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Difference between revisions of "40d:Crossbow"

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m (Updated links from article to {{L|article}})
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''(This article also covers '''bolts''', '''arrows''' and '''quivers''' for completeness' sake.)''
 
''(This article also covers '''bolts''', '''arrows''' and '''quivers''' for completeness' sake.)''
  
'''Crossbows''' are the only ranged [[weapon]] that [[dwarves]] can carry.  A dwarf will open fire at a range of about 20 tiles, but the bolts may travel further and hit something by accident.  Crossbows can fire at targets on higher or lower [[z-level]]s; doing so hurts the range slightly, even when firing from higher to lower levels.  There seems to be a "line of sight" rule, of about a 1:1 ratio (height difference to distance from edge of level) but the exact formula is not known.
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'''Crossbows''' are the only ranged {{L|weapon}} that {{L|dwarves}} can carry.  A dwarf will open fire at a range of about 20 tiles, but the bolts may travel further and hit something by accident.  Crossbows can fire at targets on higher or lower {{L|z-level}}s; doing so hurts the range slightly, even when firing from higher to lower levels.  There seems to be a "line of sight" rule, of about a 1:1 ratio (height difference to distance from edge of level) but the exact formula is not known.
  
A [[#Bolts|bolt]] does a fine job at {{L|piercing}} the internal organs of a {{L|creature}} while also doing some damage to outside parts. This is of limited use against creatures without organs, such as {{L|Magma man|magma men}} or {{L|undead}}, but excellent against creatures with more "normal" internal anatomy.  Occasionally a bolt will get stuck in a target; the only known use for this is that a {{L|wrestling}} dwarf may grab the bolt and twist it in the {{L|wound}}.
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A {{L|Bolts|bolt}} does a fine job at {{L|piercing}} the internal organs of a {{L|creature}} while also doing some damage to outside parts. This is of limited use against creatures without organs, such as {{L|Magma man|magma men}} or {{L|undead}}, but excellent against creatures with more "normal" internal anatomy.  Occasionally a bolt will get stuck in a target; the only known use for this is that a {{L|wrestling}} dwarf may grab the bolt and twist it in the {{L|wound}}.
  
 
==Crossbow usage==
 
==Crossbow usage==
Once you tell a dwarf to use a crossbow (either from the {{k|m}}ilitary/{{k|w}}eapons sub-menu, or by {{k|v}}iewing the dwarf and accessing the {{k|s}}oldiering sub-menu), he will pick it up if he has either the {{L|ambusher|hunting}} {{L|skill}} enabled or if he is in the {{L|military}}. He will then pick up a [[#Quiver|quiver]] and [[#Bolt|bolts]], preferring {{L|metal}} bolts if available. A dwarf can carry one stack of bolts in his hands, and one in his quiver.
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Once you tell a dwarf to use a crossbow (either from the {{k|m}}ilitary/{{k|w}}eapons sub-menu, or by {{k|v}}iewing the dwarf and accessing the {{k|s}}oldiering sub-menu), he will pick it up if he has either the {{L|ambusher|hunting}} {{L|skill}} enabled or if he is in the {{L|military}}. He will then pick up a {{L|Quiver|quiver}} and {{L|Bolt|bolts}}, preferring {{L|metal}} bolts if available. A dwarf can carry one stack of bolts in his hands, and one in his quiver.
  
When in range {{L|dwarves}} use crossbows to fire [[#Bolt|bolts]]. If they are engaged in melee they will use the crossbow as a club, using their {{L|hammerdwarf}} skill.
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When in range {{L|dwarves}} use crossbows to fire {{L|Bolt|bolts}}. If they are engaged in melee they will use the crossbow as a club, using their {{L|hammerdwarf}} skill.
  
 
Dwarves often do not return to base and pick up more bolts if they run out if there are enemies nearby; instead, they will enter melee.
 
Dwarves often do not return to base and pick up more bolts if they run out if there are enemies nearby; instead, they will enter melee.
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The {{L|quality}} of a crossbow is added to the {{L|marksdwarf}}/{{L|ambusher}} and {{L|hammerdwarf}} skills.  The {{L|material}} used in construction of a crossbow does not affect the damage done when firing, but does affect the damage done when it is used as a melee weapon.
 
The {{L|quality}} of a crossbow is added to the {{L|marksdwarf}}/{{L|ambusher}} and {{L|hammerdwarf}} skills.  The {{L|material}} used in construction of a crossbow does not affect the damage done when firing, but does affect the damage done when it is used as a melee weapon.
  
Using [[masterpiece]] ammunition will not result in a bad [[thought]] for the maker, whether or not it breaks, nor will trading it away.  However, losing even one masterpiece bolt out of an original stack of 25 will, if at 1/25 of the usual penalty ''(which is still sizable; see {{L|Item_quality#Masterpiece|Quality/Masterpiece}} for a full discussion)''. If a single masterwork bolt left outside is stolen, or if a wounded enemy escapes with a masterpiece bolt stuck in them, it's possible to cause a {{L|tantrum}}. For this reason it may be wise to, as policy, either forbid masterwork ammo until the maker has churned out several stacks of them, or just {{L|trade}} them away.
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Using {{L|masterpiece}} ammunition will not result in a bad {{L|thought}} for the maker, whether or not it breaks, nor will trading it away.  However, losing even one masterpiece bolt out of an original stack of 25 will, if at 1/25 of the usual penalty ''(which is still sizable; see {{L|Item_quality#Masterpiece|Quality/Masterpiece}} for a full discussion)''. If a single masterwork bolt left outside is stolen, or if a wounded enemy escapes with a masterpiece bolt stuck in them, it's possible to cause a {{L|tantrum}}. For this reason it may be wise to, as policy, either forbid masterwork ammo until the maker has churned out several stacks of them, or just {{L|trade}} them away.
  
 
<!-- If you are ever so "fortunate" to have a weaponsmith create {{subst:subl|masterpiece}} ammo, be sure '''not''' to use it - {{subst:subl|trade}} it away at the first opportunity.  Broken masterpieces create bad thoughts, but traded don't, and bolts do tend to get broken.-->
 
<!-- If you are ever so "fortunate" to have a weaponsmith create {{subst:subl|masterpiece}} ammo, be sure '''not''' to use it - {{subst:subl|trade}} it away at the first opportunity.  Broken masterpieces create bad thoughts, but traded don't, and bolts do tend to get broken.-->

Revision as of 17:37, 7 May 2010

This article is about an older version of DF.

(This article also covers bolts, arrows and quivers for completeness' sake.)

Crossbows are the only ranged Template:L that Template:L can carry. A dwarf will open fire at a range of about 20 tiles, but the bolts may travel further and hit something by accident. Crossbows can fire at targets on higher or lower Template:Ls; doing so hurts the range slightly, even when firing from higher to lower levels. There seems to be a "line of sight" rule, of about a 1:1 ratio (height difference to distance from edge of level) but the exact formula is not known.

A Template:L does a fine job at Template:L the internal organs of a Template:L while also doing some damage to outside parts. This is of limited use against creatures without organs, such as Template:L or Template:L, but excellent against creatures with more "normal" internal anatomy. Occasionally a bolt will get stuck in a target; the only known use for this is that a Template:L dwarf may grab the bolt and twist it in the Template:L.

Crossbow usage

Once you tell a dwarf to use a crossbow (either from the military/weapons sub-menu, or by viewing the dwarf and accessing the soldiering sub-menu), he will pick it up if he has either the Template:L Template:L enabled or if he is in the Template:L. He will then pick up a Template:L and Template:L, preferring Template:L bolts if available. A dwarf can carry one stack of bolts in his hands, and one in his quiver.

When in range Template:L use crossbows to fire Template:L. If they are engaged in melee they will use the crossbow as a club, using their Template:L skill.

Dwarves often do not return to base and pick up more bolts if they run out if there are enemies nearby; instead, they will enter melee.

Construction and quality

Crossbows can be constructed from Template:L, Template:L or Template:L. Wooden and bone crossbows are created at a Template:L; metal ones at a Template:L using the Template:L or Template:L skills, respectively.

The Template:L of a crossbow is added to the Template:L/Template:L and Template:L skills. The Template:L used in construction of a crossbow does not affect the damage done when firing, but does affect the damage done when it is used as a melee weapon.

Using Template:L ammunition will not result in a bad Template:L for the maker, whether or not it breaks, nor will trading it away. However, losing even one masterpiece bolt out of an original stack of 25 will, if at 1/25 of the usual penalty (which is still sizable; see Template:L for a full discussion). If a single masterwork bolt left outside is stolen, or if a wounded enemy escapes with a masterpiece bolt stuck in them, it's possible to cause a Template:L. For this reason it may be wise to, as policy, either forbid masterwork ammo until the maker has churned out several stacks of them, or just Template:L them away.


Related information

Off-Hand Items

According to this forum discussion, marksdwarves are able to wield their crossbows one-handed, and so can use another item in their second hand. If they use a Template:L, they may carry it plus an extra set of bolts in the off hand; if they use a Template:L, they still suffer no penalty to the crossbow usage but cannot carry the extra set of bolts.

Bolt

Bolts are used by crossbows and Template:L. Making bolts from Template:L or Template:L gives a Template:L of 25 bolts, whilst making them from a stack of Template:L gives a stack of {5 x number of bones}.

Metal bolts are created at the Template:L and require the Template:L labor enabled. Wood and bone bolts are created at the Template:L and require Template:L and Template:L labors, respectively. Higher levels of Template:L will tend to produce higher Template:L bolts. The Template:L and quality[Verify] of the bolts (not the crossbow) affects the amount of Template:L done.

If you Template:L a stack of bolts, the same decoration will be applied to every bolt in the stack simultaneously. In older versions this allowed to generate stacks of huge value - value of decoration was multiplied by amount of bolts in the stack. This has been fixed now and decorated bolts are no longer that valuable.

In Template:L, bolts can also be thrown for about the same results as firing them, except that it uses the Template:L skill and doesn't destroy the bolts if you happen to miss.

Quiver

A Quiver is an item used to store Template:Ls or Template:Ls. It is worn on the body, like a Template:L.

Quivers are made of Template:L at a Template:L. Dwarves equipped with a crossbow will automatically wear quivers if they are available, and carry a stack of bolts in it. This allows a dwarf to carry one extra stack of bolts, typically Template:L or Template:L training bolts in the hand, and Template:L ones in the quiver.

Invaders, merchants, and migrants often have Template:L and Template:L quivers, even though you can't make them yourself.

In adventure mode, a quiver can hold any number of arrows and bolts.

See also