DF2014 Talk:Observer

Witnessing a fight trains observer?

My broker (one of my starting seven) currently has dabbling in observer. He hasn't been in a fight so the skill gain might have come from witnessing a fight (I had him about 2 squares away from an unarmed military dwarf trying to kill a dingo). I suspect that skill gain likely uses the same 7x7 square of stealth detection. Might try to test this later.208.75.97.75 22:46, 15 October 2014 (UTC)

Just recently started a new fort in 40.15. War dogs decided to start a fight with a giant moose cow and I decided to get some free military training. Urist McWitness who wasn't involved at all in the melee is currently gaining points in observer just by being nearby (3x1x0 tiles away). There seems to be a lot of point gain as well since my recent recruit is already at novice and was dabbling just seconds ago. Since the giant moose cow is exhausted and unconscious this cannot be because of attacks from said creature. I have about 10 war dogs ganging up on this poor thing plus two dwarves so that should explain the skill gain if it is based on 'observing' attacks of other creatures friendly or otherwise.

I think it can be considered confirmed that observer is trained by witnessing any random act of violence. Which should also enable us to figure out the mechanics behind observer fairly easily using special live training arenas to test to see how it works (and dwarf therapist to make the !science! easy). If the 'bug' that caused armor training from falls is still present it will also be interesting to note if falls result in observer point gains. 208.75.97.75 18:09, 11 November 2014 (UTC)

Yes, witnessing combat demonstrably gives observer skill. I let my military train inside meeting areas, and all civilians have some degree of observer skill (up to competent/skilled in two to three years). Several of the forts saw absolutely no combat apart from sparring.--Larix (talk) 21:13, 11 November 2014 (UTC)

How to train observer

An easy way to quickly train observer for an adventurer is to build a crap ton of cage traps in a player fortress then walk him past them.

Stealth detection mechanics

Testing reveals that even a highly skilled observer can only detect stealthed units up to 3 tiles away. That is, the detection area is a 7x7x7 cube centered on the observer, also requiring line-of-sight. An unskilled ambusher in stealth can walk near a grand master observer without being detected, as long as a distance of at least 4 tiles is maintained.

I don't believe the 3-tile detection range is relevant in this version. I've had a number of stealth invaders detected from much farther away--the most recent two were 17 x 10 x 4 and 20 x 4 x 3 tiles away from the nearest dwarf. (I'm using a surveillance track.)--Loci (talk) 18:56, 26 October 2014 (UTC)