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[ral]

I know it gets more complicated if you decided to have several start with combat skills, because some might be able to teach the others their speciality, but what is the best set of skills to start one combat dwarf with when you only have 10 points?

[Telgin]

Someone with more recent experience can probably chime in, but I always embark with a soldier with at least 4-5 levels of dodger skill.  That's helpful under any combat circumstances, and as the saying goes an ounce of prevention by dodging attacks is worth a pound of cure by needing armor or staying in a hospital.

That soldier usually gets 4 levels of a weapon skill, and a level or two in teacher depending on how I spread the skills exactly.  I don't know if teacher is actually that useful, but I was under the impression that it was good to help train new recruits up.  I wouldn't be surprised to learn that its impact was minimal though, especially at levels 1-2.

[Flying Dice]

Exact levels can vary, but I always take a level or two in Teacher (allows them to conduct demonstrations) and Leader (allows them to teach weapon skills with lectures). If I'm embarking somewhere hazardous I add a level or two of Discipline and a level in their weapon skill. Everything else goes into Dodger because it provides immense benefit defensively and is relatively slow to train. If I have a spare point I put it into Tactics if I'm anticipating running lots of off-map missions.

Because barracks are untethered zone designations now you can simply have your starter sit training by themself in an open patch of ground to level the direct combat skills (which also increase faster than they used to). IMO it's much more important to set them up as a good militia commander.

[Stench Guzman]

Mining, the secret combat skill.

[Saiko Kila]

Dodge, swimming, observer plus a weapon of your choice (or a weapon and a shield). Swimming I choose at least level 3, and its usefulness is a direct consequence of dodging. For weapon I would pick... an axe. If there are more dwarves, then also a warhammer and mace, and for some mining.

[Salmeuk]

i run 2 weapon levels (usually sword), 2 dodge, 2 shield user, 2 fighter, and either armor user, swimming or wrestler depending on embark

if you begin training upon embark it doesn't matter really because the skill gain is dramatic with a full - time schedule. arguably skills like swimming, leader or teacher are the most helpful since this first dwarf will likely end up with the highest skill and position.

but if you will be fighting in the first year, always bring a few extra fighters :]

[Feathermind]

I usually run Proficient Miner, Proficient Dodger for a couple dwarves and draft them onto a Pick squad.  The early mining work effectively doubles as weapon training for them making for an effective option while I'm still getting the military properly set up and outfitted, and lets them better deal with any surprises waiting in the Caverns.

[ral]

So some ideas are:

Dodger: 4
Axedwarf: 2
Shield: 2
Fighter: 2

or

Dodger: 3
Axedwarf: 3 (or maybe Fighter: 3)
Teacher: 2
Leader: 2

or even

Swimming: 3
Teacher: 4
Leader: 3
and just train as a squad of one full time to gain the combat skills.

With only 10 points it seems like you can only pick like 3 or maybe 4 skills or something to get any of those skills high enough to be helpful.....

[anewaname]

Probably fighter 5 and dodge 5 on a brave dwarf, with a shield and a pick or axe, and a six-pack of wardogs. The dogs are key. They tire out the enemy, divert the enemy's attacks away from the dwarf, and can cause the enemy panic when it is out-numbered.

To create a trainer, I go Teacher 5 and and Armor User 5. They train migrants, no weapon, no shield, junky armor, and then the recruits go into a new squad with shield and weapon.

[Findulidas]

I would pick dodging 5 atleast because it seems to me that its one of the slowest to learn in fort mode while also being one of the more useful ones.

[scriver]

How do pick/axe inventoryship work with Woodcutters/Mining these days? There was a time when having miners and woodcutter in military squads caused issues with the weapon assignments and caused the dwarves, when mobilised, to drop their work tools to go get another set of weapons rather than just use what's in their inventory, and I stopped using wood cutters and miners militarily back then. Do they still do that?

IMO it's much more important to set them up as a good militia commander.

Please expand?

[Alyfox]

Im surprised that more people arent mentioning discipline. Is it less useful these days?

[Bumber]

How do pick/axe inventoryship work with Woodcutters/Mining these days?

The world is the same as ever.

[anewaname]

Discipline trains easy and fast, wounds that aren't dodged heal slow.

[scriver]

How do pick/axe inventoryship work with Woodcutters/Mining these days?

The world is the same as ever.

See, I don't know what this means, because while I think you're saying it's still like that, I'm also old enough to remember the pre-military-rewrite times when dropping work items to pick up war items wasn't an issue and they'd just use  their already equipped items when you drafted them