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Difference between revisions of "v0.34:Attack types"

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All physical [[weapon]]s have an attack type. There are two attack types: blunt and edged. Edged can be further broken down based on the shape of the blade into "slashing" attacks and "piercing" attacks.
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All physical [[weapon]]s have one of two '''attack types''': blunt weapons, which deal damage through crushing blows that break bones and penetrate [[armor]], and edged ones, which deal damage by cutting into and slicing through foes. Edged weapons can be further broken down based on the shape of the blade, into "slashing" weapons that aim to slice into your foe, and "piercing" ones that penetrate vital organs. Some weapons have more than one attack type: for instance, the multipurpose [[short sword]] has a slashing cut, a piercing stab, and a blunt pommel strike. For a greater discussion on the properties of the weapons themselves, see [[weapon]].
 
 
Some weapons have more than one attack: a [[short sword]] has a slashing cut, a piercing stab, and a blunt pommel strike.
 
  
 
==Blunt weapons==
 
==Blunt weapons==
Blunt weapons inflict damage via raw force. Examples of blunt weapons include [[war hammer]]s, [[mace]]s, melee attacks with [[crossbow]]s, and even [[whip]]s.
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Blunt weapons inflict just that, blunt damage, distributing strong blows along a wide surface area; examples include [[war hammer]]s, [[mace]]s, melee attacks with [[crossbow]]s, and even [[whip]]s. For these types of weapons a high [[mass]] and [[density]] are the most important [[material science|material properties]] (for this reason the best blunt weapons tend to be both heavier and slower than their edged counterparts). Blunt attacks do little contact damage but have an extremely high degree of armor penetration, breaking bones even through the best of armors. On the other hand, though blunt weapons are very good at breaking foes they are terrible at actually killing, and seeing your hammerdwarf knock a foe unconscious and then proceed to break every bone in their body is not an uncommon sight. Blunt weapons are most effective against heavy and heavily armored foes that can be incapacitated with internal injuries and pain.
 
 
Blunt weapons generally have poor penetration but are good for bruising and breaking internal bones and tissues, even through [[armor]]. Blunt weapons tend to be more effective when they have greater weight, which is influenced both by [[Weapon#Weapons|weapon size]] and [[material]] [[density]]. This can lead to disappointment when using blunt weapons made from [[adamantine|awesome materials]]. Blunt weapons are most effective against humanoid opponents that can be incapacitated with internal injuries and pain.
 
  
 
==Edged weapons==
 
==Edged weapons==
Edged weapons use a sharpened edge or point to inflict damage in a concentrated area. They are further divided by use: slashing weapons are designed for cutting, while piercing weapons are designed for stabbing.
 
 
 
===Slashing weapons===
 
===Slashing weapons===
Slashing weapons have a long, sharp blade that is designed for cutting and severing limbs. Examples of slashing weapons include [[short sword]]s, [[battle axe]]s, and even [[scourge]]s.
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Slashing weapons have a long, sharp blade that is designed for cutting and severing limbs. Examples of slashing weapons include [[short sword]]s, [[battle axe]]s, and [[scourge]]s. Of the three weapon classes they do the most damage, hacking through tissues and severing limbs and heads, especially those of smaller and weaker creatures. Slashing weapons are at their best cutting through small organic creatures, but fare extremely poorly against armor of equal or better material parity, which converts most of the blow into weak blunt damage. Thus high material quality is paramount for effective slashing weapons.
 
 
Slashing weapons do significant amounts of tissue damage and may sever limbs or heads, especially of smaller, weaker creatures. Against large creatures they cut gashes in the surface tissue, causing bleeding and pain but generally not doing a lot of organ damage, unless the strike is to the head, of course. [[Armor]] of equivalent or better material tends to negate much of the slashing damage, and convert the rest into blunt damage instead.  
 
  
 
===Piercing weapons===
 
===Piercing weapons===
Piercing weapons focus large forces on a single sharpened point, allowing deep penetration on even the largest of creatures. Piercing weapons include [[spear]]s, [[dagger]]s, [[bolt]]s & [[arrow]]s, and stabbing [[short sword]] attacks.
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Piercing weapons focus large forces on a single sharpened point, allowing deep penetration on even the largest of creatures. The weapons often get stuck within their targets, allowing your dwarves to leverage them into tearing apart your foes internally. This gives piercing weapons such as [[spear]]s, [[dagger]]s, [[bolt]]s, [[arrow]]s, and [[pike]]s combat properties between those of the blunt and slashing weapons, not quite as good at piercing armor as blunt weapons, not quite as good at cutting off things as slashing ones. Piercing weapons are the most effective weapon class at killing large, unarmored creatures due to their ability to penetrate vital organs: although hits to the limbs will be largely ineffective, it doesn't take much for a spear strike to puncture a lung or a kidney, so it's possible (although unlikely) to kill even a [[dragon]] with one decisive hit from a spear or pike. Piercing weapons remain viable against equivalent and better [[armor]]s, although they do not maintain blunt weapons' levels of penetration.
 
 
Piercing weapons are perhaps the most effective at killing large creatures due to their ability to hit vital organs. It doesn't take an extremely lucky strike with a spear to puncture a lung or other organ, although hits to the limbs will be largely ineffective because piercing weapons aren't designed to break bones or cause deep lacerations. It's possible (although unlikely) to kill even a megabeast in one hit with a spear or pike (unless the megabeast in question is made of [[metal|fun substances]]). Piercing weapons are also reasonably effective against equivalent and slightly better [[armor]].
 
  
  
 
{{Weapons}}
 
{{Weapons}}

Latest revision as of 22:59, 6 July 2013

This article is about an older version of DF.

All physical weapons have one of two attack types: blunt weapons, which deal damage through crushing blows that break bones and penetrate armor, and edged ones, which deal damage by cutting into and slicing through foes. Edged weapons can be further broken down based on the shape of the blade, into "slashing" weapons that aim to slice into your foe, and "piercing" ones that penetrate vital organs. Some weapons have more than one attack type: for instance, the multipurpose short sword has a slashing cut, a piercing stab, and a blunt pommel strike. For a greater discussion on the properties of the weapons themselves, see weapon.

Blunt weapons[edit]

Blunt weapons inflict just that, blunt damage, distributing strong blows along a wide surface area; examples include war hammers, maces, melee attacks with crossbows, and even whips. For these types of weapons a high mass and density are the most important material properties (for this reason the best blunt weapons tend to be both heavier and slower than their edged counterparts). Blunt attacks do little contact damage but have an extremely high degree of armor penetration, breaking bones even through the best of armors. On the other hand, though blunt weapons are very good at breaking foes they are terrible at actually killing, and seeing your hammerdwarf knock a foe unconscious and then proceed to break every bone in their body is not an uncommon sight. Blunt weapons are most effective against heavy and heavily armored foes that can be incapacitated with internal injuries and pain.

Edged weapons[edit]

Slashing weapons[edit]

Slashing weapons have a long, sharp blade that is designed for cutting and severing limbs. Examples of slashing weapons include short swords, battle axes, and scourges. Of the three weapon classes they do the most damage, hacking through tissues and severing limbs and heads, especially those of smaller and weaker creatures. Slashing weapons are at their best cutting through small organic creatures, but fare extremely poorly against armor of equal or better material parity, which converts most of the blow into weak blunt damage. Thus high material quality is paramount for effective slashing weapons.

Piercing weapons[edit]

Piercing weapons focus large forces on a single sharpened point, allowing deep penetration on even the largest of creatures. The weapons often get stuck within their targets, allowing your dwarves to leverage them into tearing apart your foes internally. This gives piercing weapons such as spears, daggers, bolts, arrows, and pikes combat properties between those of the blunt and slashing weapons, not quite as good at piercing armor as blunt weapons, not quite as good at cutting off things as slashing ones. Piercing weapons are the most effective weapon class at killing large, unarmored creatures due to their ability to penetrate vital organs: although hits to the limbs will be largely ineffective, it doesn't take much for a spear strike to puncture a lung or a kidney, so it's possible (although unlikely) to kill even a dragon with one decisive hit from a spear or pike. Piercing weapons remain viable against equivalent and better armors, although they do not maintain blunt weapons' levels of penetration.


Ranged and ammunition
Blowgun and blowdart · Bow and arrow · Crossbow and bolt
Blunt
Flail · Mace · Maul · War hammer · Whip
Edged (slashing)
Edged (piercing)
Dagger · Morningstar · Pick · Pike · Spear
See also: Attack types