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[simonb]

Im attempting to build a castle at the enterence of my fortress and want to know if dwarves can shoot their crossbows at enemies from above or not?

I want to build towers a few z levels above the enterence with the aim of stationing crossbowmen there to shoot through fortifications at the attackers below during a siege. Is this possible?

[Crustypeanut]

Yeah they can, although it depends on the angle of course.  I frequently have archers posted one z-level above the ground who shoot at incoming enemies.

[Agent_86]

Marksdwarves can shoot from higher than the target, but the higher they go the lower their effective range.

[krisslanza]

I think the only thing that can't fire between z-levels is ballistae? At least, the wiki seems to imply that.

[Girlinhat]

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___|___Your range is a diamond shape, you will lose range at a rate of 1 tile per z-level.  Otherwise it's possible, if you account for ceilings and allow line of sight.

NINJA: Siege engines cannot cross Z's at all, catapults are linear.

[simonb]

Thanks guys. What about the fortifications? Will they effect my plan at all?

[Agent_86]

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___|___Your range is a diamond shape, you will lose range at a rate of 1 tile per z-level.  Otherwise it's possible, if you account for ceilings and allow line of sight.

NINJA: Siege engines cannot cross Z's at all, catapults are linear.

Also remember that if you have higher fortifications, if the enemy gets right next to your towers your marksdwarves won't be able to see them.

EDIT:

Thanks guys. What about the fortifications? Will they effect my plan at all?

Fortifications will have a higher chance of blocking enemy projectiles the further away the shot is fired from the fortification.  So fortifications are a good thing, they'll (at least partially) protect your marksdwarves from enemy rangers.

[Telgin]

The only other thing to remember about fortifications is that there is a skill requirement to be able to shoot out of them unless the unit is right next to the fortification.  They don't have any special effect on z-levels really.  As far as I know, the line of sight cuts off just like shooting into holes right next to the dwarf.

[Girlinhat]

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@F_gYou shoot them.

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@_F_gYou don't shoot them until you get to rank 8 "Great" in weapon skill (ie, elite marksdwarf), at which point fortifications are ignored.

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@_FgYou get shot.

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@_F_gNo one is shooting at all.

Keep in mind that an elite goblin bowman will ignore your fortifications and mow down your dwarves, so ALWAYS give marksdwarves shields and armor.

[twilightdusk]

I notice nobody's mentioned yet that there's a blind spot you have to worry about if you're up Z-levels, a bolt can't go down a z-level without also moving in one other direction, so if, say, you have a dwarf 3 z-levels up from the base of a tower, a goblin right next to the tower, a space away, or two spaces away will be in a blind spot where your marksdwarf can't hit him.

Between that and your maximum range being effectively reduced for each Z-level you go up, it's not a good idea to have your marksdwarves be more than a few Z-levels above the ground.

[simonthedwarf]

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@F_gYou shoot them.

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@_F_gYou don't shoot them until you get to rank 8 "Great" in weapon skill (ie, elite marksdwarf), at which point fortifications are ignored.

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@_FgYou get shot.

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@_F_gNo one is shooting at all.

Keep in mind that an elite goblin bowman will ignore your fortifications and mow down your dwarves, so ALWAYS give marksdwarves shields and armor.

I keep removing my shields thinking crossbows are 2 handed or that it reduces accuracy having a shield. But I am wrong, aren't I?

[Crustypeanut]

Dwarves use the ingenious 1-handed crossbow! Reloads with one hand, leaving your other hand free for a shield! Or a baby! Or two babies! Or a barrel of booze!

 

[simonb]

ahhhhhhhh!!!!! I just built the most elaborate castle with spots for my crossbowdwarves to shoot from, 3 archery ranges with 30 dwarves to train in them only to find that archery is broken in the new version! I feel like atom smashing something!!!

[Urist Da Vinci]

This is a good time to mention that floor grates and floor bars actually block line of sight and line of fire.

[krenshala]

The only other thing to remember about fortifications is that there is a skill requirement to be able to shoot out of them unless the unit is right next to the fortification.  They don't have any special effect on z-levels really.  As far as I know, the line of sight cuts off just like shooting into holes right next to the dwarf.

Thats what a two or three tile wide moat is for.