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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. All these commands use the directional controls to move an X-shaped cursor around 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. These also use the cursor.
Build
b Use this command to build 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 Used to mark stockpiles
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 A list of other civilizations within distance for trade or war.
Unit List
u A list of every creature on the map. Dwarves are listed first, then tame animals, then hostile creatures, then wild animals. Even dead creatures are listed here, so you can track your fallen dwarves.
- c Zoom to Creature This takes you to View Creature mode, with the cursor centered on the selected creature.
- v
Military
m This one looks a lot like the Unit List screen, except
- w 'Weapons Changes a soldier's weapon & armor preferences.
- Enter Promote Changes to the promotion/organize unit mode. Be careful! It's hard to tell that you're in a different mode.
Room List
r
Artifacts
l A list of the artifacts your fortress has produced.
Nobles & Administrators
n
Fortress Overview
z This screen is filled with useful information, like your fortress's net worth, and how much food and drink you have left.
* Stocks This is an in-depth listing of every item, down to every rotting rat corpse.
Miscellaneous
Options & Orders
o
Hot keys
h