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Author Topic: Goblin ambush has only one giant bat.  (Read 583 times)

someone12345

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Goblin ambush has only one giant bat.
« on: January 13, 2014, 06:52:29 pm »

Something weird happened lately. While I was playing, the ambush message showed up. When I zoomed over, I saw a single war giant bat. I quickly ordered everyone inside, then waited. The bat walked towards my fort, then took to the wing. It flew towards my fortress, then back away, over, and over, and over again. Eventually, after about half a month, I killed it with dfhack. What happened?
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Witty

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Re: Goblin ambush has only one giant bat.
« Reply #1 on: January 13, 2014, 08:37:35 pm »

Well, the most likely answer is that the ambush was afflicted with some bizarre and obscure bug. Maybe the local goblin civ didn't actually have any goblins? Or at the very least had a very small population. Small population pools tend to make migrants buggy, so it could work the same way with assaults.

As for the odd pathing, flying creature AI is notoriously non-functioning, especially for flying invaders.

Does the dead unit tab bring up any other creatures that could have also been a part of the ambush? 
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someone12345

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Re: Goblin ambush has only one giant bat.
« Reply #2 on: January 13, 2014, 08:43:41 pm »

Well, the most likely answer is that the ambush was afflicted with some bizarre and obscure bug. Maybe the local goblin civ didn't actually have any goblins? Or at the very least had a very small population. Small population pools tend to make migrants buggy, so it could work the same way with assaults.

The goblins are fine, they once sent Six ambushes within two minuets of each other

Does the dead unit tab bring up any other creatures that could have also been a part of the ambush? 


No.
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Cocoprimate

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Re: Goblin ambush has only one giant bat.
« Reply #3 on: January 14, 2014, 12:14:12 pm »

I think what happened is that you were ambushed by goblins who were sneaking and the only creature that failed the stealth check was the bat, who was the mount of a goblin.

I've had this happen before with elves. I'd get the ambush alert, zoom over and see 35 horses prancing around the entrance. I thought, the elves have sent their ponies to besiege me, but no, after the dwarves sallied out the elves riding the horses were revealed.
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someone12345

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Re: Goblin ambush has only one giant bat.
« Reply #4 on: January 14, 2014, 04:52:47 pm »

I think what happened is that you were ambushed by goblins who were sneaking and the only creature that failed the stealth check was the bat, who was the mount of a goblin.

I've had this happen before with elves. I'd get the ambush alert, zoom over and see 35 horses prancing around the entrance. I thought, the elves have sent their ponies to besiege me, but no, after the dwarves sallied out the elves riding the horses were revealed.

No, if one member of an ambush is detected, then they all become visible. Besides, I checked the populations using dfhack and there were no goblins.
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DogsRNice

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Re: Goblin ambush has only one giant bat.
« Reply #5 on: January 14, 2014, 06:35:47 pm »

it just sounds like you encountered a rare bug
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Cocoprimate

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Re: Goblin ambush has only one giant bat.
« Reply #6 on: January 14, 2014, 07:36:56 pm »

Quote
No, if one member of an ambush is detected, then they all become visible. Besides, I checked the populations using dfhack and there were no goblins.

Not if it's only a war animal. I know because I have experienced it several times in my fort.
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Deon

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Re: Goblin ambush has only one giant bat.
« Reply #7 on: January 16, 2014, 10:50:31 am »

Yes, I also saw single bats flying around. There was an ambush leader on top of it, and goblins following him. As soon as you killed the bat, they must have all escaped. I mean I've encountered it a few times myself. Also if there were no goblins when you checked and you did it correctly, it could mean that goblins escaped the moment their mount was detected.
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