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Difference between revisions of "v0.34:Natural weapon"

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:''For manufactured weapons, see [[Weapon]].''
  
A '''natural weapon''' is similar to a [[weapon|manufactured weapon]], but is built into a body or as an ability instead of manufactured by industry. Natural weapons are incredibly varied, but may be divided into a few basic types. Every creature in the game has natural weapons of one sort or another. (Even if one mods the attacks out, the creature will '''push''' as an attack.) A short description of natural weapons and damage considerations follows.
 
  
==Types==
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'''Natural weapons''' are innate attacks that can be used to hurt other creatures. They are distinct from [[weapon|manufactured weapons]], which are items used (along with [[armor]]) by [[:Category:DF2012:Humanoids|sentient]] [[creature]]s to improve their ability to attack and defend in combat. However, all creatures have natural weapons of some sort, some more deadly than others: arms can punch, [[horn]]s can gore, talons can rip, fangs can bite, and hooves can smash heads in. Even creatures that you wouldn't expect to be able to put up a fight have default "push" attacks, which is simultaneously amusing and deadly in the case of the [[giant sponge]]. A description of the various types of natural weapons and their damage considerations follows.
  
===Striking===
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==Striking==
Every creature has basic natural weapons, most commonly biting and kicking. Damage done by these weapons depends greatly on the respective size of the combatants and the strength and striking/kicking/biting skill of the attacker.
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Every creature has basic natural weapons, most commonly biting and kicking. The damage done by these attacks depends greatly on the respective size of the combatants, the strength of the attacker, and the striking/kicking/biting skill of the attacker. These are basic attacks and work as you might expect: a [[lion]] is certainly more dangerous than a [[badger]]. Attacks in this category include but are not limited to punching with fists, biting with the teeth, goring with the horns, scratching with nails, and kicking with feet.
  
Natural weapons in this category can include but are not limited to punching with the '''fists''', biting with the '''teeth''', goring with the '''horns''', scratching with the '''nails''', and '''kicking'''.
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Striking comes into play in unarmed combat, when creatures grapple with one another. However it also comes into play in armed combat, as punches and kicks (but usually kicks) are still valid attacks when the combatants lock blades. Here, the striker and kicker [[combat skill]]s comes into play.
  
===Other===
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==Ranged weapons==
The various [[syndrome]] delivery methods fall under this category, including breath weapons, poisonous blood, area dusting, venomous bites, and so on. With the exception of some breath weapons, these attacks do not rely on size for damage calculation. For more information, see the [[syndrome]] page. For specific information on breath weapons, see the [[Syndrome#Breath_attacks|breath attacks]] section of the syndrome page.
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Some particularly dangerous creatures also have innate ranged attacks, usually some sort of "breath weapon". This might take the form of a [[dragon]]'s fire, a [[magma crab]]'s [[basalt]]-spewing, a [[giant cave spider]]'s [[web]]-spraying, or a [[forgotten beast]]'s [[syndrome|poisonous]] spittle.
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==Syndromes==
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{{main|Syndrome}}
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Natural attacks are far more deadly when there are [[syndrome]]s attached. [[Giant desert scorpion]]s are so incredibly dangerous not because they have big stingers (although that always helps) but because a single sting dooms anything organic it injects, be it a cat, a dwarf, or a dragon. Similarly, much of the danger in fighting [[forgotten beast]]s comes in their syndrome-causing attacks, including breath weapons, poisonous blood, area dusting, venomous bites, and so on. With the exception of some breath weapons, these attacks do not rely on size for damage calculation. What these attacks entail is covered extensively by the [[syndrome]] page.
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{{Category|Weapons}}

Latest revision as of 20:29, 20 September 2013

This article is about an older version of DF.
For manufactured weapons, see Weapon.


Natural weapons are innate attacks that can be used to hurt other creatures. They are distinct from manufactured weapons, which are items used (along with armor) by sentient creatures to improve their ability to attack and defend in combat. However, all creatures have natural weapons of some sort, some more deadly than others: arms can punch, horns can gore, talons can rip, fangs can bite, and hooves can smash heads in. Even creatures that you wouldn't expect to be able to put up a fight have default "push" attacks, which is simultaneously amusing and deadly in the case of the giant sponge. A description of the various types of natural weapons and their damage considerations follows.

Striking[edit]

Every creature has basic natural weapons, most commonly biting and kicking. The damage done by these attacks depends greatly on the respective size of the combatants, the strength of the attacker, and the striking/kicking/biting skill of the attacker. These are basic attacks and work as you might expect: a lion is certainly more dangerous than a badger. Attacks in this category include but are not limited to punching with fists, biting with the teeth, goring with the horns, scratching with nails, and kicking with feet.

Striking comes into play in unarmed combat, when creatures grapple with one another. However it also comes into play in armed combat, as punches and kicks (but usually kicks) are still valid attacks when the combatants lock blades. Here, the striker and kicker combat skills comes into play.

Ranged weapons[edit]

Some particularly dangerous creatures also have innate ranged attacks, usually some sort of "breath weapon". This might take the form of a dragon's fire, a magma crab's basalt-spewing, a giant cave spider's web-spraying, or a forgotten beast's poisonous spittle.

Syndromes[edit]

Main article: Syndrome

Natural attacks are far more deadly when there are syndromes attached. Giant desert scorpions are so incredibly dangerous not because they have big stingers (although that always helps) but because a single sting dooms anything organic it injects, be it a cat, a dwarf, or a dragon. Similarly, much of the danger in fighting forgotten beasts comes in their syndrome-causing attacks, including breath weapons, poisonous blood, area dusting, venomous bites, and so on. With the exception of some breath weapons, these attacks do not rely on size for damage calculation. What these attacks entail is covered extensively by the syndrome page.