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[katana]

I used to think a scratch in dwarf fortress meant scratching something, like an itch but much harder.


Then a troll had a bone broken.

So what IS a scratch?

[shlorf]

Remember that part in kill bill where the protagonist snatches someones eyes out. That's what scratches in dwarf fortress are like, with the added twist that they can jam the skull into the brain. 

[PainRack]

My dorf jammed his fist into the kobold mouth and scratched the lower rear tooth out and then threw it away.... down 3 z levels.

Never. Ever let your dwarf get infected by lice:D

[Fellhuhn]

A scratch is what a cat does with its claws. And yes, it hurts.

[Mister Always]

If you think about it, really, dwarves are filthy, disgusting, slovenly creatures. They spit out seeds in the dining rooms. They let tamed animals run around their fort rampantly and presumably poop wherever they want. It'd make sense for them to have long, disgusting fingernails. Probably with ragged edges and bits of rock stuck under them.

[martinuzz]

Surprisingly, on a lot of the occasions when someone gets scratched by a cat, the biggest part of the scratch is not made by the cat, but by the subconcious reflex of pulling back your hand.
An angry cat will make most of the scratch itself, true.
But often, a cat is just being playful, or trying to give a warning punch. Try holding your hand still and you won't get a scratch.

Cat scratches are nasty. Cats have evolved a hollow space inside their nails, that collects dirt. It's purpose is to infect wounds it makes.
So, always clean a cat scratch well.

[rephikul]

scratch is an slap-like attack which tail the strike with the claws on that limb. Dwarven fingers is likely like human's and do not have extended claws. Wild animals do. That's why scratch attacks hurt in DF. Everyone got expendable claws like wolverine from x-men.

[Ibid Straydrink]

"Scratching" is an an ancient and lethal artform and self defense passed done from the Mandrill Queen to the dwarven peoples. Utilizing their well-conditioned, stout little fingers with steel-tipped nails, and certain principles of quatum physics, it is possible for dwarven scratchers to disintegrate flesh and bone with a single strike.


Ok, I'm done.

[FrisianDude]

My dorf jammed his fist into the kobold mouth and scratched the lower rear tooth out and then threw it away.... down 3 z levels.

Never. Ever let your dwarf get infected by lice:D

I had a Dorf who lost and upper right rear tooth (or something) to a harpy.

[Alexei403]

Surprisingly, on a lot of the occasions when someone gets scratched by a cat, the biggest part of the scratch is not made by the cat, but by the subconcious reflex of pulling back your hand.
An angry cat will make most of the scratch itself, true.
But often, a cat is just being playful, or trying to give a warning punch. Try holding your hand still and you won't get a scratch.

I...I work at a pet hospital and suddenly want to try this. Problem is most of our cats are either declawed or super nice.

[rephikul]

Surprisingly, on a lot of the occasions when someone gets scratched by a cat, the biggest part of the scratch is not made by the cat, but by the subconcious reflex of pulling back your hand.
An angry cat will make most of the scratch itself, true.
But often, a cat is just being playful, or trying to give a warning punch. Try holding your hand still and you won't get a scratch.

I...I work at a pet hospital and suddenly want to try this. Problem is most of our cats are either declawed or super nice.

You can do this without cats. Fork in one hand, fist up the other. Now with a swift motion, try to "claw" your fisted hand with the fork's pointy ends. Now do that again, but this time, move the clenched hand in the opposite direction. Observe the increased amount of tear.

[shlorf]

Use a copper carving fork for optimal results 

[fatherjimbo]

But often, a cat is just being playful, or trying to give a warning punch. Try holding your hand still and you won't get a scratch.

Choking them to unconsciousness works for not getting a scratch as well.

[MiniMacker]

That's why scratch attacks hurt in DF. Everyone got expendable claws like wolverine from x-men.

Sums it up good.

[Hans Lemurson]

Surprisingly, on a lot of the occasions when someone gets scratched by a cat, the biggest part of the scratch is not made by the cat, but by the subconcious reflex of pulling back your hand.
An angry cat will make most of the scratch itself, true.
But often, a cat is just being playful, or trying to give a warning punch. Try holding your hand still and you won't get a scratch.

I...I work at a pet hospital and suddenly want to try this. Problem is most of our cats are either declawed or super nice.

You can do this without cats. Fork in one hand, fist up the other. Now with a swift motion, try to "claw" your fisted hand with the fork's pointy ends. Now do that again, but this time, move the clenched hand in the opposite direction. Observe the increased amount of tear.

Thanks for the advice.  On my fifth attempt I was able to tear all the way through the skin instead of just causing a major gash.  Gonna go to the hospital now...