23a:Weapon skill

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There are several similar terms in Dwarf Fortress that are used to describe both the skill used to wield a weapon and the wielder themselves. All weapon skills determine in large part the accuracy and the damage inflicted when using a weapon of that type (along with the quality and material of that weapon).

Different races use different but similar terms for identical weapon skills. These terms, like "axedwarf" or "spearman", may vary between Fortress mode and Adventurer mode, but are the same skills except for the race of the creature wielding the weapon. However, whether macedwarf, maceman, macegoblin, mace-elf, or macewombat, they all refer to the same skill - in this case, with a mace or "mace-type" weapon. There is absolutely no difference in the skill itself, except that it seems odd to refer to a sword-wielding dwarf as a "swordsman". Especially in Fortress Mode, Dwarf Fortress is (oddly enough) heavily prejudiced in favour of dwarves, proudly so and unashamed of it, and so often the skills are all informally used in the ____-dwarf form. Formally or informally, any other race could be inserted - hammergoblins or spearelves, etc.

Note that when Activated as a soldier, a dwarf will be called a recruit if they have no weapon (or wrestling) skill of 1 or greater, but otherwise will be called by their highest weapon skill regardless of what weapon they are actually carrying.

There are six weapon skills in Fortress mode, and several more in Adventurer mode. Each skill covers a small group of similar dwarf weapons and/or other weapons.

Different races are sometimes restricted to which weapons within a group they can use. Dwarves in Fortress Mode are limited to only using dwarf weapons; dwarves in Adventurer Mode can use a much wider variety of other weapons with the same skill. (See specific weapons for more info.)

The weapon skills are:

• Axeman - using an axe-type weapon. This skill is separate from wood cutting.
• Hammerman - using a hammer-type weapon. Crossbows are considered a "hammer-type weapon" only when used in melee, rather than firing at range.
• Maceman - using a mace-type weapon
• Crossbowman - using crossbows*. See Crossbowman for more details.
• Spearman - using a spear (and only a spear)
• Swordsman - using a sword, of any type. A melee attack with a blowgun or bow also uses this "sword-type" skill.

Adventurer mode (and invaders in Fortress mode) includes:

• Bowman - using a bow*
• Pikeman - using a pike (which is distinct from a spear)
• Lasher - using a whip or scourge
• Knife User - using a dagger

(* The crossbow and bow are sufficiently different as a weapon and skill to deserve their own article - See crossbowman, crossbow & related articles for a full discussion.)

Also, theoretically:

• Blowgunner - using blowguns. However, no player-race in Dwarf Fortress begins able to learn skill nor the ability to make the weapon nor the ammo, so it has to be modded into the game.

Special:

• Mining - using a pick. Since miners typically reach Legendary skill rather quickly, this makes them a very effective fighting force early on despite a pick being an "inferior" weapon, as (as was mentioned above) skill level heavily influences damage. However, Mining does not count as a military skill, so any combat miners will be classified as Recruits.

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See Also:

• Wrestler for a discussion of unarmed combat.
• Weapon
• Dwarven weapons
• Other weapons
• Soldier
• Training
• Combat

V · T · E Skills
Miner	Miner
Carpenter	Bowyer · Carpenter · Engineer · Wood cutter
Mason	Engraver · Mason
Trapper	Ambusher · Animal caretaker · Animal dissector · Animal trainer · Trapper
Farmer	Brewer · Butcher · Cheese maker · Cook · Dyer · Grower · Herbalist · Lye maker · Milker · Miller · Potash maker · Soaper · Tanner · Thresher · Wood burner
Fisherdwarf	Fish cleaner · Fish dissector · Fisherdwarf
Metalsmith	Armorsmith · Furnace operator · Metal crafter · Metalsmith · Weaponsmith
Jeweler	Gem cutter · Jeweler
Craftsdwarf	Bone carver · Clothes maker · Glassmaker · Leatherworker · Stone crafter · Weaver · Wood crafter
Mechanic	Mechanic
Military	General Armor user · Shield user · Wrestler Dwarven Axeman · Crossbowman · Hammerman · Maceman · Spearman · Swordsman Other Blowgunner · Bowman · Knife user · Lasher · Pikeman
Other/Peasant	Adamantine extractor · Adamantine smelter · Adamantine weaver · Adamantine worker · Building designer · Operator · Thrower
Unused	Alchemist · Druid