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[DrKillPatient]

I want to try having designated 'beastmaster' military dwarves who train war animals and as a result are followed by a cloud of angry claws and teeth. However, I'm not sure what would be the best choice. What war animals do you use and why? Currently I've thought of:

Tigers (size 225,000): Quick, fairly decent size, can do a lot of damage with their teeth. Tigers probably have less fat on them than, say, a bear, so they might be harmed more by cutting attacks. Breed fairly quickly and aren't too expensive.

Other big cats (lion, jaguar, cougar, etc) (size 200,000 and lower): Seem to be smaller versions of tigers-- not sure if there are differences besides that.

Bears (size 200,000 grizzly, 400,000 polar): Slower, most likely fatter than the big cats. Do they resist damage more easily than more agile cats, maybe? Quite expensive compared to some of the other animals.

Dogs (size 30,000): Breed extremely quickly, very cheap. Unfortunately, they get killed very easily due to their size.

Elephants and rhinoceros (size 5,000,000 and 3,000,000 respectively): Absolutely gigantic and most likely able to stomp a goblin to pieces very easily. Assuming you've modded the raws so they graze at a maintainable rate, they might be decent beasts of war. Problems include slow breeding and maturing, and inability to store easily due to grazing. [Do rhinos have armor?]

[Andal]

The giant versions of the big cats work pretty well.

But I am a die-hard fan of war-dog bombs. Easy to maintain, self-perpetuating, and allow my military dwarves to survive otherwise hopeless engagements. Also, emergency food/bone supply.

[Hitty40]

Tigers (size 225,000): Quick, fairly decent size, can do a lot of damage with their teeth. Tigers probably have less fat on them than, say, a bear, so they might be harmed more by cutting attacks. Breed fairly quickly and aren't too expensive.

Probrably useful for Gobbos that are routing.

Other big cats (lion, jaguar, cougar, etc) (size 200,000 and lower): Seem to be smaller versions of tigers-- not sure if there are differences besides that.

Another alternative if you don't have acess to tigers.

Bears (size 200,000 grizzly, 400,000 polar): Slower, most likely fatter than the big cats. Do they resist damage more easily than more agile cats, maybe? Quite expensive compared to some of the other animals.

In my experience, bears can take hits, and I use them at the entrances of my fort.

Dogs (size 30,000): Breed extremely quickly, very cheap. Unfortunately, they get killed very easily due to their size.

Gobbo fodder. Attach them to children.

Elephants and rhinoceros (size 5,000,000 and 3,000,000 respectively): Absolutely gigantic and most likely able to stomp a goblin to pieces very easily. Assuming you've modded the raws so they graze at a maintainable rate, they might be decent beasts of war. Problems include slow breeding and maturing, and inability to store easily due to grazing. [Do rhinos have armor?]

If you take grazing out, they can become some of the deadliest animals in your world. While not fast, they can take even more hits than bears.

[Loud Whispers]

Just do what I do, and keep the rhino's wild.

I have herds of them, and not once have I had to feed them. I have however, killed many a siege with them.

And what about giant versions of said animal? Giant Jaguars... Giant badgers.....

[Necro910]

Join the hive, and start up GCS and GDS programs. If you're against modding in pet, then just keep them wild in a habitat.

RELEASE THE SWARM!

[Loud Whispers]

As far as I know, GDS don't breed in the wild

But yeah pretty much everything else will.

Use to your advantage.

[Necro910]

As far as I know, GDS don't breed in the wild

But yeah pretty much everything else will.

Use to your advantage.

Neither does GCS. It's a bug. You can fix it yourself, if you're not against it.

Watch the Reds drop in paralysis, as their minds go from dust to ash!

[Loud Whispers]

Then the Giant Arachnid walk into your fortress....

[robdesjardin]

From Personal experience: Moding the RAWS for the Giant cats GCS and Giant Desert scorpion making them trainable/breed able is a wonderful experience for the future invaders. "Have you ever seen a scorpion give birth in the middle of battle? It's enough to make a goblin puke and die, or that could just be the toxins." However if you are against mods, go for the bears. What they lack in speed (do they?) they make up for in fire power.

[thegoatgod_pan]

I love beastmasters!  My advice: the caverns--mod everything that dwells within to be [PET] instead of [PET_EXOTIC] and you're all set.
Cave crocodiles, giant olms and reachers are all quite fun, as are giant swallows.

However the real goal is to catch a breeding pair of the big boys: Jabberer, Voracious Cave Crawler, Cave Dragon, Giant Cave Spider and one more that start with an R. and goblins sometimes ride them, I forget.  Anyways.  I recommend Jabberers.

Jabberer is as good as it gets: massive eviscerating beak, egg-laying, expensive meat and bones--good friends to keep!

Cave Spiders are lots of fun, but hard to get, if you do you can spend lots of time designing execution chambers that also maintain a booming clothing industry.

[Iton Ibrukrithzam]

Giant Tigers and Giant Desert Scorpions are my personal favorites, though I'll take regular tigers if I must.  Tamed cave crocs are also kind great.  I had a bunch once, and the hatchlings kept trying to bite any dwarves that went by their pasture.  It was pretty adorable, I must say.

All this assumes being okay with modding exotic pets to be normal ones, and GDS aren't trainable without modding.  Still, they remind me of the awesome scorpion in Honey, I shrunk the kids.

[imperium3]

As far as I know, GDS don't breed in the wild

But yeah pretty much everything else will.

Use to your advantage.

Neither does GCS. It's a bug. You can fix it yourself, if you're not against it.

How? I've been wondering why my dralthas were breeding but the GDS weren't...

[Tiruin]

Modded war cats.






Oh, and also captured then trained bears. Noticed that they generally aim for the hand or foot but that might just be my observation.