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Difference between revisions of "v0.34:Calendar"

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{{quality|Exceptional|22:53, 17 April 2011 (UTC)}}{{av}}
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{{quality|Masterwork|00:00, 31 December 2012 (UTC)}}{{av}}
  
  
The dwarven '''calendar''' is used to display the day, month, and year of any given date, and is visible in the upper right corner of the [[Status]] Screen ({{key|z}}). There are 12 months in the dwarven year divided into 4 seasons of 3 months each. Unlike the traditional Gregorian calendar, each dwarven month is exactly 4 weeks long, or 28 days. New Year's Day and the first day of Spring both fall on the 1st of Granite. New Year's Eve and the last day of Winter both fall on the 28th of Obsidian. The months are named after kinds of [[stone]]s, [[ore]], [[gem]]s and [[wood]].  
+
The dwarven '''calendar''' is used to display the day, month, and year of any given date, and is visible in the upper right corner of the [[Status]] Screen ({{key|z}}). There are 12 months in the dwarven year divided into 4 seasons of 3 months each. Unlike the traditional Gregorian calendar, each dwarven month is exactly 4 weeks long, or 28 days, for a total of 336 days in a year. New Year's Day and the first day of Spring both fall on the 1st of Granite. New Year's Eve and the last day of Winter both fall on the 28th of Obsidian. The months are named after kinds of [[stone]]s, [[ore]], [[gem]]s and [[wood]].  
  
 
The game's first playable year begins whenever the world stops generating. By default, the world will stop genning at year 250. Worldgen can be set to stop at several distinct years ranging from 5 to 1050 when selecting ''Create a World'', and can also be set to any arbitrary year by editing the advance option ''End Year'' in the ''Design New World with Advanced Parameters'' screen, or by interrupting world generation.
 
The game's first playable year begins whenever the world stops generating. By default, the world will stop genning at year 250. Worldgen can be set to stop at several distinct years ranging from 5 to 1050 when selecting ''Create a World'', and can also be set to any arbitrary year by editing the advance option ''End Year'' in the ''Design New World with Advanced Parameters'' screen, or by interrupting world generation.
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| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #aaa" |
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #aaa" |
 
! style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ccc; width: 10em; text-align: left" | Month
 
! style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ccc; width: 10em; text-align: left" | Month
! style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ccc; width: 10em; text-align: left" | Gregorian version
+
! style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ccc; width: 10em; text-align: left" | Gregorian equivalent (northern hemisphere)
 +
! style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ccc; width: 10em; text-align: left" | Gregorian equivalent (southern hemisphere)
 
! style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ccc; text-align: right" colspan="2" | Season
 
! style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ccc; text-align: right" colspan="2" | Season
 
! style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ccc; width: 5em; text-align: center" | [[Caravan]]
 
! style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ccc; width: 5em; text-align: center" | [[Caravan]]
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! style="padding: 0.2em; background: #cfc; width: 10em; text-align: left" | [[Granite]]
 
! style="padding: 0.2em; background: #cfc; width: 10em; text-align: left" | [[Granite]]
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #cfc; width: 10em; text-align: left" | March
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #cfc; width: 10em; text-align: left" | March
 +
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #cfc; width: 10em; text-align: left" | September
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #cfc; font-size: 80%; vertical-align: middle; text-align: right" | Early-
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #cfc; font-size: 80%; vertical-align: middle; text-align: right" | Early-
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #cfc" rowspan="3" | Spring
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #cfc" rowspan="3" | Spring
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! style="padding: 0.2em; background: #cfc; width: 10em; text-align: left" | [[Slate]]
 
! style="padding: 0.2em; background: #cfc; width: 10em; text-align: left" | [[Slate]]
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #cfc; width: 10em; text-align: left" | April
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #cfc; width: 10em; text-align: left" | April
 +
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #cfc; width: 10em; text-align: left" | October
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #cfc; font-size: 80%; vertical-align: middle; text-align: right" | Mid-
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #cfc; font-size: 80%; vertical-align: middle; text-align: right" | Mid-
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #cfc; text-align: center" | [[Elf|Elven]]
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #cfc; text-align: center" | [[Elf|Elven]]
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! style="padding: 0.2em; background: #cfc; width: 10em; text-align: left" | [[Felsite]]
 
! style="padding: 0.2em; background: #cfc; width: 10em; text-align: left" | [[Felsite]]
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #cfc; width: 10em; text-align: left" | May
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #cfc; width: 10em; text-align: left" | May
 +
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #cfc; width: 10em; text-align: left" | November
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #cfc; font-size: 80%; vertical-align: middle; text-align: right" | Late-
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #cfc; font-size: 80%; vertical-align: middle; text-align: right" | Late-
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #cfc; text-align: center" |
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #cfc; text-align: center" |
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! style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ffc; width: 10em; text-align: left" | [[Hematite]]
 
! style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ffc; width: 10em; text-align: left" | [[Hematite]]
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ffc; width: 10em; text-align: left" | June
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ffc; width: 10em; text-align: left" | June
 +
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ffc; width: 10em; text-align: left" | December
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ffc; font-size: 80%; vertical-align: middle; text-align: right" | Early-
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ffc; font-size: 80%; vertical-align: middle; text-align: right" | Early-
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ffc;" rowspan="3" | Summer
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ffc;" rowspan="3" | Summer
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! style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ffc; width: 10em; text-align: left" | [[Malachite]]
 
! style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ffc; width: 10em; text-align: left" | [[Malachite]]
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ffc; width: 10em; text-align: left" | July
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ffc; width: 10em; text-align: left" | July
 +
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ffc; width: 10em; text-align: left" | January
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ffc; font-size: 80%; vertical-align: middle; text-align: right" | Mid-
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ffc; font-size: 80%; vertical-align: middle; text-align: right" | Mid-
 
|-
 
|-
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! style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ffc; width: 10em; text-align: left" | [[Galena]]
 
! style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ffc; width: 10em; text-align: left" | [[Galena]]
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ffc; width: 10em; text-align: left" | August
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ffc; width: 10em; text-align: left" | August
 +
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ffc; width: 10em; text-align: left" | February
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ffc; font-size: 80%; vertical-align: middle; text-align: right" | Late-
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ffc; font-size: 80%; vertical-align: middle; text-align: right" | Late-
 
|-
 
|-
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! style="padding: 0.2em; background: #fcc; width: 10em; text-align: left" | [[Limestone]]
 
! style="padding: 0.2em; background: #fcc; width: 10em; text-align: left" | [[Limestone]]
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #fcc; width: 10em; text-align: left" | September
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #fcc; width: 10em; text-align: left" | September
 +
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #fcc; width: 10em; text-align: left" | March
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #fcc; font-size: 80%; vertical-align: middle; text-align: right" | Early-
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #fcc; font-size: 80%; vertical-align: middle; text-align: right" | Early-
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #fcc" rowspan="3" | Autumn
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #fcc" rowspan="3" | Autumn
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! style="padding: 0.2em; background: #fcc; width: 10em; text-align: left" | [[Sandstone]]
 
! style="padding: 0.2em; background: #fcc; width: 10em; text-align: left" | [[Sandstone]]
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #fcc; width: 10em; text-align: left" | October
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #fcc; width: 10em; text-align: left" | October
 +
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #fcc; width: 10em; text-align: left" | April
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #fcc; font-size: 80%; vertical-align: middle; text-align: right" | Mid-
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #fcc; font-size: 80%; vertical-align: middle; text-align: right" | Mid-
 
|-
 
|-
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! style="padding: 0.2em; background: #fcc; width: 10em; text-align: left" | [[wood|Timber]]
 
! style="padding: 0.2em; background: #fcc; width: 10em; text-align: left" | [[wood|Timber]]
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #fcc; width: 10em; text-align: left" | November
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #fcc; width: 10em; text-align: left" | November
 +
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #fcc; width: 10em; text-align: left" | May
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #fcc; font-size: 80%; vertical-align: middle; text-align: right" | Late-
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #fcc; font-size: 80%; vertical-align: middle; text-align: right" | Late-
 
|-
 
|-
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! style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ccf; width: 10em; text-align: left" | [[Moonstone]]
 
! style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ccf; width: 10em; text-align: left" | [[Moonstone]]
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ccf; width: 10em; text-align: left" | December
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ccf; width: 10em; text-align: left" | December
 +
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ccf; width: 10em; text-align: left" | June
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ccf; font-size: 80%; vertical-align: middle; text-align: right" | Early-
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ccf; font-size: 80%; vertical-align: middle; text-align: right" | Early-
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ccf" rowspan="3" | Winter
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ccf" rowspan="3" | Winter
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ccf; text-align: center" rowspan="3" | ''none''
+
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ccf; text-align: center" rowspan="3" | ''Goblin*''
 
|-
 
|-
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #88f" | {{tile|♦|white|#88f}}
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #88f" | {{tile|♦|white|#88f}}
 
! style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ccf; width: 10em; text-align: left" | [[Opal]]
 
! style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ccf; width: 10em; text-align: left" | [[Opal]]
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ccf; width: 10em; text-align: left" | January
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ccf; width: 10em; text-align: left" | January
 +
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ccf; width: 10em; text-align: left" | July
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ccf; font-size: 80%; vertical-align: middle; text-align: right" | Mid-
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ccf; font-size: 80%; vertical-align: middle; text-align: right" | Mid-
 
|-
 
|-
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! style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ccf; width: 10em; text-align: left" | [[Obsidian]]
 
! style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ccf; width: 10em; text-align: left" | [[Obsidian]]
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ccf; width: 10em; text-align: left" | February
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ccf; width: 10em; text-align: left" | February
 +
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ccf; width: 10em; text-align: left" | August
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ccf; font-size: 80%; vertical-align: middle; text-align: right" | Late-
 
| style="padding: 0.2em; background: #ccf; font-size: 80%; vertical-align: middle; text-align: right" | Late-
 
|}
 
|}
 +
<nowiki>*</nowiki> If you are not at war with the Goblins then they will send caravans to you and you will be able to trade with them.{{verify}}
  
 
== Farming ==
 
== Farming ==
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== Trading ==
 
== Trading ==
  
Civilizations will visit your fortress based on what season it currently is. Trade caravans for each race show up during the specific seasons each year, with the elves arriving during the Spring, the humans during the Summer, and the dwarves during the Autumn. No caravans arrive for the winter, so it's smart to stock up on food and drink during the fall.
+
Civilizations will visit your fortress based on what season it currently is. Trade caravans for each race show up during the specific seasons each year, with the elves arriving during the Spring, the humans during the Summer, and the dwarves during the Autumn. No caravans arrive for the winter (with the exception of goblins, if your civilization is at peace with them), so it's smart to stock up on food and drink during the fall (or autumn to those of you more educated people).
  
 
== Ages ==
 
== Ages ==
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=== Known Ages ===
 
=== Known Ages ===
Below is a list of 'Ages' that may occur, an explanation and their (possible) triggers, and their in-game descriptions.
+
Below is a list of 'Ages' that may occur, an explanation and their (possible) triggers, and their in-game descriptions. [[World_generation#World_Size|World size]] may affect how long an age lasts. Because the age is dependent on variables such as number of megabeasts, number of civilized creatures, etc., smaller worlds will tend to change ages more frequently. Conversely, larger worlds tend to be more age-stable.
  
* '''Age of Myth, Age of Legends, Age of Heroes'''<br /> Progression between these ages is most common in non-pocket worlds. The progression from Myth to Legends to Heroes is conditional upon the percentage death of megabeasts in a given world during generation. Slaying Megabeasts that visit you in Fortress Mode is known to trigger change of Age. In larger worlds, the proliferation (and extermination) of [[necromancer]]s, [[vampire]]s, and [[werebeast]]s during world generation can cause the age to ''regress'' back to Myth, sometimes multiple times.
+
==== Great Powers in Control ====
 +
If there are more than 3 significant powers (historical figures with the [POWER] or [MEGABEAST]/[TITAN] [[creature token]]s) in a world when it begins, then it will progress through the ages of Myth, Legends, and Heroes. If there are 3 or fewer, then it will progress through the various Ages of Powers.
  
 +
;The Age of Myth
 +
: The number of living powers and megabeasts is at least 2/3 of what it was when the world began.
 
:: ''The Age of Myth was a time when living gods and mighty beasts still held sway.''
 
:: ''The Age of Myth was a time when living gods and mighty beasts still held sway.''
:: ''The Age of Legends was a time when powers of the world were fading.''
+
;The Age of Legends
 +
: The number of living powers and megabeasts is at least 1/3 of what it was when the world began.
 +
:: ''The Age of Legends was a time when the powers of the world were fading.''
 +
;The Age of Heroes
 +
: The number of living powers and megabeasts is greater than zero but less than 1/3 of what it was when the world began.
 
:: ''The Age of Heroes was a time when the last of the powers fought their final battles.''
 
:: ''The Age of Heroes was a time when the last of the powers fought their final battles.''
  
* '''Age of (Megabeast's/Demon's{{verify}}/[[Titan]]'s name/title)'''<br /> Occurs mostly in pocket worlds, where there's one Megabeast, demon, or titan with a relative large kill list.
+
In larger worlds, the proliferation of [[necromancer]]s, [[vampire]]s, and [[werebeast]]s during world generation can cause the age to ''regress'' back to Myth, sometimes multiple times (and extermination of them does the opposite).
 
 
:: ''The Age of Flarrgh was a time when the dragon Flarrgh was the only great power in the world.''
 
 
 
* '''Age of (Megabeast/Demon{{verify}}/Titan) and (Megabeast/Demon{{verify}}/Titan)'''<br /> Same as above, but with two notable Megabeasts/Demons. eg: "'''The Age of Roc and Dragon'''" or "'''The Age of Two Demons'''"
 
  
 +
;The Age of Three Powers
 +
: Exactly three powers are alive in the world. If a world starts with 3 powers and manages to progress beyond that, it will proceed to the Age of Myth.
 +
:: ''The Age of Three Powers was a time when the dragon Flarrgh, the demon Blarrgh and the titan Glarrgh were the only great powers in the world.''
 +
;The Age of (Race) and (Race)
 +
;The Age of Two (Race)s
 +
: Exactly two powers are alive in the world.
 
:: ''The Age of Dragon and Demon was a time when the dragon Flarrgh and the demon Blarrgh were the only great powers in the world.''
 
:: ''The Age of Dragon and Demon was a time when the dragon Flarrgh and the demon Blarrgh were the only great powers in the world.''
 +
:: ''The Age of Two Dragons was a time when the dragon Flarrgh and the dragon Blarrgh were the only great powers in the world.''
 +
;The Age of (Name)
 +
;The Age of the (Race)
 +
;The (Racial) Age
 +
: Exactly one power is alive in the world. The name style is selected randomly.
 +
:: ''The Age of the Hydra was a time when the hydra Flarrgh was the only great power in the world.''
 +
:: ''The Age of Flarrgh was a time when the titan Flarrgh was the only great power in the world.''
 +
:: ''The Draconic Age was a time when the dragon Flarrgh was the only great power in the world.''
  
* '''Age of Three Powers'''<br />Even better than above, three notable Megabeasts, Demons{{verify}}, or titans.
+
==== No Great Powers ====
 
+
Once there are no powers left in the world, the ages will proceed as follows.
:: ''The Age of Three Powers was a time when the dragon Flarrgh, the demon Blarrgh and the titan Glarrgh were the only great powers in the world.''
 
 
 
* '''Age of (Race name)'''<br /> One race becomes dominant in the world, or it's the only race left in the world. eg: "'''The Age of Dwarves'''"
 
  
 +
;The Age of (Race)
 +
;The (Racial) Age
 +
:Less than 50% of all civilized creatures are [[Creature token|mundane]], and the majority are of one race. The name style is selected randomly.
 
:: ''The Age of Dwarves was a time when dwarves ruled the world.''
 
:: ''The Age of Dwarves was a time when dwarves ruled the world.''
 
+
;The Golden Age
* '''The Golden Age'''<br /> Civilizations are expanding, and there are no wars and other things for them to worry about. This age is very common in pocket worlds, and naturally progresses from an age of a prominent figure.
+
:Less than 50% of all civilized creatures are [[Creature token|mundane]], but there is no single majority.
 
 
 
:: ''The Golden Age was a time when various civilized races peopled the world.''
 
:: ''The Golden Age was a time when various civilized races peopled the world.''
 
+
;The Twilight Age
* '''Age of Fairy Tales'''<br /> Toady One' quote from 2008 devlog:
+
:Between 50% and 90% of all civilized creatures are [[Creature token|mundane]].
<blockquote>
+
:: ''The Twilight Age was a time when fantastic creatures no longer lived in great numbers.''
"I finally saw a world arrive at the Age of Fairy Tales, which happens if mundane creatures (ie humans) make up at least 90% of the world's civilized population with the requirement that there are still a few fantasy creatures lurking around. In this case, it was a kobold cave that their scouts never found. I guess all of the fairy tales were about people having their crap stolen."
+
;The Age of Fairy Tales
</blockquote>
+
:Over 90% of all civilized creatures are [[Creature token|mundane]], but some non-mundane ones still remain. Toady One' quote from 2008 devlog: <blockquote>"I finally saw a world arrive at the Age of Fairy Tales, which happens if mundane creatures (ie humans) make up at least 90% of the world's civilized population with the requirement that there are still a few fantasy creatures lurking around. In this case, it was a kobold cave that their scouts never found. I guess all of the fairy tales were about people having their crap stolen."</blockquote>
 
 
 
:: ''The Age of Fairy Tales was a time when fantastic creatures were few and far between, and some even doubted their existence.''
 
:: ''The Age of Fairy Tales was a time when fantastic creatures were few and far between, and some even doubted their existence.''
 
+
;The Age of Civilization
* '''Age of Twilight'''<br /> There are no wars and other worries, but civilizations are too weak to expand or are crumbling apart.
+
:All civilized creatures are mundane, and all semi-megabeasts have been vanquished.
 
 
:: ''The Twilight Age was a time when fantastic creatures no longer lived in great numbers.''
 
 
 
* '''Age of Civilization'''<br /> Seems to be triggered when the world is mostly occupied by civilizations and there's no more fanciful creatures around.
 
 
 
 
:: ''The Age of Civilization was a time when fantastic creatures were but mere stories told by travelers.''
 
:: ''The Age of Civilization was a time when fantastic creatures were but mere stories told by travelers.''
 
+
;The Age of Death
* '''Age of Death'''<br /> The Age of Death is a time when there are ''no civilizations'' left alive. A world that ends generation in this age will only allow games to be started in [[Legends|Legends mode]] or [[Adventurer mode]].
+
:All civilized creatures are dead, and the world has passed through at least one Age of Twilight, Age of Fairy Tales, Age of (Race), Golden Age, or Age of Civilization.
 
 
 
:: ''The Age of Death was a time after civilization had crumbled completely.''
 
:: ''The Age of Death was a time after civilization had crumbled completely.''
 +
;The Age of Emptiness
 +
:All civilized creatures are dead, but the world never progressed beyond the Ages of Myth, Legends, Heroes, or Powers.
 +
:: ''The Age of Emptiness was a time when no civilized peoples existed in the world.''
 +
:: ''The Age of Emptiness was a time when only simple creatures inhabited the world.''
  
* '''Age of Emptiness'''<br />The Age of Emptiness is a time when there are no civilized beings left alive.  This is a game state that can be achieved in adventure mode, because everything can be killed in adventure mode.  A world that ends generation in this age will only allow games to be started in [[Legends|Legends mode]] or [[Adventurer mode]].
+
A world that ends generation in the Age of Death or the Age of Emptiness will only allow games to be started in [[Legends|Legends mode]] or [[Adventurer mode]].
 
 
:: ''The Age of Emptiness was a time when no civilized peoples existed in the world.'
 
 
 
Information taken from [http://www.bay12games.com/forum/index.php?topic=45820.0 this Bay12 forum thread]
 
  
 +
==Announcements==
 +
A change in the season will generate an [[announcement]].  Depending on the biome your fortress is in, the announced season may be different from the calendar season.  For example, in some biomes "wet" and "dry" seasons replace spring or summer.  A few biomes lack any change in weather and those biomes announce a change of season by "-season- has arrived on the calendar."  Regardless, plants and caravans always follow the calendar season listed on the status screen. 
  
 
{{World}}
 
{{World}}

Latest revision as of 12:12, 20 July 2015

This article is about an older version of DF.


The dwarven calendar is used to display the day, month, and year of any given date, and is visible in the upper right corner of the Status Screen (z). There are 12 months in the dwarven year divided into 4 seasons of 3 months each. Unlike the traditional Gregorian calendar, each dwarven month is exactly 4 weeks long, or 28 days, for a total of 336 days in a year. New Year's Day and the first day of Spring both fall on the 1st of Granite. New Year's Eve and the last day of Winter both fall on the 28th of Obsidian. The months are named after kinds of stones, ore, gems and wood.

The game's first playable year begins whenever the world stops generating. By default, the world will stop genning at year 250. Worldgen can be set to stop at several distinct years ranging from 5 to 1050 when selecting Create a World, and can also be set to any arbitrary year by editing the advance option End Year in the Design New World with Advanced Parameters screen, or by interrupting world generation.


Months and seasons[edit]

Month Gregorian equivalent (northern hemisphere) Gregorian equivalent (southern hemisphere) Season Caravan
Granite March September Early- Spring
Slate April October Mid- Elven
Felsite May November Late-
* Hematite June December Early- Summer Human
* Malachite July January Mid-
* Galena August February Late-
Limestone September March Early- Autumn Dwarven
Sandstone October April Mid-
Timber November May Late-
Moonstone December June Early- Winter Goblin*
Opal January July Mid-
Obsidian February August Late-

* If you are not at war with the Goblins then they will send caravans to you and you will be able to trade with them.[Verify]

Farming[edit]

The seasons correspond to growing seasons from the farm plot q menu, which dictate what can be grown when during the year. (See the list of crops.) It should be noted that crops grow during seasons regardless of the actual weather, so any crops that grow during the spring will do so regardless of how much rain your area gets.

Trading[edit]

Civilizations will visit your fortress based on what season it currently is. Trade caravans for each race show up during the specific seasons each year, with the elves arriving during the Spring, the humans during the Summer, and the dwarves during the Autumn. No caravans arrive for the winter (with the exception of goblins, if your civilization is at peace with them), so it's smart to stock up on food and drink during the fall (or autumn to those of you more educated people).

Ages[edit]

In addition to the year, a world's history is also divided into ages. An age can be seen as an epoch, something which defines the period of years it describes. The age itself has no bearing on gameplay other than as categorization in Legends mode, though players may witness a change in age (with an accompanied announcement) should their actions cause the current age to end. This may happen after killing a large number of megabeasts.

Dwarven Age.png

Ages are determined by the states of the world during world generation. Worlds start in the Age of Myth, though this may not always hold true if changes to world gen parameters are made. Some of the known things that influence the ages are number of megabeasts currently living and dominant civilizations. It is also possible for a world to enter a particular Age more than once (e.g., The Second Age of Legends) if the appropriate conditions are met.

Known Ages[edit]

Below is a list of 'Ages' that may occur, an explanation and their (possible) triggers, and their in-game descriptions. World size may affect how long an age lasts. Because the age is dependent on variables such as number of megabeasts, number of civilized creatures, etc., smaller worlds will tend to change ages more frequently. Conversely, larger worlds tend to be more age-stable.

Great Powers in Control[edit]

If there are more than 3 significant powers (historical figures with the [POWER] or [MEGABEAST]/[TITAN] creature tokens) in a world when it begins, then it will progress through the ages of Myth, Legends, and Heroes. If there are 3 or fewer, then it will progress through the various Ages of Powers.

The Age of Myth
The number of living powers and megabeasts is at least 2/3 of what it was when the world began.
The Age of Myth was a time when living gods and mighty beasts still held sway.
The Age of Legends
The number of living powers and megabeasts is at least 1/3 of what it was when the world began.
The Age of Legends was a time when the powers of the world were fading.
The Age of Heroes
The number of living powers and megabeasts is greater than zero but less than 1/3 of what it was when the world began.
The Age of Heroes was a time when the last of the powers fought their final battles.

In larger worlds, the proliferation of necromancers, vampires, and werebeasts during world generation can cause the age to regress back to Myth, sometimes multiple times (and extermination of them does the opposite).

The Age of Three Powers
Exactly three powers are alive in the world. If a world starts with 3 powers and manages to progress beyond that, it will proceed to the Age of Myth.
The Age of Three Powers was a time when the dragon Flarrgh, the demon Blarrgh and the titan Glarrgh were the only great powers in the world.
The Age of (Race) and (Race)
The Age of Two (Race)s
Exactly two powers are alive in the world.
The Age of Dragon and Demon was a time when the dragon Flarrgh and the demon Blarrgh were the only great powers in the world.
The Age of Two Dragons was a time when the dragon Flarrgh and the dragon Blarrgh were the only great powers in the world.
The Age of (Name)
The Age of the (Race)
The (Racial) Age
Exactly one power is alive in the world. The name style is selected randomly.
The Age of the Hydra was a time when the hydra Flarrgh was the only great power in the world.
The Age of Flarrgh was a time when the titan Flarrgh was the only great power in the world.
The Draconic Age was a time when the dragon Flarrgh was the only great power in the world.

No Great Powers[edit]

Once there are no powers left in the world, the ages will proceed as follows.

The Age of (Race)
The (Racial) Age
Less than 50% of all civilized creatures are mundane, and the majority are of one race. The name style is selected randomly.
The Age of Dwarves was a time when dwarves ruled the world.
The Golden Age
Less than 50% of all civilized creatures are mundane, but there is no single majority.
The Golden Age was a time when various civilized races peopled the world.
The Twilight Age
Between 50% and 90% of all civilized creatures are mundane.
The Twilight Age was a time when fantastic creatures no longer lived in great numbers.
The Age of Fairy Tales
Over 90% of all civilized creatures are mundane, but some non-mundane ones still remain. Toady One' quote from 2008 devlog:

"I finally saw a world arrive at the Age of Fairy Tales, which happens if mundane creatures (ie humans) make up at least 90% of the world's civilized population with the requirement that there are still a few fantasy creatures lurking around. In this case, it was a kobold cave that their scouts never found. I guess all of the fairy tales were about people having their crap stolen."

The Age of Fairy Tales was a time when fantastic creatures were few and far between, and some even doubted their existence.
The Age of Civilization
All civilized creatures are mundane, and all semi-megabeasts have been vanquished.
The Age of Civilization was a time when fantastic creatures were but mere stories told by travelers.
The Age of Death
All civilized creatures are dead, and the world has passed through at least one Age of Twilight, Age of Fairy Tales, Age of (Race), Golden Age, or Age of Civilization.
The Age of Death was a time after civilization had crumbled completely.
The Age of Emptiness
All civilized creatures are dead, but the world never progressed beyond the Ages of Myth, Legends, Heroes, or Powers.
The Age of Emptiness was a time when no civilized peoples existed in the world.
The Age of Emptiness was a time when only simple creatures inhabited the world.

A world that ends generation in the Age of Death or the Age of Emptiness will only allow games to be started in Legends mode or Adventurer mode.

Announcements[edit]

A change in the season will generate an announcement. Depending on the biome your fortress is in, the announced season may be different from the calendar season. For example, in some biomes "wet" and "dry" seasons replace spring or summer. A few biomes lack any change in weather and those biomes announce a change of season by "-season- has arrived on the calendar." Regardless, plants and caravans always follow the calendar season listed on the status screen.

Worlds




Chasm · Desert · Forest · Glacier · Grassland · Lake · Mountain · Murky pool · Ocean · River · Savanna · Shrubland · Tundra · Wetland