Editing v0.34:Crossbow

{{quality|Masterwork|04:05, 6 May 2012 (UTC)}}
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:''See [[Weapon]] for a general overview of weapons and related information.''
[[File:DaVinci Crossbow.JPG|thumb|220px|Sketch by Leonardo da Vinci, c. 1500]]
'''Crossbows''' are the only native ranged [[weapon]] available to dwarves (although one can also acquire blowguns and bows through trading or looting of failed [[siege]]s). While more difficult to set up than melee weapons, crossbows have the distinct advantage of allowing dwarves to fight at range, often killing enemies before they can enter melee distance. They are thus an excellent support weapon, especially if you have already filled out your <s>meat shields</s> melee squad(s).

== Production ==
Crossbows can be made from a variety of materials, be they [[wood]], [[bone]] or [[metal]]. Wooden and bone crossbows are made at a dedicated [[bowyer's workshop]] using the [[bowyer]] skill, whereas metal crossbows are made at a [[metalsmith's forge]] using the [[weaponsmithing]] skill. Crossbows shoot [[bolt]]s, which can be made in [[stack]]s of 25 (for wood and metal) or 5 (for bones) of the same materials; wooden and bone bolts are made at a [[craftsdwarf's workshop]], and metal bolts are made at a metalsmith's forge.

== Ranged combat ==
Crossbows shoot [[bolt]]s as their [[ammunition]], and will engage targets up to 20 tiles away, including shooting down z-levels. Shot bolts may miss the target and fly a bit further than intended, potentially striking another foe (but '''never''' a friendly soldier on the other side).

The material that the crossbows are made of are irrelevant to ranged combat, where the [[quality]] of the craftsmanship and [[skill]] of the marksdwarf determine accuracy, and the quality and material of the [[bolt]]s themselves (metal being better than bone being better than wood) determines damage. If you are confident your melee soldiers can keep your marksdwarves safe from melee engagements and have a skilled [[bowyer]], then easily-produced, high-quality wooden or bone crossbows are excellent equipment for your marksdwarves.

As can be expected, targets that are stationary are much easier to hit then those that are moving. Since marksdwarves can down targets at range, they do a much better job taking down fleeing thieves and goblin ambushes that your regular soldiers might not be able to catch.

== Melee combat ==
Nonetheless, marksdwarves that are approached by enemies will engage in melee combat with them, using the butt of their crossbows like [[Hammerman|hammers]]. Because of this it is useful to [[cross-training|cross-train]] your dwarves with hammering skill, so that they will be better able to stand their ground in a fight, but a marksdwarf fighting a similarly armed and armored enemy with a melee weapon will usually lose either way. Focusing their training in defensive skills such as Blocking and Dodging is much more convenient, since it lets them at least hold off the enemy long enough to give a soldier more suited for melee combat a chance to surprise the enemy and dispatch them quickly.

The denser the material, the more damage a crossbow butt-strike will do in melee combat. Metal, specifically copper with its SOLID_DENSITY of 8930, performs the best and wood the worst. This can actually be exploited when creating your [[fortress guard]]; equipping your soldiers with light wooden crossbows will reduce the severity of the [[Justice#Punishments|beatings]] they deliver while still allowing them to pincushion enemy soldiers with masterwork steel bolts.

== Logistics ==
Crossbows require bolts to fire, otherwise they are tantamount to useless. Bolts are typically carried in [[Equipment#Quivers|quivers]], which can be made of leather from [[leatherworking]], obtained from [[caravan|caravans]], or as [[goblinite]].

When shot, one of two things will happen: either the bolt will shatter on impact with the ground or the target, or it will stay whole and, when all's said and done, be retrievable. This is a bit difficult, however, as shot bolts are automatically [[forbidden]] by default; in the [[orders]] screen, under [F]orbid, you can change it so that shot ammunition is automatically claimed. Otherwise, the easiest way to reclaim spent ammunition is to to them in the [[stocks]] screen and unforbid them.

Military barracks for [[Soldier#Marksdwarves|marksdwarves]] require [[archery target]]s for training. Bolts will be a constant demand from a training marksdwarf squad; it is recommended to create a large stock of wooden bolts for training purposes, and reserve metal bolts for actual combat use.

== Hunting ==
[[Ambusher|Hunters]] use crossbows when hunting; [[migrant]] hunters automatically arrive with a free crossbow and a small number of bolts, and hunters will automatically pick one up from your ammunition stockpile when they go hunting, as well as the necessary [[quiver]] and [[bolt]]s. Hunters have a special [[Military_interface#Ammunition|section]] in the military screen, from which you can modify their ammunition allotment. Disabling the hunting labor will cause them to drop their weapon and equipment at the nearest applicable stockpile, and is absolutely necessary if you have embarked in a particularly [[evil|fun]] location. Hunters usually give up on hunting if they run out of carried ammunition.

==Bugs==
* If squad is assigned multiple ammo types, dwarves with "individual choice ranged" carry wrong ammo{{bug|1374}}.
* Crossbows can regularly pierce even adamantine armor with wooden bolts. Copper and other low-grade metals can do so virtually every time.{{bug|5516}}
{{Category|Weapons}}
{{Category|Military}}

=See Also=
[[Crossbowman]]<br/>
[[Archery]]