Dwarf Fortress Bug Tracker - Dwarf Fortress
View Issue Details
IDProjectCategoryView StatusDate SubmittedLast Update
0002796Dwarf FortressDwarf Mode -- Jobs, Militarypublic2010-07-23 14:032014-01-26 08:36
ReporterOrkel2 
Assigned ToToady One 
PriorityhighSeveritymajorReproducibilitysometimes
StatusresolvedResolutionfixed 
PlatformPCOSWindowsOS Version7
Product Version0.31.11 
Target VersionFixed in Version0.34.01 
Summary0002796: Soldiers often cannot follow their orders.
DescriptionTheir job status becomes "Soldier (cannot follow order)" after being ordered to do something, for example to kill a creature (in which case he starts chasing it for a few seconds and then freezes in place with said job status) or train archery at the archery range (he just hangs around in the meeting area with the job status mentioned earlier).

Screenshot:

http://puu.sh/3Ru [^]

Started for the first time in 31.11, this did not exist before this version.
Steps To ReproduceTry ordering a squad of 3-5 soldiers to kill some wild animals outside, or try enabling the active/training status of a marksdwarf and wait for it to appear (in my case he shot a few dozen bolts before starting to get this problem)
Additional Information
Tagsbug, cannot, Fixed in 0.34.01?, follow, Military, order, Save Included, soldier
Relationships
has duplicate 0004893resolved Dwarfu "Soldier (Cannot follow order)" Status for military dwarves on duty after canceling "move" order that could not be completed. 
child of 0000428acknowledged Toady One Dwarves refuse to train, and other training weirdness 
Attached Files
Issue History
Date ModifiedUsernameFieldChange
2010-07-23 14:03Orkel2New Issue
2010-07-23 14:15Orkel2Tag Attached: Military
2010-07-23 14:15Orkel2Tag Attached: bug
2010-07-23 14:15Orkel2Tag Attached: cannot
2010-07-23 14:15Orkel2Tag Attached: follow
2010-07-23 14:15Orkel2Tag Attached: order
2010-07-23 14:15Orkel2Tag Attached: soldier
2010-07-23 15:21Rafal99Note Added: 0010881
2010-07-23 16:22FootkerchiefNote Added: 0010882
2010-07-23 16:34DawideIssue Monitored: Dawide
2010-07-23 16:38Orkel2Note Added: 0010883
2010-07-23 16:41Mason11987Note Added: 0010884
2010-07-23 16:44Mason11987Note Edited: 0010884bug_revision_view_page.php?bugnote_id=0010884#r4226
2010-07-23 16:47Mason11987Note Edited: 0010884bug_revision_view_page.php?bugnote_id=0010884#r4227
2010-07-23 16:51Mason11987Note Edited: 0010884bug_revision_view_page.php?bugnote_id=0010884#r4228
2010-07-23 19:48duckthatquacksNote Added: 0010890
2010-07-23 20:39Hieronymous AlloyIssue Monitored: Hieronymous Alloy
2010-07-24 00:32DekarNote Added: 0010902
2010-07-24 00:32DekarIssue Monitored: Dekar
2010-07-24 00:33DekarNote Edited: 0010902bug_revision_view_page.php?bugnote_id=0010902#r4236
2010-07-24 06:02duckthatquacksNote Edited: 0010890bug_revision_view_page.php?bugnote_id=0010890#r4240
2010-07-24 08:34FootkerchiefRelationship addedchild of 0000428
2010-07-24 21:45Khym ChanurIssue Monitored: Khym Chanur
2010-07-26 12:55Jon-AceNote Added: 0011094
2010-07-26 12:55Jon-AceNote Edited: 0011094bug_revision_view_page.php?bugnote_id=0011094#r4324
2010-07-26 12:56Jon-AceNote Edited: 0011094bug_revision_view_page.php?bugnote_id=0011094#r4325
2010-07-26 12:56Jon-AceNote Edited: 0011094bug_revision_view_page.php?bugnote_id=0011094#r4328
2010-07-26 13:21Rafal99Note Added: 0011101
2010-07-26 13:22Rafal99Note Edited: 0011101bug_revision_view_page.php?bugnote_id=0011101#r4332
2010-07-28 06:40Orkel2Note Added: 0011182
2010-09-06 08:43ChopperDaveIssue Monitored: ChopperDave
2010-09-06 08:43ChopperDaveIssue End Monitor: ChopperDave
2010-09-06 08:43ChopperDaveIssue Monitored: ChopperDave
2010-09-06 16:48AreyarNote Added: 0012458
2010-09-06 16:50AreyarNote Edited: 0012458bug_revision_view_page.php?bugnote_id=0012458#r4848
2010-09-06 16:50AreyarIssue Monitored: Areyar
2010-10-18 04:05BoldwynNote Added: 0013405
2010-10-18 08:11BoldwynIssue Monitored: Boldwyn
2010-10-18 16:00BoldwynNote Edited: 0013405bug_revision_view_page.php?bugnote_id=0013405#r5185
2010-11-14 08:43Orkel2Note Added: 0013825
2010-12-09 07:30AltareeNote Added: 0014468
2011-04-03 07:33Orkel2Note Added: 0017004
2011-04-03 08:25FootkerchiefNote Added: 0017007
2011-09-12 21:46DwarfuRelationship addedhas duplicate 0004893
2012-01-18 02:05KipiNote Added: 0019402
2012-01-18 02:06KipiIssue Monitored: Kipi
2012-01-18 08:17kwielandIssue Monitored: kwieland
2012-01-18 08:31kwielandNote Added: 0019403
2012-01-18 11:18DwarfuNote Added: 0019405
2012-01-18 11:19DwarfuNote Edited: 0019405bug_revision_view_page.php?bugnote_id=0019405#r7277
2012-01-18 11:20DwarfuTag Attached: Save Included
2012-01-18 11:36DwarfuTag Attached: Fixed in 0.31.26?
2012-02-14 05:12FootkerchiefTag RenamedFixed in 0.31.26? => Fixed in 0.34.01?
2014-01-26 08:36FootkerchiefNote Added: 0024360
2014-01-26 08:36FootkerchiefStatusnew => resolved
2014-01-26 08:36FootkerchiefFixed in Version => 0.34.01
2014-01-26 08:36FootkerchiefResolutionopen => fixed
2014-01-26 08:36FootkerchiefAssigned To => Toady One

Notes
(0010881)
Rafal99   
2010-07-23 15:21   
I got this when I had less archery targets than markdwarves wanting to practice, and there was no unoccupied targets left. Do you have enough archery targets?
(0010882)
Footkerchief   
2010-07-23 16:22   
If Rafal99's explanation doesn't explain this, it would be helpful to upload a save to http://dffd.wimbli.com/ [^]
(0010883)
Orkel2   
2010-07-23 16:38   
The archery ranges work if the dwarf is set to inactive. It does it on active/training even with 1 dwarf and 1 target, so Rafal's explanation doesn't work.

The killing creatures one happens often tho. I'm not sure if it's only in my save, so I'll wait for other people's similar reports first before going through the hassle of uploading.
(0010884)
Mason11987   
2010-07-23 16:41   
(edited on: 2010-07-23 16:51)
I've had the same effect, though I've never killed anything with my marksdwarves. They just trained for a while, I assume I did SOMETHING, now they are showing that. If we could learn under what condition this message is expected to come up, that might be helpful.

Edit - Some follow up.

I can set them to use a weapon rack while on "active/training" and it works just fine as far as I can tell tell. I'll try deconstructing/reconstructing my archery targets.

Edit - Nothing. Deleting and recreating the squad....

Nothing. I have 9 people in my squad, 8 are set to train at any time, there are 10 recently constructed (correctly) archery targets, 8 of the 9 have that message in the [u]nits scree (the other is asleep).
(0010890)
duckthatquacks   
2010-07-23 19:48   
(edited on: 2010-07-24 06:02)
I am having the same problem. Marksdwarves won't train; other soldiers will. I'll try to upload a save this weekend.

Edit: It is possible that there are no quivers for my marksdwarves. I will look into it.
(0010902)
Dekar   
2010-07-24 00:32   
(edited on: 2010-07-24 00:33)
I have a single axedwarf/militia commander with a single bed barrack.
Sometimes he is training, sometimes he cant follow orders.
(0011094)
Jon-Ace   
2010-07-26 12:55   
(edited on: 2010-07-26 12:56)
Getting this in 0.31.12 with a one squad, one speardwarf army. He occasionally goes into training, but sometimes goes to a meeting area with the bug described.

Similar to Dekar's problem.
(0011101)
Rafal99   
2010-07-26 13:21   
(edited on: 2010-07-26 13:22)
For marksdwarves it seems to happen if you have no barracks for them to train. I had squad of 4 marksdwarves who "Cannot follow orders" despite lots of free archery targets. I made a barracks for them to train then immediately 2 of them went to demostration and 2 to Archery Practice.

Seems related to the fact that Toady stopped non-archery training from happening in archery ranges. Dwarves probably want to cycle through different training types (shooting, demonstrations and individual drills) and get stuck once they finish archery and have no barracks to perform other training.
(0011182)
Orkel2   
2010-07-28 06:40   
My squad of 3 swordsdwarves and 1 hammerdwarf was ordered to station outside to defend against a goblin ambush. Instead they all got this bug, and didn't move at all, causing the goblins to slaughter the traders freely. They eventually stationed, but way, way too late.
(0012458)
Areyar   
2010-09-06 16:48   
(edited on: 2010-09-06 16:50)
Maybe all archery targets need to be defined (set room size, fire from direction X, assign squad allowed for training) before they can be used?

Previously I created the archery range from a single target and added additional targets as needed. These were then used by the squad, without the need to make rooms from each of them.
I now noticed that my marksdwarves refused to train unless I defined all targets individually. I may be imagining this though.

--
This would not explain the cannot follow orders status when ordered to attack or some other active order though.
(Which I have also seen in 31.12)
(0013405)
Boldwyn   
2010-10-18 04:05   
(edited on: 2010-10-18 16:00)
This happened for me in 31.16 for a melee unit (no marksdwarves).

Save: the dwarves are in "cannot follow order" mode. They stayed some time like this doing nothing, no training, just stayed in their bedrooms near the invading giant and slowly move towards their target.

http://dffd.wimbli.com/file.php?id=3295 [^]
(0013825)
Orkel2   
2010-11-14 08:43   
Still does it in 31.17.
(0014468)
Altaree   
2010-12-09 07:30   
This message needs to be more verbose. Include WHY the dwarf can't follow an order.
(0017004)
Orkel2   
2011-04-03 07:33   
Still in .25
(0017007)
Footkerchief   
2011-04-03 08:25   
Reminder sent to: Orkel2

Please upload a save to http://dffd.wimbli.com/ [^]
(0019402)
Kipi   
2012-01-18 02:05   
Here is a save which also shows the problem in .25 version:

http://dffd.wimbli.com/file.php?id=5381 [^]

I have 10 soldiers, in same squad. After I cancelled the station order I gave them to repel a goblin ambush all my soldiers are stuck with the "Cannot follow orders" status even though they don't have any orders active. I don't have barracks so they aren't trying to train.

Being stuck in the status doesn't prevent the soldiers to go for a drink or meal, but after they have done so they return to "Cannot follow orders". Same applies to new orders, like station; they follow the order but after it's cancelled they return to "Cannot follow orders". The squad leader (who also happens to be Captain of the Guard) is alive and kicking, none of the soldiers have health problems. In fact, Captain is also affected by this bug.

While the soldiers are stuck in the "Cannot follow orders" status they DO talk to friends, admire nice things and so on. This can be noted when looking at their thoughts, since there are lots of new thoughts after the slaughter.

There is no pathing problems as far I can see and reloading the save doesn't fix the problem.

Disbanding and reforming the squad solves the problem.
(0019403)
kwieland   
2012-01-18 08:31   
@Kipi
In your case, you have the squad assigned to the active/training schedule, and the schedule calls for them to train. Since you don't have a barracks defined (as you said), that is why you get the message. If you think about the situation, it makes sense for them not to be able to follow your orders.

If you 1. build a barracks for them to train in and assign them to train there, the status changes to "go to drill"
or
2. change the squad alert to inactive, then they all revert to civilians and go about their work.

However, it becomes more difficult with archery. For some reason you never know if they don't have bolts (thus they can't practice), are missing an archery target, equipment, etc.

I agree that the errors could contain a little more information.
(0019405)
Dwarfu   
2012-01-18 11:18   
(edited on: 2012-01-18 11:19)
These messages WILL be more informative in the next version:

"I broke the "Cannot follow order" message for soldiers into about a dozen hopefully helpful messages."

http://www.bay12games.com/dwarves/index.html#2011-09-23 [^]
(0024360)
Footkerchief   
2014-01-26 08:36   
Please reopen this report or PM me on the forums if this bug is still present.