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Difference between revisions of "Desert"

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{{av}} {{Quality|Exceptional|06:58, 14 June 2010 (UTC)}}
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{{Quality|Exceptional|06:58, 14 June 2010 (UTC)}}
 +
{{av}}
  
[[Image:Red sand desert and rocky wasteland.png‎|thumb|right|A red sand desert blending into a rocky wasteland.]]
+
[[File:Red sand desert and rocky wasteland.png‎|thumb|300px|A red sand desert blending into a rocky wasteland.]]
A '''Desert''' is a very dry [[biome]]. Deserts can be found in all [[climate]]s, but are mostly common to very hot areas. Very few [[tree]]s and plants are able to grow in these barren lands. Camels are very common to this kind of biome and provide an excellent [[food]] source (whether [[One-humped camel|one]] or [[Two-humped camel|two]] humps). [[Giant desert scorpion|Fierce predators]] can also be found in deserts.
 
  
[[Caverns]] make building a fortress on a desert a whole lot easier.
+
A '''desert''' is a very dry [[biome]], with little to no [[rain]]fall each year. Deserts can be found in almost all [[climate]]s except the most extreme cold regions. They are always arid, so cold deserts may only have flowing water for a few months of the year, and warm deserts might have rivers that evaporate during the summer months. The desert [[temperature]] is mostly on the far ranges of warm or cold, and can reach scorching or freezing temperatures in certain regions. Variable heat loss is not a feature in biomes, so very hot deserts will remain warm/hot in the night with only a small decrease in temperature.
  
== Types of Desert ==
+
Very few [[tree]]s and [[crop|plant]]s are able to grow in these barren lands. There is a surprisingly decent amount of [[creature]]s however. Camels for example are very common to this kind of biome and provide an excellent [[food]] source (whether [[one-humped camel|one]] or [[two-humped camel|two]] humps). Breaching [[caverns]] for resources that deserts lack can make building a fortress a whole lot easier.
  
Desert is the umbrella term for the three types of deserts you will find in Dwarf Fortress.
+
== Types of deserts ==
The three types of deserts you will find are:
+
There are three types of deserts: '''badlands''', '''rocky wastelands''', and '''sand deserts'''. The key characteristic of deserts is that they form in very low rainfall.
  
=== Badlands ===
+
Badlands have [[soil]] but very little rainfall, and so have very little to offer in the way of plant life, both shrubs and trees. They are mostly hot or cold but can also have another climate. Badlands form in areas with high drainage.
  
'''Badlands''' are [[biome]]s that have [[soil]] but very little rainfall, and so have very little to offer in the way of plant life, both shrubs and trees. They are mostly [[Climate#Hot|hot]] or [[Climate#Cold|cold]] but can also have another [[climate]]. Badlands form in areas with low rainfall and high drainage.
+
Rocky wastelands are arid, barren areas rich in [[stone]]. It may be difficult to find soil or an above ground water source. Additionally trees and other plant life are usually scarce at best in these areas. Thus trees should be grown on subterranean tree farms. For pasture, the top layer of dirt can simply be channeled through, grass will grow in the resulting pit. Wastelands form in areas with medium drainage.
  
=== Rocky wastelands ===
+
Sand deserts are large and dry areas of [[sand]]. They can be difficult for a beginning player to found a fortress in, due to the fact that there are usually few trees and plants to be found and it may require digging several [[Z-axis|Z-layers]] deep before any stone is found.  However, similar to rocky wastelands, areas of the map can be channeled out for grass growth. The new grass tiles will even allow tree growth with enough time. Deserts form in areas with low drainage.
  
'''Rocky wasteland'''s are arid, barren areas rich in [[stone]]. It may be difficult to find [[soil]] or an above ground water source. Additionally trees and other plant life are usually scarce at best in these areas. Thus trees should be grown on subterranean tree farms.
+
== Wildlife ==
For pasture, the top layer of dirt can simply be channeled through, grass will grow in the resulting pit. Wastelands form in areas with low rainfall and medium drainage.
+
All desert creatures and vermin can appear in every type of deserts.
 +
 
 +
=== Creatures ===
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
! Name
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|b|6:0}} [[Barn owl]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|b|6:0}} [[Bobcat]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|b|0:1}} [[Buzzard]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|c|7:0}} [[Coyote]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|t|6:0}} [[Desert tortoise]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|d|6:1}} [[Dingo]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|e|6:0}} [[Eagle]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|e|6:0}} [[Echidna]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|g|4:1}} [[Gila monster]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|l|7:0}} [[Gray langur]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|o|7:0}} [[Great horned owl]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|b|7:1}} [[Honey badger]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|i|6:0}} [[Ibex]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|J|6:1}} [[Jaguar]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|K|6:0}} [[Kangaroo]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|k|7:1}} [[Kingsnake]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|l|6:1}} [[Leopard]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|C|6:0}} [[One-humped camel]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|O|7:0}} [[Ostrich]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|p|6:0}} [[Peregrine falcon]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|p|6:0}} [[Porcupine]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|s|7:0}} [[Rattlesnake]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|r|0:1}} [[Raven]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|C|6:0}} [[Two-humped camel]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|v|4:0}} [[Vulture]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|w|6:0}} [[Weasel]]
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
'''In savage deserts:'''
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
! Name
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|s|6:1}} [[Bark scorpion man]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|b|6:0}} [[Barn owl man]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|b|0:1}} [[Bat man]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|b|4:0}} [[Beetle man]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|b|6:0}} [[Bobcat man]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|b|0:1}} [[Buzzard man]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|c|2:1}} [[Chameleon man]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|c|7:1}} [[Cockatiel man]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|c|7:0}} [[Coyote man]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|t|6:0}} [[Desert tortoise man]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|d|6:1}} [[Dingo man]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|e|6:0}} [[Eagle man]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|e|6:0}} [[Echidna man]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|f|2:1}} [[Firefly man]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|f|0:1}} [[Fly man]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|S|6:1}} [[Giant bark scorpion]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|B|6:0}} [[Giant barn owl]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|B|0:1}} [[Giant bat]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|B|4:0}} [[Giant beetle]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|B|6:0}} [[Giant bobcat]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|B|0:1}} [[Giant buzzard]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|C|2:1}} [[Giant chameleon]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|C|7:1}} [[Giant cockatiel]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|C|7:0}} [[Giant coyote]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|S|6:0}} [[Giant desert scorpion]]<sup>1</sup>
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|T|6:0}} [[Giant desert tortoise]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|D|6:1}} [[Giant dingo]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|E|6:0}} [[Giant eagle]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|E|6:0}} [[Giant echidna]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|F|2:1}} [[Giant firefly]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|F|0:1}} [[Giant fly]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|G|4:1}} [[Giant gila monster]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|G|2:1}} [[Giant grasshopper]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|L|7:0}} [[Giant gray langur]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|O|7:0}} [[Giant great horned owl]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|H|7:0}} [[Giant hamster]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|B|7:1}} [[Giant honey badger]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|I|6:0}} [[Giant ibex]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|J|6:1}} [[Giant jaguar]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|J|0:1}} [[Giant jumping spider]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|K|6:0}} [[Giant kangaroo]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|K|7:1}} [[Giant kingsnake]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|L|6:1}} [[Giant leopard]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|L|6:1}} [[Giant leopard gecko]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|L|6:0}} [[Giant lizard]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|L|6:0}} [[Giant louse]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|M|2:1}} [[Giant mantis]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|M|4:1}} [[Giant monarch butterfly]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|M|0:1}} [[Giant mosquito]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|M|6:0}} [[Giant moth]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|O|7:0}} [[Giant ostrich]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|P|6:0}} [[Giant peregrine falcon]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|P|6:0}} [[Giant porcupine]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|R|0:1}} [[Giant rat]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|S|7:0}} [[Giant rattlesnake]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|R|0:1}} [[Giant raven]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|R|6:0}} [[Giant roach]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|S|7:0}} [[Giant skink]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|S|6:0}} [[Giant slug]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|S|7:0}} [[Giant snail]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|S|6:0}} [[Giant sparrow]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|T|6:0}} [[Giant thrips]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|T|0:1}} [[Giant tick]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|V|4:0}} [[Giant vulture]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|W|6:0}} [[Giant weasel]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|W|6:0}} [[Giant wren]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|g|4:1}} [[Gila monster man]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|l|7:0}} [[Gray langur man]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|g|2:1}} [[Grasshopper man]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|o|7:0}} [[Great horned owl man]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|h|7:0}} [[Hamster man]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|b|7:1}} [[Honey badger man]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|i|6:0}} [[Ibex man]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|J|6:1}} [[Jaguar man]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|j|0:1}} [[Jumping spider man]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|K|6:0}} [[Kangaroo man]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|k|7:1}} [[Kingsnake man]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|l|6:1}} [[Leopard man]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|l|6:1}} [[Leopard gecko man]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|l|6:0}} [[Lizard man]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|l|6:0}} [[Louse man]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|m|2:1}} [[Mantis man]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|m|4:1}} [[Monarch butterfly man]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|m|0:1}} [[Mosquito man]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|m|6:0}} [[Moth man]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|O|7:0}} [[Ostrich man]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|p|6:0}} [[Peregrine falcon man]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|p|6:0}} [[Porcupine man]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|r|0:1}} [[Rat man]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|s|7:0}} [[Rattlesnake man]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|r|0:1}} [[Raven man]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|r|6:0}} [[Roach man]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|s|7:0}} [[Skink man]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|s|6:0}} [[Slug man]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|s|7:0}} [[Snail man]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|s|6:0}} [[Sparrow man]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|t|6:0}} [[Thrips man]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|t|0:1}} [[Tick man]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|v|4:0}} [[Vulture man]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|w|6:0}} [[Weasel man]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|w|6:0}} [[Wren man]]
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
:<sup>1</sup> No longer appears since [[Release information/0.42.04|v0.42.04]]
 +
 
 +
'''In evil deserts:'''
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
! Name
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|N|0:1}} [[Nightwing]]
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
=== Vermin ===
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
! Name
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|·|0:1}} [[Ant]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|∙|6:1}} [[Bark scorpion]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|∙|0:1}} [[Bat]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|·|4:0}} [[Beetle]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|·|6:1}} [[Bumblebee]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|∙|2:1}} [[Chameleon]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|∙|7:1}} [[Cockatiel]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|∙|2:1}} [[Firefly]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|·|0:1}} [[Fly]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|·|2:1}} [[Grasshopper]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|∙|7:0}} [[Hamster]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|·|6:1}} [[Honey bee]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|·|0:1}} [[Jumping spider]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|∙|6:0}} [[Large roach]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|∙|6:1}} [[Leopard gecko]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|∙|6:0}} [[Lizard]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|·|6:0}} [[Louse]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|·|2:1}} [[Mantis]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|∙|4:1}} [[Monarch butterfly]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|·|0:1}} [[Mosquito]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|∙|6:0}} [[Moth]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|∙|0:1}} [[Rat]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|∙|7:0}} [[Skink]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|~|6:0}} [[Slug]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|∙|7:0}} [[Snail]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|∙|6:0}} [[Sparrow]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|·|7:1}} [[Termite]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|·|6:0}} [[Thrips]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|·|0:1}} [[Tick]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|∙|6:0}} [[Wren]]
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
'''In savage deserts:'''
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
! Name
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|∙|7:0}} [[Two-legged rhino lizard]]
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
'''In good deserts:'''
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
! Name
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|∙|6:1}} [[Fairy]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|∙|7:1}} [[Fluffy wambler]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|·|3:1}} [[Pixie]]
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
'''In evil deserts:'''
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
! Name
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|∙|4:0}} [[Demon rat]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|~|0:1}} [[Knuckle worm]]
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
== Vegetation ==
 +
Likewise, all desert plants can appear in every type of deserts.
  
=== Sand desert ===
+
=== Shrubs ===
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
! Name
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|"|2:0}} [[Alfalfa]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|"|2:0}} [[Barley]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|"|2:0}} [[Blade weed]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|"|2:0}} [[Caper]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|"|2:0}} [[Fisher berry]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|"|2:0}} [[Hide root]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|"|2:0}} [[Lentil]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|"|2:0}} [[Longland grass]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|"|2:0}} [[Potato]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|"|2:0}} [[Prickle berry]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|"|2:0}} [[Rat weed]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|"|2:0}} [[Red spinach]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|"|2:0}} [[Rope reed]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|"|2:0}} [[Rye]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|"|2:0}} [[Strawberry]]
 +
|}
  
'''Sand deserts''' are large and dry areas of [[sand]]. They can be difficult for a beginning player to found a [[fortress]] in, due to the fact that there are usually few [[tree]]s and [[plant]]s to be found and it may require digging several [[Z-axis|Z-layers]] deep before any [[stone]] is found.  However, similar to rocky wastelands, areas of the map can be channeled out for grass growth. The new grass tiles will even allow tree growth with enough time. Deserts form in areas with low rainfall and low drainage.
+
'''In savage deserts:'''
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
! Name
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|"|2:0}} [[Whip vine]]
 +
|}
  
 +
'''In good deserts:'''
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
! Name
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|"|2:0}} [[Sun berry]]
 +
|}
  
Deserts are most likely to be [[Climate#Warm|warm]] or [[Climate#Cold|cold]], but may be [[Climate#Scorching|scorching]] or [[Climate#Freezing|freezing]] as well. They are always arid, so [[Climate#Cold|cold]] deserts may only have flowing water for a few months of the year, and [[Climate#Warm|warm]] ones might have rivers that evaporate during the summer months.
+
'''In evil deserts:'''
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
! Name
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|"|2:0}} [[Sliver barb]]
 +
|}
  
== Wildlife ==
+
=== Trees ===
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
! Name
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|╞|2:0}} [[Saguaro]]
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
'''In savage deserts:'''
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
! Name
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|¶|2:0}} [[Highwood]]
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
'''In good deserts:'''
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
! Name
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|♣|7:1}} [[Feather tree]]
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
'''In evil deserts:'''
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
! Name
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|┤|5:0}} [[Glumprong]]
 +
|}
  
'''Appearing in neutral deserts:'''
+
=== Grasses ===
* [[Barn owl]]
+
{| class="wikitable"
* [[Bobcat]]
+
! Name
* [[One-humped camel]]
+
|-
* [[Two-humped camel]]
+
| {{Tile|.|2:1}} [[Baby toes succulent]]
* [[Buzzard]]
+
|-
* [[Coyote]]
+
| {{Tile|.|2:1}} [[Needle grass]]
* [[Desert tortoise]]
+
|-
* [[Dingo]]
+
| {{Tile|.|2:1}} [[Pebble plant]]
* [[Eagle]]
+
|}
* [[Echidna]]
 
* [[Gila monster]]
 
* [[Gray langur]]
 
* [[Great horned owl]]
 
* [[Honey badger]]
 
* [[Ibex]]
 
* [[Jaguar]]
 
* [[Kangaroo]]
 
* [[Kingsnake]]
 
* [[Leopard]]
 
* [[Ostrich]]
 
* [[Peregrine falcon]]
 
* [[Porcupine]]
 
* [[Rattlesnake]]
 
* [[Raven]]
 
* [[Vulture]]
 
* [[Weasel]]
 
  
'''Appearing in savage deserts:'''
+
'''In good tundras:'''
* [[Giant bark scorpion]]
+
{| class="wikitable"
* [[Giant beetle]]
+
! Name
* [[Giant chameleon]]
+
|-
* [[Giant cockatiel]]
+
| {{Tile|O|3:1}} [[Bubble bulb]]
* [[Giant desert scorpion]]
+
|-
* [[Giant firefly]]
+
| {{Tile|.|7:1}} [[Downy grass]]
* [[Giant grasshopper]]
+
|}
* [[Giant hamster]]
 
* [[Giant jumping spider]]
 
* [[Giant leopard gecko]]
 
* [[Giant lizard]]
 
* [[Giant louse]]
 
* [[Giant mantis]]
 
* [[Giant monarch butterfly]]
 
* [[Giant moth]]
 
* [[Giant roach]]
 
* [[Giant skink]]
 
* [[Giant slug]]
 
* [[Giant snail]]
 
* [[Giant sparrow]]
 
* [[Giant thrips]]
 
* [[Giant tick]]
 
* [[Giant wren]]
 
  
'''Appearing in evil deserts:'''
+
'''In evil tundras:'''
* [[Nightwing]]
+
{| class="wikitable"
 +
! Name
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|O|7:1}} [[Staring eyeball]]
 +
|-
 +
| {{Tile|≥|5:1}} [[Wormy tendril]]
 +
|}
  
 
{{Translation
 
{{Translation

Revision as of 05:04, 14 September 2017

This article is about the current version of DF.
Note that some content may still need to be updated.

A red sand desert blending into a rocky wasteland.

A desert is a very dry biome, with little to no rainfall each year. Deserts can be found in almost all climates except the most extreme cold regions. They are always arid, so cold deserts may only have flowing water for a few months of the year, and warm deserts might have rivers that evaporate during the summer months. The desert temperature is mostly on the far ranges of warm or cold, and can reach scorching or freezing temperatures in certain regions. Variable heat loss is not a feature in biomes, so very hot deserts will remain warm/hot in the night with only a small decrease in temperature.

Very few trees and plants are able to grow in these barren lands. There is a surprisingly decent amount of creatures however. Camels for example are very common to this kind of biome and provide an excellent food source (whether one or two humps). Breaching caverns for resources that deserts lack can make building a fortress a whole lot easier.

Types of deserts

There are three types of deserts: badlands, rocky wastelands, and sand deserts. The key characteristic of deserts is that they form in very low rainfall.

Badlands have soil but very little rainfall, and so have very little to offer in the way of plant life, both shrubs and trees. They are mostly hot or cold but can also have another climate. Badlands form in areas with high drainage.

Rocky wastelands are arid, barren areas rich in stone. It may be difficult to find soil or an above ground water source. Additionally trees and other plant life are usually scarce at best in these areas. Thus trees should be grown on subterranean tree farms. For pasture, the top layer of dirt can simply be channeled through, grass will grow in the resulting pit. Wastelands form in areas with medium drainage.

Sand deserts are large and dry areas of sand. They can be difficult for a beginning player to found a fortress in, due to the fact that there are usually few trees and plants to be found and it may require digging several Z-layers deep before any stone is found. However, similar to rocky wastelands, areas of the map can be channeled out for grass growth. The new grass tiles will even allow tree growth with enough time. Deserts form in areas with low drainage.

Wildlife

All desert creatures and vermin can appear in every type of deserts.

Creatures

Name
b Barn owl
b Bobcat
b Buzzard
c Coyote
t Desert tortoise
d Dingo
e Eagle
e Echidna
g Gila monster
l Gray langur
o Great horned owl
b Honey badger
i Ibex
J Jaguar
K Kangaroo
k Kingsnake
l Leopard
C One-humped camel
O Ostrich
p Peregrine falcon
p Porcupine
s Rattlesnake
r Raven
C Two-humped camel
v Vulture
w Weasel

In savage deserts:

Name
s Bark scorpion man
b Barn owl man
b Bat man
b Beetle man
b Bobcat man
b Buzzard man
c Chameleon man
c Cockatiel man
c Coyote man
t Desert tortoise man
d Dingo man
e Eagle man
e Echidna man
f Firefly man
f Fly man
S Giant bark scorpion
B Giant barn owl
B Giant bat
B Giant beetle
B Giant bobcat
B Giant buzzard
C Giant chameleon
C Giant cockatiel
C Giant coyote
S Giant desert scorpion1
T Giant desert tortoise
D Giant dingo
E Giant eagle
E Giant echidna
F Giant firefly
F Giant fly
G Giant gila monster
G Giant grasshopper
L Giant gray langur
O Giant great horned owl
H Giant hamster
B Giant honey badger
I Giant ibex
J Giant jaguar
J Giant jumping spider
K Giant kangaroo
K Giant kingsnake
L Giant leopard
L Giant leopard gecko
L Giant lizard
L Giant louse
M Giant mantis
M Giant monarch butterfly
M Giant mosquito
M Giant moth
O Giant ostrich
P Giant peregrine falcon
P Giant porcupine
R Giant rat
S Giant rattlesnake
R Giant raven
R Giant roach
S Giant skink
S Giant slug
S Giant snail
S Giant sparrow
T Giant thrips
T Giant tick
V Giant vulture
W Giant weasel
W Giant wren
g Gila monster man
l Gray langur man
g Grasshopper man
o Great horned owl man
h Hamster man
b Honey badger man
i Ibex man
J Jaguar man
j Jumping spider man
K Kangaroo man
k Kingsnake man
l Leopard man
l Leopard gecko man
l Lizard man
l Louse man
m Mantis man
m Monarch butterfly man
m Mosquito man
m Moth man
O Ostrich man
p Peregrine falcon man
p Porcupine man
r Rat man
s Rattlesnake man
r Raven man
r Roach man
s Skink man
s Slug man
s Snail man
s Sparrow man
t Thrips man
t Tick man
v Vulture man
w Weasel man
w Wren man
1 No longer appears since v0.42.04

In evil deserts:

Name
N Nightwing

Vermin

Name
· Ant
Bark scorpion
Bat
· Beetle
· Bumblebee
Chameleon
Cockatiel
Firefly
· Fly
· Grasshopper
Hamster
· Honey bee
· Jumping spider
Large roach
Leopard gecko
Lizard
· Louse
· Mantis
Monarch butterfly
· Mosquito
Moth
Rat
Skink
~ Slug
Snail
Sparrow
· Termite
· Thrips
· Tick
Wren

In savage deserts:

Name
Two-legged rhino lizard

In good deserts:

Name
Fairy
Fluffy wambler
· Pixie

In evil deserts:

Name
Demon rat
~ Knuckle worm

Vegetation

Likewise, all desert plants can appear in every type of deserts.

Shrubs

Name
" Alfalfa
" Barley
" Blade weed
" Caper
" Fisher berry
" Hide root
" Lentil
" Longland grass
" Potato
" Prickle berry
" Rat weed
" Red spinach
" Rope reed
" Rye
" Strawberry

In savage deserts:

Name
" Whip vine

In good deserts:

Name
" Sun berry

In evil deserts:

Name
" Sliver barb

Trees

Name
Saguaro

In savage deserts:

Name
Highwood

In good deserts:

Name
Feather tree

In evil deserts:

Name
Glumprong

Grasses

Name
. Baby toes succulent
. Needle grass
. Pebble plant

In good tundras:

Name
O Bubble bulb
. Downy grass

In evil tundras:

Name
O Staring eyeball
Wormy tendril
"Desert" in other Languages Books-aj.svg aj ashton 01.svg
Dwarven: zareth
Elven: avetho
Goblin: slosno
Human: asto
Worlds
General
Map
Biomes
Chasm · Desert · Forest · Glacier · Grassland · Lake · Mountain · Murky pool · Ocean · River · Savanna · Shrubland · Tundra · Wetland
Features
Aquifer · Brook · Deep pit · Island · Magma pool · Passage · Road · Tunnel · Volcano · Waterfall
Underground
Civilization
Sites
Camp · Castle · Cave · Dark fortress · Dark pits · Forest retreat · Fort · Fortress · Hamlet · Hillocks · Labyrinth · Lair · Monastery · Mountain halls · Ruins · Shrine · Tomb · Tower · Town · Vault
Structures
Other