Preferences

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v50.14 · v0.47.05 This article is about the current version of DF. Note that some content may still need to be updated. More Info · V

Preferences are materials, creatures, or objects described as being liked by a dwarf in their 'thoughts and preferences' tab, accessible for example with u-v-enter.

Possible Objects of Affection or Revulsion

A given dwarf may display many, a few, or (theoretically) even none of these preferences.

Preferences will always include liking:

• a type of stone or porcelain or glaze or gypsum plaster
• a type of metal
• a type of gem

Preferences may also include liking:

• a type of wood
• a type of glass
• a type of leather
• a type of horn/hoof/antler

• (not sure if these group with bone or shell)^[Verify]

• a type of ivory/tooth

• (not sure if these group with bone or shell)^[Verify]

• a type of organic material:

• amber, coral, or pearl
• (unobtainable)

• a type of bone
• a type of shell

• (definitely separate from organic materials & bone)

• a type of silk

• (group with cloth?)^[Verify]

• a type of cloth

• glowing?, never-still?
• (definitely separate from fabric and wool)

• a type of fabric

• <plant> fiber fabric
• flowing fabric??

• a type of wool

• <creature> wool
• (group with fabric?)^[Verify]

• a color
• a design/motif

• suns, mountains, diamonds, crescents

• a shape

• cabochons, square
• (group with design/motif?)^[Verify]

• a weapon or ammo
• a piece of armor
• a piece of clothing

• (including backpacks and quivers?)^[Verify]

• a type of furniture

• doors, floodgates, beds, chairs, windows, cages, barrels, tables, coffins, statues, boxes, armor stands, weapon racks, cabinets, or bins

• a type of finished goods or craft

• figurines, scepters, Jewlery (amulets, crowns, rings, earrings, bracelets) , or large gems

• a miscellaneous item:
  • siege weapon components: catapult parts, ballista parts, siege ammunition,
  • trap components
  • Finished Goods: coins, totems, flasks, goblets, instruments, toys
  • Furniture: anvils, chains, buckets, animal traps
• a domestic animal
• a wild creatures
• a vermin
• a type of tree
• a type of crop

Preferences may also include consuming various types of food:

• a type of meat
• a type of fish
• a type of plant
• a type of cheese

Preferences will always include consuming:

• a type of alcohol

Preferences may also include consuming:

• a type of plant/creature extract
• a type of flour
• a type of seed
• a type of leaf

Preferences will always include detesting:

• a type of vermin

Food

Every dwarf will like at least one type of booze and may like none to several food ingredients. It has been claimed that a dwarf will only get a happy thought from eating food and drinking booze he likes.

Work

A dwarf's preferences (and disliked vermin) tend to feature in artwork the dwarf makes more often than subjects not listed in a dwarf's profile. For example, a mason that likes cows for their haunting moos and absolutely detests bats will make statues of both. This is presumably out of love for cows and horrified fascination for bats.

Benefits to Productivity

A dwarf working with a material they like or creating items they like will produce higher quality goods, and gain a happy thought for being satisfied at work. For example, a mechanic that likes olivine will generally make better olivine mechanisms than granite ones. This is most important during embark, when individual personality profiles and skills can be best matched up according to your specifications.

For example, make the dwarf that likes beds your carpenter and the dwarf that likes gold your blacksmith. Urist McLikesbreastplates would be a good candidate for Armorsmith.

This works less well later with immigrants as it is usually more advantageous to train up the great armorsmith than the novice armorsmith who likes steel.

Value Considerations

It has been noted that preferences have an effect on how dwarves perceive the value of a room and furniture, though the exact details are not yet known.

A mason who likes horses will often make statues of one or two horses, or even statues of themselves admiring horses. This can be great if the mason is chronically depressed: surround their bed with images they like, and they will be happier.

If your monarch absolutely detests large roaches, a ☼platinum statue of a large roach☼ in their bedroom will actually give them negative thoughts about their bedroom^[Verify]. This problem can be avoided by carefully selecting the statue that is going to be built by expanding the material selection menu.

Since images will feature both objects the worker likes and dislikes, engravings and other images featuring various vermin can't be avoided entirely, but they're generally not frequent enough to cause notable problems.