Editing v0.31:Sparring

{{av}} {{Quality|Fine}} <br> {{Expand Topic}}

== Introduction == 

'''Sparring''' is a form of (usually) non-lethal melee {{l|combat}}, led by the {{l|Militia Captain}} in charge of the respective {{l|squad}}, to train {{L|soldier}}s in their {{l|combat skill}}s in {{L|fortress mode}}.  Sparring takes place at a {{L|barracks}}; off-duty soldiers will engage in training activities, such as {{l|observer|watching}} combat demonstrations and {{l|combat drills|individual training drills}} with other off-duty soldiers.

You cannot assign a soldier to sparring, but instead {{l|schedule}} his or her squad to train, in a manner similar to enabling civillian [[labor]]s.  This is accomplished by opening the {{key|m}}{{l|military interface|ilitary screen}}. Open the  {{key|a}}lerts panel, then assign the squad to Active/Training (Or establish a more complex schedule of alerts). Now {{k|q}}uery the {{l|bed}}, {{l|weapon rack}}, and/or {{l|armor stand}} that you used to designate a barracks. Highlight which squad you wish to train and press {{k|t}}. A {{k|T}} should appear on the right side of the screen beside that squads name. Now your squad is set to be training, and has a place to train in.

If a squad is set to Civilian Alert level, and has a designated training barracks, members of the squad will occasionally engage in Individual Combat Drills, but will be primarily focused on their civillian lives. A squad set to the default Alert/Training alert level (or a more complicated schedule using the advanced calendar system) will predominantly train in their training barracks and occasionally engage in their civillian lives. A squad with active orders delivered through the squad menu will first carry out those orders, taking breaks to eat or sleep, but will not train.

You can assign individual squads to train in different areas, so when trouble strikes they are already nearby, equipped, and prepared for battle. If you have 3 entrances into your fort, instead of having a central training area, you station a squad's barracks near each. You could also have your [[marksdwarves]] spar in a nearby archery tower while your elite fighters train near the front hall, and your novices train somewhere safely under the eyes of an accomplished [[teacher]].

== Equipment ==

When soldiers spar, they practice (and thereby gain experience) with whatever {{L|weapon}} and {{L|armor}} they have been assigned, including {{L|shield}}s.  Thus, in order to train {{L|axedwarf|axedwarves}}, it is necessary to assign the recruits axes, and so forth with all other {{L|weapon}}s. The weapon you wish for them to spar with can be chosen through the {{K|m}}ilitary screen, and then the {{K|e}}quip selection.

== Injury ==
'''As of version 31.12 and later, it seems that dwarves cannot(or are very unlikely to) hurt each other while sparring.'''

During sparring soldiers can get {{l|wound}}ed, ranging from minor injuries to loss of ability. This cripples their training time (leading to death in real combat) or disables them from fighting at all. To avoid injury you can

* '''Equip''' them with {{l|training weapon}}s. However, there are only training axes, swords, and spears. Wooden crossbows substitutes as training hammers. Mace dwarves will have to use real weaponry. And during an {{l|ambush}}, it might be difficult to switch over to effective weapons. Therefore build your weapon {{l|stockpile}} or weapon racks close to the {{l|barracks}}.
* '''Equip''' them with {{l|armor}}; this lowers damage being received and allowing them to train with their armor. However, it has been observed that training is less {{l|fun|spartan and dangerous}} than previous incarnations, and it seems that {{l|dwarf|dwarves}} are less likely to consider training to be a Mortal Kombat match. 

Also note, {{l|Healthcare|healing}} injury caused by sparring is good {{l|experience}} for a new {{L|doctor}}.

==Scheduling training==
Many players make the mistake of assuming that the Active/Training {{L|scheduling#Alert_Levels|alert}} sets your squad to train year round. However this is not the case. Instead it simply fills a squads {{L|schedule}} with the priority to train. That is, your soldiers will put on their uniforms and grab their weapons but they may continue to do jobs outside the military. In order to make them actually train you must do the following after setting their alert to Active/Training (or by scheduling Train under the schedule screen).

#Designate a {{L|barracks}} from an item.
#Press {{k|q}} and highlight the item used to designate the barracks from.
#Select the squad you want to train in that particular barracks and press {{k|t}}. A "T" will appear beside the squads name in the menu.
#Multiple squads can be set to train in the same barracks. Whether or not this means they will train between squads is unknown{{verify}}.

Things to note: The default alert Active/Training requires 10 members of a squad to activate. This can be changed from the {{L|scheduling}} menu. Dead squad members used to stay in the squad, but as of 31.12 they are removed upon death. At that point another member must be appointed or the minimum number required to train lowered to accommodate the new squad count.

== Optimal squad size ==

Only one sparring match can be going on in any one {{L|squad}}<sup>[http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=65154.msg1531967#msg1531967 source]</sup>{{verify}}, so to get the most sparring done make your squads size 3 with a minimum of 2.

== Danger room ==
There is a method to train up your military to legendary {{L|skill}}s with little interaction from the player. It involves the creation of a room, designated as a {{L|barracks}}, that is filled with {{L|Traps#Upright_Spear/Spike|spike traps}}. The traps are each loaded with one wooden {{L|training weapon|training spear}} only, so they are not very dangerous. The traps are linked to a single {{L|lever}} set to repeat. As your military stands in the room, engaging in whatever training exercise they would normally be doing, they will gain skill increases in other areas as well. So far the following skills have been confirmed to increase: armor user, dodge, shield user, and weapons skills (see {{L|Combat Skill|here}} for more details on each). Crossbowdwarfs will increase their close-range weapon skill (hammer) as well, due to parrying the trap weapons with their crossbows. In order to build a danger room do the following steps:

#Create an area large enough to hold your militia/training squad, but the smaller the better, by {{k|d}}esignating an {{L|armor stand}} or {{L|weapon rack}} and creating a {{L|barracks}}.
#Cover all of the floor tiles in spike traps loaded with a training spear - a single spear would be safest. This part is what separates highly trained dwarves from dwarves who are having too much {{L|fun}}.
#Link all of the traps to a single {{L|lever}} and set the lever to be pulled on repeat. 
#Set your {{L|military}} to train in that room.

Some words of caution. Any {{L|pet}}s caught following their masters into this room will be perforated. Whether this is a positive or a negative will be left for the player to decide. Multiple tightly closed doors - the more the better - will help save the livestock. Babies will also not last long, which can be rather upsetting to the mother. Because the dwarves will be taking damage there is a possibility of death due to infection or a string of unlucky hits, though serious injury is unlikely. Besides, minor injuries or infections could help train your doctors.

In practice (v 31.12), dwarves equipped with a shield tend to max their shield user skill VERY quickly and after that other damage-evading skills (weaponskill for parrying, dodging) will rise relatively slowly, only being used when dwarf fails to block an attack with a shield. So it is recommended to strip legendary shield users of their shields to help them maximise their weapon and dodging skills.
Similarly, if a dwarf have maxed his weapon skill AND shield user skill, you can strip him of his weapon as well to make him a legendary dodger. Don't forget to re-equip before a real fight!

See [http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=63528.0 this] forum thread for more information and verification.

== Training on Disarmed Prisoners ==
A somewhat less exploity and also very effective way of training your dwarves is letting them fight stripped prisoners while heavily armored and carrying training weapons themselves. 

See {{L|Cage#Remotely_Opening_Cages|Remotely Opening Cages}} for more information.
== See also==

{{L|Military}}

{{Military FAQ}}