A full list and description is available at the df wiki.
In order from worst to best, with their additions to item quality:
- Nothing = 1x
- - = 2x
- + = 3x
- * = 4x
- ≡ = 5x
- ☼ = 12x
- Artifact items, (ones with a unique name) = 10x in the latest version, 120x in 0.28
The page for the previous version is far more detailed, but some information may be out of date.
According to the Adventure mode wiki page the following attributes and skills are important to combat:
ATTRIBUTES
Strength - Alters the damage done in melee, increases muscle mass (thicker muscle layer also resists damage more)
Agility - This attribute is directly related to a character's Speed and is also used in combat skills.
Toughness - Reduces physical damage. Also relates to defensive combat skills.
Endurance - Used in Wrestling.
Focus - Affects Archer.
Willpower - Affects Fighter and helps resist pain effects such as those caused by chipped bones.
Spatial Sense - Important. Affects combat skills.
Kinesthetic Sense - Important. Affects combat skill.
SKILLS
Weapons - Naturally all of the weapon skills (hammerer, marksdwarf, etc.)
Fighter/Archer - A general combat skill relating to melee or ranged combat
Shield User/Armour Wearer/Dodger - Defensive skills, used to block or avoid incoming attacks
Wrestler/Striker/Kicker/Biter - General unarmed combat. Wrestling is particularly interesting as it alows you to disarm, throw and choke opponents.
Thrower - Throwing objects such as axes, swords or rocks.
Misc. Object User - Fighting with improvised weapons (such as rocks or Fluffy Wombler corpses).
Ambusher/Observer - Allows you to sneak up to (or away from) enemies unnoticed and to spot sneaking enemies respectively.
You may also wish to consult the Adventure mode quick start guide for advice on a good all round set up.
Best Answer
When you don't have a prison, its kind of important to make sure that your sheriff or captain of the guard doesn't have ridiculous strength. When you don't have a prison, justice is handed out in the form of beatings and he may kill/severely wound dwarfs for trivial crimes.
Also, make sure you have helpers for the
Captain of the Guardas if punishment isn't swift for criminals it will be handed out by theHammerer, i.e. The Executioner.In general, the only common quality that should be in your justice system are the weaker dwarves that are unskilled in combat. Thus, not killing your criminals. A good compromise is to equip them with
Feather Treeshields andAdamantitecrossbows so that they can still help out if you are invaded.It doesn't seem as if though any other skills are relevant to picking law enforcement.