v50 Steam/Premium information for editors
  • v50 information can now be added to pages in the main namespace. v0.47 information can still be found in the DF2014 namespace. See here for more details on the new versioning policy.
  • Use this page to report any issues related to the migration.
This notice may be cached—the current version can be found here.

Difference between revisions of "40d:Important advice"

From Dwarf Fortress Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
(Separate tips from tricks. New tips (think 3d, Orders screen, injury person).)
(reorganize sections to be more consistent)
Line 3: Line 3:
 
Above all, one must remember that losing is [[fun]]! Be prepared to lose a few fortresses before you get the hang of things – it can be easy to accidentally kill the entire fortress while playing around with the different mechanics.
 
Above all, one must remember that losing is [[fun]]! Be prepared to lose a few fortresses before you get the hang of things – it can be easy to accidentally kill the entire fortress while playing around with the different mechanics.
 
But remember: losing means that next time, you'll remember how you lost! In a big way, Dwarf Fortress uses the principle of learning from one's mistakes.
 
But remember: losing means that next time, you'll remember how you lost! In a big way, Dwarf Fortress uses the principle of learning from one's mistakes.
 +
 +
If you cannot find your answer on this wiki, check out the forums at [http://www.bay12games.com/forum/index.php Bay12games.com]
  
 
== Advice ==
 
== Advice ==
 
+
<!-- General suggestions and philosophy -->
 
* Keep in mind that Dwarf Fortress doesn't have a "win" condition: It just has a long series of "lose" conditions.
 
* Keep in mind that Dwarf Fortress doesn't have a "win" condition: It just has a long series of "lose" conditions.
  
 
* Learn the [[controls]]. There's lots of them, and learning them may seem daunting at first, but once you get the basics down (like how to check the status of your dwarves or the hotkeys for building certain structures), you'll find yourself playing much more efficiently.  [[Efficient_gameplay|Efficient Gameplay]] offers some time-saving tips.
 
* Learn the [[controls]]. There's lots of them, and learning them may seem daunting at first, but once you get the basics down (like how to check the status of your dwarves or the hotkeys for building certain structures), you'll find yourself playing much more efficiently.  [[Efficient_gameplay|Efficient Gameplay]] offers some time-saving tips.
  
* Save often! Although it can be a hassle to have to quit out and get back in, it's a lot better than having to build that long hallway of stone-fall traps, plant the whole bag of plump helmet seeds, and make that shipment of steel battleaxes for the caravan next year, <i>all over again.</i>
+
* If your game is running slowly, learn how to [[Maximizing framerate|maximize your framerate]].
 +
 
 +
* Save often! Although it can be a hassle to have to quit out and get back in, it's a lot better than having to build that long hallway of stone-fall traps, plant the whole bag of plump helmet seeds, and make that shipment of steel battleaxes for the caravan next year, ''all over again''.
 
** In this vein, there is a seasonal auto-save feature which you can turn on by editing your /data/init/init.txt file.
 
** In this vein, there is a seasonal auto-save feature which you can turn on by editing your /data/init/init.txt file.
  
* If a dwarf drinks only water, the rate at which he gets tasks done decreases. If the fortress has no [[alcohol]] for years, things will slow down quite a bit.
+
* Plan ahead a little during construction. When building your first couple dozen rooms, consider that in the future you might want to make certain busy hallways wider so dwarves aren't always climbing over each other. This will be a lot easier if you put rooms back an extra tile so you don't have to rebuild everything.
 
 
* If your game is running slowly, see [[Maximizing framerate]] for advice.
 
  
* If you cannot find your answer on this wiki, check out the forums at [http://www.bay12games.com/forum/index.php Bay12games.com]
+
* Think three-dimensionally. You have a Z-axis. Things will be much closer when they're downstairs one floor then they if they're 20 tiles away down the hallway. Also note that, by default, things are not square, so north/south distances will appear longer than east/west distances -- they aren't.
[[Category:Guides]]
 
  
 
== Tips ==
 
== Tips ==
* Dwarves get trapped easily. They like building things and [[Digging#Dig_Priority|digging from certain directions]], so try to make sure there is a way out (and keep an eye on them just in case).  
+
<!-- Little facts about the game to keep in mind -->
 +
* Dwarves ''need'' [[alcohol]]. If a dwarf drinks only water, the rate at which he gets tasks done decreases. If the fortress has no alcohol for years, things will slow down quite a bit.
  
* Think three-dimensionally. You have a Z-axis. Things are closer when they're downstairs one floor then they are 20 tiles away down the hallway. Also note that, by default, things are not square, so north/south distances will appear longer than east/west distances -- they aren't.
+
* Dwarves get trapped easily. They like [[Digging#Dig_Priority|building and digging things from certain directions]], so try to make sure there is a way out (and keep an eye on them just in case).
  
 
* Workshops, construction and combat are [[noise|noisy]]. Keep your sleeping areas away from noise and your dwarves will get a good night's sleep.
 
* Workshops, construction and combat are [[noise|noisy]]. Keep your sleeping areas away from noise and your dwarves will get a good night's sleep.
 
* Plan ahead a little during construction. When building your first couple dozen rooms, consider that in the future you might want to make certain busy hallways wider so dwarves aren't always climbing over each other. This will be a lot easier if you put rooms back an extra tile so you don't have to rebuild everything.
 
  
 
* If a dwarf gets badly [[Wound|injured]], he'll need a hospital bed and someone to bring him [[water]] in a [[bucket]]. It's probably a good idea to have a set of those sitting around.
 
* If a dwarf gets badly [[Wound|injured]], he'll need a hospital bed and someone to bring him [[water]] in a [[bucket]]. It's probably a good idea to have a set of those sitting around.
  
 
== Tricks ==
 
== Tricks ==
 +
<!-- Specific little actions the users can take to make their lives better -->
 
* To find a dead dwarf, go under status ({{k|z}}), then select stock>>corpses. Hit tab, and use {{k|z}} to zoom to the particular dwarf to find a hint on where and how he died.
 
* To find a dead dwarf, go under status ({{k|z}}), then select stock>>corpses. Hit tab, and use {{k|z}} to zoom to the particular dwarf to find a hint on where and how he died.
  
Line 39: Line 40:
  
 
* The Standing Orders ({{k|o}}) screen can be used for a variety of useful settings, like having your dwarves temporarily ignore wood, or all hide inside for a seige, or making your weavers stop heading outside all the time to collect spiderwebs and get slaughtered by wild animals.
 
* The Standing Orders ({{k|o}}) screen can be used for a variety of useful settings, like having your dwarves temporarily ignore wood, or all hide inside for a seige, or making your weavers stop heading outside all the time to collect spiderwebs and get slaughtered by wild animals.
 +
 +
[[Category:Guides]]

Revision as of 18:38, 30 June 2009

Here are a few things to keep in mind when playing Dwarf Fortress.

Above all, one must remember that losing is fun! Be prepared to lose a few fortresses before you get the hang of things – it can be easy to accidentally kill the entire fortress while playing around with the different mechanics. But remember: losing means that next time, you'll remember how you lost! In a big way, Dwarf Fortress uses the principle of learning from one's mistakes.

If you cannot find your answer on this wiki, check out the forums at Bay12games.com

Advice

  • Keep in mind that Dwarf Fortress doesn't have a "win" condition: It just has a long series of "lose" conditions.
  • Learn the controls. There's lots of them, and learning them may seem daunting at first, but once you get the basics down (like how to check the status of your dwarves or the hotkeys for building certain structures), you'll find yourself playing much more efficiently. Efficient Gameplay offers some time-saving tips.
  • Save often! Although it can be a hassle to have to quit out and get back in, it's a lot better than having to build that long hallway of stone-fall traps, plant the whole bag of plump helmet seeds, and make that shipment of steel battleaxes for the caravan next year, all over again.
    • In this vein, there is a seasonal auto-save feature which you can turn on by editing your /data/init/init.txt file.
  • Plan ahead a little during construction. When building your first couple dozen rooms, consider that in the future you might want to make certain busy hallways wider so dwarves aren't always climbing over each other. This will be a lot easier if you put rooms back an extra tile so you don't have to rebuild everything.
  • Think three-dimensionally. You have a Z-axis. Things will be much closer when they're downstairs one floor then they if they're 20 tiles away down the hallway. Also note that, by default, things are not square, so north/south distances will appear longer than east/west distances -- they aren't.

Tips

  • Dwarves need alcohol. If a dwarf drinks only water, the rate at which he gets tasks done decreases. If the fortress has no alcohol for years, things will slow down quite a bit.
  • Workshops, construction and combat are noisy. Keep your sleeping areas away from noise and your dwarves will get a good night's sleep.
  • If a dwarf gets badly injured, he'll need a hospital bed and someone to bring him water in a bucket. It's probably a good idea to have a set of those sitting around.

Tricks

  • To find a dead dwarf, go under status (z), then select stock>>corpses. Hit tab, and use z to zoom to the particular dwarf to find a hint on where and how he died.
  • Don't like all the stone laying around? Instead of using a stone stockpile create a 1-square garbage zone and dump the stone. Reclaim the stone after it's been dumped. This way, you can store an unlimited amount of stone in just 1 tile! (This is especially useful when the tile in question is next to your mason shop).
  • Usually the closest available material is used for ambiguous tasks such as building a floodgate, but not always. To prevent frustration, you can make a custom stockpile (e.g. for bauxite) next to your workshop and close the dwarf in. Don't forget theres a z-axis, so make sure there aren't unwanted materials above/below your workshop. (A good start for magma maps is to build the workshop next to the wagon, and get your magma-proof grate/floodgate/mechanisms painlessly)
  • The Standing Orders (o) screen can be used for a variety of useful settings, like having your dwarves temporarily ignore wood, or all hide inside for a seige, or making your weavers stop heading outside all the time to collect spiderwebs and get slaughtered by wild animals.