So I've been messing around with the shell, bone, and tooth materials in the process of cleaning up/streamlining
, and I think I've found something interesting.
Background info on the bone, tooth and shell material definitions: they're pretty much identical. Their densities in all states are identical; their important temperatures and spec heats are identical; their weapons-related properties are identical. The only differences in the raws are:
From my work on the snails, it looked like shell was considerably weaker as an attacking material than tooth was despite having identical stats; but since it was a creature created from whole cloth, I didn't trust the results.
At first I created arena-ready versions of bone, tooth and shell with the [IS_METAL] tag and set dwarves to fight each other; but this yielded no differences. But then, if the problem lay in the [SHELL] tag, would [IS_METAL] override that?
I therefore created the Shelltooth Python and Bonetooth Python, exact copies of the standard Python with one obvious difference each. After one trial was muddled by the CAN_LATCH tag (which I subsequently removed from all three), the results were clear:
Shelltooth Python 9 bites Shelltooth Python 10 in the body, bruising the muscle and bruising the left kidney!
Shelltooth Python 7 bites Shelltooth Python 8 in the tail, bruising the fat!
Shelltooth Python 10 bites Shelltooth Python 9 in the tail, bruising the fat!
Shelltooth Python 6 bites Shelltooth Python 5 in the head, bruising the muscle!
Shelltooth Python 10 bites Shelltooth Python 9 in the head, bruising the muscle, jamming the skull through the brain and tearing the brain!
Shelltooth Python 5 bites Shelltooth Python 6 in the tail, bruising the scale!
Shelltooth Python 3 bites Shelltooth Python 4 in the tail, bruising the scale!
Shelltooth Python 5 bites Shelltooth Python 6 in the tail, bruising the scale!
Shelltooth Python 4 bites Shelltooth Python 3 in the tail, bruising the scale!
Shelltooth Python 7 bites Shelltooth Python 8 in the tail, bruising the muscle!
Shelltooth Python 6 bites Shelltooth Python 5 in the tail, bruising the fat!
Shelltooth Python 5 bites Shelltooth Python 6 in the tail, bruising the muscle!
Shelltooth Python 4 bites Shelltooth Python 3 in the right fang, but the attack glances away!
Shelltooth Python 8 bites Shelltooth Python 7 in the head, bruising the muscle, bruising the skull!
Shelltooth Python 4 bites Shelltooth Python 3 in the tail, bruising the bone!
Shelltooth Python 4 bites Shelltooth Python 3 in the tail, bruising the fat!
Shelltooth Python 8 bites Shelltooth Python 7 in the head, bruising the muscle and bruising the upper spine's bone!
Shelltooth Python 5 bites Shelltooth Python 6 in the tail, bruising the fat!
Shelltooth Python 4 bites Shelltooth Python 3 in the body, bruising the muscle and bruising the pancreas!
Shelltooth Python 8 bites Shelltooth Python 7 in the mouth, bruising the muscle!
Shelltooth Python 8 bites Shelltooth Python 7 in the body, bruising the muscle and bruising the left kidney!
Shelltooth Python 8 bites Shelltooth Python 7 in the left eye, bruising it!
Shelltooth Python 4 bites Shelltooth Python 3 in the tail, bruising the fat!
Shelltooth Python 8 bites Shelltooth Python 7 in the tail, bruising the muscle!
Shelltooth Python 3 bites Shelltooth Python 4 in the tail, bruising the muscle!
Shelltooth Python 8 bites Shelltooth Python 7 in the tail, bruising the fat!
Shelltooth Python 6 bites Shelltooth Python 5 in the tail, bruising the fat!
Shelltooth Python 3 bites Shelltooth Python 4 in the tail, bruising the fat!
Shelltooth Python 4 bites Shelltooth Python 3 in the head, bruising the muscle, bruising the skull!
Shelltooth Python 4 bites Shelltooth Python 3 in the body, bruising the muscle and bruising the left lung!
Shelltooth Python 7 bites Shelltooth Python 8 in the tail, bruising the fat!
Shelltooth Python 6 bites Shelltooth Python 5 in the tail, bruising the fat!
Shelltooth Python 4 bites Shelltooth Python 3 in the tail, bruising the scale!
Shelltooth Python 3 bites Shelltooth Python 4 in the tail, bruising the scale!
Shelltooth Python 6 bites Shelltooth Python 5 in the body, bruising the muscle and bruising the pancreas!
Shelltooth Python 6 bites Shelltooth Python 5 in the body, bruising the muscle!
Shelltooth Python 8 bites Shelltooth Python 7 in the tail, bruising the scale!
Shelltooth Python 6 bites Shelltooth Python 5 in the tail, bruising the scale!
Shelltooth Python 5 bites Shelltooth Python 6 in the head, bruising the muscle!
Shelltooth Python 6 bites Shelltooth Python 5 in the tail, bruising the fat!
Shelltooth Python 7 bites Shelltooth Python 8 in the head, bruising the muscle!
Shelltooth Python 6 bites Shelltooth Python 5 in the throat, bruising it!
Shelltooth Python 3 bites Shelltooth Python 4 in the body, bruising the muscle and bruising the guts!
Shelltooth Python 4 bites Shelltooth Python 3 in the teeth, but the attack glances away!
Shelltooth Python 6 bites Shelltooth Python 5 in the tail, bruising the scale!
Shelltooth Python 8 bites Shelltooth Python 7 in the tail, bruising the fat!
Shelltooth Python 3 bites Shelltooth Python 4 in the body, bruising the muscle and bruising the right lung!
Shelltooth Python 8 bites Shelltooth Python 7 in the tail, bruising the muscle!
Shelltooth Python 7 bites Shelltooth Python 8 in the head, bruising the muscle!
Shelltooth Python 5 bites Shelltooth Python 6 in the head, bruising the muscle!
Shelltooth Python 8 bites Shelltooth Python 7 in the tail, bruising the fat!
Shelltooth Python 4 bites Shelltooth Python 3 in the nose, tearing apart the cartilage!
Shelltooth Python 5 bites Shelltooth Python 6 in the tail, bruising the scale!
Shelltooth Python 8 bites Shelltooth Python 7 in the tail, bruising the fat!
Shelltooth Python 7 bites Shelltooth Python 8 in the body, bruising the muscle and bruising the guts!
Shelltooth Python 5 bites Shelltooth Python 6 in the head, bruising the muscle!
Shelltooth Python 7 bites Shelltooth Python 8 in the head, bruising the muscle!
Shelltooth Python 5 bites Shelltooth Python 6 in the left fang, but the attack glances away!
Shelltooth Python 6 bites Shelltooth Python 5 in the body, bruising the muscle and bruising the guts!
Shelltooth Python 5 bites Shelltooth Python 6 in the body, bruising the muscle and bruising the stomach!
Shelltooth Python 4 bites Shelltooth Python 3 in the tail, bruising the fat!
Shelltooth Python 4 bites Shelltooth Python 3 in the head, bruising the muscle and bruising the upper spine's bone!
Shelltooth Python 5 bites Shelltooth Python 6 in the body, bruising the muscle and bruising the liver!
Shelltooth Python 4 bites Shelltooth Python 3 in the teeth, but the attack glances away!
Shelltooth Python 8 bites Shelltooth Python 7 in the body, bruising the muscle!
Shelltooth Python 5 bites Shelltooth Python 6 in the teeth, but the attack glances away!
Shelltooth Python 4 bites Shelltooth Python 3 in the right eye, bruising it!
Shelltooth Python 8 bites Shelltooth Python 7 in the tail, bruising the fat!
Shelltooth Python 4 bites Shelltooth Python 3 in the body, bruising the muscle and bruising the right false ribs!
Shelltooth Python 8 bites Shelltooth Python 7 in the tail, bruising the fat!
Shelltooth Python 4 bites Shelltooth Python 3 in the body, bruising the muscle and bruising the guts!
Shelltooth Python 8 bites Shelltooth Python 7 in the tail, bruising the muscle!
Shelltooth Python 4 bites Shelltooth Python 3 in the body, bruising the muscle!
Shelltooth Python 4 bites Shelltooth Python 3 in the tail, bruising the fat!
Shelltooth Python 5 bites Shelltooth Python 6 in the tail, bruising the scale!
Shelltooth Python 8 bites Shelltooth Python 7 in the right fang, but the attack glances away!
Shelltooth Python 7 bites Shelltooth Python 8 in the body, bruising the muscle and bruising the spleen!
Shelltooth Python 5 bites Shelltooth Python 6 in the tail, bruising the fat!
Shelltooth Python 6 bites Shelltooth Python 5 in the head, bruising the muscle, bruising the skull!
Shelltooth Python 7 bites Shelltooth Python 8 in the head, bruising the muscle!
Shelltooth Python 6 bites Shelltooth Python 5 in the tail, bruising the muscle!
Shelltooth Python 8 bites Shelltooth Python 7 in the head, bruising the muscle!
Shelltooth Python 6 bites Shelltooth Python 5 in the tail, bruising the fat!
Shelltooth Python 4 bites Shelltooth Python 3 in the right eye, bruising it!
Shelltooth Python 6 bites Shelltooth Python 5 in the body, bruising the muscle and bruising the guts!
Shelltooth Python 3 bites Shelltooth Python 4 in the tail, bruising the fat!
Shelltooth Python 7 bites Shelltooth Python 8 in the head, bruising the muscle!
Shelltooth Python 4 bites Shelltooth Python 3 in the tail, bruising the scale!
Shelltooth Python 6 bites Shelltooth Python 5 in the left eye, bruising it!
Shelltooth Python 3 bites Shelltooth Python 4 in the tail, bruising the fat!
Shelltooth Python 7 bites Shelltooth Python 8 in the tail, bruising the fat!
Shelltooth Python 3 bites Shelltooth Python 4 in the tail, bruising the scale!
Shelltooth Python 6 bites Shelltooth Python 5 in the body, bruising the muscle, bruising the right false ribs!
Shelltooth Python 7 bites Shelltooth Python 8 in the body, bruising the muscle and bruising the left kidney!
Shelltooth Python 6 bites Shelltooth Python 5 in the tail, bruising the fat!
Shelltooth Python 7 bites Shelltooth Python 8 in the mouth, bruising the muscle!
Shelltooth Python 7 bites Shelltooth Python 8 in the tail, bruising the muscle!
Shelltooth Python 4 bites Shelltooth Python 3 in the tail, bruising the scale!
Shelltooth Python 6 bites Shelltooth Python 5 in the tail, bruising the scale!
Shelltooth Python 7 bites Shelltooth Python 8 in the body, bruising the muscle!
Shelltooth Python 4 bites Shelltooth Python 3 in the tail, bruising the fat!
Shelltooth Python 8 bites Shelltooth Python 7 in the tail, bruising the fat!
Shelltooth Python 5 bites Shelltooth Python 6 in the tail, bruising the scale!
Shelltooth Python 3 bites Shelltooth Python 4 in the tail, bruising the fat!
Shelltooth Python 3 bites Shelltooth Python 4 in the tail, bruising the fat!
Shelltooth Python 6 bites Shelltooth Python 5 in the tail, bruising the scale!
Shelltooth Python 7 bites Shelltooth Python 8 in the head, bruising the muscle!
Shelltooth Python 5 bites Shelltooth Python 6 in the mouth, bruising the muscle!
Shelltooth Python 3 bites Shelltooth Python 4 in the body, bruising the muscle and bruising the right kidney!
Shelltooth Python 6 bites Shelltooth Python 5 in the body, bruising the muscle and bruising the guts!
Shelltooth Python 8 bites Shelltooth Python 7 in the tail, bruising the scale!
Shelltooth Python 3 bites Shelltooth Python 4 in the teeth, but the attack glances away!
Shelltooth Python 6 bites Shelltooth Python 5 in the head, bruising the muscle, jamming the skull through the brain and tearing the brain!
Shelltooth Python 4 bites Shelltooth Python 3 in the teeth, but the attack glances away!
Shelltooth Python 8 bites Shelltooth Python 7 in the head, bruising the muscle, bruising the skull!
Shelltooth Python 4 bites Shelltooth Python 3 in the tail, bruising the muscle!
Shelltooth Python 4 bites Shelltooth Python 3 in the tail, bruising the scale!
Shelltooth Python 7 bites Shelltooth Python 8 in the tail, bruising the muscle!
Shelltooth Python 4 bites Shelltooth Python 3 in the right fang, but the attack glances away!
Shelltooth Python 4 bites Shelltooth Python 3 in the tail, bruising the muscle!
Shelltooth Python 4 bites Shelltooth Python 3 in the tail, bruising the scale!
Shelltooth Python 7 bites Shelltooth Python 8 in the body, bruising the muscle and bruising the pancreas!
Shelltooth Python 3 bites Shelltooth Python 4 in the tail, bruising the muscle!
Shelltooth Python 7 bites Shelltooth Python 8 in the teeth, but the attack glances away!
Shelltooth Python 8 bites Shelltooth Python 7 in the body, bruising the muscle and bruising the guts!
Shelltooth Python 8 bites Shelltooth Python 7 in the tail, bruising the muscle!
Shelltooth Python 8 bites Shelltooth Python 7 in the tail, bruising the fat!
Shelltooth Python 8 bites Shelltooth Python 7 in the teeth, but the attack glances away!
Shelltooth Python 8 bites Shelltooth Python 7 in the body, bruising the muscle!
Shelltooth Python 8 bites Shelltooth Python 7 in the right fang, but the attack glances away!
Shelltooth Python 7 bites Shelltooth Python 8 in the body, bruising the muscle and bruising the guts!
Shelltooth Python 3 bites Shelltooth Python 4 in the tail, bruising the fat!
Shelltooth Python 8 bites Shelltooth Python 7 in the tail, bruising the scale!
Shelltooth Python 8 bites Shelltooth Python 7 in the tail, bruising the muscle!
Shelltooth Python 8 bites Shelltooth Python 7 in the tail, bruising the fat!
Shelltooth Python 3 bites Shelltooth Python 4 in the head, bruising the muscle!
Shelltooth Python 8 bites Shelltooth Python 7 in the body, bruising the muscle and bruising the right lung!
Shelltooth Python 3 bites Shelltooth Python 4 in the tail, bruising the fat!
Shelltooth Python 8 bites Shelltooth Python 7 in the body, bruising the muscle and bruising the pancreas!
Shelltooth Python 4 bites Shelltooth Python 3 in the tail, bruising the fat!
Shelltooth Python 8 bites Shelltooth Python 7 in the head, bruising the muscle, jamming the skull through the brain and tearing the brain!
Shelltooth Python 3 bites Shelltooth Python 4 in the head, bruising the muscle!
Shelltooth Python 4 bites Shelltooth Python 3 in the tail, bruising the scale!
Shelltooth Python 3 bites Shelltooth Python 4 in the tail, bruising the fat!
Shelltooth Python 4 bites Shelltooth Python 3 in the body, bruising the muscle and bruising the right lung!
Shelltooth Python 3 bites Shelltooth Python 4 in the tail, bruising the scale!
Shelltooth Python 3 bites Shelltooth Python 4 in the body, bruising the muscle and bruising the spleen!
Shelltooth Python 4 bites Shelltooth Python 3 in the tail, bruising the muscle!
Shelltooth Python 3 bites Shelltooth Python 4 in the body, bruising the muscle and bruising the guts!
Shelltooth Python 3 bites Shelltooth Python 4 in the tail, bruising the fat!
Shelltooth Python 3 bites Shelltooth Python 4 in the head, bruising the muscle!
Shelltooth Python 3 bites Shelltooth Python 4 in the head, bruising the muscle!
Shelltooth Python 4 bites Shelltooth Python 3 in the head, bruising the muscle!
Shelltooth Python 4 bites Shelltooth Python 3 in the tail, bruising the scale!
Shelltooth Python 4 bites Shelltooth Python 3 in the tail, bruising the fat!
Shelltooth Python 4 bites Shelltooth Python 3 in the body, bruising the fat!
Shelltooth Python 4 bites Shelltooth Python 3 in the tail, bruising the fat!
Shelltooth Python 3 bites Shelltooth Python 4 in the tail, bruising the scale!
Shelltooth Python 4 bites Shelltooth Python 3 in the tail, bruising the fat!
Shelltooth Python 4 bites Shelltooth Python 3 in the head, bruising the muscle, jamming the skull through the brain and tearing the brain!
I also did small control trials with bone and tooth, anticipating that I would have to do some statistical analysis, but
. No tearing at all.
I'm honestly not sure if this is intended behavior or not: there's nothing in the unmodded game that attacks with shell body parts, so it's hard to say. (Crustaceans and molluscs appear to use chitin exclusively for their attack parts.)