Biome - Revision history

GeloMor at 04:16, 29 January 2026

2026-01-29T04:16:34Z

Quietust: /* Underground */ these are determined by the CAVERN_LAYER_WATER_MIN/CAVERN_LAYER_WATER_MAX worldgen settings

2025-10-26T16:48:13Z

Underground: these are determined by the CAVERN_LAYER_WATER_MIN/CAVERN_LAYER_WATER_MAX worldgen settings

Quietust: Undo revision 311234 by 121.74.254.159 (talk) they most definitely are - POOL_TEMERATE_FRESHWATER thru POOL_TROPICAL_SALTWATER, as in the "biome token" article

2025-10-26T16:37:25Z

Undo revision 311234 by 121.74.254.159 (talk) they most definitely are - POOL_TEMERATE_FRESHWATER thru POOL_TROPICAL_SALTWATER, as in the "biome token" article

121.74.254.159: Not a biome

2025-10-26T06:40:08Z

Not a biome

Zippy: Replaced image.

2024-03-03T07:01:29Z

Replaced image.

89.20.133.78: /* Underground */ explain the terms

2023-12-21T19:09:07Z

Underground: explain the terms

Ziusudra: /* Selecting a biome */ replaced old info

2023-11-21T23:12:51Z

Selecting a biome: replaced old info

24.19.248.212: /* Selecting a biome */

2023-11-21T17:05:37Z

Selecting a biome

Zippy: ×

2023-02-18T03:27:19Z

Zippy: Added modern image.

2023-02-18T03:26:43Z

Added modern image.

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 Selecting different biomes gives you some ability to influence the difficulty of your game.  Each biome has a different set of resources; the availability of [[tree]]s, [[sand]], certain [[plant]]s or [[animal]]s, and sometimes [[water]] is specific to a particular biome, and different biomes may have different stone layers containing [[flux]], [[Fuel|coal]] or useful [[ore]]s.  [[Mountain]]s have a lot of [[ore]], but no [[soil]].
-Generally it is advantageous to plot your embark [[location]] at the convergence of multiple different biomes, the more the better (within reason) - which is made easier if you enlarge your starting embarkation area.  However, it is not usually too hard to find three or four biomes using the default size.
+Generally it is advantageous to plot your embark [[Fortress Location|location]] at the convergence of multiple different biomes, the more the better (within reason) - which is made easier if you enlarge your starting embarkation area.  However, it is not usually too hard to find three or four biomes using the default size.
 ''Note: Making the starting plot larger will slow your game down considerably; likewise, a small embark area can dramatically increase framerate. One embark square translates to 48×48 ingame tiles''

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 === Underground ===
-* Subterranean Water (a [[cavern]] with any amount of [[water]])
+* Subterranean Water (a [[cavern]] whose [[Advanced world generation#Layer Water min/max|water level]] is 10% or higher)
-* Subterranean Chasm (any [[cavern]] at all)
+* Subterranean Chasm (a [[cavern]] whose water level is 90% or lower)
 * Subterranean Lava (the [[magma sea]])

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 === [[Ocean]]s ===
 An expansive body of salt water. There are three varieties of oceans, based on temperature: Arctic, Temperate and Tropical.
 === [[Lake]]s ===

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 === [[Ocean]]s ===
 An expansive body of salt water. There are three varieties of oceans, based on temperature: Arctic, Temperate and Tropical.
 === [[Lake]]s ===

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 {{av}}
-[[File:biome_collage.png|372px|right]]A '''biome''' is a biotic area with homogeneous features, characterized by distinctive [[plant]]s, [[creatures|animal species]] and [[climate]]. A biome will also contain only one set of [[stone layer]]s, though these usually expand beyond a single biome. Your [[dwarves]] will find different resources depending on which biomes you select when starting a fort.
+[[File:v50_biome_collage.png|right]]A '''biome''' is a biotic area with homogeneous features, characterized by distinctive [[plant]]s, [[creatures|animal species]] and [[climate]]. A biome will also contain only one set of [[stone layer]]s, though these usually expand beyond a single biome. Your [[dwarves]] will find different resources depending on which biomes you select when starting a fort.
 == Selecting a biome ==

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 == Selecting a biome ==
-[[File:biome_view.png|thumb|160px|right|An upper grassy biome, and a lower desert one. ASCII mode.]][[File:biome_view_v50.png|thumb|160px|right|A very cold biome in the north.]]Biomes are important when choosing a fortress location in order to understand your [[surroundings]]. ''Individual biomes, which form at least one map-tile of your embark location, can be cycled with the function keys; for example, an area with 3 biomes present can be cycled using {{Key|F1}}, {{Key|F2}} and {{Key|F3}}. The selected biome will be highlighted with flashing Xs on the Local Map, and the biome's information will be displayed on the right side of the screen.'' The function keys do not work in Premium.
+[[File:biome_view.png|thumb|160px|right|An upper grassy biome, and a lower desert one. ASCII mode.]][[File:biome_view_v50.png|thumb|160px|right|A very cold biome in the north.]]Biomes are important when choosing a fortress location in order to understand your [[surroundings]]. Currently, to check which biomes are in a potential embark, the player needs to move the mouse pointer over each tile.
 == Characteristics of biomes ==

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 Generally it is advantageous to plot your embark [[location]] at the convergence of multiple different biomes, the more the better (within reason) - which is made easier if you enlarge your starting embarkation area.  However, it is not usually too hard to find three or four biomes using the default size.
-''Note: Making the starting plot larger will slow your game down considerably; likewise, a small embark area can dramatically increase framerate. One embark square translates to 48x48 ingame tiles''
+''Note: Making the starting plot larger will slow your game down considerably; likewise, a small embark area can dramatically increase framerate. One embark square translates to 48×48 ingame tiles''
 By making use of several biomes, you can provide more resources for your fort.  Making sure one of your biomes contains either a broadleaf or conifer [[forest]] will provide you with an ample supply of [[tree]]s, even if the rest of your plot extends into badlands and [[desert]].

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-{{migrated article}}
+{{Quality|Exceptional|21:26, 17 February 2023 (CST)}}
 {{av}}
@@ Line 6: / Line 5: @@
 == Selecting a biome ==
-[[File:biome_view.png|thumb|160px|right|An upper grassy biome, and a lower desert one.]]Biomes are important when choosing a fortress location in order to understand your [[surroundings]]. Individual biomes, which form at least one map-tile of your embark location, can be cycled with the function keys; for example, an area with 3 biomes present can be cycled using {{Key|F1}}, {{Key|F2}} and {{Key|F3}}. The selected biome will be highlighted with flashing Xs on the Local Map, and the biome's information will be displayed on the right side of the screen.
+[[File:biome_view.png|thumb|160px|right|An upper grassy biome, and a lower desert one. ASCII mode.]][[File:biome_view_v50.png|thumb|160px|right|A very cold biome in the north.]]Biomes are important when choosing a fortress location in order to understand your [[surroundings]]. Individual biomes, which form at least one map-tile of your embark location, can be cycled with the function keys; for example, an area with 3 biomes present can be cycled using {{Key|F1}}, {{Key|F2}} and {{Key|F3}}. The selected biome will be highlighted with flashing Xs on the Local Map, and the biome's information will be displayed on the right side of the screen.
 == Characteristics of biomes ==
 Selecting different biomes gives you some ability to influence the difficulty of your game.  Each biome has a different set of resources; the availability of [[tree]]s, [[sand]], certain [[plant]]s or [[animal]]s, and sometimes [[water]] is specific to a particular biome, and different biomes may have different stone layers containing [[flux]], [[Fuel|coal]] or useful [[ore]]s.  [[Mountain]]s have a lot of [[ore]], but no [[soil]].
@@ Line 23: / Line 21: @@
 == Available Biomes ==
 === [[Wetland]]s ===
 Wetlands may be [[Swamp]] or [[Marsh]]; may be Freshwater or Saltwater; and may be [[temperate]] or [[tropical]].  In addition, there are [[mangrove]] swamps.
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 == Generating a Biome ==
 When using [[advanced world generation]] or [[world painter]] to attempt to create the "perfect" starting location, it helps to understand how biomes are created. Biomes are calculated for each region tile (the center map when choosing an embark), then noise is calculated and applied which causes the irregular region boundaries on the local map. For the most part, a region's biome is a factor of elevation, drainage, rainfall, and temperature, as explained in [http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=20685.0 this old forum thread for 40d].