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Need
v50.14 · v0.47.05 This article is about the current version of DF.Note that some content may still need to be updated. |
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 / completed fish, hunt(return kill) and gather plants in fort mode |
| 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 then look in vain for a preferred food which you may not even know which one it is.
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 towns' taverns or dwarven fortresses quite often (and fill your extra water storage containers with ale from the barrels for on the road).