Dwarf Fortress, A Computer Gaming Challenge Options

[EvilP]

Seriously you're better off going into the config file and disabling the dwarven economy. That way you can keep your happy dwarven communist paradise going indefinitely where even the lowliest butcher has a bedroom filled with solid gold furniture.

[nezumi]

Okay, I have to ask, because I've looked and have not found...

How do you hook up mechanics?

I have a windmill working happily. I've attached gear thingers and horizontal bars in every orientation around every corner of it, yet they all stay inactive. What gives?

[Iduno]

How much distance do you have between the windmills and whatever you're hooking them up to? I think some energy is wasted with distance.

Also, I have no idea how to determine the strength of the wind at your fortress. There may not be enough for what you're trying to run.

[nezumi]

I've got 40 wind. I'm trying to attach a millstone, so I can put it where-ever I want.

[hobgoblin]

to hook up mechanics you should find a interface pretty much like a workshop, and then select connect or something in there, then it gives a list of things you can hook it to, just dont use the arrow keys to move the camera around as that will jump you out of the whole thing and you need to start over...

and you can find a lot of info here:
http://www.dwarffortresswiki.net/index.php/Main_Page

[nezumi]

I'll give that a try. I checked the wiki and they didn't mention anything (at least not anything that made sense to me) and I'm watching some tutorials on youtube. I did connect levers though (after making one of my fortress levels all muddy).

[hobgoblin]

sounds like the perfect place to start a farm then (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[StealthSigma]

I've picked up playing Dwarf Fortress. I'm not sure if I'm doing it right since most of my gameplay involves plopping my dwarfs into a serene area (to minimize the threats of elephants and other inane BS while learning the game). I'll start out building basic structures but then I believe I become possessed and order my dwarfs to dig out a meeting hall beneath a murky pool and order everyone to gather there. I'll then wall the area off (one dwarf may be stuck outside) and order the dwarfs to dig up into the murky pool.

Am I doing it wrong?

[Karoline]

I've picked up playing Dwarf Fortress. I'm not sure if I'm doing it right since most of my gameplay involves plopping my dwarfs into a serene area (to minimize the threats of elephants and other inane BS while learning the game). I'll start out building basic structures but then I believe I become possessed and order my dwarfs to dig out a meeting hall beneath a murky pool and order everyone to gather there. I'll then wall the area off (one dwarf may be stuck outside) and order the dwarfs to dig up into the murky pool.

Am I doing it wrong?

Yes. You should have them dig up into lava, not water.

[Kagetenshi]

Yes, you are doing it wrong. You should be making sure the pool is filled with carp first.

~J

[StealthSigma]

Yes. You should have them dig up into lava, not water.

Yes, you are doing it wrong. You should be making sure the pool is filled with carp first.

~J

Well crap.

In all seriousness though, there is a metric crapton to get my mind wrapped around just to get a competent fortress from the beginning. A lot of the guides and tutorials I've read seem to be for 2009 and older versions of the game, not the 2010 version.

[Doc Chase]

It's my opinion that a fortress that successfully lasts for 10 ingame years or more should reward you with a BS in city planning. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

[StealthSigma]

It's my opinion that a fortress that successfully lasts for 10 ingame years or more should reward you with a BS in city planning. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

Aye, but subsequently a fortress that can last for more than 2 seasons is probably preferable. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rotfl.gif)

[Doc Chase]

I prepare for DF by reading the saga of Boatmurdered. Haven't touched it in a bit because of WoW and Fallout: New Vegas, but I might get back into it while I'm waiting for my raids to form...

[StealthSigma]

I prepare for DF by reading the saga of Boatmurdered. Haven't touched it in a bit because of WoW and Fallout: New Vegas, but I might get back into it while I'm waiting for my raids to form...

Elephants... they're worse than carp.

I was humored by all the engravings that pop up of dwarfs being slaughtered by elephants.

[Karoline]

Well crap.

In all seriousness though, there is a metric crapton to get my mind wrapped around just to get a competent fortress from the beginning. A lot of the guides and tutorials I've read seem to be for 2009 and older versions of the game, not the 2010 version.

I suggest this guide for getting your feet wet so to speak.

Personally my cities always tend to do very well. It is more likely to end because I get bored with my mountains of treasure, multiple decade stores of food and drink, and dozens of legendarily skilled dwarfs, my 30x20 great hall with a glass ceiling, etc. Perhaps my biggest difficulty in most maps is running out of wood to make barrels to store food and drink in.

[StealthSigma]

I suggest this guide for getting your feet wet so to speak.

Personally my cities always tend to do very well. It is more likely to end because I get bored with my mountains of treasure, multiple decade stores of food and drink, and dozens of legendarily skilled dwarfs, my 30x20 great hall with a glass ceiling, etc. Perhaps my biggest difficulty in most maps is running out of wood to make barrels to store food and drink in.

I've read through that guide but it's for an older version of dwarf fortress. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sleepy.gif)

[Iduno]

I used this tutorial to get used to the changes since last time I played. It was made for a few versions back, but the major difference I have seen is some bug fixes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGBTNPbUvFM

It's a multi-part series, so you can skip to whatever you are having trouble with.

[Karoline]

I've read through that guide but it's for an older version of dwarf fortress. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sleepy.gif)

That's right, I forgot that the burrows or whatever finally got added. Regardless, it is still a great thing for getting started. The basics haven't changed.

[StealthSigma]

Here's a problem I've had that hasn't featured an obvious solution to me.

Moats.

Everything I've read about moats talks about pumping water. This method makes sense, I understand it. However I have read people connecting moats to water sources to fill them, such as a water. When you channel, as far as I can tell, the ramp that is created will allow enemies to wade into and out of the moat, making it utterly useless.

How the heck do you connect a moat to an existing water source without leaving a ramp?

[Karoline]

Here's a problem I've had that hasn't featured an obvious solution to me.

Moats.

Everything I've read about moats talks about pumping water. This method makes sense, I understand it. However I have read people connecting moats to water sources to fill them, such as a water. When you channel, as far as I can tell, the ramp that is created will allow enemies to wade into and out of the moat, making it utterly useless.

How the heck do you connect a moat to an existing water source without leaving a ramp?

You use channel instead of ramp. Channels don't create ramps of any kind for people to wade through.

[StealthSigma]

You use channel instead of ramp. Channels don't create ramps of any kind for people to wade through.

Er, they don't? I get the little down arrow icon whenever I use the channel designation. I have to go down a z-level and then designate remove channel to get rid of that. Does flooding it with water magically make it impassable?

[Doc Chase]

Every time I dig a channel I have to have a ramp or stairs so my Dwarf can avoid drowning.

[Karoline]

Er, they don't? I get the little down arrow icon whenever I use the channel designation. I have to go down a z-level and then designate remove channel to get rid of that. Does flooding it with water magically make it impassable?

Nope, channels don't create ramps, or they didn't used to, and I can't imagine that they changed that because it is fairly important in construction.

Wait, remove channel? There never used to be a remove channel. There was a remove ramp, but like I said, channels didn't create ramps. I'll have to go download the latest version and try it out a bit. I just really can't imagine that they changed channels like you're saying.

[Karoline]

Wow, they changed channel. I'm not entirely sure why, but whatever. In that case, what you need to do is channel out the area, but one tile should be an up stair. Then you remove all the ramps, then the stair from above.

Just can't believe they changed channel.

Edit: Looks like they changed this too. Yeash. Well, just dig into the area from the side and wall it off then.