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[dpedu]

Hey all! Just joined to ask about this :-).

I'm playing the latest on Yosemite, DF 40_24. I've set up a number of squads and through the schedule on the military screen set them to train for 1 month, and idle for the next 3. This way, I can have 4 squads share a barracks, and there will always be some squad members training there. This (seems) to work fine, I have a monthly rotation of dwarfs becoming soldiers or back to normal citizens.

However, the problem is with the barracks. My understanding from previous versions was that to get a squad to train at a specific barracks, you need to "allow" them by selecting selecting the squad name and pressing t, when inspecting the barracks room. Ive done this for the 4 squads I want to use the barracks.

The problem is that all of the dwarves in all 4 squads for this barracks all flock there and begin training. Shouldn't only the dwarves in an active squad assigned to the barracks come? I'm aware that idle dwarfs in a squad will come to their barracks to train, but this doesn't seem to be the case. They ignore all other jobs.

Any ideas what's up? Or am I doing something wrong? My method seems to align with what the DF wiki says about barracks.

[Verjigorm]

What is your schedulign set up like?   Active/Training and Inactive? 

Also, after your dorfs get enough discipline, they seem to prefer training over anything else.   

Just stick'em in there for a year, and then rotate'em out of the military.   They'll have super dorf attributes and make better haulers.

[dpedu]

What is your schedulign set up like?   Active/Training and Inactive? 

Also, after your dorfs get enough discipline, they seem to prefer training over anything else.   

Just stick'em in there for a year, and then rotate'em out of the military.   They'll have super dorf attributes and make better haulers.

The schedule is either "Train" or "No scheduled order".

I think you're right though, just sticking one crew in for a year and moving on might be a lot easier...

[taptap]

This way, I can have 4 squads share a barracks, and there will always be some squad members training there.

The problem is that all of the dwarves in all 4 squads for this barracks all flock there and begin training.

Any ideas what's up?

Multiple squads can train in a barracks.

Individual training (for members of inactive squads or squads w/ "no scheduled order") has a far too high priority in recent editions. Best to unassign barracks (maybe even temporarily free the room to get the message across to dwarves still training) for inactive squads, if you want them to be actually demobilised and working.

my setup:
I train melee dwarves exclusively in active squads training permanently. Inactive squads have no assigned barracks. Marksdwarves receive training as hammerdwarves first and then join an inactive marksdwarf squad (which is sufficient for frequent training at the ranges as long as I provide ammunition).

[Naryar]

You should just train your squads all the time, unless they are reservists.

And you can stack 20 squads to train at the same time in the same barracks. It'll be crowded but it'll work just fine.

[Verjigorm]

IS there really a point to Marksdwarves right now?   Their suicidal tendancy to engage in melee sort of precludes using them as a fortress defence force behind fortifications unless you roof'em in so they can do anything dumb.    And they will probably still do something dumb.   

It also seems like crossbows are less powerful than previously.   

[taptap]

IS there really a point to Marksdwarves right now?

They can cripple/kill (non-ranged) enemies while they can't fight back. This sounds like a major advantage.

[PatrikLundell]

Marksdwarves can, as taptap says, be used to engage melee only enemies that appear close to preprepared enclosed fortifications, such as alongside approach tunnels or trapping tunnels with fortification walls (don't forget to ensure there is a roof over the fortification tiles!). They can also be stationed in a completely enclosed courtyard with fortification walls.
They will still do something dumb in the form of "Oh, I'm out of bolts so I can't fire at the enemy any more and I can't charge them to whack them with my crossbow. Stuff my orders. I'd better go pick up some bolts so I can do archery training, since I can't fire at the enemy now".

I don't use marksdwarves for two reasons:
1. Too clunky for what you get.
2. I'm using a 50 dwarf fortress, so I don't have hordes of idle useless dwarves that might be of some marginal use that way.

[Aslandus]

The main reason for marksdwarves is so your melee dwarves will be more effective, the bolts wound the enemies then the melee dwarves chop them apart. Sometimes they get lucky and tear an artery, but many people choose not to use them because they are a lot of trouble for less visible return unless you are having them hunt while off duty...

As for training, there's no real reason you need to space out training, unless you want your squads to spend a few months patrolling your fortress between training sessions...