40d:Controls guide

This is a beginner's guide to Fortress Mode controls. This page assumes the default key bindings.

Map Information

These commands let you get information from the map.

Look Around

k This command shows you individual map tiles. Use this to see the items and creatures stacked up in a tile. The secondary select lets you pick an item in the tile, and Enter gives an information screen, which includes an item's full description, contents, and ☼ value.

View Creatures

v This shows information on a creature: dwarves, animals, goblins, everything. It picks the one nearest the cursor. In a tie, use v to toggle between them.

• g General
• i Inventory
• w Wounds
• p Preferences
  • l Labor

View Rooms

q This lets you peek inside a room. Look at a workshop to see what tasks are being worked on, and change jobs in the queue. Also use this to make a bed into a bedroom, a chair into an office, and so on. The x command marks a room or piece of furniture for removal.

Items in Rooms

t

View Squads

x

Order your Dwarves

These commands affect what your dwarves do.

Build

b Use this command to create rooms, place furniture, start farm plots, and such.

• w Workshops
• C Construction
• T Traps

Designate

d Use this to mark stone to be mined out, trees to be cut, plants to be gathered, walls and floors to be smoothed or engraved, and so on.

Stockpile

p

Zones

i

Fortress Information

These commands take you away from the map, to an informational screen. Some of them also let you give orders.

Announcements

a You know those messages that pop up at the bottom of the screen? Those announcements are logged on this screen. Use it to see what you missed, or scroll up the early history of your fortress.

Civilizations

c

Unit List

u

Military

m

Room List

r

Artifacts

l

Nobles & Administrators

n

Fortress Overview

z

Miscellaneous

Options & Orders

o

Hot keys

h

Game Interface FAQ
Menu interface guide
What do these symbols represent?
What do the flashing icons mean?
How do I make the game run faster?
How do I accomplish tasks with fewer keystrokes?
What are good key bindings if I have a laptop or unusual keyboard?
Where can I get color graphic tiles for this game?
On the z stocks page, why are numbers displayed in yellow such as 10? 20? etc
What do the C H and S in the top left border mean?
What configuration options are available?
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