Creature token - Revision history

Quietust at 13:35, 26 March 2026

2026-03-26T13:35:24Z

ASpatula66: Not a bug, there's just no reasonable path for large roamers to enter the map via or end up in ponds.

2026-01-08T17:53:29Z

Not a bug, there's just no reasonable path for large roamers to enter the map via or end up in ponds.

AvenkyrPakacit: Mentioned [LARGE_ROAMING] Pool biome bug.

2026-01-08T15:11:40Z

Mentioned [LARGE_ROAMING] Pool biome bug.

Silverwing235: /* M */

2025-12-13T18:12:41Z

Droseran: /* N */ Updated description of NOBONES token with an explanation provided by Putnam.

2025-12-07T19:00:28Z

N: Updated description of NOBONES token with an explanation provided by Putnam.

DikbutDaGrate: Update NIGHT_CREATURE token description

2025-11-21T02:43:09Z

Update NIGHT_CREATURE token description

86.1.74.79: /* F */

2025-08-19T10:35:14Z

86.1.74.79: /* F */

2025-08-19T10:33:11Z

86.1.74.79: /* F */

2025-08-19T10:26:38Z

86.1.74.79: /* F */

2025-08-19T10:24:56Z

@@ Line 1,380: / Line 1,380: @@
+|
 *material id
-| Begins defining a new local material. Follow this with standard material definition tokens to define the material.
+| Begins defining a new local material. Follow this with standard material definition tokens to define the material. A maximum of 200 materials can be defined on any given creature.
 |-
@@ Line 2,594: / Line 2,594: @@
 *new material ID
 *old material ID
-| Defines a new local creature material and populates it with all properties defined in the specified local creature material.
+| Defines a new local creature material and populates it with all properties defined in the specified local creature material. A maximum of 200 materials can be defined on any given creature.
 |-
@@ Line 2,602: / Line 2,602: @@
 *new material token
 *material template
-| Defines a new local creature material and populates it with all properties defined in the specified template. [http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=175437.msg8441368#msg8441368 There seems to be a limit of 200 materials per creature].
+| Defines a new local creature material and populates it with all properties defined in the specified template. A maximum of 200 materials can be defined on any given creature.
 |-

@@ Line 1,256: / Line 1,256: @@
 This tag stacks with {{token|MEGABEAST|c}}, {{token|SEMIMEGABEAST|c}}, or {{token|NIGHT_CREATURE_HUNTER|c}}; if used with one of these tags, the creature will spawn as both a boss and as a wild animal. This tag does not stack with {{token|FEATURE_BEAST|c}} and if both are used the creature will not spawn. This tag is unaffected by {{token|DEMON|c}}.
 |-
 | {{text anchor|LAYS_EGGS}}

@@ Line 1,257: / Line 1,257: @@
 This tag stacks with {{token|MEGABEAST|c}}, {{token|SEMIMEGABEAST|c}}, or {{token|NIGHT_CREATURE_HUNTER|c}}; if used with one of these tags, the creature will spawn as both a boss and as a wild animal. This tag does not stack with {{token|FEATURE_BEAST|c}} and if both are used the creature will not spawn. This tag is unaffected by {{token|DEMON|c}}.
 |-
 | {{text anchor|LAYS_EGGS}}

@@ Line 1,365: / Line 1,365: @@
 | Caste
+|
-| Makes the creature biologically male. Usually declared inside a caste.
+| Makes the creature biologically male; usually declared inside a caste.
 |-
@@ Line 1,409: / Line 1,409: @@
 | Caste
+|
-| Makes the creature slowly stroll around, unless it's in combat or performing a job. If combined with {{token|CAN_LEARN|c}}, will severely impact their [[pathfinding]] and lead the creature to move extremely slowly when not performing any task. Problematically applies to animal people based on the animal and war trained animals{{bug|9588}}.
+| Makes the creature slowly stroll around, unless it's in combat or performing a job. If combined with {{token|CAN_LEARN|c}}, will severely impact their [[pathfinding]] and lead the creature to move extremely slowly when not performing any task. Problematically applies to animal people based on the animal, and war trained animals{{bug|9588}}.
 |-
@@ Line 1,415: / Line 1,415: @@
 | Caste
+|
-| A 'boss' creature. A small number of the creatures are created during worldgen, their histories and descendants (if any) will be tracked in worldgen (as opposed to simply 'spawning'), and they will occasionally go on rampages, potentially leading to worship if they attack the same place multiple times. Their presence and number will also influence age names. When appearing in fortress mode, they will have a pop-up message announcing their arrival. They will remain hostile to military even after being tamed.{{bug|10731}} See [[megabeast]] page for more details.
+| A 'boss' creature; a small number of those are created during worldgen, their histories and descendants (if any) will be tracked in worldgen (as opposed to simply 'spawning'), and they will occasionally go on rampages, potentially leading to worship if they attack the same place multiple times. Their presence and number will also influence age names. When appearing in fortress mode, they will have a pop-up message announcing their arrival. They will remain hostile to the fortress military even after being tamed.{{bug|10731}} See [[megabeast]] page for more details.
 Requires specifying a {{token|BIOME|c}} in which the creature will live. Subterranean biomes appear to not be allowed. Does stack with {{token|LARGE_ROAMING|c}} and if both are used the creature will spawn as both historical bosses and as wild animals.

@@ Line 1,699: / Line 1,699: @@
 | Caste
+|
-| Creature has no bones.
+| Creature cannot be picked up for worldgen fell moods and cannot be made a skeleton deity.
 |-

@@ Line 1,558: / Line 1,558: @@
 | Caste
+|
-| Creatures with this token can appear as [[experiment|experiments]]. Causes the creature to count as {{token|NOT_LIVING|c}}. Killing a creature featuring this token provides one point of "hero" reputation. Adds the creature's description as part of the initial summary of their historical figure in legends mode. People will react to creatures with this token as a night creature (natch). In adventure mode, ambushes involving these units will say "Night creature!" instead of "Ambush!"
+| Creatures with this token can appear as [[experiment|experiments]]. Causes the creature to count as {{token|NOT_LIVING|c}}.
-Prevents creature behavior enabled by {{token|LARGE_PREDATOR|c}}
+Killing a creature featuring this token provides one point of "hero" reputation. Adds the creature's description as part of the initial summary of their historical figure in legends mode. People will react to creatures with this token as a night creature (natch). In adventure mode, ambushes involving these units will say "Night creature!" instead of "Ambush!"
 Prevents the AI from using ANIMATE interactions, unless the newly-animated{{token|OPPOSED_TO_LIFE|c}}undead will not attack them. The check for this is specifically whether the unit is:
@@ Line 1,566: / Line 1,570: @@
 *an animated unit
 *a unit with the {{token|NO_AGING|c}} token added via {{token|CE_ADD_TAG|c}}. (This allows for the default exclusion of elves and goblins, unless raised as intelligent undead.)
 |-

@@ Line 875: / Line 875: @@
 | The {{token|FREQUENCY|c}} value plays two separate roles. The first is in determining the initial distribution of creatures across the world map. Each creature is randomly assigned a single x, y co-ordinate on the world map, which act as the epicenter for that creature's distribution. A square is drawn around that x, y co-ordinate with a Manhattan radius equal to the {{token|FREQUENCY|c}} value divided by 100 times the world map size. For example, in a 256 by 256 size world map, the [[lion]] might be assigned 14, 112. The [[lion]] has {{token|FREQUENCY:5|c}}, and so a square is drawn by moving 13 tiles in each direction from the [[lion]]'s x, y co-ordinate. This is the [[lion]]'s "territory".
-Each sub-region in the world will attempt to fill lists of wildlife. There are five lists - {{token|VERMIN_GROUNDER|c}}, {{token|VERMIN_SOIL|c}}, {{token|VERMIN_SOIL_COLONY|c}}, {{token|LARGE_ROAMING|c}}, and {{token|LARGE_PREDATOR|c}}, corresponding with the relevant tokens. The game will attempt to place seven creatures in each list for each sub-region. Creatures are valid for sub-region's list if they have the requisite token for that list, if they have the valid token for that sub-region's biome (for example, the [lion] can only be selected for {{token|BIOME:SAVANNA_TROPICAL|c}}, {{token|BIOME:GRASSLAND_TROPICAL|c}}, and {{token|BIOME:SHRUBLAND_TROPICAL|c}}, and if their "territory" as defined by their random epicenter and {{token|FREQUENCY|c}} radius overlaps with that sub-region. These lists then determine the creatures that can actually appear within that sub-region during gameplay.
+Each sub-region in the world will attempt to fill lists of wildlife. There are five lists - {{token|VERMIN_GROUNDER|c}}, {{token|VERMIN_SOIL|c}}, {{token|VERMIN_SOIL_COLONY|c}}, {{token|LARGE_ROAMING|c}}, and {{token|LARGE_PREDATOR|c}}, corresponding with the relevant tokens. The game will attempt to place seven creatures in each list for each sub-region. The game will select the seven nearest valid creatures. Creatures are valid for sub-region's list if they have the requisite token for that list, if they have the valid token for that sub-region's biome (for example, the [lion] can only be selected for {{token|BIOME:SAVANNA_TROPICAL|c}}, {{token|BIOME:GRASSLAND_TROPICAL|c}}, and {{token|BIOME:SHRUBLAND_TROPICAL|c}}, and if their "territory" as defined by their random epicenter and {{token|FREQUENCY|c}} radius overlaps with that sub-region. These lists then determine the creatures that can actually appear within that sub-region during gameplay.
-There are some exceptions to the above. If the game was not capable of filling all seven entries in a list, it will drop the overlapping territory requirement, and simply pull the nearest creature which has the correct token and biome availability. Conversely, if a creature has an epicenter but has not appeared on any of the list for any of the world map's sub-regions, the creature will be assigned to the relevant list for the nearest appropriate sub-region - meaning it is occasionally possible to have lists of eight creatures or more. This is more common in smaller worlds where there are less possible sub-regions to be assigned towards. Creatures with the {{token|GOOD|c}} and {{token|EVIL|c}} tokens ignore the epicenter distribution system altogether. They are always capable of appearing in appropriate biomes which are {{token|GOOD|b}} or {{token|EVIL|b}} respectively. Creatures with {{token|UBIQUITOUS|c}} have a "territory" which covers the entire map, regardless of their epicenter (although they can still fail to be chosen if there are 7 creatures which are eligible and have nearer epicenters to the sub-region in question).
+There are some exceptions to the above. If the game was not capable of filling all seven entries in a list, it will drop the overlapping territory requirement, and simply pull the nearest creature which has the correct token and biome availability. Conversely, if a creature has an epicenter but has not appeared on any of the list for any of the world map's sub-regions, the creature will be assigned to the relevant list for the nearest appropriate sub-region - meaning it is occasionally possible to have lists of eight creatures or more. This is more common in smaller worlds where there are less possible sub-regions to be assigned towards. Creatures with the {{token|GOOD|c}} and {{token|EVIL|c}} tokens ignore the epicenter distribution system altogether. They are always capable of appearing in appropriate biomes which are {{token|GOOD|b}} or {{token|EVIL|b}} respectively. This is not true for {{token|SAVAGE|c}}, which acts more like the biome tokens. Creatures with {{token|UBIQUITOUS|c}} have a "territory" which covers the entire map, regardless of their epicenter (although they can still fail to be chosen if there are 7 creatures which are eligible and have nearer epicenters to the sub-region in question).
 The second use for {{token|FREQUENCY|c}} is to determine how often a creature actually appears on map. In Fortress Mode, the game will try and spawn large wildlife (creatures with {{token|LARGE_ROAMING|c}} or {{token|LARGE_PREDATOR|c}} in fairly regular waves. These waves include {{token|LARGE_ROAMING|c}}, {{token|LARGE_ROAMING|c}} combined with {{token|FLIER|c}}, {{token|LARGE_PREDATOR|c}}, and {{token|CURIOUS_BEAST|c}} - so a [[lion]] does not compete for selection with a [[gazelle]]. When the game decides it needs to spawn in a fresh wave of e.g. {{token|LARGE_ROAMING|c}} creatures, it will select one of the creatures available to it from the lists for that sub-region at random, with all creatures weighted equally. Once it has selected a creature, it then effectively rolls a d100 against the relevant creature's {{token|FREQUENCY|c}}. If the d100 is equal to the creature's {{token|FREQUENCY|c}} or less, that creature is then spawned in. If the d100 is above the creature's {{token|FREQUENCY|c}}, the game returns to the relevant list and selects again. {{token|UBIQUITOUS|c}} acts as {{token|FREQUENCY:100|c}} for these purposes - in other words, the creature cannot fail the d100 check and will always be spawned in if it is selected from the list.

@@ Line 873: / Line 873: @@
+|
 *number, max 100
-| The [FREQUENCY] value plays two separate roles. The first is in determining the initial distribution of creatures across the world map. Each creature is randomly assigned a single x, y co-ordinate on the world map, which act as the epicenter for that creature's distribution. A square is drawn around that x, y co-ordinate with a Manhattan radius equal to the [FREQUENCY] value divided by 100 times the world map size. For example, in a 256 by 256 size world map, the [[lion]] might be assigned 14, 112. The [[lion]] has [FREQUENCY:5], and so a square is drawn by moving 13 tiles in each direction from the [[lion]]'s x, y co-ordinate. This is the [[lion]]'s "territory".
+| The {{token|FREQUENCY|c}} value plays two separate roles. The first is in determining the initial distribution of creatures across the world map. Each creature is randomly assigned a single x, y co-ordinate on the world map, which act as the epicenter for that creature's distribution. A square is drawn around that x, y co-ordinate with a Manhattan radius equal to the {{token|FREQUENCY|c}} value divided by 100 times the world map size. For example, in a 256 by 256 size world map, the [[lion]] might be assigned 14, 112. The [[lion]] has {{token|FREQUENCY:5|c}}, and so a square is drawn by moving 13 tiles in each direction from the [[lion]]'s x, y co-ordinate. This is the [[lion]]'s "territory".
-Each sub-region in the world will attempt to fill lists of wildlife. There are five lists - [VERMIN_GROUNDER], [VERMIN_SOIL], [VERMIN_SOIL_COLONY], [LARGE_ROAMING], and [LARGE_PREDATOR], corresponding with the relevant tokens. The game will attempt to place seven creatures in each list for each sub-region. Creatures are valid for sub-region's list if they have the requisite token for that list, if they have the valid token for that sub-region's biome (for example, the [lion] can only be selected for [BIOME:SAVANNA_TROPICAL], [BIOME:GRASSLAND_TROPICAL], and [BIOME:SHRUBLAND_TROPICAL]), and if their "territory" as defined by their random epicenter and [FREQUENCY] radius overlaps with that sub-region. These lists then determine the creatures that can actually appear within that sub-region during gameplay.
+Each sub-region in the world will attempt to fill lists of wildlife. There are five lists - {{token|VERMIN_GROUNDER|c}}, {{token|VERMIN_SOIL|c}}, {{token|VERMIN_SOIL_COLONY|c}}, {{token|LARGE_ROAMING|c}}, and {{token|LARGE_PREDATOR|c}}, corresponding with the relevant tokens. The game will attempt to place seven creatures in each list for each sub-region. Creatures are valid for sub-region's list if they have the requisite token for that list, if they have the valid token for that sub-region's biome (for example, the [lion] can only be selected for {{token|BIOME:SAVANNA_TROPICAL|c}}, {{token|BIOME:GRASSLAND_TROPICAL|c}}, and {{token|BIOME:SHRUBLAND_TROPICAL|c}}, and if their "territory" as defined by their random epicenter and {{token|FREQUENCY|c}} radius overlaps with that sub-region. These lists then determine the creatures that can actually appear within that sub-region during gameplay.
-There are some exceptions to the above. If the game was not capable of filling all seven entries in a list, it will drop the overlapping territory requirement, and simply pull the nearest creature which has the correct token and biome availability. Conversely, if a creature has an epicenter but has not appeared on any of the list for any of the world map's sub-regions, the creature will be assigned to the relevant list for the nearest appropriate sub-region - meaning it is occasionally possible to have lists of eight creatures or more. This is more common in smaller worlds where there are less possible sub-regions to be assigned towards. Creatures with the [GOOD] and [EVIL] tokens ignore the epicenter distribution system altogether. They are always capable of appearing in appropriate biomes which are [GOOD] or [EVIL] respectively. Creatures with [UBIQUITOUS] have a "territory" which covers the entire map, regardless of their epicenter (although they can still fail to be chosen if there are 7 creatures which are eligible and have nearer epicenters to the sub-region in question).
+There are some exceptions to the above. If the game was not capable of filling all seven entries in a list, it will drop the overlapping territory requirement, and simply pull the nearest creature which has the correct token and biome availability. Conversely, if a creature has an epicenter but has not appeared on any of the list for any of the world map's sub-regions, the creature will be assigned to the relevant list for the nearest appropriate sub-region - meaning it is occasionally possible to have lists of eight creatures or more. This is more common in smaller worlds where there are less possible sub-regions to be assigned towards. Creatures with the {{token|GOOD|c}} and {{token|EVIL|c}} tokens ignore the epicenter distribution system altogether. They are always capable of appearing in appropriate biomes which are {{token|GOOD|b}} or {{token|EVIL|b}} respectively. Creatures with {{token|UBIQUITOUS|c}} have a "territory" which covers the entire map, regardless of their epicenter (although they can still fail to be chosen if there are 7 creatures which are eligible and have nearer epicenters to the sub-region in question).
-The second use for [FREQUENCY] is to determine how often a creature actually appears on map. In Fortress Mode, the game will try and spawn large wildlife (creatures with [LARGE_ROAMING] or [LARGE_PREDATOR] in fairly regular waves. When the game decides it needs to spawn in a fresh wave of e.g. [LARGE_ROAMING] creatures, it will select one of the creatures from the relevant list for that sub-region at random, with all creatures weighted equally. Once it has selected a creature, it then effectively rolls a d100 against the relevant creature's frequency. If the d100 is equal to the creature's [FREQUENCY] or less, that creature is then spawned in. If the d100 is above the creature's [FREQUENCY], the game returns to the relevant list and selects again. [UBIQUTIOUS] acts as [FREQUENCY:100] for these purposes - in other words, the creature cannot fail the d100 check and will always be spawned in if it is selected from the list.
+The second use for {{token|FREQUENCY|c}} is to determine how often a creature actually appears on map. In Fortress Mode, the game will try and spawn large wildlife (creatures with {{token|LARGE_ROAMING|c}} or {{token|LARGE_PREDATOR|c}} in fairly regular waves. These waves include {{token|LARGE_ROAMING|c}}, {{token|LARGE_ROAMING|c}} combined with {{token|FLIER|c}}, {{token|LARGE_PREDATOR|c}}, and {{token|CURIOUS_BEAST|c}} - so a [[lion]] does not compete for selection with a [[gazelle]]. When the game decides it needs to spawn in a fresh wave of e.g. {{token|LARGE_ROAMING|c}} creatures, it will select one of the creatures available to it from the lists for that sub-region at random, with all creatures weighted equally. Once it has selected a creature, it then effectively rolls a d100 against the relevant creature's {{token|FREQUENCY|c}}. If the d100 is equal to the creature's {{token|FREQUENCY|c}} or less, that creature is then spawned in. If the d100 is above the creature's {{token|FREQUENCY|c}}, the game returns to the relevant list and selects again. {{token|UBIQUITOUS|c}} acts as {{token|FREQUENCY:100|c}} for these purposes - in other words, the creature cannot fail the d100 check and will always be spawned in if it is selected from the list.
 |}

@@ Line 879: / Line 879: @@
 There are some exceptions to the above. If the game was not capable of filling all seven entries in a list, it will drop the overlapping territory requirement, and simply pull the nearest creature which has the correct token and biome availability. Conversely, if a creature has an epicenter but has not appeared on any of the list for any of the world map's sub-regions, the creature will be assigned to the relevant list for the nearest appropriate sub-region - meaning it is occasionally possible to have lists of eight creatures or more. This is more common in smaller worlds where there are less possible sub-regions to be assigned towards. Creatures with the [GOOD] and [EVIL] tokens ignore the epicenter distribution system altogether. They are always capable of appearing in appropriate biomes which are [GOOD] or [EVIL] respectively. Creatures with [UBIQUITOUS] have a "territory" which covers the entire map, regardless of their epicenter (although they can still fail to be chosen if there are 7 creatures which are eligible and have nearer epicenters to the sub-region in question).
-The second use for [FREQUENCY] is to determine how often a creature actually appears on map. In Fortress Mode, the game will try and spawn large wildlife (creatures with [LARGE_ROAMING] or [LARGE_PREDATOR] in fairly regular waves. When the game decides it needs to spawn in a fresh wave of e.g. [LARGE_ROAMING] creatures, it will select one of the creatures from the relevant list for that sub-region at random, with all creatures weighted equally. Once it has selected a creature, it then effectively rolls a d100 against the relevant creature's frequency. If the d100 is equal to the creature's [FREQUENCY] or less, that creature is then spawned in. If the d100 is above the creature's [FREQUENCY], the game returns to the relevant list and selects again. [UBIQUTIOUS] acts as [FREQUENCY:100] for these purposes - in other words, the creature cannot fail the d100 check and will always be spawned in if it is selected from the list.|}
+The second use for [FREQUENCY] is to determine how often a creature actually appears on map. In Fortress Mode, the game will try and spawn large wildlife (creatures with [LARGE_ROAMING] or [LARGE_PREDATOR] in fairly regular waves. When the game decides it needs to spawn in a fresh wave of e.g. [LARGE_ROAMING] creatures, it will select one of the creatures from the relevant list for that sub-region at random, with all creatures weighted equally. Once it has selected a creature, it then effectively rolls a d100 against the relevant creature's frequency. If the d100 is equal to the creature's [FREQUENCY] or less, that creature is then spawned in. If the d100 is above the creature's [FREQUENCY], the game returns to the relevant list and selects again. [UBIQUTIOUS] acts as [FREQUENCY:100] for these purposes - in other words, the creature cannot fail the d100 check and will always be spawned in if it is selected from the list.
 {{alphabetical TOC|style=margin: 1em auto;}}