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[Suleiman]

Hello all! In my noobish experiments, I had decided to make a new fort based off of the *little* information I know about the game. As one never truly knows the depths of uncertainty DF presents at any given time. I had gotten far in the fort setup, when we were attacked by a Giant Hedgehog early in the spring of the second year. So, while one-after-another dwarf becomes vengeful after a brutally beaten Hedgehog invaded (rendered unconscious by the savage beating of 6 dwarven fists), one of my dwarf children joins the fray.

The Hedgehog is too tall for any one-dwarf to attack it's head, so its upper body is being beaten for about 6 pages worth of fist-related chat logs over a period of 3 weeks. However, everyone fighting is now a legendary observer or better. People that even ran past and ignored the mob of vengeful dwarves/viciously beaten hedgehog are atleast novice (some haulers became competent) for Observer.
This small child is now named, and is a Grand master observer.

So, What I recommend everyone do, to atleast in some way curb the *mostly* uselessness of dwarven children, would be to make them observe fights. This skill is rather useful, and ensures a relatively smooth survival through-ought adulthood, barring any unnatural or dangerous beasts/mists/undead/anythingthatkillsyourdorf.
You could move all children to live in or gather around your Colosseum, and have them observe the ways of your military, as they administer savage beatings to whatever you have caged up. Supposing your fortress lives long enough to make use of these children, you will have a viable stream of militant dwarves at your disposal for your military daft.


Think of it as a more humane version of Dwarven Child care.   

EDIT: This is on version 40.24

[Bumber]

The Hedgehog is too tall for any one-dwarf to attack it's head...

I don't think tallness is an actual consideration yet.

Bystanders can gain observer from watching regular militia sparring as well. Just put your barracks in your meeting/dining area.

[Sadrice]

The reason for everyone hitting the upper body is this line in the Hedgehog raws:

Code: [Select]

[RETRACT_INTO_BP:BY_CATEGORY:BODY_UPPER:roll into a ball:rolls into a ball:unroll:unrolls]It rolls into a ball, exposing only the upper body.  Since it's very large, unarmed dwarves can't do much to hurt it.

[Badger Storm]

Honestly, I was expecting the use of a drawbridge to fling them at goblins as living projectiles.

This is actually a pretty good idea though.  What does observer help with, again?

[KingBacon]

This is neat and useful. Thanks. I usually just burrow my childrens deep into the slag pits.

[Freak]

Honestly, I was expecting the use of a drawbridge to fling them at goblins as living projectiles.

This is actually a pretty good idea though.  What does observer help with, again?

Found it on the Wiki http://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/DF2014:Observer

So basically it helps them spot sneaking units and anticipate how an opponent will attack.

[Niddhoger]

At what distance can observer be trained, though? Are we talking about witnessing fights within 20 tiles, 10, 5?

[taptap]

I don't know about the distance, but since sparring works, it should be no problem to train observer that way. When I had an experienced squad spar in the meeting area the youngsters were beyond legendary (with serious improvements in observer related attributes) well before their second birthday, with a fresh squad it is slower, if you do this continuously focus, intention and spatial sense may max out just from observer... But is this really all you want to teach them - with 10 more years of childhood remaining?

[Thisfox]

The Hedgehog is too tall for any one-dwarf to attack it's head...

I don't think tallness is an actual consideration yet.

The reason for everyone hitting the upper body is this line in the Hedgehog raws:

Code: [Select]

[RETRACT_INTO_BP:BY_CATEGORY:BODY_UPPER:roll into a ball:rolls into a ball:unroll:unrolls]It rolls into a ball, exposing only the upper body.  Since it's very large, unarmed dwarves can't do much to hurt it.

Interesting. So when the Giant attacked me (not a hedgehog: presumably a humanoid giant) how come he didn't have any injuries on his head, only on his feet, lower legs, hands & lower arms? I assumed the dorfs could only reach his feet and lower legs, and his hands and arms had been hurt by the dorfs he picked up, stripped and threw. I take it that it was just luck?

[Hectonkhyres]

Bystanders can gain observer from watching regular militia sparring as well. Just put your barracks in your meeting/dining area.

Thanks to this post, sweaty dwarven brawlers are now acting as the poledancers in my fort's Hooters stripclub.

[Baffler]

So what you're saying is that dwarves actually get something out of watching arena fights now?

Sweet.