v0.31:Cheating

Cheating is altering the game to make dwarf fortress easier. This is distinctly different from exploits. There are two main ways to alter the game: changing the game's raw source files (which are really just text files), and directly altering the game's memory (which requires special tools).

Raw Editing

Raw files are located in the raw/objects directory

The most common use of editing raw files is to get free items, such as gems, adamantine, or flux.

When changing the raw files, you may or may not need to create a new world in order for your changes to be reflected.

Generally speaking, modifications to an existing entry in a raw file don't require a new world. Altering existing reactions or creatures is an example of this.

However, when adding or deleting entries, you need to create a new world for the changes to take place, and when deleting, it can and probably will render your old world unplayable as attempting to play worlds generated before the deletion will cause an error.

Creature Token Modifications

Modifying creature files does not require the creation of a new world. You can modify the physical attributes of a creature, make animals tamable and trainable, make your dwarves into short little bearded terminators, and much more.

Speedy Dwarves

Getting bored with slow dwarves?

Go into the creature_standard file and add the [SPEED:1] in somewhere in the top section of the entry.(or SPEED:0 if you're up to some psychedelic light speed traveling)

This will make your dwarves do the majority of their actions super fast, including moving, digging and workshop actions.

This may, ironically, lower FPS when a high population is present, but no more than what doing many actions at once would.

No Needs Dwarves

Not wanting to care for your dwarves? simply add [NO_EAT], [NO_SLEEP], and [NO_DRINK] to your dwarves' raws and never care for them again.

As an added bonus, try adding [NOFEAR], [NOBREATHE], [NOSTUN], [NONAUSEA], [NOPAIN], [NO_DIZZINESS], [NO_FEVERS], and [NOEXERT] as well.

Pets for everyone

Ever want Cave dragons, Giant cave spiders, or even Helmet snakes for pets? Simply add [PET] and [COMMON_DOMESTIC] to the creature of your choice then generate a new world. Enjoy killing the local elephant population with your army of Giant cave spiders.

Note: Pets may be expensive. Which is why you set [PETVALUE:1]

Reaction Additions

There are now two reaction files: reaction_smelter and reaction_other. Additions to these lists will not take effect until you generate a new world. Note that if you edit an existing reaction entry (leaving the [REACTION:NAME] line unchanged) rather than add a new one, you will not need to generate a new world. Don't forget to add [PERMITTED_REACTION:(reaction)] under [ENTITY:MOUNTAIN] in entity_default raw.

Free Gems

Fill in the name of a gem from the inorganic_stone_gem file and paste this in the reaction_smelter file to make your smelter spew out gems.

[REACTION:FREE_(gem name here)]
[NAME:make (gem name here)]
[BUILDING:SMELTER:NONE]
[PRODUCT:100:10:ROUGH:NO_SUBTYPE:STONE:(gem name {from raws})]
[SKILL:SMELT]

Note: You can change the skill used and the workshop, but make sure to keep it in the correct reaction file. For convience, here are all the precious gems in the game.

[REACTION:FREE_DIAMOND_LY]
[NAME: make light yellow diamonds]
[BUILDING:SMELTER:NONE]
[PRODUCT:100:10:ROUGH:NO_SUBTYPE:STONE:DIAMOND_LY]
[SKILL:SMELT]

[REACTION:FREE_DIAMOND_FY]
[NAME: make faint yellow diamonds]
[BUILDING:SMELTER:NONE]
[PRODUCT:100:10:ROUGH:NO_SUBTYPE:STONE:DIAMOND_FY]
[SKILL:SMELT]

[REACTION:FREE_EMERALD]
[NAME: make emeralds]
[BUILDING:SMELTER:NONE]
[PRODUCT:100:10:ROUGH:NO_SUBTYPE:STONE:EMERALD]
[SKILL:SMELT]

[REACTION:FREE_RUBY]
[NAME: make rubies]
[BUILDING:SMELTER:NONE]
[PRODUCT:100:10:ROUGH:NO_SUBTYPE:STONE:RUBY]
[SKILL:SMELT]

[REACTION:FREE_SAPPHIRE]
[NAME: make sapphires]
[BUILDING:SMELTER:NONE]
[PRODUCT:100:10:ROUGH:NO_SUBTYPE:STONE:SAPPHIRE]
[SKILL:SMELT]

[REACTION:FREE_DIAMOND_CLEAR]
[NAME: make clear diamonds]
[BUILDING:SMELTER:NONE]
[PRODUCT:100:10:ROUGH:NO_SUBTYPE:STONE:DIAMOND_CLEAR]
[SKILL:SMELT]

[REACTION:FREE_DIAMOND_RED]
[NAME: make red diamonds]
[BUILDING:SMELTER:NONE]
[PRODUCT:100:10:ROUGH:NO_SUBTYPE:STONE:DIAMOND_RED]
[SKILL:SMELT]

[REACTION:FREE_DIAMOND_GREEN]
[NAME: make green diamond]
[BUILDING:SMELTER:NONE]
[PRODUCT:100:10:ROUGH:NO_SUBTYPE:STONE:DIAMOND_GREEN]
[SKILL:SMELT]

[REACTION:FREE_DIAMOND_BLUE]
[NAME: make blue diamonds]
[BUILDING:SMELTER:NONE]
[PRODUCT:100:10:ROUGH:NO_SUBTYPE:STONE:DIAMOND_BLUE]
[SKILL:SMELT]

[REACTION:FREE_DIAMOND_YELLOW]
[NAME: make yellow diamonds]
[BUILDING:SMELTER:NONE]
[PRODUCT:100:10:ROUGH:NO_SUBTYPE:STONE:DIAMOND_YELLOW]
[SKILL:SMELT]

[REACTION:FREE_DIAMOND_BLACK]
[NAME: make black diamonds]
[BUILDING:SMELTER:NONE]
[PRODUCT:100:10:ROUGH:NO_SUBTYPE:STONE:DIAMOND_BLACK]
[SKILL:SMELT]

[REACTION:FREE_RUBY_STAR]
[NAME: make star rubies]
[BUILDING:SMELTER:NONE]
[PRODUCT:100:10:ROUGH:NO_SUBTYPE:STONE:RUBY_STAR]
[SKILL:SMELT]

[REACTION:FREE_SAPPHIRE_STAR]
[NAME: make star sapphires]
[BUILDING:SMELTER:NONE]
[PRODUCT:100:10:ROUGH:NO_SUBTYPE:STONE:SAPPHIRE_STAR]
[SKILL:SMELT]

Easy Adamantine

To get free adamantine wafers, add this to your reaction_smelter.

[REACTION:FREE_ADAMANTINE_WAFERS]
[NAME:create adamantine wafers]
[BUILDING:SMELTER:NONE]
[PRODUCT:100:10:BAR:NO_SUBTYPE:METAL:ADAMANTINE][PRODUCT_DIMENSION:150]
[SKILL:SMELT]

It appears that, in some cases, starting out a new world with this in the reaction file can lead to all civilizations being Forgotten Beasts; thus, it may be better to add it after world creation, since Forgotten Beasts cannot work.

For adamantine thread it would be:

[REACTION:FREE_ADAMANTINE_THREAD]
[NAME:create adamantine thread]
[BUILDING:SMELTER:NONE]
[PRODUCT:100:1:THREAD:NO_SUBTYPE:METAL:ADAMANTINE][PRODUCT_DIMENSION:15000]
[SKILL:SMELT]

Easy Flux, Sand, and Ore

Add [REACTION_CLASS:FLUX] to any stone you have to turn it into a flux. This is in inorganic_stone_mineral, or inorganic_stone_layer Or, add [METAL_ORE:{metal name}:100] to turn it into an ore. It also bears noting that the metal can easily be an alloy, like steel or brass. Likewise, open inorganic_stone_soil and add [SOIL_SAND] to any soil to turn it into sand suitable for making glass with.

None of these cheats require creating a new world. Turn peat into glass, basalt into platinum, and combine iron, diorite, and coal to make steel.

Easy Metal

Open reaction_smelter and change any reactions you like. Remove the [FUEL] tag. to make them require no fuel. Remove the line(s) headed with [REAGENT:whatever] to make them require no reagents. You can pick any metal that exists in the game, as long as you pick the right raw name. (For example: IRON, PEWTER_LAY, and NICKEL_SILVER makes iron, lay pewter, and nickle silver respectively.)

[REACTION:FREE_(metal name here)]
[NAME:create (metal name here)]
[BUILDING:SMELTER:NONE]
[PRODUCT:100:1:BAR:NO_SUBTYPE:METAL:(metal name {from raws})][PRODUCT_DIMENSION:150]
[SKILL:SMELT]

These cheats do not require a new world (because they only modify existing reactions), and allow smelters to create steel and adamantine from nothing.

Create Wood

To create wood for free, Add this to reaction_smelter. (don't forget the wood type. Like OAK, PINE, TOWER_CAP, or FUNGIWOOD.)

[REACTION:FREE_WOOD]
[NAME:create wood]
[BUILDING:SMELTER:NONE]
[PRODUCT:100:5:WOOD:NO_SUBTYPE:PLANT_MAT:(wood name {from raws}):WOOD][PRODUCT_DIMENSION:150]
[SKILL:SMELT]

Memory Hacking

Memory Hacking is much harder than raw editing, and requires special tools. At present, tools that have been adapted to DF2010 include Reveal, which allows you to see the whole map (though be warned- it also releases Hidden Fun Stuff) and DFhack, a versatile tool which includes, among other things, a liquids hack that lets you place water or magma of a depth you choose into a square and "dfprospector," which tells you what minerals are available on the map.