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[thegoatgod_pan]

Science question:

What makes dwarves enter martial trances?
-Why don't they do so in every combat? Why never in the danger room?  I always see them when archers are shooting at the trancers--is it triggered by dodging or shield blocking?

Is there a way to make a martial trance-inducing device and launch your dwarves into battle as readymade berserkers?

Also thematically--what is a "martial trance":dwarven euphemism for raging berserker bloodlust, or some thing more deep and dwarven, as different from regular combat as a strange mood is from the humdrum rock mug/R?

[Akura]

A martial trance is when a creature with the [TRANCES] tag(dwarves are the only ones without modding. [TRANCES] also causes moods) are fighting alone against several foes. It seems to happen only when alone and it definitely happens only when fighting(not danger room). What I understand is that it gives a (temporary) bonus to combat skills(attacking, blocking, and dodging are affected), making their attacks more accurate.

[Girlinhat]

I've seen it happen in groups, but only when that individual is fighting alone.  When facing multiple foes, a dwarf might enter a trance, at which point your legendary axedwarf will send body parts flying at a faster rate than the game can draw them.

[Hivemind]

The dwarf enters a zen-like state of oneness with their weapon and the world.

They become Jedi. Short, drunken Jedi.

[Fredd]

They become the equivilant of a short Chuck Norris

[Urist Imiknorris]

I recall reading somewhere that all non-damage rolls were multiplied by five. So basically your attacks would hit more often, hit more squarely, and you'd be able to dodge, parry or block more shots.

[NecroRebel]

[TRANCES] doesn't actually affect moods, IIRC. You'll get strange moods even without it.

In my experience, what causes trances is being severely outnumbered in combat, roughly 5 to 1. I had about half of a group of 10 axedwarves all trance when they went up against a group of some 54 bugbats, and I suspect that they didn't all trance just because some of them were separated from the group (chasing other bugbats). Given that trancing gives huge combat bonuses (in 40d, from this thread, it removes basically all negative statuses and multiplies all skills by 5), that's often enough to even the odds.

[shmelse]

They become the equivilant of a short Chuck Norris

Chuck Norris is rather short.

New thesis: Chuck Norris *is* a dwarf.

[Max White]

Basicaly, it's when happens when a dorf runs out of gum.

[Hugehead]

The dwarf enters a zen-like state of oneness with their weapon and the world.

They become Jedi. Short, drunken Jedi.

Sigged.

[GamerKnight]

THIS IS SCANDINAVIA!!!

Heh. Berserker Dwarves. Imagine a berserker cheese maker. Then imagine him with a mallet. Then imagine him dressed like Mario. That right there needs to be photoshopped somehow.

[Lamphare]

i just regard martial trance as being sober, since dwarfs are normally tippling
i do suppose ppl fight better sober.

[Max White]

i just regard martial trance as being sober, since dwarfs are normally tippling
i do suppose ppl fight better sober.

Hardly!

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

[Lamphare]

i just regard martial trance as being sober, since dwarfs are normally tippling
i do suppose ppl fight better sober.

Hardly!

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

yes that did cross my mind...nah, that's just a rare exception...
well,maybe right for some dwarf with legendary striker skill.

[Tallefred]

i just regard martial trance as being sober, since dwarfs are normally tippling
i do suppose ppl fight better sober.

Hardly!

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Just have to say this because I'm weird like that... drunken styles of fighting are not actually performed drunk. They just mimic the actions of a drunk person.

I'm sure everyone knew that already. I had to say it anyway. I apologize.