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40d:Important advice
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Here are a few things to keep in mind when playing Dwarf Fortress. These tips are useful for players old and new, so no matter how long you've been playing DF, don't be surprised if you learn something that'll really make playing more enjoyable!
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.
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.
- If a dwarf drinks only water, the rate at which he gets tasks done decreases. If the fortress has no alcohol for years, it may come to a halt.