Editing 23a:Miner

The rate at which a miner clears rock and constructs mining-related buildings is dependent on their skill level as well as their agility, which can be seen on their {{K|v}}iew->{{K|g}}eneral screen. A legendary miner can cut through rock at roughly the same rate that a heavily burdened dwarf normally walks through the halls of your fortress, and is a joy to behold. Cutting through [[ore]] is twice as fast as cutting through [[stone|rock]], while cutting through [[gem]]s depends on miner skill (and possibly attributes). A Novice Miner took twice as long to cut through gems than through rock; a "Very Agile" Accomplished Miner cut through both at about the same speed, and a "Perfectly Agile" Legendary Miner cut through gems 2-3 times faster than rock. The real-time rate of mining is dependent on CPU speed: a Perfectly Agile legendary miner, for example, can mine about FPS×2 squares per minute, or FPS×4 ore squares.

The rate at which a miner clears rock and constructs mining-related buildings is dependent on their skill level as well as their agility, which can be seen on their {{K|v}}iew->{{K|g}}eneral screen. A legendary miner can cut through rock at roughly the same rate that a heavily burdened dwarf normally walks through the halls of your fortress, and is a joy to behold. Cutting through [[ore]] is twice as fast as cutting through [[stone|rock]], while cutting through [[gem]]s depends on miner skill (and possibly attributes). A Novice Miner took twice as long to cut through gems than through rock; a "Very Agile" Accomplished Miner cut through both at about the same speed, and a "Perfectly Agile" Legendary Miner cut through gems 2-3 times faster than rock. The real-time rate of mining is dependent on CPU speed: a Perfectly Agile legendary miner, for example, can mine about FPS×2 squares per minute, or FPS×4 ore squares.

The mining skill is unique in that it is the only civilian skill that can be used in combat. Because miners quickly improve their mining skill during the normal course of mining, and because they always carry their picks with them, miners are extremely useful for defense in the early stages of the game. [[Wood cutter]]s also carry their [[battle axe]]s with them at all times, but axes use a special combat skill that is not practiced while doing civilian work. Miners will use their picks as weapons if they are drafted while they are carrying picks, and they are not designated to use any other weapon (i.e., they are instructed to fight [[Wrestling|unarmed]]). Picks make better [[weapon]]s than one might expect - basically, they are spears that do 30% less damage. During this combat, a miner gains mining skill. However, since Mining does not count as a [[military]] skill, your miners will become recruits and receive an unhappy [[thought]] unless they have received other training.

The mining skill is unique in that it is the only civilian skill that can be used in combat. Because miners quickly improve their mining skill during the normal course of mining, and because they always carry their picks with them, miners are extremely useful for defense in the early stages of the game. [[Wood cutter]]s also carry their [[battle axe]]s with them at all times, but axes use a special combat skill that is not practiced while doing civilian work. Miners will use their picks as weapons if they are drafted while they are carrying picks, and they are not designated to use any other weapon (i.e., they are instructed to fight [[Wrestling|unarmed]]). Picks make better [[weapon]]s than one might expect - basically, they are spears that do 30% less damage. During this combat, a miner gains mining skill. However, since Mining does not count as a [[military]] skill, your miners will become recruits and receive an unhappy [[thought]] unless they have received other training.