User:Mixtrak/Strategy - Revision history

Mixtrak: Deletion request

2019-05-06T23:21:06Z

Deletion request

Mixtrak: Delete content

2019-05-06T23:15:31Z

Delete content

Mixtrak: Updated a few items in "philosophy" and made more informative chapter headers.

2017-03-25T09:18:29Z

Updated a few items in "philosophy" and made more informative chapter headers.

Mixtrak: Updated contents & philosophy a little

2017-03-15T07:07:10Z

Updated contents & philosophy a little

Mixtrak: Expanded philosophy to describe preference for core gameplay aesthetic

2017-03-13T03:39:01Z

Expanded philosophy to describe preference for core gameplay aesthetic

Mixtrak: Added back links to the actual strategy pages, derp.

2017-03-09T08:51:34Z

Added back links to the actual strategy pages, derp.

Mixtrak: Substantial re-writing for better orientation

2017-03-09T08:41:58Z

Substantial re-writing for better orientation

Mixtrak: Added forum link.

2017-03-09T05:24:06Z

Added forum link.

Mixtrak: Added note about playtesting

2017-03-09T05:17:50Z

Added note about playtesting

Mixtrak: No exploits or cheese bar cage traps

2017-03-08T00:32:10Z

No exploits or cheese bar cage traps

← Older revision	Revision as of 23:21, 6 May 2019
Line 1:	Line 1:
−	+	{{deletion\|offloading personal content elsewhere}}

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:15, 6 May 2019
Line 1:		Line 1:
−	~~Welcome to [[User:Mixtrak\|mixtrak]]'s strategy guide for Dwarf Fortress.~~

−	~~==''Another'' one?==~~
−
−	Yes, there are many detailed, comprehensive resources for Dwarf Fortress on this wiki, and very illustrative video tutorials and playthrough guides elsewhere. I have relied on [[Tutorials\|them]] extensively (thanks, [http://dffd.bay12games.com/file.php?id=10552 Captain Duck]!), and so will you - this strategy guide is not intended to be in any way definitive or a replacement for other resources. Rather, the intention of this guide is to be as linear and straightforward as a video walkthrough, while providing sufficiently detailed context and reasoning that players can grasp the underlying principles, and generalise them to other contexts. The intended audience is beginner to intermediate players. Beginner players usually wish to begin playing immediately, and this guide provides a structured approach which helps them learn the game. Intermediate players will understand the basics, but this guide may help to sort through competing priorities while promoting forward-thinking development of the fortress.
−
−	~~==Philosophy and Contribution==~~
−
−	This strategy is as much for myself as for anyone else, as a place to work out my thoughts and as a reminder when I start a new fortress. It's therefore unapologetically idiosyncratic and opinionated. That said, I welcome comments and edits - please feel free to say something on the "Discussion" pages or, if you think you can improve things, just [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Be_bold be bold] and go ahead and edit the content page. I can always edit further (or roll back). The strategy is currently undergoing [http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=163161.0 playtesting], and will be continually updated. Once it's fairly battle-hardened I'm hoping to make a video series to complement it.
−
−	This strategy asserts that a fairly "nice" location - with good resources and moderate dangers - is the best way to learn how to manage a fort. This task is sufficiently complex that you should not want for additional challenges; the basic gameplay provides quite sufficient [[Fun]] for most beginners.
−
−	The main reason to start (relatively) easy is the complexity and interconnectedness of the different facets of fortress management. An Overseer must simultaneously manage the security, industry, happiness, military, economy, administration, diplomacy (and so on) of the fortress, and do so based on a solid understanding of the underlying game mechanics. Learning all these things and their interactions at once is extremely difficult, so do not scoff, overweening, at starting with a few advantages.
−
−	Another courtesy to new players and a side-product of focusing on fundamentals is that this strategy generally follows the KISS principle. While there are doubtless more efficient and effective strategies than covered in this guide, they may be obtuse, have many steps, or require a simultaneous familiarity with many different industries and gameplay elements. This guide attempts to gently lead players to that holistic understanding as the fortress develops, as linearly as possible. However, players should be constantly aware of spare capacity in the fortress, and be willing to begin new sections before completing the current one.
−
−	Finally, this guide is shaped by a strong aesthetic preference for original-flavour gameplay. There are many third-party tools which significantly ease the task of fort management, but for whatever reason I generally prefer the vanilla experience. For me, it's most rewarding to play Dwarf Fortress more or less "as intended", and in any case there are benefits to beginners in terms of getting started faster, focusing on fundamentals and reducing cognitive load. This also means I ''tend'' to avoid exploits or anything which feels a bit cheesy. For better or worse, you'll find no quantum stockpiles, free containers, or building-destroyer-pathing exploits here. I also assume that players wish to experience all aspects of economy and gameplay, including the potentially inconvenient or inessential elements such as mandates and using plaster casts.
−
−	~~==Content==~~
−
−	The focus of this guide is very specifically ''strategy'', i.e. "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategy a high level plan to achieve one or more goals under conditions of uncertainty]". Strategy is important because "the resources available to achieve these goals are usually limited" (ibid.). This describes the situation of a Dwarf Fortress player very well - a goal (developing the fortress), limited resources (at embark, seven dwarves, some supplies, and the landscape), and uncertainty (especially for beginners).
−
−	Crucially, this implies that the ''reasoning'' underlying this guide is more important than the concrete instructions themselves; accordingly, I show my "working-out" rather than simply providing answers. Conversely, the game interface is generally not covered, so players are not walked through every button-push but rather are directed to the appropriate resources or expected to look things up on the wiki. It's easy to find out ''how'' to catch a fish; rather, this guide instead answers the more complex question of if and when you ''should'' catch fish.
−
−	Of course, a subtle discussion of each industry is not very helpful to the beginner player. Beginners haven't developed an internalised model of the various and context-dependent costs, risks, needs and benefits. It's impractical to start by providing all the information and then expect an inexperienced player to put it into practice; there are too many unfamiliar moving parts to consider at once. It's best to learn the game elements in a structured manner.
−
−	I've therefore tried to derive a very specific strategy which is also as general and reliable (assuming a "nice" embark) as possible. Consider this a kind of "worked example", which should simultaneously get you playing and help you develop a more flexible understanding of the game fundamentals. Once familiar with those, you can begin to generalise and adapt them to more challenging embarks. Indeed, even as a player progresses through this guide, the rigid prioritisation relaxes and the servings of information become more like a buffet than a degustation. When you're ready to go from diner to chef, you've at least partially outgrown this guide.
−
−	On that note, a disclaimer about prescriptivism: as the old Overseer curse goes, "have fun". As I've stated, this is a ''personal'' guide; there are innumerable ways to play the game, so if you're not enjoying something, go ahead and do it differently. This guide assumes you want to produce a secure and durable fortress in which to fully explore the core game mechanics (military, economy, sociology, exploration etc.), but some players have more esoteric goals. Whatever powers your minecart, friend.
−
−	~~==Recommended Pre-reading==~~
−
−	This guide assumes you already have a general idea of what [[Dwarf Fortress]] [[User:Mixtrak/What is Dwarf Fortress?\|''is'']] actually [[About]], and that you've managed to get it [[Installation\|running]]. In addition, I'd recommend reading, at minimum, the [[Quickstart guide]], but really any time spent on the wiki is spent well. Don't worry too much about understanding or retaining things at this stage - this is more by way of general orientation. You could also consider reading parts of the [[Frequently Asked Questions]] (particularly the interface, since that won't be covered much in this guide), and a little more detail about [[Dwarf Fortress Mode]], which is what we'll be playing. It also wouldn't hurt to watch some video tutorials - I highly recommend the aforementioned series by Captain Duck. Some of the information in the [[Tutorials]] may be outdated or contradict the recommendations in this guide, so don't be confused by the differences.
−
−	~~==Strategy Guide Parts==~~
−
−	~~[[User:Mixtrak/Strategy/1_worldgen_embark\|Part 1]] covers world generation, choosing a civilisation and site, provisioning your dwarves, and allocating skills~~
−
−	~~[[User:Mixtrak/Strategy/2_get_inside_secure\|Part 2]] covers the initial settling-in period at your new map; assessing threats and the mad scurry to put something between your dwarves and the wildlife~~
−
−	~~[[User:Mixtrak/Strategy/3_victuals_security\|Part 3]] covers your basic needs - victuals and security~~
−
−	~~[[User:Mixtrak/Strategy/4_blueprint_stone_wood\|Part 4]] covers the basic fortress blueprint and setting up a stone and wood industry~~
−
−	~~[[User:Mixtrak/Strategy/5_food_plumbing\|Part 5]] sets up a plant-based food industry, including farms and irrigation~~
−
−	~~The next part (in development) will prepare equipment for your military.~~
−
−	~~[[User:Mixtrak\|Mixtrak]] ([[User talk:Mixtrak\|talk]]) 09:18, 25 March 2017 (UTC)~~

@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 The main reason to start (relatively) easy is the complexity and interconnectedness of the different facets of fortress management. An Overseer must simultaneously manage the security, industry, happiness, military, economy, administration, diplomacy (and so on) of the fortress, and do so based on a solid understanding of the underlying game mechanics. Learning all these things and their interactions at once is extremely difficult, so do not scoff, overweening, at starting with a few advantages.
-Another courtesy to new players and a side-product of focusing on fundamentals is that this strategy generally follows the KISS principle. While there are doubtless more efficient and effective strategies than covered in this guide, they may be obtuse, have many steps, or require a simultaneous familiarity with many different industries and gameplay elements. This guide attempts to gently lead players to that holistic understanding as the fortress develops.
+Another courtesy to new players and a side-product of focusing on fundamentals is that this strategy generally follows the KISS principle. While there are doubtless more efficient and effective strategies than covered in this guide, they may be obtuse, have many steps, or require a simultaneous familiarity with many different industries and gameplay elements. This guide attempts to gently lead players to that holistic understanding as the fortress develops, as linearly as possible. However, players should be constantly aware of spare capacity in the fortress, and be willing to begin new sections before completing the current one.
 Finally, this guide is shaped by a strong aesthetic preference for original-flavour gameplay. There are many third-party tools which significantly ease the task of fort management, but for whatever reason I generally prefer the vanilla experience. For me, it's most rewarding to play Dwarf Fortress more or less "as intended", and in any case there are benefits to beginners in terms of getting started faster, focusing on fundamentals and reducing cognitive load. This also means I ''tend'' to avoid exploits or anything which feels a bit cheesy. For better or worse, you'll find no quantum stockpiles, free containers, or building-destroyer-pathing exploits here. I also assume that players wish to experience all aspects of economy and gameplay, including the potentially inconvenient or inessential elements such as mandates and using plaster casts.
@@ Line 35: / Line 35: @@
 ==Strategy Guide Parts==
-[[User:Mixtrak/Strategy/part_1|Part 1]] covers world generation, choosing a civilisation and site, provisioning your dwarves, and allocating skills
+[[User:Mixtrak/Strategy/1_worldgen_embark|Part 1]] covers world generation, choosing a civilisation and site, provisioning your dwarves, and allocating skills
-[[User:Mixtrak/Strategy/part_2|Part 2]] covers the initial settling-in period at your new map, that is, the mad scurry to get a door between your dwarves and the wildlife
+[[User:Mixtrak/Strategy/2_get_inside_secure|Part 2]] covers the initial settling-in period at your new map; assessing threats and the mad scurry to put something between your dwarves and the wildlife
-[[User:Mixtrak/Strategy/part_3|Part 3]] is (currently) very long indeed, and sets up early security and self-sufficiency.
+[[User:Mixtrak/Strategy/3_victuals_security|Part 3]] covers your basic needs - victuals and security
-The next part (in development) will probably cover basic amenities for your dwarves, trade, and allocation of labours.
+[[User:Mixtrak/Strategy/4_blueprint_stone_wood|Part 4]] covers the basic fortress blueprint and setting up a stone and wood industry
-[[User:Mixtrak|Mixtrak]] ([[User talk:Mixtrak|talk]]) 07:07, 15 March 2017 (UTC)
+[[User:Mixtrak/Strategy/5_food_plumbing|Part 5]] sets up a plant-based food industry, including farms and irrigation

@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 Another courtesy to new players and a side-product of focusing on fundamentals is that this strategy generally follows the KISS principle. While there are doubtless more efficient and effective strategies than covered in this guide, they may be obtuse, have many steps, or require a simultaneous familiarity with many different industries and gameplay elements. This guide attempts to gently lead players to that holistic understanding as the fortress develops.
-Finally, a strong personal aesthetic preference for original-flavour gameplay shapes this whole guide. There are many third-party tools which significantly ease the task of fort management, but for whatever reason I generally prefer the vanilla experience. For me, it's most rewarding to play Dwarf Fortress more or less "as intended", and in any case there are benefits to beginners in terms of getting started faster, focusing on fundamentals and reducing cognitive load. This also means I tend to avoid exploits or even tricks which feel a bit cheesy. For better or worse, you'll find no quantum stockpiles, free containers, or building-destroyer-pathing exploits here. I also assume that players wish to experience all aspects of economy and gameplay, including the sometimes-inconvenient bits such as mandates and the non-essential industries such as wax-working.
+Finally, this guide is shaped by a strong aesthetic preference for original-flavour gameplay. There are many third-party tools which significantly ease the task of fort management, but for whatever reason I generally prefer the vanilla experience. For me, it's most rewarding to play Dwarf Fortress more or less "as intended", and in any case there are benefits to beginners in terms of getting started faster, focusing on fundamentals and reducing cognitive load. This also means I ''tend'' to avoid exploits or anything which feels a bit cheesy. For better or worse, you'll find no quantum stockpiles, free containers, or building-destroyer-pathing exploits here. I also assume that players wish to experience all aspects of economy and gameplay, including the potentially inconvenient or inessential elements such as mandates and using plaster casts.
 ==Content==
-The focus of this guide is very specifically ''strategy'', i.e. "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategy a high level plan to achieve one or more goals under conditions of uncertainty]". Strategy is important because "the resources available to achieve these goals are usually limited" (ibid.). This describes the situation of a Dwarf Fortress player very well - a goal (developing the fortress), limited resources (at embark, seven dwarves, some supplies, and the landscape), and uncertainty (especially beginners).
+The focus of this guide is very specifically ''strategy'', i.e. "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategy a high level plan to achieve one or more goals under conditions of uncertainty]". Strategy is important because "the resources available to achieve these goals are usually limited" (ibid.). This describes the situation of a Dwarf Fortress player very well - a goal (developing the fortress), limited resources (at embark, seven dwarves, some supplies, and the landscape), and uncertainty (especially for beginners).
-Crucially, this implies that the ''reasoning'' underlying this guide is more important than the concrete instructions themselves, and accordingly they are provided in great detail. Conversely, information on the game mechanics is not generally covered here, and players are not walked through every button-push, but are directed to the appropriate resources. It's easy to find out ''how'' to catch a fish; rather, this guide asks if and when you ''should'' catch fish.
+Crucially, this implies that the ''reasoning'' underlying this guide is more important than the concrete instructions themselves; accordingly, I show my "working-out" rather than simply providing answers. Conversely, the game interface is generally not covered, so players are not walked through every button-push but rather are directed to the appropriate resources or expected to look things up on the wiki. It's easy to find out ''how'' to catch a fish; rather, this guide instead answers the more complex question of if and when you ''should'' catch fish.
-That said, that kind of approach must integrate many moving parts - various and context-dependent costs, risks, needs and benefits - so it's best to initially learn them in a formulaic way. I've therefore tried to derive a very specific strategy which is also as general and reliable (assuming a "nice" embark) as possible. Consider this a kind of "worked example", which should simultaneously get you playing and help you develop a more flexible understanding of the game fundamentals. Once familiar with those, you can begin to generalise and adapt them to more challenging embarks.
+Of course, a subtle discussion of each industry is not very helpful to the beginner player. Beginners haven't developed an internalised model of the various and context-dependent costs, risks, needs and benefits. It's impractical to start by providing all the information and then expect an inexperienced player to put it into practice; there are too many unfamiliar moving parts to consider at once. It's best to learn the game elements in a structured manner.
-Finally, a disclaimer about prescriptivism: as the old Overseer curse goes, "have fun". As I've stated, this is a ''personal'' guide; there are innumerable ways to play the game, so if you're not enjoying something, go ahead and do it differently. This guide assumes you want to produce a secure and durable fortress in which to fully explore the core game mechanics (military, economy, sociology, exploration etc.), but some players have more esoteric goals. Whatever powers your minecart, friend.
+I've therefore tried to derive a very specific strategy which is also as general and reliable (assuming a "nice" embark) as possible. Consider this a kind of "worked example", which should simultaneously get you playing and help you develop a more flexible understanding of the game fundamentals. Once familiar with those, you can begin to generalise and adapt them to more challenging embarks. Indeed, even as a player progresses through this guide, the rigid prioritisation relaxes and the servings of information become more like a buffet than a degustation. When you're ready to go from diner to chef, you've at least partially outgrown this guide.
 ==Recommended Pre-reading==
@@ Line 41: / Line 43: @@
 The next part (in development) will probably cover basic amenities for your dwarves, trade, and allocation of labours.
-[[User:Mixtrak|Mixtrak]] ([[User talk:Mixtrak|talk]]) 08:51, 9 March 2017 (UTC)
+[[User:Mixtrak|Mixtrak]] ([[User talk:Mixtrak|talk]]) 07:07, 15 March 2017 (UTC)

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 This strategy is as much for myself as for anyone else, as a place to work out my thoughts and as a reminder when I start a new fortress. It's therefore unapologetically idiosyncratic and opinionated. That said, I welcome comments and edits - please feel free to say something on the "Discussion" pages or, if you think you can improve things, just [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Be_bold be bold] and go ahead and edit the content page. I can always edit further (or roll back). The strategy is currently undergoing [http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=163161.0 playtesting], and will be continually updated. Once it's fairly battle-hardened I'm hoping to make a video series to complement it.
 This strategy asserts that a fairly "nice" location - with good resources and moderate dangers - is the best way to learn how to manage a fort. This task is sufficiently complex that you should not want for additional challenges; the basic gameplay provides quite sufficient [[Fun]] for most beginners.
 The main reason to start (relatively) easy is the complexity and interconnectedness of the different facets of fortress management. An Overseer must simultaneously manage the security, industry, happiness, military, economy, administration, diplomacy (and so on) of the fortress, and do so based on a solid understanding of the underlying game mechanics. Learning all these things and their interactions at once is extremely difficult, so do not scoff, overweening, at starting with a few advantages.
 ==Content==

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:51, 9 March 2017
Line 27:		Line 27:
	This guide assumes you already have a general idea of what [[Dwarf Fortress]] [[User:Mixtrak/What is Dwarf Fortress?\|''is'']] actually [[About]], and that you've managed to get it [[Installation\|running]]. In addition, I'd recommend reading, at minimum, the [[Quickstart guide]], but really any time spent on the wiki is spent well. Don't worry too much about understanding or retaining things at this stage - this is more by way of general orientation. You could also consider reading parts of the [[Frequently Asked Questions]] (particularly the interface, since that won't be covered much in this guide), and a little more detail about [[Dwarf Fortress Mode]], which is what we'll be playing. It also wouldn't hurt to watch some video tutorials - I highly recommend the aforementioned series by Captain Duck. Some of the information in the [[Tutorials]] may be outdated or contradict the recommendations in this guide, so don't be confused by the differences.		This guide assumes you already have a general idea of what [[Dwarf Fortress]] [[User:Mixtrak/What is Dwarf Fortress?\|''is'']] actually [[About]], and that you've managed to get it [[Installation\|running]]. In addition, I'd recommend reading, at minimum, the [[Quickstart guide]], but really any time spent on the wiki is spent well. Don't worry too much about understanding or retaining things at this stage - this is more by way of general orientation. You could also consider reading parts of the [[Frequently Asked Questions]] (particularly the interface, since that won't be covered much in this guide), and a little more detail about [[Dwarf Fortress Mode]], which is what we'll be playing. It also wouldn't hurt to watch some video tutorials - I highly recommend the aforementioned series by Captain Duck. Some of the information in the [[Tutorials]] may be outdated or contradict the recommendations in this guide, so don't be confused by the differences.

−	[[User:Mixtrak\|Mixtrak]] ([[User talk:Mixtrak\|talk]]) 08:41, 9 March 2017 (UTC)	+	==Strategy Guide Parts==
		+
		+	[[User:Mixtrak/Strategy/part_1\|Part 1]] covers world generation, choosing a civilisation and site, provisioning your dwarves, and allocating skills
		+
		+	[[User:Mixtrak/Strategy/part_2\|Part 2]] covers the initial settling-in period at your new map, that is, the mad scurry to get a door between your dwarves and the wildlife
		+
		+	[[User:Mixtrak/Strategy/part_3\|Part 3]] is (currently) very long indeed, and sets up early security and self-sufficiency.
		+
		+	The next part (in development) will probably cover basic amenities for your dwarves, trade, and allocation of labours.
		+
		+	[[User:Mixtrak\|Mixtrak]] ([[User talk:Mixtrak\|talk]]) 08:51, 9 March 2017 (UTC)

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-This strategy is as much for myself as for anyone else, as a place to work out my thoughts and as a reminder when I start a new fortress. That said, I welcome comments and edits - please feel free to say something on the "Talk" pages or, if you think you can improve things, just be bold and go ahead and edit the content page. I can always roll back or edit further. The strategy is currently undergoing [http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=163161.0 playtesting], and will be continually updated. Once it's in a fairly stable and tested state, I'm hoping to make a video series to complement it.
+Welcome to [[User:Mixtrak|mixtrak]]'s strategy guide for Dwarf Fortress.
-First, a word to the overconfident. This strategy is based on a fairly nice location. There are plenty of resources on the wiki to help you achieve this kind of beginning scenario, which I'll briefly revisit in the next section. Such an [[Embark|embark]] constitutes the easiest way to learn how to manage a fort - a task sufficiently complex that you should certainly not hasten to make further challenges for yourself. The basic gameplay provides quite sufficient [[Fun|fun]] for most beginners. Do not scoff at making things a little easier for yourself at first.
+==''Another'' one?==
-The main reason to start (relatively) easy is the complexity and interconnectedness of the different facets of fortress management. An Overseer must simultaneously manage, among other things, the [[Defense design|security]], [[Industry|industry]], [[Happiness|happiness]], [[Military|military]], [[Noble|administration]] and [[Diplomat|diplomacy]] of the fortress, and do so based on a solid understanding of the underlying game mechanics. Learning all these things and their interactions at once is extremely difficult, so tilting the scales a little in your favour at the start makes sense. Based on that fact, this guide assumes a "nice" embark. However, by and large this guide avoids exploits or cheese; the partial exception is the moderate use of (insanely overpowered) cage-traps.
+Yes, there are many detailed, comprehensive resources for Dwarf Fortress on this wiki, and very illustrative video tutorials and playthrough guides elsewhere. I have relied on [[Tutorials|them]] extensively (thanks, [http://dffd.bay12games.com/file.php?id=10552 Captain Duck]!), and so will you - this strategy guide is not intended to be in any way definitive or a replacement for other resources. Rather, the intention of this guide is to be as linear and straightforward as a video walkthrough, while providing sufficiently detailed context and reasoning that players can grasp the underlying principles, and generalise them to other contexts. The intended audience is beginner to intermediate players. Beginner players usually wish to begin playing immediately, and this guide provides a structured approach which helps them learn the game. Intermediate players will understand the basics, but this guide may help to sort through competing priorities while promoting forward-thinking development of the fortress.
-The other focus of this guide is basic strategy and, crucially, the underlying reasons and thinking. Information on the game mechanics is not generally covered here since it is so comprehensively covered in the wiki - it's easy to find out how to [[Fishing|catch a fish]] - and so I focus on higher-level question such as whether, when the time comes to strike the earth, you ''should'' catch fish (generally not, in my opinion). These strategies integrate a lot of moving parts - various and context-dependent costs, risks, needs and benefits - so it's best to initially learn them in a somewhat formulaic way. Consider this a kind of "worked example", which should help you develop a more flexible understanding of the fundamentals, so you can begin to generalise and adapt them to more challenging embarks. However, you should ideally first go read, at minimum, the [[Quickstart|quickstart guide]], and probably also the [[Starting Build|starting build]] pages. Some of this guide may contradict them, but they're an important orienting read. Don't worry if you don't retain everything - it's a slow process of immersion.
+==Philosophy and Contribution==
-Finally, a disclaimer about prescriptivism: as the old Overseer curse goes, "have fun". There are innumerable ways to play the game, so if you're not enjoying something in this guide, go ahead and try something different. The guide should produce a secure and durable fortress so you can fully explore the core game mechanics (military, economy, sociology, exploration etc.), but some players have more esoteric goals. Whatever powers your minecart, friend.
+This strategy is as much for myself as for anyone else, as a place to work out my thoughts and as a reminder when I start a new fortress. It's therefore unapologetically idiosyncratic and opinionated. That said, I welcome comments and edits - please feel free to say something on the "Discussion" pages or, if you think you can improve things, just [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Be_bold be bold] and go ahead and edit the content page. I can always edit further (or roll back). The strategy is currently undergoing [http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=163161.0 playtesting], and will be continually updated. Once it's fairly battle-hardened I'm hoping to make a video series to complement it.
-[[User:Mixtrak/Strategy/part_1|Part 1]]: World, site and embark
+This strategy asserts that a fairly "nice" location - with good resources and moderate dangers - is the best way to learn how to manage a fort. This task is sufficiently complex that you should not want for additional challenges; the basic gameplay provides quite sufficient [[Fun]] for most beginners.
-[[User:Mixtrak/Strategy/part_2|Part 2]]: Get inside, get secure!
+The main reason to start (relatively) easy is the complexity and interconnectedness of the different facets of fortress management. An Overseer must simultaneously manage the security, industry, happiness, military, economy, administration, diplomacy (and so on) of the fortress, and do so based on a solid understanding of the underlying game mechanics. Learning all these things and their interactions at once is extremely difficult, so do not scoff, overweening, at starting with a few advantages.
-[[User:Mixtrak/Strategy/part_3|Part 3]]: Defence and self-sufficiency
+==Content==
-[[User:Mixtrak|Mixtrak]] ([[User talk:Mixtrak|talk]]) 03:55, 3 March 2017 (UTC)
+The focus of this guide is very specifically ''strategy'', i.e. "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategy a high level plan to achieve one or more goals under conditions of uncertainty]". Strategy is important because "the resources available to achieve these goals are usually limited" (ibid.). This describes the situation of a Dwarf Fortress player very well - a goal (developing the fortress), limited resources (at embark, seven dwarves, some supplies, and the landscape), and uncertainty (especially beginners).
-[[Category:Guides]]
+Crucially, this implies that the ''reasoning'' underlying this guide is more important than the concrete instructions themselves, and accordingly they are provided in great detail. Conversely, information on the game mechanics is not generally covered here, and players are not walked through every button-push, but are directed to the appropriate resources. It's easy to find out ''how'' to catch a fish; rather, this guide asks if and when you ''should'' catch fish.

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:17, 9 March 2017
Line 1:		Line 1:
−	This strategy is as much for myself as for anyone else, as a place to work out my thoughts and as a reminder when I start a new fortress. That said, I welcome comments and edits - please feel free to say something on the "Talk" pages or, if you think you can improve things, just be bold and go ahead and edit the content page. I can always roll back or edit further.	+	This strategy is as much for myself as for anyone else, as a place to work out my thoughts and as a reminder when I start a new fortress. That said, I welcome comments and edits - please feel free to say something on the "Talk" pages or, if you think you can improve things, just be bold and go ahead and edit the content page. I can always roll back or edit further. The strategy is currently undergoing playtesting, and will be continually updated. Once it's in a fairly stable and tested state, I'm hoping to make a video series to complement it.

	First, a word to the overconfident. This strategy is based on a fairly nice location. There are plenty of resources on the wiki to help you achieve this kind of beginning scenario, which I'll briefly revisit in the next section. Such an [[Embark\|embark]] constitutes the easiest way to learn how to manage a fort - a task sufficiently complex that you should certainly not hasten to make further challenges for yourself. The basic gameplay provides quite sufficient [[Fun\|fun]] for most beginners. Do not scoff at making things a little easier for yourself at first.		First, a word to the overconfident. This strategy is based on a fairly nice location. There are plenty of resources on the wiki to help you achieve this kind of beginning scenario, which I'll briefly revisit in the next section. Such an [[Embark\|embark]] constitutes the easiest way to learn how to manage a fort - a task sufficiently complex that you should certainly not hasten to make further challenges for yourself. The basic gameplay provides quite sufficient [[Fun\|fun]] for most beginners. Do not scoff at making things a little easier for yourself at first.

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 First, a word to the overconfident. This strategy is based on a fairly nice location. There are plenty of resources on the wiki to help you achieve this kind of beginning scenario, which I'll briefly revisit in the next section. Such an [[Embark|embark]] constitutes the easiest way to learn how to manage a fort - a task sufficiently complex that you should certainly not hasten to make further challenges for yourself. The basic gameplay provides quite sufficient [[Fun|fun]] for most beginners. Do not scoff at making things a little easier for yourself at first.
-The main reason to start (relatively) easy is the complexity and interconnectedness of the different facets of fortress management. An Overseer must simultaneously manage, among other things, the [[Defence design|security]], [[Industry|industry]], [[Happiness|happiness]], [[Military|military]], [[Noble|administration]] and [[Diplomat|diplomacy]] of the fortress, and do so based on a solid understanding of the underlying game mechanics. Learning all these things and their interactions at once is extremely difficult, so tilting the scales a little in your favour at the start makes sense. Based on that fact, this guide assumes a "nice" embark.
+The main reason to start (relatively) easy is the complexity and interconnectedness of the different facets of fortress management. An Overseer must simultaneously manage, among other things, the [[Defence design|security]], [[Industry|industry]], [[Happiness|happiness]], [[Military|military]], [[Noble|administration]] and [[Diplomat|diplomacy]] of the fortress, and do so based on a solid understanding of the underlying game mechanics. Learning all these things and their interactions at once is extremely difficult, so tilting the scales a little in your favour at the start makes sense. Based on that fact, this guide assumes a "nice" embark. However, by and large this guide avoids exploits or cheese; the partial exception is the moderate use of (insanely overpowered) cage-traps.
 The other focus of this guide is basic strategy and, crucially, the underlying reasons and thinking. Information on the game mechanics is not generally covered here since it is so comprehensively covered in the wiki - it's easy to find out how to [[Fishing|catch a fish]] - and so I focus on higher-level question such as whether, when the time comes to strike the earth, you ''should'' catch fish (generally not, in my opinion). These strategies integrate a lot of moving parts - various and context-dependent costs, risks, needs and benefits - so it's best to initially learn them in a somewhat formulaic way. Consider this a kind of "worked example", which should help you develop a more flexible understanding of the fundamentals, so you can begin to generalise and adapt them to more challenging embarks. However, you should ideally first go read, at minimum, the [[Quickstart|quickstart guide]], and probably also the [[Starting Build|starting build]] pages. Some of this guide may contradict them, but they're an important orienting read. Don't worry if you don't retain everything - it's a slow process of immersion.