gold war hammers over silver and by extension copper ones. There is no significant advantage of silver over copper against unarmored and ironclad opponents and whatever advantage there might be it falls within mean error range and requires a bigger sample size. I hope someone found this useful, I sure did when I was doing the tests out of curiosity. In the future I'm planning to include platinum hammers, adamantine armors and increasing the sample size of all tests.
 +
 
 +
 
 +
=== Scourge versus Whip (Tested By Admiral Obvious) ===
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Test description:'''</u> Fiddling around in the arena after installing DF on a public PC which is wiped daily. Attempting to determine which weapon is more effective, and why. Unarmored targets were used for this test. A separate test set will/should be make with armored specimens.
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Times run:'''</u> 10
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Initial setup:'''</u> Single unskilled human, versus unskilled human, given weapons. Test saved prior to start, and restarted after each result.
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Number !! Skills !! Items
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Human Male|| 1 || -no skills- || Iron Whip, no armor
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Human Male || 1 || -no skills- || Iron Scourge, no armor
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Survived !! Injury level !! Health tags !! Most common cause of death
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Human Male || 1 || Chipped Bones || Tired, Extreme Pain || Passing out from broken limb, followed up by head cave in.
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Human Male || 9 || None || Tired || Upper spine shattered in the one instance of death, suffocation.
 +
|}
 +
<u>'''Results:'''</u> From what testing that was performed, it seemed that the whip was an easy weapon to parry compared to the scourge. This might be in relation to the weapon velocity modifier, or potentially attack preparation time. It was noticed in this test that the scourge user attempted more successful attacks than the whip user. The scourge rarely "one shot" the enemy, however it did chip bones regularly against an unarmored target. The whip on the other hand, when it landed it's shots were far more devastating to the target than otherwise. Further testing will be done with different materials.
 +
 
 +
== Adamantine: Test: 2 ==
 +
 
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Times run:'''</u> 10
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Initial setup:'''</u> Single unskilled human, versus unskilled human, given weapons. Test saved prior to start, and restarted after each result.
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Number !! Skills !! Items
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Human Male|| 1 || -no skills- || Adamantine Whip, no armor
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Human Male || 1 || -no skills- || Adamantine Scourge, no armor
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Survived !! Injury level !! Health tags !! Most common cause of death
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Human Male || 0 || Sensory and motor nerves severed, lots of parts cut open. || Pale, Severe Bleeding || Crippled due to loss of motor ability, bones almost never damaged. Bleeds to death on every test.
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Human Male || 10 || Bruising, occasional broken fingers and toes. || Tired, Pain || Reset of the universe.
 +
|}
 +
<u>'''Results:'''</u> Adamantine is far too light for a whip to have any noticeable impact against the target, only causing minor bruising, and the occasional shattering of a finger or toe. The Scourge on the other hand, being an edged attack weapon seemed to be like the death of a thousand paper cuts. The scourge rarely inflicted any damage to the bones of the target, but every single successful impact against the target cut into the muscle of the target, and in many cases severed motor, and sensory nerves. Getting killed in this way appeared to be torture, especially considering how long it took to run each one of these tests.
 +
 
 +
== Platinum: Test: 3 ==
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Times run:'''</u> 10
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Initial setup:'''</u> Single unskilled human, versus unskilled human, given weapons. Test saved prior to start, and restarted after each result.
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Number !! Skills !! Items
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Human Male|| 1 || -no skills- || Platinum Whip, no armor
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Human Male || 1 || -no skills- || Platinum Scourge, no armor
 +
|}
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Survived !! Injury level !! Health tags !! Most common cause of death
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Human Male || 6 || Many cuts, and broken/fractured bones. || Pale, Severe Bleeding, Severe Pain || Typical death caused by bruising of the brain.
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Human Male || 4 || Either completely unharmed, or completely crippled. || Tired, Trouble Breathing || Head "explodes into gore" usually. One other death was caused by ribs puncturing the heart causing a bleedout.
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Results:'''</u> This was a far fairer fight, I assume if I run the test more, the results would average out to be nearly equal. Whip impacts are absolutely devastating, in many instances involving the total collapse of the impacted area. The Scourge is also equally dangerous, but with much less one shot potential, and a quite high tendency to chip, and break bones. The Scourge is inferior in this case compared to the whip, but this is made up with an apparent higher attack frequency.
 +
 
 +
= DF 2018 (v0.44.09) Tests =
 +
 
 +
 
 +
== Unarmored Peasant Best Weapon Test (Tested by: RoyalAssassin3) ==
 +
<u>'''Test description:'''</u> My goal in this series of test is to identify the “best” natively producible weapons for random unskilled unarmored peasants.  This might be used to stockpile the “best” weapons around the base that can be grabbed in an emergency situation where enemies have breached the fortress and you need to start conscripting everyone to grab something and fight. 
 +
I did not test maces because previous tests (by hostergaard) have established that maces are in all respects worse versions of war hammers.  I also did not test crossbows because they require more finesse to be effective, in close range cells, like my testing environment (or a goblin breach of the main fortress), they are pretty much just glorified clubs.  I used iron weapons to simulate the best goblins.
 +
After a few slow and tedious tests, I created a modified arena with 20 adjacent 5x12 dueling cells (enough space to dodge and maneuver) with the combatants starting 4 paces apart.    Injury Level, Health tags, and Cause of death data were too tedious to tabulate on this scale and so have been excluded.
 +
 
 +
=== Unarmed v. Short Sword ===
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Test description:'''</u> Baseline test.  If all is right in the world unarmed unskilled peasants should get slaughtered by swords.
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Times run:'''</u> 25
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Number !! Skills !! Items
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Unarmed Dwarf || 1 || -no skills- || Unarmed
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Sword Dwarf || 1 || -no skills- || Iron Short Sword
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Wins (ties) !! Percentage Win (ties)
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Unarmed Dwarf || 0 wins (0 ties) || 0% (0% ties)
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Sword Dwarf || 25 wins (0 ties) || 100% (0% ties)
 +
|}
 +
<u>'''Results:'''</u> Unarmed Peasants predictably slaughtered by armed peasants
 +
 
 +
=== Unarmed v. Hammer ===
 +
<u>'''Test description:'''</u> Gitaxias in a prior test found that unarmed was superior to wooden maces.  Could unarmed peasants be better than Warhammer equipped peasants?  Perhaps the warhammerers would get exhausted and pass out before doing enough damage with their inept swings?
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Times run:'''</u> 25
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Number !! Skills !! Items
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Unarmed Dwarf || 1 || -no skills- || Unarmed
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Hammer Dwarf || 1 || -no skills- || Iron Warhammer
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Wins (ties) !! Percentage Win (ties)
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Unarmed Dwarf || 5 wins (9 ties) || 20% (36% ties)
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Hammer Dwarf || 11 wins (9 ties) || 44% (36% ties)
 +
|}
 +
<u>'''Results:'''</u> Close, slight edge to hammer.  Two stalemates ended with both dead, 7 both sides passing out.
 +
 
 +
=== Axe v. Sword ===
 +
<u>'''Test description:'''</u> We already established above that swords > warhammers vs. unarmored.  But what about swords v. axes?  I read axes have a larger cutting effect.  Perhaps that will prove advantageous against unarmored peasants?
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Times run:'''</u> 25
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Number !! Skills !! Items
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Axe Dwarf || 1 || -no skills- || Iron Battleaxe
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Sword Dwarf || 1 || -no skills- || Iron Short Sword
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Wins (ties) !! Percentage Win (ties)
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Axe Dwarf || 10 wins (1 ties) || 40% (4% ties)
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Sword Dwarf || 14 wins (1 ties) || 56% (4% ties)
 +
|}
 +
<u>'''Results:'''</u> Close, slight edge to sword.
 +
 
 +
=== Sword v. Spear ===
 +
<u>'''Test description:'''</u> The best weapon tournament continues with the previous round’s winner (swords) facing the challenger (spears).  I expect that swords will be superior with their cutting effect.
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Times run:'''</u> 25
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Number !! Skills !! Items
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Sword Dwarf || 1 || -no skills- || Iron short sword
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Spear Dwarf || 1 || -no skills- || Iron spear
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Wins (ties) !! Percentage Win (ties)
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Sword Dwarf || 13 wins (0 ties) || 52% (0% ties)
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Spear Dwarf || 12 wins (0 ties) || 48% (0% ties)
 +
|}
 +
<u>'''Results:'''</u> Although swords won, but this is really too close to call.  I’m calling this a tie.
 +
 
 +
=== Hammer v. Spear ===
 +
<u>'''Test description:'''</u> Hammer performed pretty poorly vs. unarmed.  Was that a fluke?  I decided to test vs. the spear which was pretty much the same as the sword so far.
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Times run:'''</u> 25
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Number !! Skills !! Items
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Hammer Dwarf || 1 || -no skills- || Iron Warhammer
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Spear Dwarf || 1 || -no skills- || Iron spear
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Wins (ties) !! Percentage Win (ties)
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Hammer Dwarf || 4 wins (1 ties) || 16% (4% ties)
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Spear Dwarf || 20 wins (1 ties) || 80% (4% ties)
 +
|}
 +
<u>'''Results:'''</u> Clear win for Spears (and presumably swords).  Untrained peasants shouldn’t be wielding hammers vs. unarmored enemies.
 +
 
 +
=== Pick v. Spear ===
 +
<u>'''Test description:'''</u> Picks are often overlooked, but very “dwarfy.”  I don’t expect these to fare well vs. a military weapon.
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Times run:'''</u> 35
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Number !! Skills !! Items
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Pick Dwarf || 1 || -no skills- || Iron Pick
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Spear Dwarf || 1 || -no skills- || Iron spear
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Wins (ties) !! Percentage Win (ties)
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Pick Dwarf || 21 wins (4 ties) || 60% (11% ties)
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Spear Dwarf || 10 wins (4 ties) || 29% (11% ties)
 +
|}
 +
<u>'''Results:'''</u> Surprising clear win for Picks.  I read that picks were in fact “cutting” weapons, which bears itself out in the wounds detail with heads getting knocked off regularly.  Good news for dwarfiness.
 +
 
 +
=== Pick v. Sword & Shield ===
 +
<u>'''Test description:'''</u> Pick is our tournament winner based on single weapons.  But what about vs. the classic sword and shield combo?  I expect that a shield will give sword the edge.
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Times run:'''</u> 20
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Number !! Skills !! Items
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Pick Dwarf || 1 || -no skills- || Iron Pick
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Sword & Shield Dwarf || 1 || -no skills- || Iron short sword & iron shield
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Wins (ties) !! Percentage Win (ties)
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Pick Dwarf || 7 wins (1 ties) || 35% (5% ties)
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Sword & Shield Dwarf || 12 wins (1 ties) || 60% (5% ties)
 +
|}
 +
<u>'''Results:'''</u> As expected, a shield gave sword the edge.
 +
 
 +
=== Pick & Shield v. Sword & Shield ===
 +
<u>'''Test description:'''</u> This test is to see whether X + shield combos follow the same pattern of effectiveness as weapons alone.  If so, the win percentage of pick & shield vs. sword & shield should match with the previous pick v. spear test (assuming swords and spears are equivalent).
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Times run:'''</u> 20
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Number !! Skills !! Items
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Pick & Shield Dwarf || 1 || -no skills- || Iron pick & Iron Shield
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Sword & Shield Dwarf || 1 || -no skills- || Iron short sword & iron shield
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Wins (ties) !! Percentage Win (ties)
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Pick & Shield Dwarf || 12 wins (0 ties) || 60% (0% ties)
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Sword & Shield Dwarf || 8 wins (0 ties) || 40% (0% ties)
 +
|}
 +
<u>'''Results:'''</u> Pick & Shield wins.  The 60% win rate for Pick & Shield exactly matches the win rate of Pick in the Pick v. Spear test.  This validates two premises. (1) X + shield vs. Y + shield = X vs. Y;  and (2) Spear = Sword for unarmored unskilled opponents.  The first premise is consistent with a shield giving a fixed percentage chance of deflection irrespective of weapon type.
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Overall Tester Conclusions for Peasant Weapon Testing:'''</u> Pick & Shield > Pick & Sword > Pick >> Spear = Sword > Battleaxe >> Hammer > Unarmed.  Pick & Shield was the surprise best. 
 +
 
 +
It is worth noting that according to the weapon article a significant percentage of dwarves are not big enough to wield both a pick and a shield.  In the testing arena, none of the pick & shield dwarves dropped their picks or shields which suggests either (1) the arena uses different rules; (2) size affects whether dwarves will pick up a pick and shield, but once they have it in their hands they don’t drop it; or (3) size and wielding limitations has changed since the weapons article was updated.  I suspect (2) is the answer, but further testing is needed.  Sword and shield might be more reliable.
 +
 
 +
Despite the superiority of shields, I would probably recommend using only picks (not picks and shields or swords and shields) as an emergency defense fallback.  This spares dwarves the extra time of having to hunt around for BOTH a pick and a shield and thus gets them into the fight faster.  It also avoids the aforementioned possibility of not being able to wield both a pick and a shield leaving your dwarf potentially running into battle with just a shield.  Pick also has an advantage over sword & shield in that using picks provides extra insurance against the situation where your miners fall into hot magma or down a cave dragon’s throat with the fortresses only picks and you don’t have metal to replace them.
 +
 
 +
== Iron Armored Peasant Best Weapon Test (Tested by: RoyalAssassin3) ==
 +
<u>'''Test description:'''</u> The previous tests established that the pick was the best peasant weapons vs. unarmored foes.  But that’s only half the equation.  Goblins sometimes show up wearing up to iron armor accordingly, this test is to identify which weapon does best against max goblin armor.  I encased both sides in full iron armor (defined as Iron Helm, Iron Chain Mail Shirt, Iron Breastplate, Iron Gauntlets, Iron Greaves, Iron High Boots) so that the only difference between the sides is the weapon being used.
 +
 
 +
I originally used an arena of 10, but decided I needed a larger sample size and so switched to my 20 test arena and added those results.
 +
 
 +
=== Armored: Unarmed v. Short Sword ===
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Test description:'''</u> Perhaps the blunt force of unarmed will do better vs. armor?
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Times run:'''</u> 30
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Number !! Skills !! Items
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Unarmed Dwarf || 1 || -no skills- || Iron Armor + Unarmed
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Sword Dwarf || 1 || -no skills- || Iron Armor + Iron Short Sword
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Wins (ties) !! Percentage Win (ties)
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Unarmed Dwarf || 9 wins (6 ties) || 30% (20% ties)
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Sword Dwarf || 15 wins (6 ties) || 50% (20% ties)
 +
|}
 +
<u>'''Results:'''</u> Sword Dwarves still won vs. unarmed but much closer than vs. unarmored.
 +
 
 +
=== Armored: Axe v. Short Sword ===
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Test description:'''</u> The axe is primarily a slashing weapon so vs. armor I expect it to fare poorly compared to a sword which has more versatility.
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Times run:'''</u> 30
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Number !! Skills !! Items
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Axe Dwarf || 1 || -no skills- || Iron Armor + Iron Battleaxe
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Sword Dwarf || 1 || -no skills- || Iron Armor + Iron Short Sword
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Wins (ties) !! Percentage Win (ties)
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Axe Dwarf || 14 wins (0 ties) || 46.6% (0% ties)
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Sword Dwarf || 16 wins (0 ties) || 53.3% (0% ties)
 +
|}
 +
<u>'''Results:'''</u> Surprisingly close.  Slight edge to swords, but effectively a tie.  Glad I ran this again because in my first 10 tests swords won 7 to 3.  Large sample sizes are good.
 +
 
 +
=== Armored: Short Sword v. Spear ===
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Test description:'''</u> I expect spears to have difficulty vs. armor since they are penetrating attacks.
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Times run:'''</u> 30
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Number !! Skills !! Items
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Sword Dwarf || 1 || -no skills- || Iron Armor + Iron Short Sword
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Spear Dwarf || 1 || -no skills- || Iron Armor + Iron Spear
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Wins (ties) !! Percentage Win (ties)
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Sword Dwarf || 14 wins (4 ties) || 46.6% (13.3% ties)
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Spear Dwarf || 12 wins (4 ties) || 40% (13.3% ties)
 +
|}
 +
<u>'''Results:'''</u> Inconclusive.  Slight edge to sword, but statistically a tie.
 +
 
 +
=== Armored: Hammer v. Spear ===
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Test description:'''</u> I expect hammers to dominate spears since hammers are made for bashing armor.
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Times run:'''</u> 30
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Number !! Skills !! Items
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Hammer Dwarf || 1 || -no skills- || Iron Armor + Iron Warhammer
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Spear Dwarf || 1 || -no skills- || Iron Armor + Iron Spear
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Wins (ties) !! Percentage Win (ties)
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Hammer Dwarf || 14 wins (2 ties) || 46.6% (6.7% ties)
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Spear Dwarf || 14 wins (2 ties) || 46.6% (6.7% ties)
 +
|}
 +
<u>'''Results:'''</u> Surprisingly an exact tie.  In my earlier run of 10 tests spear actually won.
 +
 
 +
=== Armored: Hammer v. Unarmed ===
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Test description:'''</u> I expect hammers to win as fists deflect off armor.
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Times run:'''</u> 30
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Number !! Skills !! Items
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Hammer Dwarf || 1 || -no skills- || Iron Armor + Iron Warhammer
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Unarmed Dwarf || 1 || -no skills- || Iron Armor + Unarmed
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Wins (ties) !! Percentage Win (ties)
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Hammer Dwarf || 18 wins (5 ties) || 60.0% (16.6% ties)
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Unarmed Dwarf || 7 wins (5 ties) || 23.3% (16.6% ties)
 +
|}
 +
<u>'''Results:'''</u> Hammer wins v. unarmed.  Matches fairly well with the sword v. unarmed test above which further validates the hypothesis of sword = spear = hammer = axe vs. armor.
 +
 
 +
=== Armored: Pick v. Spear ===
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Test description:'''</u> The moment of truth.  Will Pick maintain its edge against armor?  (pun intended)
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Times run:'''</u> 30
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Number !! Skills !! Items
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Pick Dwarf || 1 || -no skills- || Iron Armor + Iron Pick
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Spear Dwarf || 1 || -no skills- || Iron Armor + Iron Spear
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Wins (ties) !! Percentage Win (ties)
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Pick Dwarf || 15 wins (4 ties) || 50.0% (13.3% ties)
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Spear Dwarf || 11 wins (4 ties) || 36.6% (13.3% ties)
 +
|}
 +
<u>'''Results:'''</u> Pick wins vs. Spear. 
 +
 
 +
=== Armored: Pick v. Sword ===
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Test description:'''</u> I want further validation that pick is best v. armor.  This can also help determine whether sword > spear or sword = spear by checking the previous test where sword slightly edged out spear.  Based on the sword v. spear test earlier, sword should do slightly better against pick than spear.
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Times run:'''</u> 30
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Number !! Skills !! Items
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Pick Dwarf || 1 || -no skills- || Iron Armor + Iron Pick
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Sword Dwarf || 1 || -no skills- || Iron Armor + Iron Sword
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Wins (ties) !! Percentage Win (ties)
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Pick Dwarf || 15 wins (1 ties) || 50.0% (3.3% ties)
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Sword Dwarf || 14 wins (1 ties) || 46.6% (3.3% ties)
 +
|}
 +
<u>'''Results:'''</u> Pick and Sword statistically tied.  This validates sword’s superior performance vs. spear.
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Overall Tester Conclusions for Peasant Weapon Testing:'''</u> Pick = Sword > Spear = Hammer = Battleaxe
 +
Surprisingly, pick maintained its superiority vs. armored (although now tied with the short sword).  Accordingly, I think I can conclusively say that the pick is best for emergency base militia use.  That makes the dwarf in me happy.
 +
 
 +
== Testing Armor vs. Higher Tier Weapon (Tested by: RoyalAssassin3) ==
 +
<u>'''Test description:'''</u> I read that higher tier weapons slice through lower tier armor like butter.  If that is the case, will someone wearing low tier armor do worse (due to encumberance) vs. an unarmored opponent wielding a higher tier weapon?  These tests seek to answer that question.  As with the tests above, armored is defined as: Helm + Breastplate + Chain Mail + 2 Gauntlets + 2 High Boots + Greaves.
 +
 
 +
=== Copper Armor Iron Sword vs. Iron Sword ===
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Test description:'''</u> Will copper armor just slow you down when fighting iron weapons?
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Times run:'''</u> 10
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Number !! Skills !! Items
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Copper Dwarf || 1 || -no skills- || Copper Armor + Iron Short Sword
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Unarmored Dwarf || 1 || -no skills- || Iron Short Sword
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Wins (ties) !! Percentage Win (ties)
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Copper Dwarf || 9 wins (0 ties) || 90% (0% ties)
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Unarmored Dwarf || 1 wins (0 ties) || 10% (0% ties)
 +
|}
 +
<u>'''Results:'''</u> Pretty clear that copper armor provides some significant protection even vs. iron.  Always armor your military vs. goblins.
 +
 
 +
=== Copper Armor Adamantine Sword vs. Adamantine Sword ===
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Test description:'''</u> So maybe iron doesn’t cut through copper like butter.  But Adamantine should.  Will that tilt the balanced from the copper armored dwarf?  Or will the dexterity of the unarmored dwarf win?
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Times run:'''</u> 20
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Number !! Skills !! Items
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Copper Dwarf || 1 || -no skills- || Copper Armor + Adamantine Short Sword
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Unarmored Dwarf || 1 || -no skills- || Adamantine Short Sword
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Wins (ties) !! Percentage Win (ties)
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Copper Dwarf || 8 wins (0 ties) || 40% (0% ties)
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Unarmored Dwarf || 12 wins (0 ties) || 60% (0% ties)
 +
|}
 +
<u>'''Results:'''</u> This time unarmored wins.  These tests validate that armor is still useful vs. slightly superior weapons, but not vs. highest tier weapons.
 +
 
 +
== Super Stacked Ad. Armor vs. Ad. Armor (Tested by: RoyalAssassin3) ==
 +
<u>'''Test description:'''</u> From the armor page you can stack ridiculous amounts of armor and clothes onto one dwarf.  Waladil previously tested 3 mail shirts vs. 1 mail shirt proving that stacked armor helps.  But what about someone wearing: 1 Adamantine (“Ad.”) Helm + 6 Ad. Hoods + 1 Ad. Breastplate + 3 Ad. Mail Shirts + 6 Ad. Cloaks + 2 Ad. Trousers + 1 Ad. Greaves + 2 Ad. Gauntlets + 2 Ad. Mittens + 2 Ad. High boots + 2 Ad. Socks = Super Stacked Armor.  Will super stacked armor make a difference vs. regular adamantine armor (1 Breastplate + 1 Mail Shirt + 1 Helm + 2 Gauntlets + Greaves + 2 High Boots)?
 +
<u>'''Times run:'''</u> 10
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Number !! Skills !! Items
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Super Stacked Dwarf || 1 || -no skills- || Super Stacked Ad. Armor + Ad. Battleaxe
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Regular Armored Dwarf || 1 || -no skills- || Ad. Armor + Ad. Battleaxe
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Wins (ties) !! Percentage Win (ties)
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Super Stacked Dwarf || 7 wins (0 ties) || 70% (0% ties)
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Regular Armored Dwarf || 3 wins (0 ties) || 30% (0% ties)
 +
|}
 +
<u>'''Results:'''</u> Super Stacked wins, but not overwhelmingly so.  Unless you are swimming in adamantine, it is probably better to not waste your time super stacking armor.
 +
 
 +
== Quality vs. Quantity Tests (Tested by: RoyalAssassin3) ==
 +
<u>'''Test description:'''</u> I once sent a squad of well-trained adamantine armored and armed dwarves out against a goblin siege and they got utterly slaughtered.  These tests are designed to test quality vs. numbers by pitting a Super Stacked (defined above) Adamantine Armored Grandmaster (in everything) aka. “The Uber Dwarf” vs. 10 worse equipped and worse skilled dwarf opponents pretending to be goblins.
 +
 
 +
=== Uber Dwarf v. Iron Knights ===
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Test description:'''</u> In this test, Uber Dwarf fights probably the best equipped goblin troop he is likely to face.  Full Iron armed and armored with “skilled” in all skills.  Who will win?
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Times run:'''</u> 10
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Number !! Skills !! Items
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Uber Dwarf || 1 || All Grandmaster || Super Stacked Ad. Armor + Ad. Battleaxe + Ad. Shield
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Iron Knights || 10 || All Skilled || Iron Armor + Iron Shield + Iron Short Sword
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Wins (ties) !! Percentage Win (ties)
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Uber Dwarf || 0 wins (0 ties) || 0% (0% ties)
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Iron Knights || 10 wins (0 ties) (62 survivors) || 100% (0% ties)
 +
|}
 +
<u>'''Results:'''</u> I was surprised to see no wins by the Uber Dwarf so I started tallying survivors.  Knights won with an average of 6 survivors.  Not terribly surprising though given that the Knights were decently skilled and equipped. 
 +
 
 +
=== Uber Dwarf v. Copper Knights ===
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Test description:'''</u> Previous tests showed adamantine slicing through copper like butter.  Likewise with copper swords the knights should just end up rubbing butter all over the Adamantine clad Uber Dwarf.  Will Uber Dwarf emerge victorious this time?
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Times run:'''</u> 10
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Number !! Skills !! Items
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Uber Dwarf || 1 || All Grandmaster || Super Stacked Ad. Armor + Ad. Battleaxe + Ad. Shield
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Knights || 10 || All Skilled || Copper Armor + Copper Shield + Copper Short Sword
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Wins (ties) !! Percentage Win (ties)
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Uber Dwarf || 0 wins (0 ties) || 0% (0% ties)
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Knights || 10 wins (0 ties) (74 survivors) || 100% (0% ties)
 +
|}
 +
<u>'''Results:'''</u> Not only did Uber Dwarf still lose, but there were even more survivors than before.  That was pretty shocking.  Was that mere chance?  Further testing re: copper vs. iron may be warranted.
 +
=== Uber Dwarf v. Copper Militia ===
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Test description:'''</u> Uber Dwarf fared pretty poorly vs. the simulated goblin knights.  So I downgraded the knights to militia.  These poor saps have mere adequate skills in everything and due to budget cuts only get bare bones equipment (Copper Mail Armor + Copper Helm + Copper High Boots + Copper Sword).
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Times run:'''</u> 10
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Number !! Skills !! Items
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Uber Dwarf || 1 || All Grandmaster || Super Stacked Ad. Armor + Ad. Battleaxe + Ad. Shield
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Militia || 10 || All Adequate || Copper Mail Shirt + Copper Helm + Copper High Boots + Copper Sword
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Wins (ties) !! Percentage Win (ties)
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Uber Dwarf || 0 wins (0 ties) || 0% (0% ties)
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Militia || 10 wins (0 ties) (51 survivors) || 100% (0% ties)
 +
|}
 +
<u>'''Results:'''</u> Ok, this is starting to shock me.  I expected Uber Dwarf to make mince meat out of these guys, but he utterly failed.  At least Uber Dwarf killed more of them than the knights.  Clearly numbers matter.
 +
 
 +
=== Uber Dwarf v. Peasants ===
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Test description:'''</u> Uber Dwarf is feeling pretty sad right now.  Perhaps slaughtering some unarmed unskilled peasants will help him feel better.  If he can’t beat these he needs to retire or find some friends.
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Times run:'''</u> 10
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Number !! Skills !! Items
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Uber Dwarf || 1 || All Grandmaster || Super Stacked Ad. Armor + Ad. Battleaxe + Ad. Shield
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Peasants || 10 || -no skills- || Nothing!
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Wins (ties) !! Percentage Win (ties)
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Uber Dwarf || 0 wins (0 ties) || 0% (0% ties)
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Peasants || 10 wins (0 ties) (46 survivors) || 100% (0% ties)
 +
|}
 +
<u>'''Results:'''</u> So apparently a mob of 10 unarmed unskilled peasants can take apart the most legendary warrior possible to obtain in Dwarf Fortress.  Uber Dwarf retires.
 +
 
 +
=== Dragon v. Shielded Peasants ===
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Test description:'''</u> So the Uber Dwarf failed and the peasants are getting uppity.  Time to test Dragon vs. Peasants.  This is intended to see whether size matters.  Peasants can batter a dwarf hero to death with their fists, but perhaps several feat of dragon muscle is too much for a dwarf fist to penetrate.  I gave peasants shields to nullify the dragon’s breath weapon.  Wooden shields because they are peasants and I read wooden shields work just as well.  Oaken shields naturally.
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Times run:'''</u> 1
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Number !! Skills !! Items
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Dragon || 1 || All Grandmaster || Nothing
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Peasants || 50 || -no skills- || Oaken Shield
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Wins (ties) !! Percentage Win (ties)
 +
|-
 +
| #1: Dragon || 1 wins (0 ties) || 100% (0% ties)
 +
|-
 +
| #2: Peasants || 0 wins (0 ties) (1 survivor) || 0% (0% ties)
 +
|}
 +
<u>'''Results:'''</u> So it was hard to see what happened with all the smoke but the peasants died pretty quick.  Hypotheses: (1) Burning grass roasted the peasants; (2) The first peasant to die from dragon claws got turned into a bonfire when the dragon next breathed which created a chain reaction of roasted peasants; (3) the shield of the first peasant to die became a bonfire and a roasting chain reaction; (4) wooden shield no longer block dragon fire.  Further tests coming.
 +
 
 +
 
 +
Amusingly, a single dwarf survived.  I suspect he teleported through an adjacent wall since he was uninjured.
 +
 
 +
= DF 2020 (v0.47.04) Tests =
 +
 
 +
== Combat fatigue and the skill 'Armor User' (by NeckRomancer) ==
 +
 
 +
Long fights makes dwarves very tired. When a dwarf gets too tired he or she will fall unconscious and become an easy target for the enemy. Can the skill 'Armor User' help a dwarf to fight for longer?
 +
 
 +
When someone is unconscious in combat, their foes start to do targetted head attacks with increased force. This can sometimes be seen in the combat log, a copper edged weapon that earlier couldn't damage a copper helm can now both damage and break that helmet. It's pretty rare but dwarves have also been observed using a "remove helm" action and immediately follow up with a deadly head-hit, this specific head targetting points towards an unconcious target. Strangulation appears to be the most common type of death, but that could be because of the test design and may not be true for real combat.
 +
 
 +
I don't know the attribute values of arena dwarves. My assumption is that they are identical, because dwarves in the arena all seem to tire around the same time. The median Endurance value of a dwarf is 1000, so this might be what Arena dwarves have. Since Fortress dwarves can double their initial attribute by training, one can expect them to do a bit better than an Arena dwarf.
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Times run:'''</u> 100 per set
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Initial setup:'''</u>
 +
Only dwarven females (gender should not matter), fighting in a 7x7 room, fighters start at opposite walls
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Number !! Skills !! Items
 +
|-
 +
| #1a: Dwarven elite, Armor User 0 || 1 || Fighter 14<br>Axeman 14<br>Dodge 14<br>Shield User 14 || Copper battle axe<br>Fungiwood shield<br>Copper mail shirt<br>Copper helm<br> Copper breastplate<br> Copper greaves<br> 2 Copper gauntlets<br>2 Copper High boots
 +
|-
 +
| #1b: Dwarven elite, Armor User 14 || 1 || Fighter 14<br>Axeman 14<br>Dodge 14<br>Shield User 14<br>Armor User 14 || Copper battle axe<br>Fungiwood shield<br>Copper mail shirt<br>Copper helm<br> Copper breastplate<br> Copper greaves<br> 2 Copper gauntlets<br>2 Copper High boots
 +
|-
 +
| #2a: 5 dwarven peasants || 5 || none || none
 +
|-
 +
| #2b: 7 dwarven peasants || 7 || none || none
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Results:'''</u>
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Victories !! Comment
 +
|-
 +
| #1a vs #2a: 1 elite (Armor User 0) vs 5 peasants || elite won 75/100 ||
 +
|-
 +
| #1a vs #2b: 1 elite (Armor User 0) vs 7 peasants || elite won 21/99 || 1 match ignored (stalemate, no winner)
 +
|-
 +
| #1b vs #2a: 1 elite (Armor User 14) vs 5 peasants || elite won 78/99 || 1 match ignored (stalemate, no winner)
 +
|-
 +
| #1b vs #2b: 1 elite (Armor User 14) vs 7 peasants || elite won 24/100 ||
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Tester's conclusion:'''</u>
 +
Endurance is a big factor in these fights, easily seen by the many flashing X's that appear. The fighters also gets the Tired, Exhausted and Over-exerted statuses. I run 100 matches at the same time, and the 1v7 took almost twice as long as the 1v5 to resolve, which hints at just how tired and useless they are near the end.
 +
 
 +
A high Armor User skill does not appear to help against exhaustion, since 0 and 14 skill have the same outcome. The slightly better performance of the Armor User 14's is not large enough to mean anything, it could be random noise. In the test below, no armor is used, and they actually perform better than in this test, very likely because they don't get tired as quickly.
 +
 
 +
 
 +
== Fighting outnumbered in open and narrow terrain (by NeckRomancer) ==
 +
 
 +
This test looks at the performance of a single very skilled fighter against a group of rookies in two types of terrain, a 7x7 room and a 1-wide tunnel. The win ratios will show us if the terrain has an impact on the outcome.
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Times run:'''</u> 100 per set in open, 50 per set in narrow
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Initial setup:'''</u>
 +
Only dwarven females (gender should not matter), fighting in a 7x7 room / 1x15 tunnel, fighters start at opposite walls
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Number !! Skills !! Items !! Terrain
 +
|-
 +
| #1a: Dwarven elite || 1 || Fighter 14<br>Axeman 14<br>Dodge 14<br>Shield User 14 || Copper battle axe<br>Fungiwood shield || 7x7 Room
 +
|-
 +
| #1b: Dwarven elite || 1 || Fighter 14<br>Axeman 14<br>Dodge 14<br>Shield User 14 || Copper battle axe<br>Fungiwood shield || 1x15 Tunnel
 +
|-
 +
| #2a: 1 dwarven peasants || 1 || none || Copper battle axe<br>Fungiwood shield
 +
|-
 +
| #2b: 3 dwarven peasants || 3 || none || Copper battle axe<br>Fungiwood shield
 +
|-
 +
| #2c: 5 dwarven peasants || 5 || none || Copper battle axe<br>Fungiwood shield
 +
|-
 +
| #2d: 7 dwarven peasants || 7 || none || Copper battle axe<br>Fungiwood shield
 +
|-
 +
| #2e: 10 dwarven peasants || 10 || none || Copper battle axe<br>Fungiwood shield
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Results:'''</u>
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Victories !! Comment
 +
|-
 +
| #1a vs #2a (1 elite vs 1 peasant) || elite won 100/100 || 7x7 room
 +
|-
 +
| #1a vs #2b (1 elite vs 3 peasants) || elite won 100/100 || 7x7 room
 +
|-
 +
| #1a vs #2c (1 elite vs 5 peasants) || elite won 87/100 || 7x7 room
 +
|-
 +
| #1a vs #2d (1 elite vs 7 peasants) || elite won 46/100 || 7x7 room
 +
|-
 +
| #1a vs #2e (1 elite vs 10 peasants) || elite won 4/100 || 7x7 room
 +
|-
 +
| #1b vs #2a (1 elite vs 1 peasant) || elite won 50/50 || 1x15 tunnel
 +
|-
 +
| #1b vs #2b (1 elite vs 3 peasants) || elite won 50/50 || 1x15 tunnel
 +
|-
 +
| #1b vs #2c (1 elite vs 5 peasants) || elite won 48/50 || 1x15 tunnel
 +
|-
 +
| #1b vs #2d (1 elite vs 7 peasants) || elite won 44/49 || 1x15 tunnel, 1 match ignored (stalemate, no winner)
 +
|-
 +
| #1b vs #2e (1 elite vs 10 peasants) || elite won 23/50 || 1x15 tunnel
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Tester's conclusion:'''</u>
 +
The narrow tunnel clearly gives the elite solo fighter an advantage. Exactly why is harder to say, probably many factors, below is some speculation.
 +
 
 +
A successful dodge always seem to move the character. Private tests I have run show that Dodge is more effective in 1v1 matches in open terrain, and less effective in a 1-wide tunnel. This is detrimental to the elite in the tunnel, since the high skill is wasted. On the other hand, one can suspect that a surrounded fighter will also suffer a reduced effect from Dodge since there are less free tiles to move to.
 +
 
 +
It is known that facing is a thing. Meaning that flanking attacks probably can't be shield blocked. The 1-wide tunnel should then make the shield more important since the solo fighter can only be flanked if the group can pass through him first.
 +
 
 +
A surrounded target should suffer more attacks in the same time-interval, increasing the odds of getting killed.
 +
 
 +
Endurance might play a role too. If the surrounded solo fighter must perform more defensive actions, she will get exhausted faster.
 +
 
 +
 
 +
== Combat skills and win ratios (by NeckRomancer) ==
 +
 
 +
A series of 1 vs 1 fights to see how important 'Weapon skill', 'Fighter', 'Dodger' and 'Shield User' is to the outcome. As well as a test to roughly estimate the importance of each skill at a specific skill level.
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Times run:'''</u> 100 per set (some tests were rerun for better precision, all data is included as separate sets)
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Initial setup:'''</u>
 +
Only dwarven females (gender should not matter), fighting in a 7x7 room, fighters start at opposite walls
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
! Side & Creature !! Number !! Skills !! Items
 +
|-
 +
| #1 and #2: Dwarf || 1 || Fighter<br>Axeman<br>Dodge<br>Shield User || Copper battle axe<br>Fungiwood shield
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
<u>'''Results:'''</u>
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 +
|-
 +
<