The Dwarf Fortress Thread

[Nomadic]

This fortunately isn't an aquifer area so I am set. Best part is I started a level up and the level down opens up into several lower areas filled with trees. So I can push vertically out. I am thinking that if I can find a permanent water source nearby I can channel it over for permanent wells as well as water traps and a moat. We shall see, we shall see.

On a side note this game gives me a new fear of polycarp and his minions.

[Lmns Crn]

This fortunately isn't an aquifer area so I am set. Best part is I started a level up and the level down opens up into several lower areas filled with trees. So I can push vertically out. I am thinking that if I can find a permanent water source nearby I can channel it over for permanent wells as well as water traps and a moat.

Keep in mind that the outdoor map will usually have a lot of up-pointing and down-pointing triangles-- these are ramps and natural slopes that dwarves can walk up and down on. So you don't have to build your fortress's entrance on the same z-level where the wagon appears, but can choose your starting location based on whatever factors you like.

For wells, I like to drain an outdoor pond or two into an underground cistern, and build a well over that. Keep in mind that the only times dwarves will drink water are when they're wounded or when they're out of booze (not ideal), so if you keep plenty of alcohol, you really only need a well to keep your wounded dwarves alive. That is to say, you won't need a huge supply of well water; a moderate amount will do okay. If you do have "sourced" water on your map (i.e.; it flows in from offscreen, infinitely), be careful when using it. I recommend setting up some sort of clever system with floodgates and levers, to avoid flooding your fortress.

Water and magma are fun for elaborate traps and moats, but "regular" traps (stone fall, weapon traps, etc.) will suffice against goblins and other small threats in the early stages of a fortress. If you find you keep losing to goblin invasion, try bringing a mechanic with your starting dwarves, or training one up early.

[the_taken]

I've tested my new Goblin Liquidator, and posted the results in the poled thread.

[Polycarp]

Water and magma are fun for elaborate traps and moats, but "regular" traps (stone fall, weapon traps, etc.) will suffice against goblins and other small threats in the early stages of a fortress. If you find you keep losing to goblin invasion, try bringing a mechanic with your starting dwarves, or training one up early.

You should bring a mechanic even if goblins aren't a problem.  Mechanisms sell for a really good price, especially if you have flux to make them out of and a good mechanic who makes quality work.

[Polycarp]

Anyone picking this game up now might actually want to wait for a day or two, as the developer posted yesterday that a new update will be out "tomorrow or the next day, depending on this and that."

[Nomadic]

I will keep that in mind. However as I have already gotten going no reason to just sit and wait... might as well play my world :P

on a side note...

CARP! CARP!!! *assumes fetal position and sucks thumb while rocking back and forth* CARP!!!!!!!!!!!

[Polycarp]

[Nomadic]

HAHA that is epic. :D

Anyhow I finally got a world going (only took me 8 tries to get the hang of starting a fortress). I think it's coming along nicely, though you all can feel free to give your two cents on it.

Surface:


Main Area:


Mine:

[Lmns Crn]

I love your moat.

What is the bright blue stone you're building lots of stuff out of? Cobaltite? It's pretty.

Keep in mind that if you have cave-ins turned on in the init file, it's dangerous to mine out an area that is 7x7 or larger, if it doesn't have a support pillar or an unmined square (a.k.a., "naturally occurring support pillar") somewhere inside it to hold the ceiling up. If you have problems with the cavern collapsing, that's what will be causing it. (Alternately, edit the init file to turn off cave-ins, and you won't have to worry about it.)

What are you going to do for defenses when the goblins start knocking on the door. You got a plan? Is there a way to retract that bridge?

[the_taken]

Keep in mind that if you have cave-ins turned on in the init file, it's dangerous to mine out an area that is 7x7 or larger

No anymore. That's only in ye old 2D versions. With the z-level supporting versions you only need a non-diagonal connection to keep any amount of anything up. One floor panel or support pillar will hold up a 200x200x200 volume of anything. Ye drafkin are dumbeth and ye physics are thwackedth!

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I that brook. "I'm going to curve right here and then leave. Yoink!" Note that everything can just walk across the brook without any trouble. That includes goblins, so you might want to dig a mote around the brook to prevent a surprise entry.

[Nomadic]

What are you going to do for defenses when the goblins start knocking on the door. You got a plan? Is there a way to retract that bridge?

I that brook. "I'm going to curve right here and then leave. Yoink!" Note that everything can just walk across the brook without any trouble. That includes goblins, so you might want to dig a mote around the brook to prevent a surprise entry.
[/quote]

Yea I noticed that with my dwarves. You can't see it since this is an earlier picture but I actually did order my dwarves to carve a channel out and around the brook.

[Polycarp]

Yeah, cave-ins no longer occur unless a construction/rock face is unconnected to the rest of the world.

Nomadic, that's a fine moat, but remember that goblins and kobolds often pack ranged weapons and will be able to shoot right over it.  Flying creatures (giant eagles, maybe dragons too?) will also be able to bypass it.  Once you get more stone, you might consider building walls (and maybe fortifications for marksdwarves).

[Nomadic]

Yes, thats the plan. For now though I just wanted something so I wouldn't get caught with my pants down (if worse comes to worse right now I can pull the bridge up and lock my dwarves inside).

[Lmns Crn]

Well, I learned something new and awesome about cave-ins by reading this thread! Old 2D-version habits die hard, I guess, and I keep putting supports in my 7x7 or larger rooms anyway.

Yes if you notice the switch next to it, it retracts (drawbridges are awesome).

You know, you don't need to have levers adjacent to the objects they operate; mechanisms can link them to things from across the map. In this example, you might prefer to operate the bridge with a far-away lever-- say, deep inside the fortress, so that dwarves don't need to walk right out to meet an invading army in order to pull the only lever that will stop the advance of that aforementioned invading army.

[Nomadic]

If I have to pull it up by the time I see the invading army I am in trouble (since bridges take awhile to go up) hehe. Nah it is staying up 24/7 for now unless its getting near to caravan time or I need to go out for some reason. Later on things will probably change. Thanks for all the responses though (and good advice too), she's coming along nicely.