Print

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

[TheFreshPrince]

Do skilled dwarves facing superior numbers have the advantage fighting in tight corridors? I figured this would logically make sense, but wondered if DF mechanics work that way.

I did notice that one of my legendary spear dwarves, facing a horde of goblins in a narrow shaft, was constantly using his shield to bash things instead of his spear to stab for a long while. Maybe because of the small fighting area? Or just happenstance?

[pisskop]

Do skilled dwarves facing superior numbers have the advantage fighting in tight corridors? I figured this would logically make sense, but wondered if DF mechanics work that way.

I did notice that one of my legendary spear dwarves, facing a horde of goblins in a narrow shaft, was constantly using his shield to bash things instead of his spear to stab for a long while. Maybe because of the small fighting area? Or just happenstance?

Inside is always safer.  Especially against slow or superior numbers.

Stick together.  Put your rangers before your melee, and pull them back asap.  Also make a habit of using bridges or w.e. to divide up the enemy force into more manageable forces.

[WanderingKid]

Stick together.  Put your rangers before your melee, and pull them back asap.  Also make a habit of using bridges or w.e. to divide up the enemy force into more manageable forces.

The problem with this is once your bowmen are engaged they won't respect move orders while they have a target.  Once they're fighting, they won't pull back. 

[pisskop]

Stick together.  Put your rangers before your melee, and pull them back asap.  Also make a habit of using bridges or w.e. to divide up the enemy force into more manageable forces.

The problem with this is once your bowmen are engaged they won't respect move orders while they have a target.  Once they're fighting, they won't pull back. 

Make sure they have bolts.  The idea is to have the enemy target them while the melee targets the enemy.  I consider crossbowmen somewhat more expendable.  And I also keep lightly armored ones around.

[TheFreshPrince]

Do skilled dwarves facing superior numbers have the advantage fighting in tight corridors? I figured this would logically make sense, but wondered if DF mechanics work that way.

I did notice that one of my legendary spear dwarves, facing a horde of goblins in a narrow shaft, was constantly using his shield to bash things instead of his spear to stab for a long while. Maybe because of the small fighting area? Or just happenstance?

Inside is always safer.  Especially against slow or superior numbers.

Stick together.  Put your rangers before your melee, and pull them back asap.  Also make a habit of using bridges or w.e. to divide up the enemy force into more manageable forces.

Nvm, gonna make an actual thread about this at some point.

[Baffler]

It actually is possible to order a retreat, in a sense, by taking dwarves off-duty. Sometimes they stand and fight, but more often they will flee the field.

[Larix]

I haven't explored the particularities, but surrounded units can be attacked "from the side" or "from behind" and according to my experience, such attacks are much more likely to hit/be effective. So yes, fighting in confined spaces strongly favours those who have lower numbers but good skill. I had great success fighting off full sieges (in .34.11) in narrow, winding corridors - six soldiers were enough to comfortable handle ~80 goblins and their mounts.

[Saiko Kila]

I did notice that one of my legendary spear dwarves, facing a horde of goblins in a narrow shaft, was constantly using his shield to bash things instead of his spear to stab for a long while. Maybe because of the small fighting area? Or just happenstance?

Spears have tendency to stick in wounds, and dwarves often do not take them back (it takes time), so they have to use other hand, for example with a shield. Maybe that was a reason. Dwarves gain possession of spears automatically if they dodge away, but chance of that is probably smaller in a narrow corridor. Just a thought.

[pisskop]

It actually is possible to order a retreat, in a sense, by taking dwarves off-duty. Sometimes they stand and fight, but more often they will flee the field.

This too.  Archers are much, much more likely to stick around, though.

[AmpsterMan]

Spears have tendency to stick in wounds, and dwarves often do not take them back (it takes time), so they have to use other hand, for example with a shield. Maybe that was a reason.

I did not know this. Would it make sense to equip our dwarves with a admitted for when this happens? Will they switch our just continue shield bashing?.

[pisskop]

Spears have tendency to stick in wounds, and dwarves often do not take them back (it takes time), so they have to use other hand, for example with a shield. Maybe that was a reason.

I did not know this. Would it make sense to equip our dwarves with a admitted for when this happens? Will they switch our just continue shield bashing?.

I dont think they will use a sidearm thats not already in their hands any more than they will pick up a dropped weapons.  But Toady is doing a major combat overhaul, so standby for it.

[StagnantSoul]

I did some arena runs, giving the dwarves steel spears and swords. As soon as the spear got stuck, slashing was a common sight out of them. But they were struck down quite simply by archers, whereas the squad with shields just blocked them.

[Findulidas]

I prefer traps anyway. Giant serrated blades splattering goblins all over is pretty neat tbh. Just keep the cages first so the zombies dont needlessly multiply by being slashed to pieces.