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Difference between revisions of "Object testing arena"

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(Rewrote something to avoid spoiling the HFS.)
 
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{{av}}
 
{{av}}
{{Quality|Exceptional|08:10, 8 June 2010 (UTC)}}
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{{Quality|Exceptional|10:34, 2 February 2023 (UTC)}}
[[File:Arenafighting.png|right|350px|thumb|The arena is great for testing creature capabilities... or if you just want to set everything on fire.]]
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{{Distinguish|Megaproject#Colosseum|l1=arena created in fortress mode}}
The '''object testing arena''' is a special game mode accessible through the main menu where the player can alternate between spawning [[creature]]s and manipulating objects and features such as the [[weather]] and [[temperature]] to taking direct control of characters in an [[adventurer mode]]-like interface for the purpose of testing whatever it is they want. It is a fun place; you can test things, or just have some fun carnage by spawning 50 [[steel]]-clad [[Dwarf|dwarves]] and setting them on some unarmed [[Elf|elves]] for that combat log goodness. It's possible to save games in it, in order to continue testing from a previous session.{{version|0.42.06}}
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[[File:testing_arena_v50_preview.png|thumb|270px|right|Layout of the classic arena, similar to arena in previous verisons.]]The '''object testing arena''' is a special game mode accessible through the main menu where the player can alternate between spawning [[creature]]s, manipulating objects and features such as the [[weather]] and [[temperature]]. It is a tremendously useful place, usable for testing [[modding|modded]] [[raws]], or determining which skills to train against which enemies... or you can just have some fun carnage by spawning 50 [[steel]]-clad [[Dwarf|dwarves]] and setting them on some unarmed [[Elf|elves]] for that combat log goodness. It's possible to save games in it, in order to continue testing from a previous session.
  
Note that the object testing arena is not the same as an [[DF2014:Megaproject#Colosseum arena]] created in [[fortress mode]].
+
In this version of the game, there are three choices of arenas: small arena, forest and classic arena, with the last choice being the same arena from older versions of ''Dwarf Fortress''. Unlike the older versions of the game, the player can no longer butcher corpses, nor control them as if playing [[adventure mode]], though this is most likely due to the game not yet having adventure mode.
  
 
== Spawning creatures ==
 
== Spawning creatures ==
Creatures can be spawned while in the loo{{key|k}} menu. Press {{key|c}} to create a creature. Select the creature type, skills and equipment, and then press {{key|enter}}. Press {{key|Esc}} (or whatever you bound "leave screen" to) to cancel without creating the creature. You cannot delete creatures, but you can, however, press {{key|w}} then {{key|l}} (in the {{k|k}} menu) to create a stone wall, instantly killing anything on that tile. Creatures with the {{token|ARENA_RESTRICTED}} or {{token|DOES_NOT_EXIST}} tokens can't be spawned in the object testing arena, unless the aforementioned tags are removed from their raw files.
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[[File:many_creatures_v50_preview.png|thumb|172px|right|Many creatures packed into one area.]]The list of creatures can be seen with the {{key|k}} key - press {{key|c}} to create a creature, select the creature type, skills and equipment, and then press {{key|enter}}. Press {{key|Esc}} (or whatever you bound "leave screen" to) to cancel without creating the creature. You cannot delete creatures, but you can, however, press {{key|w}} then {{key|l}} (in the {{k|k}} menu) to create a stone wall, instantly killing anything on that tile. Creatures with the {{token|ARENA_RESTRICTED}} or {{token|DOES_NOT_EXIST}} tokens can't be spawned in the object testing arena, unless the aforementioned tags are removed from their raw files. Note that some creatures with no combat capabilities (such as [[vermin]]) cannot be spawned, regardless of having the aforementioned tokens or not. Additionally, many procedurally-generated creatures such as [[forgotten beast]]s or [[titan]]s are unavailable to be spawned.
  
 
=== Inventory and skills ===
 
=== Inventory and skills ===
While in the creature placement menu, it is possible to add skills to your creatures such as the fighter skill. It is also possible to add weapons, ammo, and armor to your creatures. Creatures unable to use the weapons given to them will drop them upon unpausing, but creatures such as dwarves will happily use the weapon as long as they at least have dabbling in the weapon skill. You can also set exactly how much of a certain item you want when you select it, by using the {{key|+}} or {{key|-}} keys, which is the only way to get a creature to hold more than one piece of ammo, as the arena lacks an option for spawning quivers or backpacks.
+
While in the creature placement menu, it is possible to add skills to your creatures, such as the fighter skill, or weapons, ammo, and armor. Creatures unable to use the weapons given to them will drop them upon unpausing, but creatures such as dwarves will happily do so, as long as they at least have dabbling-rank in its associated skill. You can also set exactly how much of a certain item you want when you select it, by using the {{key|+}} or {{key|-}} keys, which is the only way to get a creature to hold more than one piece of ammo, as the arena lacks an option for spawning quivers or backpacks.
  
=== Effects ===
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=== Conditions ===
A creature can be created with an effect from an [[interaction token|interaction]] by pressing {{key|u}} in the Creation menu. In vanilla games, the available effects are the interactions of [[necromancer]]s, [[undead|animated corpse]]s, [[mummy|disturbed dead]], accursed, [[werebeast]]s and [[vampire]]s. Any modded interaction with a defined arena name will also be available.
+
A creature can be created with a unique condition from an [[interaction token|interaction]] by pressing {{key|u}} in the creation menu. In vanilla games, the available effects are the interactions of [[necromancer]]s, [[undead|animated corpse]]s, [[mummy|disturbed dead]], [[Mummy|accursed]], [[werebeast]]s and [[vampire]]s, including any modded interaction with a defined arena name.
  
 
=== Teams ===
 
=== Teams ===
It is possible to 'Team' creatures up by pressing {{k|s}} and {{k|d}} in the Creation menu which is shown on the top left hand side. There are 99 teams, as well as "Independent", which is the default and acts as every creature for themselves.
+
It is possible to 'Team' creatures up by pressing {{k|s}} and {{k|d}} in the creation menu which is shown on the top left-hand side. There are 9999 teams (instead of 99 as in the previous versions), as well as "Independent", which is the default and acts as every creature for itself.
  
In this way you can create simulated battles against beasts or enemies. For example, you can test twenty sword-users versus twenty macemen and analyze the battle from the gamelog.txt.
+
In this way, you can create simulated battles against beasts or enemies - for example, twenty sword-users versus twenty macemen - and analyze the battle from [[gamelog.txt]]. ([[Necromancer]]s and [[mummy|disturbed dead]] that are marked as Independent will '''not''' be at peace with the [[undead|zombies]] that they raise. This is not a bug, because arena independence overrides anything else.)
 
 
[[Necromancer]]s and [[mummy|disturbed dead]] that are marked as Independent will not be at peace with the [[undead|zombies]] that they raise. This is not a bug because arena independence overrides anything else.
 
 
 
===Butchering===
 
Corpses can be butchered by loo{{k|k}}ing at them and then pressing {{k|a}}. This can be an easy way to obtain butchering information, although there tends to be a distinct lack of variation in the results (unless the corpse is missing a body part). This is partly due to the fact that no child creatures can be created.
 
  
 
===Nature of conflict===
 
===Nature of conflict===
 
The [[level of conflict]] between creatures or alliances can be controlled in the main screen with the keys {{key|shift+C}} and {{key|c}}. The available settings are, from most lethal to least:
 
The [[level of conflict]] between creatures or alliances can be controlled in the main screen with the keys {{key|shift+C}} and {{key|c}}. The available settings are, from most lethal to least:
  
*No quarter
+
*{{DFtext|No Quarter|5:1}}
*Lethal
+
*{{DFtext|Lethal|4:1}}
*Non-lethal
+
*{{DFtext|Non-lethal|6:1}}
*Brawl
+
*{{DFtext|Brawl|3:1}}
*Training
+
*{{DFtext|Training|7:1}}
*Horseplay
+
*{{DFtext|Horseplay|2:1}}
*Encounter
+
*{{DFtext|Encounter|7:0}}
  
[[Morale]] may also be switched on or off with {{key|m}} on the main screen.
+
[[Morale]] may also be switched on or off, by clicking the option at the right side of the screen.
  
== Fighting in the Arena yourself ==
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== Spawning liquids and trees ==
Loo{{key|k}} at any creature, and press {{key|a}} to play as them, and {{key|ctrl+a}} to exit back to the main mode.
+
From the loo{{key|k}}/create menu, press {{key|l}} to spawn a 7/7 unit of lava, or {{key|w}} to spawn 7/7 water on the currently selected tile. If you place water and then lava in the same tile, they will immediately form a 'Rough-hewn Rock Wall' (i.e. before you unpause), resulting in no spillage. However, placing lava and then water fills the tile with lava-hot water, which then instantly turns to steam upon unpausing. It is also possible to spawn rock walls in mid-air, usually causing a [[cave-in]]. You can place fluids in a tile that also has a wall in it; the result is a tile with both a wall ''and'' 7/7 units of the fluid you placed (water or lava). This combination behaves exactly the same as normal water without the wall would, except the area is still considered inaccessible for water to move through.
*The controls here are exactly the same as in [[Adventurer mode]].
 
*Attempting to {{key|a}} a corpse results in the corpse being butchered.
 
  
== Spawning liquids ==
+
Multi-tile [[tree]]s are also available from the loo{{key|k}}/create menu, under {{key|t}}ree. Using the submenu on the right, you can select the species of tree and set its {{key|a}}ge. Pressing {{key|enter}} will spawn a tree at the cursor using the current settings. Trees can be placed anywhere, even a rock block floor or in ''mid-air'' (the latter will also cause a cave-in, amusingly replacing intermediate rock block floors with sand). Arena-created trees do not spawn with roots, nor is it possible to chop down a tree, though they can be burned by spawning lava, killing the tree.
From the loo{{key|k}} menu, press {{key|l}} to spawn a 7/7 unit of lava, or {{key|w}} to spawn 7/7 water on the currently selected tile. If you place water and then lava in the same tile, they will immediately form a 'Rough-hewn Rock Wall' (i.e. before you unpause), resulting in no spillage. However, placing lava and then water fills the tile with lava-hot water, which then instantly turns to steam upon unpausing. It is also possible to spawn rock walls in mid-air, usually causing a [[cave-in]]. You can place fluids in a tile that also has a wall in it; the result is a tile with both a wall ''and'' 7/7 units of the fluid you placed (water or lava). This combination behaves exactly the same as normal water without the wall would, except the area is still considered inaccessible for water to move through.
 
  
== Spawning trees ==
+
== Fighting in the Arena yourself ==
+
Loo{{key|k}} at any creature, and press {{key|a}} to play as them, or {{key|ctrl+a}} to exit back to the main mode.
Multi-tile [[tree]]s are also available from loo{{key|k}}ing. Press {{key|t}} to create a tree. You can choose a tree from a list of species, as well as its {{key|a}}ge. Alternatively, pressing {{key|enter}} will also spawn the tree. Trees can be placed anywhere, even a rock block floor or in ''mid-air'' (the latter will also cause a cave-in, replacing intermediate rock block floors with sand). Arena-created trees do not spawn with roots. At present it's not possible to chop down a tree, though they can be burned by spawning lava, killing the tree.
+
*The controls here are exactly the same as in [[adventurer mode]], except that attempting to {{key|a}} a [[corpse]] results in the corpse being [[butcher]]ed.
  
==Controlling the Environment==
+
==Controlling the environment==
The arena's environment can be modified in-game by pressing {{k|w}}. From this screen, you can adjust Weather, Temperature, and Time. From this menu, you can also press {{k|s}} to cover every map tile in snow, {{k|m}} to make everything muddy, and {{k|x}} to remove all mud and snow.
+
The arena's environment can be modified in-game by pressing {{k|w}}. From this screen, you can adjust Weather, Temperature, and Time. You can also press {{k|s}} to cover every map tile in snow, {{k|m}} to make everything muddy, and {{k|x}} to remove all mud and snow.
  
 
===Weather===
 
===Weather===
Line 74: Line 66:
 
As expected, the options marked with "(rain)" will cause it to start raining.
 
As expected, the options marked with "(rain)" will cause it to start raining.
  
===Temperature===
+
===Temperature & Time===
The arena's temperature can be set to one of 13 settings:
+
The arena's temperature and time can be set to one of 13 settings, each:
  
 
* Dragonfire - {{ct|50000}}
 
* Dragonfire - {{ct|50000}}
Line 91: Line 83:
 
* Absolute zero - {{ct|9508}}
 
* Absolute zero - {{ct|9508}}
  
===Time===
+
------------
The arena's time can be set to one of 13 settings:
 
  
 
* Dawn (5:30am)
 
* Dawn (5:30am)
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# Only one type will be present, but it will be randomly selected each time you enter the Arena.
 
# Only one type will be present, but it will be randomly selected each time you enter the Arena.
 
</small>
 
</small>
 +
 +
==Trivia==
 +
*Due to how "teams" are handled in the testing arena, strange behaviors can occur when necromancers and mummies are resurrecting nearby deceased and detached body parts. For example, a necromancer revives the body parts of a dead, dismembered dwarf in an effort to aid itself in fighting, but because the dwarf was on the "independent" team (or just a different one from the necromancer), the body parts just end up attacking the necromancer that raised them. So said necromancer may end up killing what it resurrected, only to keep resurrecting what it just killed to fight it again, which can happen over and over in an endless loop - all due to the clashing of how the arena handles teams/sides and the necromancer's natural AI in raising the dead to help itself.
  
 
{{Category|Interface}}
 
{{Category|Interface}}
 
[[ru:Object testing arena]]
 
[[ru:Object testing arena]]

Latest revision as of 08:53, 22 July 2024

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

Not to be confused with arena created in fortress mode.
Layout of the classic arena, similar to arena in previous verisons.

The object testing arena is a special game mode accessible through the main menu where the player can alternate between spawning creatures, manipulating objects and features such as the weather and temperature. It is a tremendously useful place, usable for testing modded raws, or determining which skills to train against which enemies... or you can just have some fun carnage by spawning 50 steel-clad dwarves and setting them on some unarmed elves for that combat log goodness. It's possible to save games in it, in order to continue testing from a previous session.

In this version of the game, there are three choices of arenas: small arena, forest and classic arena, with the last choice being the same arena from older versions of Dwarf Fortress. Unlike the older versions of the game, the player can no longer butcher corpses, nor control them as if playing adventure mode, though this is most likely due to the game not yet having adventure mode.

Spawning creatures[edit]

Many creatures packed into one area.

The list of creatures can be seen with the k key - press c to create a creature, select the creature type, skills and equipment, and then press enter. Press Esc (or whatever you bound "leave screen" to) to cancel without creating the creature. You cannot delete creatures, but you can, however, press w then l (in the k menu) to create a stone wall, instantly killing anything on that tile. Creatures with the [ARENA_RESTRICTED] or [DOES_NOT_EXIST] tokens can't be spawned in the object testing arena, unless the aforementioned tags are removed from their raw files. Note that some creatures with no combat capabilities (such as vermin) cannot be spawned, regardless of having the aforementioned tokens or not. Additionally, many procedurally-generated creatures such as forgotten beasts or titans are unavailable to be spawned.

Inventory and skills[edit]

While in the creature placement menu, it is possible to add skills to your creatures, such as the fighter skill, or weapons, ammo, and armor. Creatures unable to use the weapons given to them will drop them upon unpausing, but creatures such as dwarves will happily do so, as long as they at least have dabbling-rank in its associated skill. You can also set exactly how much of a certain item you want when you select it, by using the + or - keys, which is the only way to get a creature to hold more than one piece of ammo, as the arena lacks an option for spawning quivers or backpacks.

Conditions[edit]

A creature can be created with a unique condition from an interaction by pressing u in the creation menu. In vanilla games, the available effects are the interactions of necromancers, animated corpses, disturbed dead, accursed, werebeasts and vampires, including any modded interaction with a defined arena name.

Teams[edit]

It is possible to 'Team' creatures up by pressing s and d in the creation menu which is shown on the top left-hand side. There are 9999 teams (instead of 99 as in the previous versions), as well as "Independent", which is the default and acts as every creature for itself.

In this way, you can create simulated battles against beasts or enemies - for example, twenty sword-users versus twenty macemen - and analyze the battle from gamelog.txt. (Necromancers and disturbed dead that are marked as Independent will not be at peace with the zombies that they raise. This is not a bug, because arena independence overrides anything else.)

Nature of conflict[edit]

The level of conflict between creatures or alliances can be controlled in the main screen with the keys shift+C and c. The available settings are, from most lethal to least:

  • No Quarter
  • Lethal
  • Non-lethal
  • Brawl
  • Training
  • Horseplay
  • Encounter

Morale may also be switched on or off, by clicking the option at the right side of the screen.

Spawning liquids and trees[edit]

From the look/create menu, press l to spawn a 7/7 unit of lava, or w to spawn 7/7 water on the currently selected tile. If you place water and then lava in the same tile, they will immediately form a 'Rough-hewn Rock Wall' (i.e. before you unpause), resulting in no spillage. However, placing lava and then water fills the tile with lava-hot water, which then instantly turns to steam upon unpausing. It is also possible to spawn rock walls in mid-air, usually causing a cave-in. You can place fluids in a tile that also has a wall in it; the result is a tile with both a wall and 7/7 units of the fluid you placed (water or lava). This combination behaves exactly the same as normal water without the wall would, except the area is still considered inaccessible for water to move through.

Multi-tile trees are also available from the look/create menu, under tree. Using the submenu on the right, you can select the species of tree and set its age. Pressing enter will spawn a tree at the cursor using the current settings. Trees can be placed anywhere, even a rock block floor or in mid-air (the latter will also cause a cave-in, amusingly replacing intermediate rock block floors with sand). Arena-created trees do not spawn with roots, nor is it possible to chop down a tree, though they can be burned by spawning lava, killing the tree.

Fighting in the Arena yourself[edit]

Look at any creature, and press a to play as them, or ctrl+a to exit back to the main mode.

Controlling the environment[edit]

The arena's environment can be modified in-game by pressing w. From this screen, you can adjust Weather, Temperature, and Time. You can also press s to cover every map tile in snow, m to make everything muddy, and x to remove all mud and snow.

Weather[edit]

This section has 4 options, each of which can be set to various settings:

  • Cumulus
    • No cumulus clouds
    • Scattered cumulus
    • Many cumulus (rain)
    • Cumulonimbus (rain)
  • Cirrus (toggle)
  • Stratus
    • No stratus
    • Altostratus
    • Stratus (rain)
    • Nimbostratus (rain)
  • Fog
    • No fog
    • Thin mist
    • Fog
    • Thick fog

As expected, the options marked with "(rain)" will cause it to start raining.

Temperature & Time[edit]

The arena's temperature and time can be set to one of 13 settings, each:

  • Dragonfire - 50000 °U
  • Magma - 12000 °U
  • Fire - 11000 °U
  • Scorching - 10080 °U
  • Hot - 10070 °U
  • Warm - 10050 °U
  • Cool - 10035 °U
  • Cold - 10020 °U
  • Subterranean - 10015 °U
  • Freezing - 9999 °U
  • Below freezing - 9968 °U
  • Deathly cold - 9850 °U
  • Absolute zero - 9508 °U !

  • Dawn (5:30am)
  • Morning (8:00am)
  • Late morning (10:30am)
  • Noon (1:00pm)
  • Early afternoon (2:00pm)
  • Late afternoon (3:30pm)
  • Early evening (5:00pm)
  • Evening (6:30pm)
  • Dusk (8:30pm)
  • Night (10:00pm)
  • Midnight (12:00am)
  • Late night (2:00am)
  • Early morning (4:00am)

Modifying the Arena layout[edit]

File

Folder-orange.svg Dwarf Fortress

Folder.svg data

Folder.svg init

Text-x-generic.svg arena.txt

The layout of the arena zone is stored in the (DF)/data/init folder. Modifications to this file will not change the dimensions of the arena; they can only change the initial tiles and fluids present.

The arena is composed of 9 z-levels (including Z=0, from Z=-4 to Z=4) of 144 x 144 tiles; the contents of each tile are specified by a single character:

Character Description
#
Empty tile [1]
C
Chasm
.
Block floor
P
Block pillar/wall
R
Block ramp
F
Block fortification
+
Water source [1] [2]
W
7/7 water [1]
w
7/7 water + upward ramp
L
7/7 magma/lava [1]
l
7/7 magma/lava + upward ramp
g
Grass [3]
T
Tree [3]
~
Sand [3]
,
Soil [3]

  1. Tile will have no floor unless a pillar/wall is constructed on the z-level below.
  2. Only seems to work when placed on map edge; behaves identically to capital W otherwise.
  3. Only one type will be present, but it will be randomly selected each time you enter the Arena.

Trivia[edit]

  • Due to how "teams" are handled in the testing arena, strange behaviors can occur when necromancers and mummies are resurrecting nearby deceased and detached body parts. For example, a necromancer revives the body parts of a dead, dismembered dwarf in an effort to aid itself in fighting, but because the dwarf was on the "independent" team (or just a different one from the necromancer), the body parts just end up attacking the necromancer that raised them. So said necromancer may end up killing what it resurrected, only to keep resurrecting what it just killed to fight it again, which can happen over and over in an endless loop - all due to the clashing of how the arena handles teams/sides and the necromancer's natural AI in raising the dead to help itself.