40d:Before you unpause

A checklist of what to do before you actually start the game by unpausing to help make sure your young fortress runs smoothly and avoids becoming a tiny, tiny tomb. Particularly important in less hospitable biomes and other dangerous sites.

• Press c to check for the presence of other civilizations.
• Press u to check for the presence of hostile wild animals. (However, be aware that they often appear only after the game has been going for a few minutes.)
• Press v to view units and set their preferences. You can give them custom titles if you like.
• Press q and mark the wagon for removal.
• Press o for orders and options. Toggle as you like.
• Press n and reassign noble positions as desired.
• Press z and forbid the kitchen use of alcohol and plump helmets if necessary.
• At this point, you figure out where, you know, you're gonna dig your fortress.
• Press i and designate a meeting area.
• Press d to designate areas for plant gathering, wood cutting, and/or stone smoothing. (Stone smoothing is good for getting rid of boulders that impede outdoor farming.)
• Press d, then o to place traffic restrictions. Things to watch for: saplings, wild plants. Consider encouraging you dwarves to traffic specific areas to minimize damage to subsequent growth.
• Press p to create stockpiles for wild plants, wood, and/or refuse.