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Editing 40d:Important advice
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Here are a few things to keep in mind when playing Dwarf Fortress. | 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. | 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. | ||
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If you cannot find your answer on this wiki, check out the forums at [http://www.bay12games.com/forum/index.php Bay12games.com] | If you cannot find your answer on this wiki, check out the forums at [http://www.bay12games.com/forum/index.php Bay12games.com] | ||
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== Advice == | == Advice == | ||
<!-- General suggestions and philosophy --> | <!-- General suggestions and philosophy --> | ||
− | * Keep in mind that Dwarf Fortress doesn't have a "win" condition | + | * 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. | ||
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* 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. | * 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 | + | * 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, with the default [[tilesets|tileset]], your display of the fortress is not square, so north/south distances will appear longer than east/west distances -- they aren't. |
== Tips == | == Tips == | ||
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** Don't cook all your alcohol or all your [[seed]]s (or all the things that leave seeds). ({{k|z}} >> Kitchen). | ** Don't cook all your alcohol or all your [[seed]]s (or all the things that leave seeds). ({{k|z}} >> Kitchen). | ||
* Dwarves tend to 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 they try something crazy). Also keep in mind that workshops block certain squares, so if ever notice that your jeweler dies after constructing a workshop with a door on the east side, that's why. | * Dwarves tend to 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 they try something crazy). Also keep in mind that workshops block certain squares, so if ever notice that your jeweler dies after constructing a workshop with a door on the east side, that's why. | ||
− | * | + | |
− | + | * Workshops, construction and combat are [[noise|noisy]]. Keep your sleeping areas away from noise and your dwarves will get a good night's rest. | |
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* 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. | ||
− | * [[ | + | |
− | * Having a dwarf with the Appraiser skill to be your [[broker]] will help a lot when [[trading]]. Otherwise, you can't see how much an item is worth. | + | * [[Traps]] can help take care of invaders at no risk to your dwarves. Any fortress can build a <!-- tub style mechanical chicken plucker --> bunch of stone-fall traps. Cage traps are also easy (you can make cages out of wood). |
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+ | * Having a dwarf with the Appraiser skill to be your [[outpost broker]] will help a lot when [[trading]]. Otherwise, you can't see how much an item is worth. | ||
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* [[Chain]]ing some [[dog]]s by your front door may deter thieves. | * [[Chain]]ing some [[dog]]s by your front door may deter thieves. | ||
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* Remember that dwarves can be assigned new [[labor|jobs]] at any time. If your carpenter has died, your farmer can start making beds. (He probably won't be very good at it, since he doesn't have the skill, but it's better than sleeping on the ground.) | * Remember that dwarves can be assigned new [[labor|jobs]] at any time. If your carpenter has died, your farmer can start making beds. (He probably won't be very good at it, since he doesn't have the skill, but it's better than sleeping on the ground.) | ||
− | * Idle carpenters? It's hard to have too many [[barrel]]s (or too many [[bin]]s... [[bed]]s for the next wave of [[immigrant]]s are pretty handy too). Idle masons? You can fit a lot of [[door]]s into your fortress | + | |
− | * Too many [[immigrant]]s? Don't know what to do with them? Have you started an [[ | + | * Idle carpenters? It's hard to have too many [[barrel]]s (or too many [[bin]]s... [[bed]]s for the next wave of [[immigrant]]s are pretty handy too). Idle masons? You can fit a lot of [[door]]s into your fortress. |
− | * When setting a [[water]] source (for designated drinking zones) or a [[fishing]] zone, remember that | + | |
− | + | * Too many [[immigrant]]s? Don't know what to do with them? Have you started an [[army]] yet? | |
− | + | ||
+ | * When setting a [[water]] source (for designated drinking zones) or a [[fishing]] zone, remember that one tile of the zone must be on land and one tile of the zone must be on water for it to work. | ||
== Tricks == | == Tricks == | ||
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* 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). | * 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 tasks such as (for example) 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 | + | * Usually the closest available material is used for tasks such as (for example) 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. |
** If you bring [[bauxite]] to a [[magma]] map, you can build the workshop next to the wagon and get your magma-proof grates/floodgate/mechanisms immediately. | ** If you bring [[bauxite]] to a [[magma]] map, you can build the workshop next to the wagon and get your magma-proof grates/floodgate/mechanisms immediately. | ||
** Lock your [[gem setter]] in a room with some cut [[gem]]s and a [[stockpile]] set to gather quality [[furniture]], so that he doesn't waste time (and valuables) encrusting stupid things like barrels. | ** Lock your [[gem setter]] in a room with some cut [[gem]]s and a [[stockpile]] set to gather quality [[furniture]], so that he doesn't waste time (and valuables) encrusting stupid things like barrels. | ||
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* Build a walled [[statue]] garden outside your fortress so that your dwarves don't get [[cave adaptation]]. | * Build a walled [[statue]] garden outside your fortress so that your dwarves don't get [[cave adaptation]]. | ||
− | * Bring along a few [[turtle]]s or [[cave lobster]]s when you start the game. Make sure the dwarves eat them | + | * Bring along a few [[turtle]]s or [[cave lobster]]s when you start the game. Make sure the dwarves eat them raw ({{k|z}} >> Kitchen). This way you will have a [[shell]] - useful in case you ever run into a [[fey mood|(spoiler)]]. |
− | * [[ | + | * Fell free to [[trade]] for basic items like [[meat]] and [[wood]]. They're cheap, and it's easier than gathering them yourself. |
− | + | [[Category:Guides]] |