I'm downloading Dwarf Fortress

[Denmo]

I'm going to learn this game or die trying.

Who's with me?

[The_Real_Crunk]

Re: I'm downloading Dwarf Fortress

Do you have a proper neck beard? Its a requirement to play the game you know.

[Denmo]

Re: I'm downloading Dwarf Fortress

OH GOD.

IT CAN'T BE DONE.

[marcus]

Re: I'm downloading Dwarf Fortress

Dwarf Fortress isn't a difficult game to learn. It might be because I play ASCII roguelikes on a regular basis so the concept of using the keyboard to navigate menus is natural for me, but DF is a pretty simple game. The idea is to create a fortress so stop thinking like a player and start thinking like a Dorf!

Step 1: Build the world. Simple since world generation is automatic.

Step 2: Choose a location. It's important to avoid aquifers which means you won't get any stone. Choose an area with multiple zones (F1-F5 to select zones) and try to get a balance between resources. Hit Tab to ensure you're close to human, dwarf, and elf settlements and avoid setting up shop too close to goblins. Ideally you want a river or water of some sort. Lava isn't necessary if you have a lot of vegetation and lava also brings in the risk of magma men and imps which will set your **** on fire.

Step 3: Choose your starting stuff. Go to the equipment menu and remove everything as the default stuff isn't necessary. Get an anvil, an axe, and two picks. Go back to your dwarfs and remove their skills because the default skills are terrible. Ideally you want to max out 2 skills for each dwarf. Of the starting 7 dwarfs, I recommend

Miner/Mason
Farmer/Cook
Carpenter/Woodcutter (in dangerous areas make him lv5 carpenter, lv2 woodcutter, lv3 axedwarf)
Farmer/Brewer (or cook; cooking plump helmets destroys the seeds but brewing doesn't)
Negotiator/Judge of Intent/Appraiser (have him keep accurate records at all time)
Bonecarver/weaponsmith(or)armorsmith
Furnace operator/woodburner (for the creation of ash or bars)

Finally, head back to the item screen and take plump helmets, at least 1 of every drink, and at least 1 of every food you can. Your objective here is to get as many barrels as possible. Barrels hold between 1 and 5 units so you get a barrel every 6 units.

If you want pets, get 2 horses as horses breed faster than cows and get you a lot of meat if butchered. For god's sake don't get 2 cats unless you want a catsplosion or you build cages instantly to store cats for the eventual slaughter.

Step 4: build the fortress.

This is simple. Choose a location, usually underground or into the side of a mountain, and "mine." It's really that easy. The object of dwarf fortress is to, well, create a fortress. First you build a entrance hall where dwarfs can sit and eat. Next you should build barracks where they can sleep. After that, build workshops to create beds and furniture. From there use your imagination. Build intricate traps or stockpile weapons. Craft jewelry from the skulls of kobold thieves and sell them to the merchants that come in the fall.

Any questions, feel free to ask. I'm a dorf expert (my neckbeard measures 6 inches).

[Translucid]

Re: I'm downloading Dwarf Fortress

honestly, spend a full day with dwarf fortress, and the next time you're in class or at work or something, your mind will be brimming with ideas for defenses and trap placements and room arrangements.

[marcus]

Re: I'm downloading Dwarf Fortress

I love creating intricate traps. I once tried to set up this trap where pulling a lever would cause lava to flow around trenches in the shape of a rose. One small door I overlooked cause lava to flow into my fortress

I also create shooting ranges by trapping goblins, digging around them, and then releasing them in the pit where my marksdwarfs pick them off. I think my most sinister trap involved dropping the floor below a group of goblins, half starving them, then pulling a lever which opened a floodgate and drowned them all.

Right now I'm building a fortress with a labyrinth-esque gauntlet. Can you say HUGE MAZE WITH SPIKES, LAVA TRAPS, FLOORS THAT DROP YOU 5 STORIES, AND ALL SORTS OF CRAZY STUFF?

[Denmo]

Re: I'm downloading Dwarf Fortress

It's the key bindings that get me. Playing on a laptop, I don't have a competent num key pad. Is there any key binding laptop friendly thing I can download to change the settings? I don't want to have to mess with controls that I have no idea about.

[Translucid]

Re: I'm downloading Dwarf Fortress

I think the only binds you have to worry about are scrolling. Everything else really should work.

These are the values to enter to use the laptop bindings recommended for those without number pads. This will set your [ and ] keys to up and down respectively; and the - and = keys to page up and page down in secondary menus.:

[SECONDSCROLL_UP:KEYDB]
[SECONDSCROLL_DOWN:KEYDD]
[SECONDSCROLL_PAGEUP:MINUS]
[SECONDSCROLL_PAGEDOWN:PLUS]

The only thing I'd worry about is if your laptop doesn't have a decent processor. If it doesn't, once you get to like 80+ dwarves it's gonna be chugging pretty bad.

[marcus]

Re: I'm downloading Dwarf Fortress

Do what translucid posted. I use a laptop as well.

[Denmo]

Re: I'm downloading Dwarf Fortress

Ok so it's making a bit more sense now. But my dwarfs are staying outside at the wagon. How do I move them into the fortress I'm mining out?

[marcus]

Re: I'm downloading Dwarf Fortress

Did you break down the cart? Hit 'q' which gives tasks to buildings and select the wagon then hit destroy (or something to that effect). The dwarves will dismantle the cart.

If you don't dismantle the wagon then it acts as their "gathering point." Dwarves like to socialize so when they're not working they'll loiter at gathering spots. The first thing you should do is build a big hall and place stone thrones and tables in their then use 'q' to designate the place as a gathering hall. Dwarves, animals, and visitors will automatically go there to eat, talk, party, do dwarf stuff.

[Goyle]

Re: I'm downloading Dwarf Fortress

ELEPHANTS.

ELEPHANTS.

THE HORROR!

[marcus]

Re: I'm downloading Dwarf Fortress

[Goyle]

Re: I'm downloading Dwarf Fortress

[Denmo]

Re: I'm downloading Dwarf Fortress

ok, how do I make furniture? Each time I try to select a Bed, it says "Needs bed", or table, "Needs table, or X, "Needs X".

And how do I move up and down levels? I see my dwarves disappearing into the walls and I know they're exiting through other floors but I can't switch views.