Quickstart guide - Revision history

Cali: Undo revision 315915 by 216.11.202.110 (talk) Removed nonconstructive edit. To make comments, use the Discussion tab at the top left of articles.

2026-05-05T18:58:22Z

Undo revision 315915 by 216.11.202.110 (talk) Removed nonconstructive edit. To make comments, use the Discussion tab at the top left of articles.

216.11.202.110: /* A Minimal Fortress */

2026-05-05T18:51:16Z

A Minimal Fortress

Chirigami: /* Drawbridge */ Added example and picture of the button to clarify recommended drawbridge building direction.

2026-05-01T12:12:20Z

Drawbridge: Added example and picture of the button to clarify recommended drawbridge building direction.

108.85.197.99: (re-?) organize disambig @ header

2026-02-15T16:56:59Z

(re-?) organize disambig @ header

175.131.49.119: /* Nobles and Administrators */ change work order -> work orders

2025-12-21T02:38:37Z

Nobles and Administrators: change work order -> work orders

Quietust at 03:12, 7 December 2025

2025-12-07T03:12:24Z

Quietust: /* Labor and work details */ Manipulator isn't available yet, and there's no DF Mac version right now

2025-11-06T13:35:47Z

Labor and work details: Manipulator isn't available yet, and there's no DF Mac version right now

Ziusudra: /* Offices (Studies) */ clarified that each room should get a table and chair

2025-11-06T09:42:49Z

Offices (Studies): clarified that each room should get a table and chair

Ziusudra: /* Workshops */ changed to 2 tables and chairs since bookkeeper and manager are now different dwarves

2025-11-06T09:39:51Z

Workshops: changed to 2 tables and chairs since bookkeeper and manager are now different dwarves

Ziusudra: /* Offices (Studies) */ changed to 2 offices since the previous section suggests manager and bookkeeper be different dwarves

2025-11-06T09:29:56Z

Offices (Studies): changed to 2 offices since the previous section suggests manager and bookkeeper be different dwarves

@@ Line 113: / Line 113: @@
 [[File:DFwikiGettingYourBearingsExample.png|thumb|right|Starting out. In this example, the dwarves will be digging out an entrance tunnel in the cliff on the right.]]
-At this point, you have embarked, and your dwarves have arrived at their destination. You will see your dwarves clustered around their wagonful of supplies, somewhere near the center of your map. '''Immediately hit {{K|Space}} to pause the game''' unless it is already paused. Hi my name is landon and I did not know you could edit this I love dwarf fortress and it is a cool game! :)
+At this point, you have embarked, and your dwarves have arrived at their destination. You will see your dwarves clustered around their wagonful of supplies, somewhere near the center of your map. '''Immediately hit {{K|Space}} to pause the game''' unless it is already paused.
 ==Getting your bearings==

@@ Line 113: / Line 113: @@
 [[File:DFwikiGettingYourBearingsExample.png|thumb|right|Starting out. In this example, the dwarves will be digging out an entrance tunnel in the cliff on the right.]]
-At this point, you have embarked, and your dwarves have arrived at their destination. You will see your dwarves clustered around their wagonful of supplies, somewhere near the center of your map. '''Immediately hit {{K|Space}} to pause the game''' unless it is already paused.
+At this point, you have embarked, and your dwarves have arrived at their destination. You will see your dwarves clustered around their wagonful of supplies, somewhere near the center of your map. '''Immediately hit {{K|Space}} to pause the game''' unless it is already paused. Hi my name is landon and I did not know you could edit this I love dwarf fortress and it is a cool game! :)
 ==Getting your bearings==

@@ Line 581: / Line 581: @@
 ==Drawbridge==
-In case of an [[ambush]] or [[siege]], you will want to close up your fort, keeping the goblins out until your [[squad]]s have formed up and are in position. Therefore, you can build a [[Bridge|drawbridge]] ({{Menu icon|b|n|b|sep=-}}) to seal off your entryway. Make sure to set the draw direction, which then forms a barrier to block enemy ranged units. If you don't get the orientation of the bridge correct, it will just retract (disappear) instead of raising up, allowing enemy ranged units to fire across.
+In case of an [[ambush]] or [[siege]], you will want to close up your fort, keeping the goblins out until your [[squad]]s have formed up and are in position. Therefore, you can build a [[Bridge|drawbridge]] ({{Menu icon|b|n|b|sep=-}}) to seal off your entryway. Make sure to set the draw direction, which then forms a barrier to block enemy ranged units. If you don't get the orientation of the bridge correct, it will just retract (disappear) instead of raising up, allowing enemy ranged units to fire across. For example, if you want the bridge to block access '''from the north''' when raised, you need the arrow to point to the '''south''' [[File:Bridge-to-south button.png]]. A helpful idea is to remember the arrow points towards the ''hinge'' of the bridge.
 Put the drawbridge between the trade depot and the hall-o-traps so you can lock things out of the fort. Build a lever ({{Menu icon|b|m|l|sep=-}}) near your meeting area and [[Lever#Linking|link]] it to the drawbridge by clicking on the lever and selecting "Link lever". (This linking will require 3 [[mechanisms]] in total.)

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Quality|Masterwork}}
 {{av}}
-:''For installation instructions, see [[Installation]].''
+:''This is a quickstart guide for [[dwarf fortress mode]] for those who have never played before and quickly want to jump in head-first.''
-:''This is a quickstart guide for [[dwarf fortress mode]] for those who have never played before and quickly want to jump in head-first.'' ''If you are looking to learn adventure mode instead, see the [[Adventure mode quick start]] guide.''
+:* ''If you are looking to learn adventure mode instead, see the [[Adventure mode quick start]] guide.''
-:''Also see [[Tutorials]] for more detailed tutorials that people have submitted.''
+:* ''For installation instructions, see [[Installation]].''
 {{TipBox2|float=right|Before you get started...|Always remember that '''losing is [[fun]]!''' Be prepared to lose a few fortresses before you get all the way through this guide &ndash; it can be easy to accidentally kill the entire fortress while learning. But remember: losing means that next time, ''[[#Situational Awareness|you'll remember how you lost]].'' In a big way, ''Dwarf Fortress'' uses the principle of learning from one's mistakes.}}

@@ Line 473: / Line 473: @@
 ==Nobles and Administrators==
 Hit the {{Menu icon|n|sep=-}} key to open up the [[Noble|nobles and administrators]] screen.  The most important positions to assign are '''[[manager]]''', '''[[broker]]''', and '''[[bookkeeper]]'''.
-* A '''manager''' will allow you to queue up [[work order]], which will greatly simplify managing your production.
+* A '''manager''' will allow you to queue up [[work orders]], which will greatly simplify managing your production.
 * A '''bookkeeper''' will allow you to maintain inventory counts on the stoc{{K|k}}s screen so you'll know what you do and don't have.
 * A '''broker''' is necessary to trade with a caravan once one has arrived at your [[trade depot]].

@@ Line 275: / Line 275: @@
 On the second z-level below ground (the one below the stockpile level, which you just reached with the staircase), dig a short, 3-tile wide passageway (this only needs to be 1-2 tiles long). Past that, dig out a room between 5×5 and 7×7, leaving room to enlarge it in at least one direction in the future. Using the {{Menu icon|z|sep=-}} key, create a meeting area in the room you just created, filling the entire room (be careful not to make this too small lest your [[overcrowding|overcrowded]] animals start fighting). This works much like creating a stockpile except that you define what the area is for before you draw the rectangle. Select "Meeting area", draw the rectangle, filling the entire room, and click "Accept". Your idle dwarves will hang around in this area, hopefully keeping them inside the fort and out of trouble.
-NOTE: Again, make sure your [[Zones|activity zone]] is already mined out before attempting to designate the meeting area.
+NOTE: Again, make sure your [[Zone|activity zone]] is already mined out before attempting to designate the meeting area.
 {{clear}}

@@ Line 131: / Line 131: @@
 ===Labor and work details===
 {{TipBox2|float=right|titlebg=#aa0|Utilities|2=
-You may have noticed that the UI for managing dwarves is a bit difficult to use. There are a few utilities available for this purpose (for Windows, Mac OS X, and most Linux systems):
+You may have noticed that the UI for managing dwarves is a bit difficult to use. There are a few utilities available for this purpose (for Windows and most Linux systems):
 * '''[[Utilities#Dwarf_Therapist|Dwarf Therapist]]''' can make labor management considerably easier, especially when you're dealing with twenty times the number of dwarves you have now. It can group and sort dwarves by multiple attributes and display their preferences, mood, and more.
 }}
 {{Main|Labor}}

@@ Line 494: / Line 494: @@
 Earlier you should have queued up a table and throne in your stoneworker's shop, and they should be done by now.
 # Dig out 2 rooms near your sleeping quarters or stockpiles (at least 1×3, no more than 5×5).
-# Place furniture in both with {{Menu icon|b|f|r|sep=-}} (chair) and {{Menu icon|b|f|t|sep=-}} (table).
+# Place furniture in both with a chair {{Menu icon|b|f|r|sep=-}} and table {{Menu icon|b|f|t|sep=-}} in each.
 # Wait for the dwarves to install the furniture
 # Using the {{Menu icon|z|sep=-}} (zones) menu, mark both rooms as offices, and then assign one to the manager and the other to the bookkeeper.

@@ Line 358: / Line 358: @@
 ==Workshops==
 [[File:DFwikiStockpileWorkshopQuickstart.png|thumb|right|An example workshop layout. The gem stockpile (empty) is north of the Jeweler's workshop (southwest corner), the wood stockpile is west of the Carpenter's workshop (northeast corner), and the stone stockpile occupies the rest of the space. Note the wheelbarrow in the stone stockpile.]]
-Most labors of your dwarves need a place where they can process raw materials &mdash; [[workshop]]s. Almost all of them occupy a 3×3 square, and most of them require just 1 unit of any building material (wood, stone, metal). Dig your stairwell down one level (with {{K-|m|t}}), if you haven't already. It's fine if this layer is soil &mdash; in fact, soil is better, since it's easier to dig through (if you only have one soil layer, you can put these workshops somewhere on your first level). Dig space for your workshops off of the stairwell. It will hold your [[Mechanic's_workshop|mechanic's]], [[Stoneworker's_workshop|stoneworker's]], [[Carpenter's_workshop|carpenter's]], and [[Jeweler's_workshop|jeweler's]] [[workshop]]s. Something to consider is stockpile proximity: the farther away the material is the dwarves use, the more time they waste with walking. So for now, dig out some more space for stockpiles close to where your new workshops will be (wood for your carpenter, stone for your stoneworker and mechanic, and gems for your jeweler).
+Most labors need a place where they are done &mdash; [[workshop]]s. Almost all of them occupy a 3×3 square, and most of them require just 1 unit of any building material (wood, stone, metal). Dig your stairwell down one level (with {{K-|m|t}}), if you haven't already. It's fine if this layer is soil &mdash; in fact, soil is better, since it's easier to dig through (if you only have one soil layer, you can put these workshops somewhere on your first level). Dig space for your workshops off of the stairwell. It will hold your [[Mechanic's_workshop|mechanic's]], [[Stoneworker's_workshop|stoneworker's]], [[Carpenter's_workshop|carpenter's]], and [[Jeweler's_workshop|jeweler's]] [[workshop]]s. Something to consider is stockpile proximity: the farther away the material is the dwarves use, the more time they waste with walking. So for now, dig out some more space for stockpiles close to where your new workshops will be (wood for your carpenter, stone for your stoneworker and mechanic, and gems for your jeweler).
 It doesn't matter if you put everything in one large room or dig out small rooms for each workshop and stockpile. Once you've dug out your rooms, set your miners to work by adding a z-level or two to the staircase. Hopefully you'll obtain some stone by doing this, which will be useful eventually. While your miners are busy, use {{Menu icon|b|o|sep=-}} to build the workshops, using whatever building material you have. If you are still digging in soil and don't have stone yet, just use wood; the material really doesn't matter in this case. Be sure that your craftsdwarves still have labors corresponding to each workshop enabled (see [[#Labor and work details|Labor and work details]] above) so they will begin construction. (Dwarves already busy mining or hauling may not immediately stop to construct workshops; if you like, you may temporarily disable other labors in order to jumpstart workshop construction.) If the construction of any building gets "suspended" click on the workshop and click "Resume construction" to unsuspend it. (This can happen if another dwarf or object is blocking the way. See [[#"Garbage" Dumping|Garbage Dumping]] below if you find you need to remove an object.)
 {{TipBox2|float=right|titlebg=#0a0|Too Good for Menial Peon Work|Certain labors are crucial in setting up a fort. At some point you may want to disable less important labors such as hauling for dwarves with the crucial skills of mining, masonry, architecture, carpentry, mechanics, and maybe others. You want these dwarves working on creating beds, doors, and trap components before hauling stone and cleaning.}}
-Click on your stoneworker's shop and queue up one [[table|table]] and one [[throne]]/chair. You will find out why you need these in a second, but now is a good time to start building them. If you still don't have any stone at this point just use wood at the carpenter's workshop.
+Click on your stoneworker's shop and queue up 2 [[table]]s and 2 [[throne]]s/chairs. You will find out why you need these later, but now is a good time to start building them. If you still don't have any stone at this point just use wood at the carpenter's workshop.
-At this point, it is a good idea to build a few [[wheelbarrow]]s to make hauling large objects (particularly stone) more efficient. Queue up 2 or 3 at the carpenter's workshop. (Wheelbarrows are located near the bottom of the list, you will need to scroll all the way down.) While the wheelbarrows are being built, click on your stone stockpile and click the barrel icon, and increase "Max wheelbarrows" to 3. Your dwarves will automatically move wheelbarrows to the stockpile once they are built.
+At this point, it is a good idea to build a few [[wheelbarrow]]s to make hauling large objects (logs and stone) more efficient. Queue up 2 or 3 at the carpenter's workshop. (Wheelbarrows are located near the bottom of the list, you will need to scroll all the way down.) While the wheelbarrows are being built, click on your stone stockpile and click the barrel icon, and increase "Max wheelbarrows" to 3. Your dwarves will automatically move wheelbarrows to the stockpile once they are built.
 ===''"Where did I build that ____?"''===
 As you build workshops, furnaces, Trade Depot, other buildings, rooms and even zones, you may start to lose track of where they all are -- or where they're supposed to be built, but some dwarf is too busy eating/drinking/hauling. There are a couple of commands available from the main UI that will help you locate what you built.
-* You can View {{Menu icon|P|sep=-}} (Places) and click the "Workshops" tab to see a Building List, and also Zoom to the building/item, or view the building's tasks.
+* You can View {{Menu icon|P|sep=-}} (Places) and click the "Workshops" tab to see a Building List, and also zoom to the building/item, or view the building's tasks.
 * For incomplete buildings/constructions, you can also open the {{K|t}}ask list and then recenter on the partially constructed building to find the intended location.

@@ Line 489: / Line 489: @@
 ===Offices (Studies)===
-Some of your administrative positions (manager and bookkeeper) require an [[office]] in order to function. If your manager, for example, doesn't have an office, you will not be able to do any of the things that require a manager even though you have one assigned.
+Some of your administrative positions (manager and bookkeeper) require an [[office]] in order to function. If your manager, for example, doesn't have an office, you will not be able to do any of the things that require a manager even though you have one assigned{{verify|Is this only true after population exceeds 20? Or do they always need the office?}}.
 [[File:DFwikiNoblesScreen.png|right|thumb|400px|Nobles screen. The red stuff turns green once an office is assigned.]]
 Earlier you should have queued up a table and throne in your stoneworker's shop, and they should be done by now.
-# Dig out a room near your sleeping quarters or stockpiles (at least 1×3, no more than 5×5).
+# Dig out 2 rooms near your sleeping quarters or stockpiles (at least 1×3, no more than 5×5).
-# Place the furniture in it with {{Menu icon|b|f|r|sep=-}} (chair) and {{Menu icon|b|f|t|sep=-}} (table).
+# Place furniture in both with {{Menu icon|b|f|r|sep=-}} (chair) and {{Menu icon|b|f|t|sep=-}} (table).
 # Wait for the dwarves to install the furniture
-# Using the {{Menu icon|z|sep=-}} (zones) menu, mark the room as an office, and then assign the office to your expedition leader (who should be both your broker and manager).
+# Using the {{Menu icon|z|sep=-}} (zones) menu, mark both rooms as offices, and then assign one to the manager and the other to the bookkeeper.
 # Hit {{Menu icon|n|sep=-}} to verify that these positions now have the office they need (if so, the icon next to the position should no longer be red).