Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Zeebie]

If a squad's ammunition is set up as:

Bolts            CT
Metal bolts   C

Will they use metal bolts for training?

[Maulkin]

http://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/Bolts

http://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/DF2012:Crossbow#Ranged_combat

http://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/Archery

...

[Garath]

looks like yes, though only if those are part of the bolts claimed as "bolts"

[smakemupagus]

Yes, what you probably want is

Bolts C
Wooden bolts CT
Bone bolts CT

[Zeebie]

Yes, what you probably want is

Bolts C
Wooden bolts CT
Bone bolts CT

I think you're right - but I'm using a mod with dozens of different kinds of materials for bolts, and I'm trying to figure out a way to instruct them to use metal bolts for combat, and train with everything else.

[Wastedlabor]

Make them train with the 3 more abundant non-combat materials and stockpile the rest until they build up.

[Finn]

http://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/Bolts

http://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/DF2012:Crossbow#Ranged_combat

http://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/Archery

...

When a new user asks a specific question, what help is it to post links to wiki pages that don't have the answer?

[Garath]

in fairness, when you rephrase the op question as "are metal bolts also bolts and will they be used when I tell dwarfs to use bolts", a useless wiki-refering reply isn't really worth picking on

[Avelon]

in fairness, when you rephrase the op question as "are metal bolts also bolts and will they be used when I tell dwarfs to use bolts", a useless wiki-refering reply isn't really worth picking on

Because new users are totally going to understand Dwarf Logic that comes as second nature to the experienced player and automatically rephrase their question until the Wiki page answers it.

Sometimes what is obvious to one is a harrowing, hair-pulling, unfathomable mystery to another. Without the requisite knowledge that 'bolt' references every item which is of type 'bolt' (the very spirit of the question IS this in fact), those links are not useful or relevant to the topic. Another thread where someone asked a similar question would however be relevant and useful and would have negated any need for further replies.

[Finn]

in fairness, when you rephrase the op question as "are metal bolts also bolts and will they be used when I tell dwarfs to use bolts", a useless wiki-refering reply isn't really worth picking on

Without the requisite knowledge that 'bolt' references every item which is of type 'bolt' (the very spirit of the question IS this in fact), those links are not useful or relevant to the topic.

Yes.  And furthermore the spirit of the question was, is the setting for general "bolt" inclusive, or is the setting for the particular "metal bolt" exclusive?  It could be either.

Anyway, although I did find the wiki answer snotty, which I fully believe was the intention, my point was primarily that if you are going to be snotty about pointing out the existence of the wiki, it should at least answer the question that was asked.  Otherwise you have just validated the OPs forum posting. 

[jimboo]

There’s a bug in the current release.  If you don’t mind using bugs, then,

There is no reason to use training bolts and there’s no need to train marksdwarves.  ToadyOne confirmed in one of the talks that a Novice marksdwarf using a masterwork crossbow firing masterwork bolts does incredible damage at range.  And bolts are also buggy, often compared to “flying sledgehammers” by those doing !!!Science!!! since they pretty much ignore armor.  Since tetrahedite is everwhere, I train weaponsmiths making silver bolts and that’s all my dwarves use.  “T” for training is disabled when equipping and that eliminates the switch-out problem.  Once you’re making masterwork silver bolts, they’re as good as any other. 

[Dwarvinator]

I've always avoided producing masterwork bolts. If someone loses one, doesn't that cause a very bad, bad thought to the weaponsmith who created such a stunning object?
And seriously, doesn't training improve the hit-rate of archers? Mine are all packing masterwork crossbows - does this mean I may as well cancel the Bronze Colossus Pincushion Project?

[Garath]

destroyed masterwork happyness hit decreases with the number of masterworks made. I wonder if (25) bolts count as 25 masterworks

[jimboo]

I've always avoided producing masterwork bolts. If someone loses one, doesn't that cause a very bad, bad thought to the weaponsmith who created such a stunning object?
And seriously, doesn't training improve the hit-rate of archers? Mine are all packing masterwork crossbows - does this mean I may as well cancel the Bronze Colossus Pincushion Project?

Not so much, for the reason listed below by Eddings fan Garath.  If you have ONE masterwork stolen by a thief, tantrum.  If there are a hundred lying about, no one much cares.  “Practice does make better,” if not perfect, but Novice is still good enough.  Most players don’t use fems in squads because of the tyke factor but, as marksdwarves patrolling the center surface and the central corridors, they’re fine and they’ll still get lots of practice with every thief or badger that comes by.  I have one squad of (male) marksdwarves with hunting dogs (never actually needed) that lead the charge when I defend an incoming caravan.  They start firing as soon as within range and Second squad then comes up and engages in melee.  No goblin ever gets past Sloppy Seconds to get to the marksdwarves and dogs.  The fems, they stay inside the inner walls; my sieges tend to come with flying elite bowmen and even a Novice targeting a bat with masterwork crossbow and bolts will take it down in short order.  Ten Novices = short work of bowmen.  As to the Colossus: good luck with that – it takes a LOT of bolt damage to have any effect.  Blue axes, on the other hand …

destroyed masterwork happyness hit decreases with the number of masterworks made. I wonder if (25) bolts count as 25 masterworks

Yep.

[Garath]

in that case, sell a few stacks to a trader, a lot of them get destroyed in shooting and don't cause an unhappy thought... The remaining few won't cause a problem