Dwarf Fortress Bug Tracker - Dwarf Fortress
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IDProjectCategoryView StatusDate SubmittedLast Update
0009496Dwarf FortressCombat -- Generalpublic2016-01-19 16:262017-11-20 14:00
ReporterLoci 
Assigned ToToady One 
PrioritynormalSeverityminorReproducibilitysometimes
StatusresolvedResolutionfixed 
PlatformOSOS Version
Product Version0.42.05 
Target VersionFixed in Version0.44.01 
Summary0009496: Tiny undead creatures immune to pulping, ridiculously difficult to kill
DescriptionMy starting 7 have spent 50,000 lines of gamelog.txt locked in combat with an undead kestrel (tiny falcon). Many punch attacks "glance away" from the target, others cause bruises, but pulping seems to be impossible (comparatively, my dwarves pulped two undead ducks in ~ 10 attacks). Axe attacks are only slightly less useless, almost always tearing skin or muscles but very rarely severing anything.

Realistically, tiny creatures should be easier to pulp, and axe attacks which hit the target should almost invariably lop something off.

Testing in the arena, an unarmed dwarf easily destroyed the first 3 undead kestrels with punches severing limbs and collapsing body parts, but got stuck on the fourth, with his punch attacks glancing away or shattering bones, but not severing limbs or pulping.
Steps To Reproducecreate some unarmed dwarves in the arena
add one undead kestrel at a time until you get an unsmashable one
Additional InformationSave from 0009536 https://www.mediafire.com/?o7np5imwebvid54 [^]
Save from 0009785 http://dffd.bay12games.com/file.php?id=12070 [^]
TagsNo tags attached.
Relationships
has duplicate 0009565resolved Dwarfu undead chinchilla impossible to kill 
has duplicate 0009536resolved Dwarfu Some undead won't die (a gorlak skeleton and ewe head) 
has duplicate 0009785resolved Dwarfu undead heads are unkillable 
has duplicate 0009700resolved Loci Invincible zombie heads 
has duplicate 0010108resolved Loci Tiny Undead - Burrows - Dwarfs won't eat or drink and they dehydrate ot starve 
related to 0000787confirmed Footkerchief Small animals and reanimated body parts can't be hit -- "the attack passes right through" 
Attached Files
Issue History
Date ModifiedUsernameFieldChange
2016-01-19 16:26LociNew Issue
2016-01-19 18:06DetrosNote Added: 0034478
2016-01-20 08:04SuperrobNote Added: 0034488
2016-01-20 09:42HuntthetrollNote Added: 0034489
2016-01-22 12:30LociNote Added: 0034514
2016-02-03 21:57stuntaneousNote Added: 0034601
2016-02-16 08:33TheCrazyHamsteRNote Added: 0034680
2016-05-11 21:06DwarfuRelationship addedhas duplicate 0009565
2016-05-23 15:11DwarfuRelationship addedhas duplicate 0009536
2016-05-23 15:12DwarfuRelationship addedhas duplicate 0009785
2016-05-23 15:12DwarfuIssue Monitored: telok
2016-05-23 15:12DwarfuAdditional Information Updatedbug_revision_view_page.php?rev_id=14237#r14237
2016-12-08 20:16LociRelationship addedhas duplicate 0009700
2016-12-08 20:18LociNote Added: 0036081
2016-12-08 20:19LociDescription Updatedbug_revision_view_page.php?rev_id=14547#r14547
2017-01-04 21:43jjl2357Note Added: 0036129
2017-01-04 21:44jjl2357Note Edited: 0036129bug_revision_view_page.php?bugnote_id=0036129#r14560
2017-03-15 13:06FootkerchiefRelationship addedrelated to 0000787
2017-07-28 13:19LociRelationship addedhas duplicate 0010108
2017-11-20 14:00Toady OneNote Added: 0036900
2017-11-20 14:00Toady OneStatusnew => resolved
2017-11-20 14:00Toady OneFixed in Version => Next Version
2017-11-20 14:00Toady OneResolutionopen => fixed
2017-11-20 14:00Toady OneAssigned To => Toady One

Notes
(0034478)
Detros   
2016-01-19 18:06   
Can be related to 0005356, "Undead tissues (hair, feathers, fur) attack but cannot be hit".
(0034488)
Superrob   
2016-01-20 08:04   
Wasn't this fixed in 42.05, in that they won't create such tiny undead anymore?
(0034489)
Huntthetroll   
2016-01-20 09:42   
I think that the fix added other ways to kill undead, like decapitation.
(0034514)
Loci   
2016-01-22 12:30   
@Superrob: Since I reported this bug in v0.42.05, I think we can safely assume that it was not, in fact, fixed in that version.

@Huntthetroll: Decapitation was also amazingly difficult for the undead kestrel. My axedwarf was fighting this bird for months and only managed one severing strike (to a wing).
(0034601)
stuntaneous   
2016-02-03 21:57   
Possibly related to 9536
(0034680)
TheCrazyHamsteR   
2016-02-16 08:33   
Also happened to me. My military dwarves were fighting with undead rabbit for a year and cut off only his guts.

Apparently, the only way to stop the fight is to announce an alert and catch the undead animal using a cage trap.
(0036081)
Loci   
2016-12-08 20:18   
v0.42.06: ApertureAlex posted a save in 0009700:

http://dffd.bay12games.com/file.php?id=11966 [^]
(0036129)
jjl2357   
2017-01-04 21:43   
(edited on: 2017-01-04 21:44)
Found this in 43.05, where dwarves spent months battling an "alpaca head wool", until I had to retire the fortress.
(0036900)
Toady One   
2017-11-20 14:00   
I fixed a few cases of this. It's quite possible there are other configurations.