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[SpuneDagr]

Please let us name our military squads.

[blizzerd]

+1, the random name thingy is cool, but its not convenient

maybe label the squads?

for example, in stead of the towers of ringing

we can make it have: the towers of ringing "1st archery squad"

[Starver]

Very similar to my idea (kept to myself, so no, you aren't copying anything I've already said) of allowing nicknames for squads much as you can for individual dorfs.


I tend to give my militeresque guys nicknames of "XB", "Hm", "Ax", "Sp", "Sw", etc, etc, according to the skills they migrated to me with...  Those and slight variants (one system I have has a third character of "?" for as yet otherwise unassessed (only possibly in Therapist!) and "!" for ones I've checked out and intend to be regular squaddies, but haven't got around to yet) let me identify potential recruits to start with (including "//" for those without any particular arms skill, but something about them that suggests military, e.g. basic kicking, biting and fighting) and then I can separately vet them for tendencies, family ties, pet ownership, particularly valuable and much needed civvie-street employment, etc.

And then when I finally put them into squads it's easier to tell which ones I intend to be in certain squads (home guard/last resort types or front-line troops; ranged or mêlée) without having to reference external notes...  This currently also helps me (by using the "individual troop" choice) identify the nature of the people within squads and thus the nature of the squad.  But if I could have "The Shining Mirrors (elite bowdwarfs!)", or similar, it would be a tad simpler, I admit.

[noodle0117]

This reminds me of how I label literally every single dwarf in my fort as "miner" "smithy" "mason" ect.
Changing a squad's name would definitely be welcome so that I won't have to constantly make and delete squads just so that I don't end up with a wimpy name for my veteran squad such as the Halls of Tickling.

[Starver]

This reminds me of how I label literally every single dwarf in my fort as "miner" "smithy" "mason" ect.
Changing a squad's name would definitely be welcome so that I won't have to constantly make and delete squads just so that I don't end up with a wimpy name for my veteran squad such as the Halls of Tickling.

Did that in one fort.  Or, rather, had their primary civilian job(s) listed[1], or the fact that they were useless[2].  With the best will in the world (or perhaps because I was too controlling!) it just became cumbersome, so I reduced it to just the military types.

Also, while at the time I used that system to check who my migrants were (visible by not having current nicknames), I currently flag off the corpse hauling task for everyone (with additional benefit that at least they won't go out into the middle of a half-won/half-lost battle), only turning it on for select individuals when I absolutely need to.  So far, this hasn't happened just as a migration wave hoves into view, with their cross-the-board hauling tasks set on, but I'm sure that would be the least of my worries at that point in time and I could work it out later.  (I also don't go out hunting, and set dead foes and their equipment to be dumped in my refuge piles, at least to get them into my compound, so I think that leaves very little other reason for non-refuse corpse-hauling other than funereal occasions at a time of my choosing.)


[1] Using three-letter mnemonics, e.g. 'Urist "Dig" McMiner', but they still sometimes got rather cumbersome when you had 'Urist "MasEngTrpLyeBee" JcOfManyTrades', and guys in the Territorial Army as well got their two-character military spec prepended, e.g. 'Urist "PkCrpBowCutSopHrb" McGoodWithWoodSoapAndWildPlantsWhenHeAintPokingPeopleWithLongSticks'. (Yes, the last guy should probably be redirected in his military ambitions and given an "Ax<FooBarBaz>" nickname, but I'm making these up on the spot... )

[1] 'Urist "---" McHaulsonly'.  Similar to 'Urist "//" McGoodStudentButInWhat?' for weapon-non-specific potential military types.

[Ahra]

like +1

you mean: sp squad - Elite

[CaptainArchmage]

+2. When creating squads you should be able to name them. This should also be extended to the naming of dormitories and bedrooms. There's nothing like having your squad named "Bloodlust the First Rain of War" without having to recreate the squad constantly until you get a good name.

[nil]

There's nothing like having your squad named "Bloodlust the First Rain of War" without having to recreate the squad constantly until you get a good name.

Agreed.  Also, there's nothing like 'being able to tell one squad from another easily and consistantly, even after some squads get disbanded and throw off the order they're listed in.'

[Blade Master Model 42]

I like this. Maybe Toady can squeeze it in during the military arc?