Learning

v50.14 · v0.47.05 This article is about the current version of DF. Note that some content may still need to be updated. More Info · V

Learning creatures (those with the CAN_LEARN creature tag) may increase their skills through practice and use; conversely, creatures that cannot learn will never experience a skill increase. [CAN_LEARN] and [CAN_SPEAK] are implied by [INTELLIGENT]. Creatures with [CAN_LEARN] will improve their social skills when standing near other members of their own species, but not when standing near [CAN_LEARN] members of other species.

Creatures which can learn are considered intelligent for the purpose of assigning ethics. In general, your dwarves will refuse to butcher the remains of any intelligent creature, though they can be assigned to slaughter a tame intelligent creature. The butchered remains will not be consumed, and can be assigned a casket. However, the eggs, milk and cheese of intelligent creatures can be eaten as normal.

While enemy or unaffiliated intelligent creatures have no needs, tame intelligent creatures need to eat and drink, and are unable to drink booze or use wells or flasks. If they have tags for dietary requirements, such as [GRAZER], [BONECARN], [CARNIVORE], [HUNTS_VERMIN], or [DIVE_HUNTS_VERMIN], they will not eat any food which does not satisfy these requirements.

Although intelligent creatures belonging to other civilizations will not breed, wild, native, or tame intelligent creatures will. Intelligent creatures born into your civilization as pets will receive a Dwarven name at their time of birth.

Tame intelligent creatures with the [BABY] tag which give live birth will hold on to their offspring until the baby grows into a child; but egg-layers will not nurse their hatchlings. Since intelligent creatures require food and drink, and babies cannot see to their own needs, [BABY] tags are not recommended for intelligent egg-layers.