40d:Crossbowman

Dwarfs (called marksdwarfs) or other creatures armed with crossbows deal "pierce" damage from a long distance (around 60 tiles max?). While also doing decent general damage, a bolt does a fine job at piercing the internal organs of a creature, which can possibly cause organ failure and instant death, unconsciousness or crippling of any size target. This is of limited use against creatures without internal organs, such as magma men. Occasionally a bolt will get stuck in a target; the only known use for this is that a wrestling dwarf may grab the bolt and twist it in the wound.

Increasing Marksman skill requires a successful hit upon a target, with "live targets" granting more experience than an archery target^[Verify]. Higher skill grants better accuracy and higher rate of fire. An archery range is only used by military dwarves that are off duty, and they will only use wood or bone bolts during practice.

A marksdwarf who is forced into melee will use the hammerdwarf skill to bash enemies with their crossbow.

Immigrating marksdwarves bring their own crossbows and 30-40 bolts. Immigrating trappers often arrive with Novice Marksdwarf skill, though will only bring a crossbow and bolts if they also have ambusher skill. (Ambushers you bring with you will also bring a crossbow and bolts, regardless of their marksdwarf skill.)

V · T · E Skills
Miner	Miner
Woodworker	Bowyer · Carpenter · Wood cutter
Stoneworker	Engraver · Mason
Ranger	Ambusher · Animal caretaker · Animal dissector · Animal trainer · Trapper
Farmer	Brewer · Butcher · Cheese maker · Cook · Dyer · Grower · Herbalist · Lye maker · Milker · Miller · Potash maker · Soaper · Tanner · Thresher · Wood burner
Fishery worker	Fish cleaner · Fish dissector · Fisherdwarf
Metalsmith	Armorsmith · Furnace operator · Metal crafter · Blacksmith · Weaponsmith
Jeweler	Gem cutter · Gem setter
Craftsdwarf	Bone carver · Clothier · Glassmaker · Leatherworker · Stone crafter · Strand extractor · Weaver · Wood crafter
Engineer	Mechanic · Pump operator · Siege engineer · Siege operator
Administrator	Appraiser · Building designer · Organizer · Record keeper
Military	General Armor user · Shield user · Wrestler Dwarven Axeman · Crossbowman · Hammerman · Maceman · Spearman · Swordsman Other Blowgunner · Bowman · Knife user · Lasher · Pikeman
Social	Broker Comedian · Conversationalist · Flatterer · Intimidator · Judge of intent · Liar · Negotiator · Persuader Other Consoler · Pacifier
Other/Peasant	Swimmer · Thrower
Unused	Alchemist · Druid · Tracker