Need

xTATTEREDx  · +FINE+  · *SUPERIOR*  · ≡EXCEPTIONAL≡  · ☼MASTERWORK☼

v50.14 · v0.47.05 This article is about the current version of DF. Note that some content may still need to be updated. More Info · V

Needs affect a creature's focus. Needs that are unmet for long enough will become bad thoughts and adversely affect performance of all tasks.

The need system replaces the generalized on break feature of previous versions. Dwarves will sometimes perform jobs that satisfy their personal needs, instead of working for the betterment of the fortress. These personal fulfillment jobs generally come in two varieties: low-priority (indicated by green text, e.g. Listen to Poetry), or high-priority (magenta text with an exclamation point, e.g. Pray to Lorsïth!). Low-priority jobs may be cancelled to undertake a fortress job. High-priority jobs will not be cancelled for fortress jobs.

Needs are affected by personality traits. For instance, a dwarf that values romance will be unfocused "after being unable to make romance", while a dwarf that personally values nature will be unfettered "after seeing animals".

Needs are shown in a dwarf's thoughts and preferences description page, which can be accessed by viewing that dwarf then p, z, Enter, or from the unit menu with view, Enter.

Degree of focus/unfocus:

Unfettered	300 - 400
Level-headed	200 - 299
Untroubled	100 - 199
Not distracted	-999 - 99
Unfocused	-9999 - -1000
Distracted	-99999 - -10000
Badly distracted	< -100000

When a Need is satisfied, its value is refreshed to maximum (400), regardless of previous value. There is no minimum to how Badly distracted a need can get. A deeper negative value won't further reduce total Focus, which is based on a ratio of all Need's Focus rating.

Positive	Negative	Related Belief or Facet	Adventurer activity
spending time with people	being away from people	GREGARIOUSNESS	Speak to anyone or reply to greeting
drinking	being kept from alcohol	IMMODERATION, SELF-CONTROL	drink alcohol
communing with [deity] / meditation	being unable to pray (to [deity])		Speak, Pray to <Deity>
staying occupied	being unoccupied	HARD_WORK, ACTIVITY_LEVEL	Very wide variety of actions
doing something creative	doing nothing creative	ARTWORK	Perform or compose any work
doing something exciting	leading an unexciting life	EXCITEMENT_SEEKING	A wide variety of actions
learning something	not learning anything	KNOWLEDGE, CURIOUS	Gain a rank in any Skill, learn a new subject from written content.
being with family	being away from family	FAMILY	Unimplemented
being with friends	being away from friends	FRIENDSHIP	Unimplemented
hearing eloquent speech	being unable to hear eloquent speech	ELOQUENCE	Hear or recite poetry
upholding tradition	being away from traditions	TRADITION	Perform any improvisational form
self-examination	a lack of introspection	INTROSPECTION	read anything, compose song or poetry (automatically self-indulgent), craft a figurine of yourself
making merry	being unable to make merry	MERRIMENT, HUMOR	Recite any poem
practicing a craft	being unable to practice a craft	CRAFTMANSHIP	Craft an item (ie, Knapping, Bone Carving)
practicing a martial art	being unable to practice a martial art	MARTIAL_PROWESS	Gain a rank in any combat Skill
practicing a skill	being unable to practice a skill	SKILL	Use any Skill
taking it easy	being unable to take it easy	LEISURE_TIME	Unknown
making romance	being unable to make romance	ROMANCE, LOVE PROPENSITY	Unimplemented
seeing animals	being away from animals	NATURE	Animal must also see you
seeing a great beast	being away from great beasts	EXCITEMENT_SEEKING, NATURE, CURIOSITY	Uncertain, possibly encounter LARGE_ROAMING?
acquiring something	being unable to acquire something	GREED, COMMERCE	Acquire any item by trade or demand
eating a good meal	a lack of decent meals	IMMODERATION	Unknown, possibly eating a preferred food
fighting	being unable to fight	VIOLENT	Engage in any combat of any lethality
causing trouble	a lack of trouble-making	HARMONY, DISCORD	Fight or Argue
arguing	being unable to argue	FRIENDLINESS	Get into any disagreement about values
being extravagant	being unable to be extravagant	IMMODESTY	Wear any item with a quality modifier
wandering	being unable to wander	NATURE, ACTIVITY LEVEL	Move to/from any site or region tile / fish, hunt and gather plants in fort mode (cannot be satisfied on 1x1 embarks)
helping somebody	being unable to help anybody	ALTRUISM, SACRIFICE	Reunite family members
thinking abstractly	a lack of abstract thinking	ABSTRACT_INCLINED	Read or write any written content, or compose music or a poem
admiring art	being unable to admire art	ARTWORK	Exposure to artistic crafts, examining adornments and coins

Satisfying any need will result in a good thought and a decrease in stress.

Adventure mode remarks

Upon creating your adventurer you should avoid (= give it --) all non-fullfillable needs: romance, family, friends. Otherwise you will suffer never-ending focus disadvantages. The same with immoderation, as you'll in vain look for a preferred food that you don't even know which one it might be.

Some precaution is necessary as well in sacrifice/altruism -> helping capability is not available as long as you're quite weak (fighting; companions), and maybe in martial prowess if you're not constantly fighting and so increasing your stats. To fulfill your booze needs you'll have to visit human town taverns or dwarven fortresses quite often (and fill your extra water storage containers with ale from the barrels for on the road).