Print

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

[Poojawa]

Ok, so I have my fort. and while I perfer Marksdwarves, I seem to have run into a small problem with getting them all to practice.

I /want/ to have around 60 marksmen

I have 38 archery targets correctly set up, ect. more than enough practice bolts, more than enough crossbows/quivers, etc etc. and they have all their equipment.

Yet after 4 years, there are only about 39 or so of my wrestlers who have trained up to become marksmen. The other half just stand around in my meeting hall, off-duty, picking their noses. Before I reset their barrack beds, they'd just continue sparring and not shooting at the archery range. At first I though, "oh ok, the targets must be tasked or something,' and sent the confirmed marksmen on duty at various guard posts. yet they still just sit there.

I'm wondering if there's an actual limit to the number of dwarves able to practice based on your archey targets, or if they're just stupid enough not to both picking up ammo to practice.

[Sliver Barb]

In the past, I have found that military laziness can almost always be traced to the squad leader. Some of them will literally just sit around all the time like useless asses, and their underlings will do the same until you remedy the situation. Change the leaders of the squads that aren't actively practicing and you may see results.

[Poojawa]

In the past, I have found that military laziness can almost always be traced to the squad leader. Some of them will literally just sit around all the time like useless asses, and their underlings will do the same until you remedy the situation. Change the leaders of the squads that aren't actively practicing and you may see results.

I've known that, and should most likly also have mentioned it, but all the dwarves are their own squad, simply so they have a better chance at staying on their post >.>

Edit :

Just tried to have all the lazy dwarves into following the Captain of the Guard, simply because he's willingly shooting at a target. All they do is crowd around him. x.x

[nil]

It could be that they're holding something they grabbed during some sort of preliminary wrestling training, but you've probably checked for this if its even possible in your case.  However, I've noticed that if practice bolts tend to get used as soon as they are made, some marksdwarves tend to always claim them while others will never get a chance.  Try putting all of your better trained dwarves on duty for a while, or forbid all your targets and build up a large stockpile of bolts before resuming practice.

[Blackdutchie]

alternatively, shove a crossbow on all you want trained and bring on the hordes of goblins.
there's no target practice like actually being sieged.

[XSI]

Do note that out of those 38 archery targets, you must have made every single one into a room, or they will only use the one used to define the archery range.
They will not shoot over z-level differences to train.

Now, if that's done right, if they have a shield they will not be able to train because they need the second hand which will be used for the shield to carry their training bolts.

I hope this helps.

[clc02]

Also note, if they have ever used wrestling (Beating up that sneeky kobold) they will consider themselves above crossbows, they'll take them, but they won't practice.

[nil]

Also note, if they have ever used wrestling (Beating up that sneeky kobold) they will consider themselves above crossbows, they'll take them, but they won't practice.

That's only true if they've grabbed a piece of clothing, and can be fixed via dumping.  Also, they will still practice--but instead of doing it at the archery range they do it at the barracks.  It took me a while to find metal in the fort I have now, so my oldest champions are hammerdwarves who used their trusty -turtle bone crossbows- to train.

[Poojawa]

Do note that out of those 38 archery targets, you must have made every single one into a room, or they will only use the one used to define the archery range.
They will not shoot over z-level differences to train.

Now, if that's done right, if they have a shield they will not be able to train because they need the second hand which will be used for the shield to carry their training bolts.

I hope this helps.

read : Correctly set up Archery Targets.

Also, I've never had a problem with training up wrestling to a reasonable stat with full armor amd shield then switching off to crossbows.

Then again, I never did this with a huge group either, so I'm guessing I'll have to just have a lot more melee than I wanted >.> Ah well.

They aren't carrying anything, and eagerly run to snatch up a second crossbow in the same hand, then drop it. No shields, etc.

wooden crossbow bolts are at ~800 or so, with metal ones of various types being sufficiently large as well.

I'm pondering if I should go through the trouble and lower wrestler stats, boost marks stats via Companion... I'll try it with a small group and see.

[nil]

They aren't carrying anything, and eagerly run to snatch up a second crossbow in the same hand, then drop it. No shields, etc.

Very strange.  You haven't messed with one-hand/two-hand weapon toggle or anything?  Plenty of quivers?  Any modding with weapons or ammo?

[Poojawa]

They aren't carrying anything, and eagerly run to snatch up a second crossbow in the same hand, then drop it. No shields, etc.

Very strange.  You haven't messed with one-hand/two-hand weapon toggle or anything?  Plenty of quivers?  Any modding with weapons or ammo?

they only have one set of crossbow/quiver combos.

Though, I did a more intense searching, and for some reason, most of them have had a second backpack in their hand. telling them they can't have rations and drumping it will take some time I'll bet >.>

[nil]

Bingo.  I bet if you dump those they'll get to it.

[Kanddak]

I've had trouble getting more than a dozen or so good marksdwarves; a few champions tend to end up expending all the practice ammo.

[Quietust]

if they have a shield they will not be able to train because they need the second hand which will be used for the shield to carry their training bolts.

Wrong. Marksdwarves are perfectly capable of training while they have a shield equipped. Now, they might also need to have a quiver in which to hold their combat ammunition, but having a shield equipped will definitely not prevent them from practicing.

[goron72]

I'd try for 60 archery targets to see if that works. If not, it just narrows the problem down!