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Author Topic: Military randomly changing out of activity for split seconds?  (Read 393 times)

Lordraymond

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Military randomly changing out of activity for split seconds?
« on: December 09, 2011, 12:14:22 am »

So, is this a bug or something? I don't really know what to do, it's not a huge issue. Every few minutes I'll get the message "Urist McSpeardwarf has become a Peasant" and then one frame later "Urist McPeasant has become a Speardwarf"

This usually happens to an entire squad at once, seemingly at random. They also prefer to sleep in bedrooms rather than barracks, if that's related.

I wouldn't even mention it here because it's a minor annoyance, but every time it gives them the "Upset about being relieved from duty" bad thought, which could be detrimental in the long run.

EDIT: Another thing I forgot to mention, the dwarves will also occasionally randomly pick up an empty barrel, take it to whatever their destination is for training (Usually a barracks), then as soon as they get there they walk back and drop the barrel back in the pile. I've tried disabling hauling on all of them even though they shouldn't anyway, and it's always an empty barrel. Dunno why.
« Last Edit: December 09, 2011, 12:16:45 am by Lordraymond »
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Reudh

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Re: Military randomly changing out of activity for split seconds?
« Reply #1 on: December 09, 2011, 01:08:47 am »

Change of month, as the dwarves shift into their new orders.

As for the randomly picking up an empty barrel, they're supposed to be 'getting supplies'. A workaround is to make waterskins/flasks for the entire military.

Plutocrat

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Re: Military randomly changing out of activity for split seconds?
« Reply #2 on: December 09, 2011, 01:18:44 am »

I feel like this makes them feel "drafted" again, and with it the unhappy thought. I'm not 100% sure if this happens but my dwarves well into their military careers still often have their "Upset with getting drafted" feeling for no reason.
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Nan

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Re: Military randomly changing out of activity for split seconds?
« Reply #3 on: December 09, 2011, 05:26:26 am »

It certainly causes military dorfs without a civilian skill an unhappy thought for being "relieved from duty". It's pretty much essential to train them in a civvy skill at least up to novice. I imagine it also causes the draft unhappy thought, but that shouldn't be a persistent problem because they should learn a combat skill sooner or later (usually within the first month if the training is decent).
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Plutocrat

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Re: Military randomly changing out of activity for split seconds?
« Reply #4 on: December 09, 2011, 02:32:43 pm »

This was late fortress where I had 3 squads rotating their schedules every month, station the gate - train - off duty. Well by the time they picked up their training bolts it was the end of the month and maybe fired 2 shots off. They didn't consider themselves military yet several years in.

My point is, these "blips" feel like glitches and are causing me headaches.
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Nan

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Re: Military randomly changing out of activity for split seconds?
« Reply #5 on: December 09, 2011, 03:16:06 pm »

All you have to do is get them to train in a civvy skill. Wood cutting and pump operating train very quickly. Build a "gym" of pumps (pumping thin air is fine) and give your squad members who lack a civvy skill (or all of them) pump operating, set them inactive, and once they've got novice pump operating, restore them to active duty. Problem gone.

Training a military skill might be tricky for large marksdwarf squads since marksdwarfs are finicky about training, the easiest way is to shoot at elephants or prisoners or something. Otherwise get them to train in a normal barracks, this will give them skills like hammerdorf, fighter, dodger etc, and is not a bad thing to do in general (because marksdwarf/archery skill trains very efficiently shooting at live targets).
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