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Author Topic: Squad not attacking target?  (Read 1331 times)

Kestrel

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Squad not attacking target?
« on: April 15, 2011, 08:33:25 pm »
I settled a glacier, deciding not to fear the first cavern for lumber gathering, so long as I properly trapped the entrance, etc etc.

I also set my woodcutter to be a proficient axedwarf, and put him in charge of a squad of one.  Eventually, a giant bat got in a heated argument with my miners over whether they should live or not, and I designated the bat as a kill target for Urist McAxedorf.  On the unit page, it listed his job as "Kill Giant Bat," but he just stood completely still.  The bat managed to make it down a 3-wide hall, so I'm positive there was nothing blocking or preventing my axedwarf from attacking the creature.  Instead, he just remained in my weapon/armor storage pile.

While I suspect the problem may lie with how his weapon designation was set up.  Initially I designated a specific axe for him, but when he didn't budge I just told him to use whatever the hell he wants.  Still nothing.  The axes were also free and not being held by another dorf.

Thoughts?
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Goblin 6 (to Goblin 7): I heard that I died.
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Goblin 6 (to Goblin 7): It was inevitable.
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Sarda

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Re: Squad not attacking target?
« Reply #1 on: April 15, 2011, 08:35:32 pm »
Any other labors enabled? If he's a woodcutter and the woodcutting labor is enabled, I think it stops him from doing stuff.

Also, are you SURE there's nothing weird blocking his path?
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Kestrel

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Re: Squad not attacking target?
« Reply #2 on: April 15, 2011, 08:38:40 pm »
Quote from: Sarda on April 15, 2011, 08:35:32 pm
Any other labors enabled? If he's a woodcutter and the woodcutting labor is enabled, I think it stops him from doing stuff.
Really?  So a woodcutter in an active squad designated to kill a target would just cancel out all his jobs and stand around?  Hrmm..

At any rate, I backed up the save before I cracked into the cavern.  I'm very extremely determined to make Frosthalls my best fort, despite no surface vegetation/forestry...  I guess if it happens again I'll try disabling other labors, but that just doesn't sound right to me.
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Goblin 6 (to Goblin 7): I heard that I died.
Goblin 7 (to Goblin 6): I died.
Goblin 6 (to Goblin 7): It was inevitable.
Goblin 7 (to Goblin 6): It was inevitable.

Sarda

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Re: Squad not attacking target?
« Reply #3 on: April 15, 2011, 08:40:38 pm »
Well, I know that having both labors enabled makes him drop his axe. Unless you designate one axe for cutting wood and one axe for killing, he'll stand around like a useless lump.
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Quote from: Zdrok on May 02, 2011, 07:43:38 pm
You'll have to provide warm, moist kittens at the end of each test chamber.
Quote from: Necro910 on May 20, 2011, 04:20:57 pm
Dwarf Fortress:
Where 9% of your town is casualties, is good.

Kestrel

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Re: Squad not attacking target?
« Reply #4 on: April 15, 2011, 08:41:40 pm »
Then I bet you've nailed it.  Thanks for the tip!
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Goblin 6 (to Goblin 7): I heard that I died.
Goblin 7 (to Goblin 6): I died.
Goblin 6 (to Goblin 7): It was inevitable.
Goblin 7 (to Goblin 6): It was inevitable.

krenshala

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Re: Squad not attacking target?
« Reply #5 on: April 15, 2011, 08:42:40 pm »
Give him a move order to station near the bat or, preferably, ahead of it so the bat comes to him.  If he's in an active squad he should attack it as soon as he sees it.

My guess, based on similar experiences, is that the squad member(s) don't "see" the target of their kill order so they claim they can't path to it.  I've had one dwarf in an 8-dorf squad charge the kill order target while the other seven listed "cannot follow orders" before.  The one that didn't have a problem happened to be a z-level up from the rest, and where he had direct LOS with the goblin they were tasked with killing.
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Kestrel

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Re: Squad not attacking target?
« Reply #6 on: April 15, 2011, 08:45:47 pm »
Interesting.  I'll keep that in mind as well.  Thank you.
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Goblin 6 (to Goblin 7): I heard that I died.
Goblin 7 (to Goblin 6): I died.
Goblin 6 (to Goblin 7): It was inevitable.
Goblin 7 (to Goblin 6): It was inevitable.

Kestrel

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Re: Squad not attacking target?
« Reply #7 on: April 15, 2011, 10:27:22 pm »
Well I removed all jobs from the unit and just gave him a simple move order and all he would do is stand still in an armor/weapon stockpile.

Could this be an equipping error?
Logged
Goblin 6 (to Goblin 7): I heard that I died.
Goblin 7 (to Goblin 6): I died.
Goblin 6 (to Goblin 7): It was inevitable.
Goblin 7 (to Goblin 6): It was inevitable.