40d:Archery target

An archery target is a building used to improve the marksdwarf skill. An archery range is the 'room' defined from an archery target.

Creating an Archery range

1. To create a target, open the build menu and select Archery target. It uses one stone, log, bar or block and requires the architecture skill.
2. Then an archery range must be defined from the archery target. Open the buildings menu (q) and select the target. Select "Make archery range" and define its size using + / -.
3. After choosing the size of the archery range you must decide on the shooting direction using w, a, s, or d.

• Only one marksdwarf seems to practice at an archery range at a time, regardless of how many targets it contains. You can enable multiple dwarves to practice in the same room by defining an archery range on each target.
• An archery range requires a minimum length of 3 squares - the one the archery target is on, one empty square, and one for the marksdwarf to stand on. Otherwise the marksdwarf will complain that there is no floor space and refuse to train.
  • The effects of having longer ranges - marksdwarf seems to miss more often. It give opportunity to save bolts (as they fall at least one level down) and reuse them (0.27.176.38c).

Using an Archery range

Only off-duty dwarves equipped with crossbows will use archery ranges. You can switch a squad to off-duty by accessing the military menu, viewing the appropriate squad, and setting it to off-duty.

Shooting requires a crossbow and wooden or bone bolts (metal bolts are considered too valuable for practice and will not be used). Bolts shot at a target are destroyed and cannot be reclaimed, and will form a small rubble pile that will be cleaned up by a dwarf with the cleaning labor enabled (whether or not the range is in use at the time!).

For furthur information on training martial skills, see sparring.