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Creature token

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xTATTEREDx  · +FINE+  · *SUPERIOR*  · ≡EXCEPTIONAL≡  · ☼MASTERWORK☼
v50.14 · v0.47.05
This article is about the current version of DF.
Note that some content may still need to be updated.

A full list of all known creature tokens.


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A

Token Type Arguments Description
ADOPTS_OWNER Caste Tame creature cannot be made available for adoption, instead automatically adopting whoever it wants. It appears that the basic requirements for adoption are intact; for example, the creature is more likely to adopt an owner which likes creatures of that species.[Verify]
ALCOHOL_DEPENDENT Caste Creature needs alcohol to get through the working day, choosing to drink booze instead of water if possible. Going sober for too long reduces speed.
ALL_ACTIVE Caste Sets if the creature is active in day, night, and twilight. Seems to be a separate value from DIURNAL/NOCTURNAL/CREPUSCULAR, rather than implying them.
ALTTILE Creature 'character' or tile number If set, the creature will blink between its TILE and its ALTTILE.
AMBUSHPREDATOR Caste Instead of charging relentlessly at prey, a creature with this tag will wait till the prey is within a few squares before charging.[Verify]
AMPHIBIOUS Caste Allows a creature to breathe with or without water.
APP_MOD_DESC_RANGE Caste
  • Range
 Forum post describing how description ranges work
APP_MOD_GENETIC_MODEL Caste
  • Model (Accepts DOMINANT_MORE, DOMINANT_LESS, and MIX)
 Defines a genetic model for the relevant appearance modifier(s). May or may not do anything significant at present.
APP_MOD_IMPORTANCE Caste
  • number
 Determines how important the appearance modifier is, for determining whether it shows up in the creature description.[Verify]
APP_MOD_NOUN Caste
  • noun
  • SINGULAR or PLURAL
 Creates a noun for the appearance and whether it is singular or plural.
APP_MOD_RATE Caste
  • Rate (integer)
  • Scale (DAILY, YEARLY)
  • min:max of growth
  • start year:start day
  • end year:end day
 Setting the growth rate of the modifier. The last two tokens can be replaced by NO_END to have growth continue indefinitely.
APPLY_CREATURE_VARIATION Special
  • CV TEMPLATE NAME
 Applies the specified creature variation.
APPLY_CURRENT_CREATURE_VARIATION Special Applies the effects of all pending CV_ADD_TAG and CV_REMOVE_TAG tokens that have been defined in the current creature.
AQUATIC Caste Creature can breathe in water, but air-drowns on dry land.
ARENA_RESTRICTED Caste Does not appear in arena mode list.
ARTIFICIAL_HIVEABLE Creature Can be kept in artificial hives by beekeepers.
AT_PEACE_WITH_WILDLIFE Caste Does not attack or frighten creatures with the NATURAL tag.
ATTACK Caste
  • token
  • bodypart
  • selection criteria
  • location
 Defines the attack name, and the body part used. See below for valid subtokens

Example:
[ATTACK:GORE:BODYPART:BY_CATEGORY:HORN]
GORE : name of the attack
BODYPART:BY_CATEGORY:HORN : the horn is used to attack (presuming the creature has one)

ATTACK_TRIGGER Caste pop:exported wealth:created wealth Specifies when a megabeast or semi-megabeast will attack the fortress.
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B

Token Type Arguments Description
BABY Caste integer Age at which creature is considered a child. Default is zero. One can think of this as the duration of the baby stage.
BABYNAME Caste singular:plural Defines a new name for a creature in baby state at the caste level. For non-caste-specific baby names, see GENERAL_BABY_NAME.
BEACH_FREQUENCY Caste integer Whales and jellyfish have this. Controls the beaching frequency of the creature.
BENIGN Caste The creature is non-aggressive by default and will never automatically be engaged by companions or soldiers. It will run away from any creatures that are not friendly to it. Can be thought of as the counterpoint of the LARGE_PREDATOR tag. When tamed, animals with this tag will be useless for fortress defense.
BIOME Creature Select a Biome the creature may appear in.
BLOOD Caste Specifies what the creature's blood is made of.
BLOODSUCKER Caste Seems to be required to make the creature denouncable as a creature of the night.
BODY Caste body parts Draws body parts from OBJECT:BODY files (such as body_default.txt)

Example:
[BODY:BODY_WITH_HEAD_FLAG:HEART:GUTS:BRAIN:MOUTH]
This is the body from a Purring maggot. It creates a body with head, a heart, some guts, a brain, and a mouth. That's all a maggot needs.

BODY_APPEARANCE_MODIFIER Caste
  • ATTRIBUTE
  • lowest:lower:low:median:high:higher:highest
 These body modifiers give individual creatures different characteristics. In the case of HEIGHT, BROADNESS and LENGTH, the modifier is also a percentage change to the BODY_SIZE of the individual creature. The seven numbers afterward give a distribution of ranges. Each interval has an equal chance of occurring.

Example:
[BODY_APPEARANCE_MODIFIER:HEIGHT:90:95:98:100:102:105:110]
HEIGHT : marks the height to be changed
90:95:98:100:102:105:110 : sets the range from the shortest (90% of the average height) to the tallest (110% of the average height) creature variation.

BODY_DETAIL_PLAN Caste PlanName, PlanName:type:type:type:etc. loads a plan listed OBJECT:BODY_DETAIL_PLAN files, such as b_detail_plan_default.txt. Mass applies USE_MATERIAL_TEMPLATE, mass alters RELSIZE, alters body part positions, and will allow tissue layers to be defined. Tissue layers are defined in order of skin to bone here.

Example:
[BODY_DETAIL_PLAN:VERTEBRATE_TISSUE_LAYERS:SKIN:FAT:MUSCLE:BONE:CARTILAGE]
This creates the detailed body of a fox, the skin, fat, muscle, bones and cartilage out of the vertebrate tissues.
A maggot would only need:
[BODY_DETAIL_PLAN:EXOSKELETON_TISSUE_LAYERS:SKIN:FAT:MUSCLE]

BODY_SIZE Caste years:days:size Sets size at a given age. Size is in cubic centimeters, and for normal body materials is roughly equal to the creature's average weight in grams.

Example:
[BODY_SIZE:0:0:10000]
[BODY_SIZE:1:168:50000]
[BODY_SIZE:12:0:220000]
This describes the size of a minotaur. His birth size would be 10,000 cm3 (~10 kg). At 1 year and 168 days old he would be 50,000 cm3 (~50 kg). And as an adult (at 12 years old) he would be 220,000 cm3 and weigh roughly 220 kg.

BODYGLOSS Caste gloss Substitutes body part text with replacement text. Draws gloss information from OBJECT:BODY files (such as body_default.txt)
BONECARN Caste Creature eats bones. Implies CARNIVORE.
BP_ADD_TYPE Caste
BP_APPEARANCE_MODIFIER Caste
  • QUALITY
  • lowest:lower:low:median:high:higher:highest
 sets up the breadth of possibilities for appearance qualities for a selected BP group. EG. Eyes (CLOSE_SET, DEEP_SET, ROUND_VS_NARROW, LARGE_IRIS),Lips (THICKNESS), Nose (BROADNESS, LENGTH, UPTURNED, CONVEX), Ear (SPLAYED_OUT, HANGING_LOBES, BROADNESS, HEIGHT), Tooth (GAPS), Skull (HIGH_CHEEKBONES, BROAD_CHIN, JUTTING CHIN, SQUARE_CHIN), Neck (DEEP_VOICE, RASPY_VOICE), Head (BROADNESS, HEIGHT)
BUILDINGDESTROYER Caste 1 or 2 Allows a creature to destroy furniture and buildings. Value [1] targets mostly doors, hatches, furniture and the like. Value [2] targets anything not made with the b + C commands.
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C

Token Type Arguments Description
CAN_DO_INTERACTION Caste interaction token The creature can perform an interaction. See interaction token.
CAN_LEARN Caste The creature gains skills and can have professions. If a member of a civilization (even a pet) has this token, it'll need to eat, drink and sleep. Note that this token makes the creature unable to be butchered by an adventurer so it is not recommended for uncivilized monsters. Adventurers lacking this token can allocate but not increase attributes and skills. skills allocated will disappear on start.
CAN_SPEAK Caste Can talk. Note that it is not necessary for a creature to gain social skills.
CANNOT_CLIMB Caste[Verify] Creature cannot climb, even if it has free grasps.
CANNOT_JUMP Caste Creature cannot jump.
CANNOT_UNDEAD Caste Acts as NOT_LIVING, except that [OPPOSED_TO_LIFE] creatures will attack them.
CANOPENDOORS Caste Allows the creature to open doors that are set to be unpassable for pets.
CARNIVORE Caste Creature only eats meat. If the creature goes on rampages in worldgen, it will often devour the people/animals it kills.
CASTE Creature
  • name
 Defines a caste.
CASTE_ALTTILE Caste
  • tile number or "letter"
 Caste-specific ALTTILE. Requires CASTE_TILE.
CASTE_COLOR Caste
  • fg
  • bg
  • brightness
 Caste-specific COLOR.
CASTE_GLOWCOLOR Caste
  • fg
  • bg
  • brightness
 Caste-specific GLOWCOLOR.
CASTE_GLOWTILE Caste
  • tile value or "letter"
 Caste-specific GLOWTILE.
CASTE_NAME Caste singular:plural:adjective Caste-specific NAME.
CASTE_PROFESSION_NAME Caste Caste-specific PROFESSION_NAME.
CASTE_SOLDIER_ALTTILE Caste 'character' or tile number Caste-specific SOLDIER_ALTTILE. Requires CASTE_SOLDIER_TILE.
CASTE_SOLDIER_TILE Caste 'character' or tile number Caste-specific CREATURE_SOLDIER_TILE.
CASTE_SPEECH Caste speech file Caste-specific SPEECH.
CASTE_TILE Caste
  • tile number or "letter"
 Caste-specific CREATURE_TILE.
CAVE_ADAPT Caste Gives the creature a bonus in caves. Also causes Cave adaptation.
CDI Caste Varies Specifies details for the preceding CAN_DO_INTERACTION token. See Interaction token.
CHANGE_BODY_SIZE_PERC Caste integer Multiplies body size by a factor of (integer)%. 50 halves size, 200 doubles.
CHANGE_FREQUENCY_PERC Creature integer Multiplies frequency by a factor of (integer)%.
CHILD Caste integer Age at which creature is considered an adult. One can think of this as the duration of the child stage.
CHILDNAME Caste singular:plural Defines a new name for a creature in child state at the caste level. For non-caste-specific child names, see GENERAL_CHILD_NAME.
CLUSTER_NUMBER Creature
  • min
  • max
 The minimum/maximum numbers of how many creatures per spawned cluster. Certain vermin fish use this token in combination with temperate ocean and river biome tokens to perform seasonal migrations.

e.g. [CLUSTER_NUMBER:1:3]

CLUTCH_SIZE Caste
  • min
  • max
 Number of eggs laid in one sitting.
COLONY_EXTERNAL Caste Caste hovers around colony.
COLOR Creature foreground:background:brightness Color of the creature's tile. See Color for usage.
COMMON_DOMESTIC Caste Any civilization with USE_COMMON_DOMESTIC tag (humans, dwarves) has domesticated this creature by default and always has access to it, even without any wild populations. Useless without PET, PACK_ANIMAL, WAGON_PULLER or MOUNT tags and invalid on FANCIFUL creatures.
CONVERTED_SPOUSE Caste Creatures of this caste's species with the SPOUSE_CONVERTER and NIGHT_CREATURE_HUNTER tokens will kidnap SPOUSE_CONVERSION_TARGETs of an appropriate sex and convert them into castes with CONVERTED_SPOUSE.
COOKABLE_LIVE Caste Set this to allow the creature to be cooked in meals without first being butchered/cleaned. Used for mussels, for one.
CRAZED Caste Creature is 'berserk' and will attack all other creatures, except members of its own species that ALSO have the CRAZED tag. It will show Berserk at the unit list. Berserk creatures go on rampages during worldgen much more frequently than non-berserk ones.
COPY_TAGS_FROM Special
  • CREATURE NAME
 Copies tags from another specified creature.
CREATURE_CLASS Caste
  • classname
 An arbitrary creature classification. Can be set to anything, but only existing uses are GENERAL_POISON (used in syndromes) and EDIBLE_GROUND_BUG (valid targets for GOBBLE_VERMIN_x tokens). A single creature can have multiple classes. Eligibility for certain entity positions can also be permitted or restricted by this tag.
CREATURE_SOLDIER_TILE Creature 'character' or tile number Creatures active in their civilization's military will use this tile instead.
CREATURE_TILE Creature 'character' or tile number The symbol of the creature in ASCII mode.
CREPUSCULAR Caste Sets if the creature is active at twilight.
CURIOUSBEAST_EATER Caste Allows a creature to steal and eat edible items from a site.
CURIOUSBEAST_GUZZLER Caste Allows a creature to (very quickly) drink your alcohol. Or spill the barrel to the ground. Also affects undead versions of the creature.
CURIOUSBEAST_ITEM Caste Allows a creature to steal things (apparently the highest value it can find). If the creature goes on rampages in worldgen, it will often steal items instead of attacking. Kea birds are infamous for this.
CV_ADD_TAG Special
  • TAG NAME
 Adds a tag. Used in conjunction with creature variation templates.
CV_REMOVE_TAG Special
  • TAG NAME
 Removes a tag. Used in conjunction with creature variation templates.
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D

Token Type Arguments Description
DEMON Caste Found on generated demons. Cannot be specified in user-defined raws.
DESCRIPTION Caste text A brief description of the creature type.
DIE_WHEN_VERMIN_BITE Caste Dies upon attacking. Used for bee stings.
DIFFICULTY Caste integer Increases experience gain during adventure mode. Creatures with 11 or higher are not assigned for quests in adventure mode.
DIURNAL Caste Sets if the creature is active in day.
DIVE_HUNTS_VERMIN Caste Found on peregrine falcons. The creature hunts vermin by diving from the air. Does not seem to work on tame creatures.
DOES_NOT_EXIST Creature Creature does not actually exist; used for a few fanciful creatures of myth. Removes the creature from arena mode list; other effects are unknown.
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E

Token Type Arguments Description
EBO_ITEM Caste item token:material token (ANY_HARD_STONE can be used for the material) Defines the item that the creature drops upon being butchered. Used with EXTRA_BUTCHER_OBJECT.
EBO_SHAPE Caste gem shape The shape of the extra item of the creature upon butchering. Used with EXTRA_BUTCHER_OBJECT.
EGG_MATERIAL Caste Egg material. Egg-laying creatures will define this 3 times, using LOCAL_CREATURE_MAT:EGGSHELL, LOCAL_CREATURE_MAT:EGG_WHITE, and then LOCAL_CREATURE_MAT:EGG_YOLK. Eggs will be made out of eggshell. Edibility is determined by tags on whites or yolk, but they otherwise do not exist.
EGG_SIZE Caste
  • size
 Determines the size of eggs.
EQUIPMENT_WAGON Creature Makes the creature into a large 3x3 creature responsible for carrying trade goods, pulled by two [WAGON_PULLER]s and driven by a merchant.
EQUIPS Caste Allows the creature to wear or wield items.
EVIL Creature Creature is considered evil and will only show up in evil biomes. Civilizations with USE_EVIL_ANIMALS can domesticate them regardless of exotic status. Has no effect on cavern creatures except to restrict taming. A civilization with evil creatures can colonise evil areas.
EXTRA_BUTCHER_OBJECT Caste
  • BY_CATEGORY, BY_TYPE, BY_TOKEN
  • TYPE, CATEGORY, or TOKEN
 The creature drops an additional object when butchered (typically a gizzard stone), defined by EBO_ITEM and EBO_SHAPE.
EXTRACT Caste Defines a creature extract which can be obtained via small animal dissection.
EXTRAVISION Caste Creature can see regardless of whether it has working eyes.
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F

Token Type Arguments Description
FANCIFUL Creature The creature is a thing of legend and known to all civilizations. Its materials cannot be requested or preferred. The tag also adds some art value modifiers. Used for things like dragons and other legendary creatures. Conflicts with [COMMON_DOMESTIC]
FEATURE_ATTACK_GROUP Caste Found on subterranean animal-man tribals.
FEATURE_BEAST Caste Found on forgotten beasts. Cannot be specified in user-defined raws.
FEMALE Caste The creature is female and can bear young. Usually determined inside a caste.
FIREIMMUNE Caste The creature is immune to FIREBALL and FIREJET attacks.
FIREIMMUNE_SUPER Caste The creature is immune to DRAGONFIRE attacks. Implies [FIREIMMUNE].
FISHITEM Caste Needs to be cleaned at a fishery
FIXED_TEMP Caste temperature The natural heat generated by the creature.
FLEEQUICK Caste Determines how soon a creature flees in a losing battle. Creatures with this tag will flee at the first sign of resistance.
FLIER Caste Allows a creature to fly. Fortress Mode pathfinding only partially incorporates flying - flying creatures need a land path to exist between them and an area in order to access it, but as long as one such path exists, they do not need to use it, instead being able to fly over intervening obstacles.
FREQUENCY Creature
  • number, max 100
 Determines the chances of a creature appearing within its environment, with higher values resulting in more frequent appearance. The game effectively considers all creatures that can possibly appear and uses the FREQUENCY value as a weight - for example, if there are three creatures with frequencies 10/25/50, the creature with [FREQUENCY:50] will appear approximately 58.8% of the time. Defaults to 50 if not specified. Not to be confused with [POP_RATIO].
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G

Token Type Arguments Description
GAIT Caste
  • type (WALK, CLIMB, SWIM, CRAWL, or FLY)
  • gait name
  • full speed
  • build up time:max turning speed:start speed (or NO_BUILD_UP for instant use)
  • energy use
  • Optional flags:
    • LAYERS_SLOW - if gait is slowed by increased weight
    • STRENGTH - if gait is affected by strength stat
    • AGILITY - if gait is affected by agility stat
    • STEALTH_SLOWS:penalty - if gait is slowed by being stealthed
 Defines a gait at which the creature can move. See Gait for more information.
GENERAL_BABY_NAME Creature singular:plural BABYNAME applied regardless of caste.
GENERAL_CHILD_NAME Creature singular:plural CHILDNAME applied regardless of caste.
GENERAL_MATERIAL_FORCE_MULTIPLIER Caste A:B Attacks against the creature have their force modified by A/B. For example, 1:2 will halve the force of an attack made against the creature.[Verify]
GENERATED Creature Found on procedurally generated creatures like Forgotten beasts, (biome name) titans, Demons, and night creatures. Cannot be specified in user-defined raws.
GETS_INFECTIONS_FROM_ROT Caste Creature can get infections from necrotic tissue.
GETS_WOUND_INFECTIONS Caste This creature's wounds can become infected if left untreated for too long.
GLOWCOLOR Creature
  • foreground
  • background
  • brightness
 The colour of the creature's GLOWTILE.
GLOWTILE Creature ascii character If present, the being glows in the dark (generally used for Adventure Mode). The tile is what replaces the being's current tile when it is obscured from your sight by darkness. The default setting for kobolds (a yellow quotation mark) provides a nice "glowing eyes" effect. The game is also hardcoded to automatically convert quotation mark GLOWTILES into apostrophes if the creature has lost one eye. This works at the generic creature level - for caste-specific glow tiles, use CASTE_GLOWTILE instead.
GNAWER Caste verb The creature can and will gnaw its way out of animal traps and cages using the specified verb, depending on the material from which it is made (normally wood).
GOBBLE_VERMIN_CLASS Caste class The creature eats vermin of the specified class.
GOBBLE_VERMIN_CREATURE Caste creature:caste The creature eats a specified vermin.
GO_TO_END Special When using tags from an existing creature, inserts new tags at the end of the creature.
GO_TO_START Special When using tags from an existing creature, inserts new tags at the beginning of the creature.
GO_TO_TAG Special When using tags from an existing creature, inserts new tags after the specified tag.
GOOD Creature Creature is considered good and will only show up in good biomes. unicorns for example. Civilizations with USE_GOOD_ANIMALS can domesticate them regardless of exotic status. Has no effect on cavern creatures except to restrict taming. A civilization that has good creatures can colonise good areas in world-gen.
GRASSTRAMPLE Caste value The value determines how rapidly grass is trampled when a creature steps on it - a value of 0 causes the creature to never damage grass, while a value of 100 causes grass to be trampled as rapidly as possible. Defaults to 5.
GRAVITATE_BODY_SIZE Caste target value Used in Creature Variants. This token changes the adult body size to the average of the old adult body size and the target value and scales all intermediate growth stages by the same factor.
GRAZER Caste
  • number
 The creature is a grazer. If tamed in Fortress mode, it needs a pasture to survive. The higher the number, the less frequently it needs to eat in order to live. See Pasture for details on its issues.
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H

Token Type Arguments Description
HABIT Caste type:probability Defines certain behaviors for the creature. The habit types are COLLECT_TROPHIES, COOK_PEOPLE, COOK_VERMIN, GRIND_VERMIN, COOK_BLOOD, GRIND_BONE_MEAL, EAT_BONE_PORRIDGE, USE_ANY_MELEE_WEAPON, GIANT_NEST, and COLLECT_WEALTH. These require the creature to have a lair to work properly, and also don't seem to work on creatures who are not (SEMI)MEGABEASTs or NIGHT_CREATURE_HUNTERs.
HABIT_NUM Caste number or TEST_ALL "If you set HABIT_NUM to a number, it should give you that exact number of habits according to the weights.".[source post|http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=60554.msg1719248#msg1719248 source post] All lists of HABITs are preceded by [HABIT_NUM:TEST_ALL]
HAS_NERVES Caste The creature has nerves in its muscles. Cutting the muscle tissue can sever motor and sensory nerves.
HASSHELL Caste The creature has a shell. Seemingly no longer used - holdover from previous versions.
HFID Creature Integer (generic token?) Found on generated angels. Seemingly identifies a historical figure with said hist figure ID, possibly to associate it with hist figure.
HIVE_PRODUCT Creature What product is harvested from beekeeping.
HOMEOTHERM Caste number or NONE Default 'NONE'. The creature's normal body temperature
HUNTS_VERMIN Caste Creature hunts and kills nearby vermin.
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I

Token Type Arguments Description
IMMOBILE Caste The creature cannot move. Found on sponges. Will also stop a creature from breeding in Fortress Mode (MALE and FEMALE are affected, if one is IMMOBILE no breeding will happen)
IMMOBILE_LAND Caste The creature is immobile while on land. Only works on AQUATIC creatures which can't breathe on land.
IMMOLATE Caste The creature radiates fire. It will ignite, and potentially completely destroy, items the creature is standing on. Keep booze away from critters with this tag. Also gives the vermin a high chance of escaping from animal traps and cages made of certain materials.
INTELLIGENT Caste Alias for [CAN_SPEAK] + [CAN_LEARN] but additionally keeps creatures from being butchered by the AI during World-Gen and Post-Gen. In Fortress Mode CAN_LEARN is enough.
ITEMCORPSE Caste Determines if the creature leaves behind a non-standard corpse (i.e. wood, statue, bars, ash from ghost etc.).
ITEMCORPSE_QUALITY Caste
  • number
 The quality of an item-type corpse left behind. Valid values are: 0 for ordinary, 1 for well-crafted, 2 for finely-crafted, 3 for superior, 4 for exceptional, 5 for masterpiece.
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L

Token Type Arguments Description
LAIR Caste type:probability Found on megabeasts, semimegabeasts, and night creatures. The creature will seek out sites of this type and take them as lairs. The lair types are SIMPLE_BURROW, SIMPLE_MOUND, WILDERNESS_LOCATION, SHRINE, and LABYRINTH.
LAIR_CHARACTERISTIC Caste characteristic:probability Defines certain features of the creature's lair. The only valid characteristic is HAS_DOORS.
LAIR_HUNTER Caste This creature will actively hunt adventurers in its lair.
LAIR_HUNTER_SPEECH Caste speech file What this creature says while hunting adventurers in its lair.
LARGE_PREDATOR Caste Will attack things that are smaller than it (like dwarves). Only one group of "large predators" will appear on any given map (possibly two groups on "savage" maps). In adventure mode, large predators will try to ambush and attack you (and your party will attack them back). When tamed, large predators tend to be much more aggressive to enemies than non-large predators, making them a good choice for an animal army. They may go on rampages in worldgen, and adventurers may receive quests to kill them. Also, they can be mentioned in the intro paragraph when starting a fortress e.g. "ere the wolves get hungry."
LARGE_ROAMING Creature In Fortress Mode, spawns outdoors and is not a vermin creature.
LAYS_EGGS Caste Creature lays eggs instead of giving birth to live young.
LAYS_UNUSUAL_EGGS Caste Creature lays a particular item instead of regular eggs.
LIGAMENTS Caste Creature has ligaments in its bones. Cutting the bone tissue severs them, disabling motor function if the target is a limb.


LIGHT_GEN Caste The creature will generate light, such as in adventurer mode at night.
LIKES_FIGHTING Caste The creature will attack enemies rather than flee from them. This tag has the same effect on player-controlled creatures - included modded dwarves. Retired as of v0.40.14.
LISP Caste Creature uses "sssssnake talk" (multiplies 'S' when talking - "My name isss Recisssiz.")
LITTERSIZE Caste
  • minimum
  • maximum
 Determines the range of how many creatures are generated when giving birth. [LITTERSIZE:1:2]
LOCAL_POPS_CONTROLLABLEv0.42.01 Allows you to play as a wild animal of this species in Adventure Mode.
LOCAL_POPS_PRODUCE_HEROESv0.42.01 Wild animals of this species may occasionally join a civilization.
LOCKPICKER Caste Lets a creature open doors that are set to forbidden in Fortress Mode.
LOOSE_CLUSTERS Creature The creatures will scatter if they have this tag, or form tight packs if they don't.
LOW_LIGHT_VISION Caste number Determines how well a creature can see in the dark. Higher is better. Dwarves have 10000, which amounts to perfect nightvision.
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M

Token Type Arguments Description
MAGICAL Caste Unknown.
MAGMA_VISION Caste Creature's able to see while covered in magma.
MALE Caste The creature is male. Usually declared inside a caste.
MANNERISM_* Caste
  • occasionally body part
 Adds a possible mannerism to the creature's profile.

See Creature mannerism token for further info.

MATERIAL Creature
  • material id
 Begins defining a new material.[Verify]
MATERIAL_FORCE_MULTIPLIER Caste Set the force multiplier of a specific material against the creature to A/B. For example, 10:1 multiplies the force by 10.[Verify]
MATUTINAL Caste Sets if the creature is active in dawn.
MAXAGE Caste min:max Range of time in years in which death from old age may occur. Once a creature reaches the min value, it has a random chance each season of dying from old age. The chance does not increases with further age [1]. Note that, among civilized creatures, castes which lack this token will refuse to marry others with it, and vice versa.
MEANDERER Caste Gives a creature random movement.
MEGABEAST Caste A 'boss' creature. A small number of the creature are created during worldgen, their histories and descendants (if any) will be tracked in worldgen (as opposed to simply 'spawning'), and they will occasionally go on rampages, potentially leading to worship if they attack the same place multiple times. Their presence and number will also influence age names. When appearing in Fortress Mode, they will have a pop-up message announcing their arrival.
MENT_ATT_CAP_PERC Caste Default is 200. This means you can increase your attribute to 200% of its starting value (or the average value + your starting value if that is higher).
MENT_ATT_RANGE Caste
  • ATTRIBUTE
  • lowest:lower:low:median:high:higher:highest
 Sets up a mental attribute's range of values (0-5000). All mental attribute ranges default to 200:800:900:1000:1100:1300:2000.
MENT_ATT_RATES Caste
  • ATTRIBUTE Token
  • cost to improve
  • unused counter rate
  • rust counter rate
  • demotion counter rate
 Mental attribute gain/decay rates. Defaults are 500:4:5:4.
MILKABLE Caste Allows the creature to be milked in the farmer's workshop. The frequency is the amount of time units the creature needs to "recharge".
MISCHIEVIOUS Caste Alias for MISCHIEVOUS.
MISCHIEVOUS Caste Will pull any levers it comes across. Also makes creature spawn invisible and with several ranks in Ambusher. "They go on little missions to mess with various fortress buildings, not just levers."
MODVALUE Caste Seemingly no longer used.
MOUNT Caste Creature may be used as a mount. No use for the player, but enemy siegers may arrive with cavalry.
MOUNT_EXOTIC Caste Creature may be used as a mount, but civilizations cannot domesticate it in worldgen without certain exceptions.
MULTIPART_FULL_VISION Caste[Verify] Allows the creature to have all-around vision as long as it has multiple heads(?) that can see.[Verify]
MULTIPLE_LITTER_RARE Caste Makes the species usually produce a single offspring per birth, occasionally producing twins or triplets using typical real-world human probabilities. Requires FEMALE. Compare with LITTERSIZE. If LITTERSIZE and MULTIPLE_LITTER_RARE are both absent, one offspring is guaranteed per birth.
MUNDANE Creature Marks if the creature is an actual real-life creature. Only used for age-names at present.
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N

Token Type Arguments Description
NAME Creature singular:plural:adjective The generic name for any creature of this type - will be used when distinctions between caste are unimportant. For names for specific castes, use CASTE_NAME instead. If left undefined, the creature will be labeled as "nothing" by the game.
NATURAL Caste Animal is considered to be natural. Creatures with AT_PEACE_WITH_WILDLIFE will not fight with them.
NATURAL_ANIMAL Caste Alias of NATURAL.
NATURAL_SKILL Caste Skill token:value The creature possesses this skill at this level inherently. It begins with this skill at this level, and the skill may never rust below this level. A value of 16 is legendary. Requires CAN_LEARN or INTELLIGENT to function in .25 or earlier.
NIGHT_CREATURE_BOGEYMAN Caste Found on bogeymen. Creatures with this tag will join other bogeymen in attacking adventurers at night, and will also adopt their other behaviors, such as vanishing in smoke upon being killed. This does not affect the creature's presence elsewhere, such as for generated megabeasts, normal creatures, entity members, etc. Setting the number of bogeyman types to zero in the world gen parameters will remove only the randomly-generated bogeymen.
NIGHT_CREATURE_HUNTER Caste A very small population of the creature will be created during worldgen (sometimes only a single individual will be created), and their histories will be tracked (that is, they will not spawn spontaneously later, they must either have children or convert other creatures to increase their numbers). The creature will settle in a lair and go on rampages during worldgen. If this creature has SPOUSE_CONVERTER, it will actively attempt to seek out potential conversion targets to abduct, convert, and have children with (if possible).

This tag causes the usual behaviour of werebeasts in worldgen, that is, fleeing towns upon being cursed and conducting raids from a lair. If this tag is absent from a deity curse, the accursed will simply be driven out of towns in a similar manner to vampires.

NO_AUTUMN Caste This creature caste does not appear in autumn.
NO_CONNECTIONS_FOR_MOVEMENT Caste Creature doesn't require connected body parts to move[Verify]; generally used on undead creatures with connections that have rotted away.
NO_DIZZINESS Caste Creature cannot become dizzy.
NO_DRINK Caste Creature does not need to drink.
NO_EAT Caste Creature does not need to eat.
NO_FEVERS Caste Creature cannot suffer fevers.
NO_GENDER Caste Creature has no gender.
NO_PHYS_ATT_GAIN Caste The affected caste cannot gain any physical skills.
NO_PHYS_ATT_RUST Caste The affected caste cannot lose any physical skills.
NO_SLEEP Caste Creature does not need to sleep.
NO_SPRING Caste This creature caste does not appear in spring.
NO_SUMMER Caste This creature caste does not appear in summer.
NO_THOUGHT_CENTER_FOR_MOVEMENT Caste Creature doesn't require an organ with the [THOUGHT] tag to survive or attack; generally used on creatures that don't have brains.
NO_UNIT_TYPE_COLOR Caste Prevents creature from selecting its color based on its profession (e.g. Miner, Hunter, Wrestler).
NO_VEGETATION_PERTURB Caste[Verify] Likely prevents the creature from leaving broken vegetation tracks.[Verify]
NO_WINTER Caste This creature caste does not appear in winter.
NOBONES Caste Creature has no bones.
NOBREATHE Caste Creature doesn't need to breathe or have [BREATHE] parts in body. Cannot drown or be strangled.
NOCTURNAL Caste Sets if the creature is active in night.
NOEMOTION Caste The creature has no emotions, and does not rage.
NOEXERT Caste Creature can't become tired or over-exerted from taking too many combat actions.
NOFEAR Caste Creature doesn't feel fear and will never run away from battle.
NOMEAT Caste Creature will not drop meat when butchered.
NONAUSEA Caste Creature isn't nauseated by gut hits and cannot vomit.
NOPAIN Caste Creature doesn't feel pain.
NOSKIN Caste Creature will not drop a hide when butchered.
NOSKULL Caste Creature will not drop a skull on butcher, rot, or decay of severed head.
NOSMELLYROT Caste Does not produce miasma when rotting.
NOSTUCKINS Caste Weapons can't get stuck in creature.
NOSTUN Caste Creature can't be stunned and knocked unconscious by pain or head injuries. Creatures with this tag never wake up from sleep in Fortress Mode and stay drowsy.[Verify] If this creature needs to sleep while playing, it WILL die.
NOT_BUTCHERABLE Caste Cannot be butchered
NOT_LIVING Caste Cannot be raised from the dead.
NOTHOUGHT Caste Creature doesn't require a [THOUGHT] body part to survive. If it does not have NO_THOUGHT_CENTER_FOR_MOVEMENT as well, it will be unable to use any attacks other than the default 'push'. Has the added effect of preventing speech.
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O

Token Type Arguments Description
ODOR_LEVEL Caste number How easy the creature is to smell. The higher the number, the easier the creature can be smelled. Zero is odorless. Default is 50.
ODOR_STRING Caste string What the creature smells like. If no odor string is defined, the creature name (not the caste name) is used.
OPPOSED_TO_LIFE Caste Is hostile to all creatures except undead and other non-living ones and will show Opposed to life at the unit list. Used for Undead. Functions without the NOT_LIVING token, and seems to imply said token as well. Undead will not be hostile to otherwise-living creatures given this token, living creatures given this token will attack living creatures that lack this token, while ignoring living creatures that also have this token.
ORIENTATION Caste MALE/FEMALE:disinterested chance:lover-possible chance:commitment-possible chance Determines caste's likelihood of having sexual attraction to certain sexes. Values default to 75:20:5 for the same sex and 5:20:75 for the opposite sex. The first value indicates how likely to be entirely uninterested in the sex, the second decides if the creature will become lovers but not marry, the third decides if the creature will marry this sex. The values themselves are simply ratios and do not need to add up to any particular value.
OUTSIDER_CONTROLLABLEv0.42.01 Lets you play as an outsider of this species in adventure mode.
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P

Token Type Arguments Description
PACK_ANIMAL Caste Allows the creature to be used as a pack animal. Currently only used by merchants without wagons. Also prevents creature from dropping hauled items on its own -- do not use for player-controllable creatures!
PARALYZEIMMUNE Caste The creature is immune to all paralyzing special attacks.
PATTERNFLIER Caste Used to control the bat riders with paralyze-dart blowguns that flew through the 2D chasm. Doesn't do anything now.
PEARL Caste In earlier versions, creature would generate pearls. Does nothing in the current version.
PENETRATEPOWER Caste value Controls the ability of vermin to find a way into containers when they are eating food from your stockpiles.
PERSONALITY Caste
  • ATTRIBUTE
  • lowest:median:highest
 Determines the range and chance of personality traits. Standard is 0:50:100. See Personality trait for more info.
PET Caste Allows the creature to be tamed in Fortress mode. Prequisite for all other working animal roles. Civilizations that encounter it in worldgen will tame and domesticate it for their own use. Adding this to civilization members will classify them as pets instead of citizens, with all the problems that entails. However, you can solve these problems using the popular plugin Dwarf Therapist, which is completely unaffected by the tag.
PET_EXOTIC Caste Allows the creature to be tamed in Fortress mode. Prequisite for all other working animal roles. Civilizations cannot domesticate it in worldgen without certain exceptions. More difficult to tame?[Verify] Adding this to civilization members will classify them as pets instead of citizens, with all the problems that entails. However, you can solve these problems using the popular plugin Dwarf Therapist, which is completely unaffected by the tag.
PETVALUE Caste value How valuable a tamed animal is. Actual cost in points in the embarking screen is 1+(PETVALUE/2) for an untrained animal, 1+PETVALUE for a war/hunting one.
PETVALUE_DIVISOR Caste value Divides the creature's PETVALUE by the specified number. Used for bees to prevent a single hive from being worth a fortune.
PHYS_ATT_CAP_PERC Caste Default is 200. This means you can increase your attribute to 200% of its starting value (or the average value + your starting value if that is higher).
PHYS_ATT_RANGE Caste
  • ATTRIBUTE
  • lowest:lower:low:median:high:higher:highest
 Sets up a physical attribute's range of values (0-5000). All physical attribute ranges default to 200:700:900:1000:1100:1300:2000.
PHYS_ATT_RATES Caste
  • ATTRIBUTE Token
  • cost to improve
  • unused counter rate
  • rust counter rate
  • demotion counter rate
 Physical attribute gain/decay rates. Defaults for STRENGTH, AGILITY, TOUGHNESS, and ENDURANCE are 500:3:4:3, while RECUPERATION and DISEASE_RESISTANCE default to 500:NONE:NONE:NONE.
PLUS_BP_GROUP Caste
  • BY_TYPE, BY_CATEGORY, or BY_TOKEN
  • body type, category, or token
 Adds a body part group to selected body part group. Presumably used immediately after SET_BP_GROUP.
PLUS_MATERIAL Creature
  • material
 Adds a material to selected materials. Used immediately after SELECT_MATERIAL.
POP_RATIO Caste
  • number
 Weighted population of caste; Lower is rarer. Not to be confused with FREQUENCY.
POPULATION_NUMBER Creature min:max The minimum/maximum numbers of how many of these creatures are present in each world map tile of the appropriate region.
POWER Caste Allows the being to represent itself as a deity. Requires CAN_SPEAK to actually do anything more than settle at a location (e.g. write books, lead armies, profane temples). Doesn't appear to do anything for creatures that are already civilized.
PREFSTRING Creature string Sets what other creatures like about this creature. "Urist likes dwarves for their beards." Multiple entries will be chosen from at random
PROFESSION_NAME Creature The generic name for members of this profession, at the creature level. In order to give members of specific castes different names for professions, use CASTE_PROFESSION_NAME instead.
PRONE_TO_RAGE Caste Chance Creature has a percentage chance to flip out at visible non-friendly creatures. Enraged creatures attack anything regardless of timidity and get a strength bonus to their hits. This is what makes badgers so hardcore.
PUS Caste The creature has pus. Specifies the stuff secreted by infected wounds.
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R

Token Type Arguments Description
RELSIZE Caste
  • BY_CATEGORY, BY_TYPE, BY_TOKEN
  • body category, type, or token
  • Relsize
 Specifies a new relative size for a part than what is stated in the body plan. For example, Dwarves have larger livers.
REMAINS Caste singular:plural What creature's remains are called.
REMAINS_COLOR Caste What color creature's remains are.
REMAINS_ON_VERMIN_BITE_DEATH Caste Goes with VERMIN_BITE and DIE_WHEN_VERMIN_BITE, the vermin creature will leave remains on death when biting. Leaving this tag out will cause the creature to disappear entirely after it bites.
REMAINS_UNDETERMINED Caste Unknown.
REMOVE_MATERIAL Creature
  • material token
 Removes a material from a creature.
REMOVE_TISSUE Creature
  • material token
 Removes a tissue from a creature.
RETRACT_INTO_BP Caste
  • BY_TYPE, BY_CATEGORY or BY_TOKEN
  • TYPE, CATEGORY or TOKEN
 The creature will retract into a body part when threatened. It will be unable to move or attack, but enemies will only be able to attack the specified body part. (eg. Turtle, Snail)
RETURNS_VERMIN_KILLS_TO_OWNER Cat behavior. If it kills a vermin creature and has an owner, it carries the remains in its mouth and drops them at his feet. Requires HUNTS_VERMIN, obviously.
ROOT_AROUND Caste Creature will occasionally root around in the grass, looking for insects. Used for flavor in Adventure Mode, spawns vermin edible by this creature in Fortress Mode.
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S

Token Type Arguments Description
SAVAGE Creature The creature will only show up in "savage" biomes. Has no effect on cavern creatures.
SECRETION Caste
  • material token
  • Material State
  • location secreted from (by_type, by_category, by_token)
  • body part
  • tissue layer
  • trigger
 creates a secreted material on given tissue on a given part of the body. Valid triggers are:
  • CONTINUOUS
  • EXTREME_EMOTION
  • EXERTION


SELECT_ADDITIONAL_CASTE Creature
  • caste name
 adds an additional previously defined caste to the selection. Used after SELECT_CASTE.
SELECT_CASTE Creature
  • caste name, or ALL
 selects a previously defined caste
SELECT_MATERIAL Creature
  • Material token
 Selects a locally defined material. Can be ALL.
SEMIMEGABEAST Caste Essentially the same as MEGABEAST, but more of them are created during worldgen.
SENSE_CREATURE_CLASS Caste Allows creature to sense creatures with a certain creature class through walls, floors etc. Sense will be with tile and color specified.


SET_BP_GROUP Caste
  • selection criteria BY_TYPE, BY_CATEGORY, BY_TOKEN
  • category, type, or token
 Begins a selection of body parts.
SET_TL_GROUP Caste
  • TISSUE
  • BY_CATEGORY, BY_TYPE, BY_TOKEN
  • Location - category, type, or token
  • tissue
 begins a selection of tissue layers
SHEARABLE_TISSUE_LAYER Caste
  • tissue modifier
  • required value
 Tissue layer can be sheared for its component material. The specified modifier must be at least of the desired value for shearing to be possible (a llama's wool must have a LENGTH of 300 before it is shearable).
SKILL_LEARN_RATE Caste skill_token:percentage The rate at which this creature learns this skill. Requires CAN_LEARN or INTELLIGENT to function.
SKILL_LEARN_RATES Caste percentage The rate at which this creature learns all skills. Requires CAN_LEARN or INTELLIGENT to function.
SKILL_RATE Caste skill_token:percentage:value:value:value As SKILL_RATES for individual skills. Requires CAN_LEARN or INTELLIGENT to function.
SKILL_RATES Caste
  • % of improvement points you get
  • unused counter rate
  • rust counter rate
  • demotion counter rate
 Affects skill gain and decay. Lower numbers in the last three slots make decay occur faster ([SKILL_RATES:100:1:1:1] would cause rapid decay). The counter rates may also be replaced with NONE.

Default is [SKILL_RATES:100:8:16:16]. Requires CAN_LEARN or INTELLIGENT to function.

SKILL_RUST_RATE Caste skill_token:value:value:value The rate at which this skill decays. Lower values cause the skill to decay faster. Requires CAN_LEARN or INTELLIGENT to function.
SKILL_RUST_RATES Caste value:value:value The rate at which all skills decay. Lower values cause the skills to decay faster. Requires CAN_LEARN or INTELLIGENT to function.
SLOW_LEARNER Caste Shorthand for [CAN_LEARN] + [SKILL_LEARN_RATES:50].[Verify] Used for ogres and giants. Applicable to player races. Prevents a player from recruiting nobility, even basic ones.
SMALL_REMAINS Caste Creature leaves a "remains" instead of a corpse. Used for vermin.
SMELL_TRIGGER Creature value Determines how keen a creature's sense of smell is. Lower is better. At 10000, a creature cannot smell at all.
SOLDIER_ALTTILE Creature 'character' or tile number If this creature is active in its civilization's military, it will blink between its default tile and this one.
SOUND Caste
  • Sound application (currently accepts ALERT or PEACEFUL_INTERMITTENT)
  • Sound range (in tiles)
  • Sound delay (lower values = sound is produced more often)
  • VOCALIZATION or NONE (determines whether the sound requires breathing or not)
  • First-person description
  • Third-person description
  • Description when out of sight
 Creature makes sounds periodically, which can be heard in Adventure mode.
  • First-person reads "You bark"
  • Third-person reads "The capybara barks"
  • Out of sight reads "You hear a loud bark"

with the text in bold being the description arguments of the token.

SPECIFIC_FOOD Caste
  • PLANT or CREATURE
  • Plant/creature ID
 Creature will only appear in biomes with this plant or creature available.
SPEECH Creature speech file Boasting speeches relating to killing this creature. Examples include dwarf.txt and elf.txt in data\speech.
SPEECH_FEMALE Creature speech file Boasting speeches relating to killing females of this creature.
SPEECH_MALE Creature speech file Boasting speeches relating to killing males of this creature.
SPHERE Creature
  • sphere name
 Sets what religious spheres the creature is aligned to, for purposes of being worshipped via the [POWER] token. Also affects the layout of hidden fun stuff, and the creature's name.
SPOUSE_CONVERSION_TARGET Caste This creature can be converted by a night creature with SPOUSE_CONVERTED.
SPOUSE_CONVERTER Caste If the creature has the NIGHT_CREATURE_HUNTER tag, it will kidnap SPOUSE_CONVERSION_TARGETs and transform them into the caste of its species with the CONVERTED_SPOUSE tag during worldgen. It may also start families this way.
STANCE_CLIMBER Caste[Verify] Caste does not require GRASP body parts to climb -- it can climb with STANCE parts instead.
STANDARD_GRAZER Caste Acts as GRAZER but set to 20000*G*(max size)^(-3/4), where G defaults to 100 but can be set in d_init, and the whole thing is trapped between 150 and 3 million. Used in all default creature RAWs for grazers.
STRANGE_MOODSv0.42.01 The creature will get strange moods in fortress mode and can produce artifacts.
SUPERNATURAL Caste Gives the creature knowledge of any secrets with SUPERNATURAL_LEARNING_POSSIBLE that match its spheres. Other effects are unknown.
SWIMS_INNATE Caste The creature naturally knows how to swim and will gain no more experience in swimmer skill, as opposed to [SWIMS_LEARNED] below. However, Fortress mode AI never paths into water anyway, so it's less useful there.
SWIMS_LEARNED Caste The creature doesn't know how to swim unless it has learned the skill. Requires [CAN_LEARN], obviously.
SYNDROME_DILUTION_FACTORv0.42.01 Syndrome name:Amount Dilutes the effects of a syndrome. 100 is normal effect, higher numbers reduce the effects of the syndrome more.
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T

Token Type Arguments Description
TENDONS Caste The creature has tendons in its bones. Cutting the bone tissue severs them, disabling motor function if the target is a limb.
THICKWEB Caste The creature's webs can catch larger creatures.
TISSUE Creature name Begins defining a tissue in the creature file.
TITAN Caste Found on titans. Cannot be specified in user-defined raws.
TL_COLOR_MODIFIER Caste COLOR:freq:COLOR:freq etc. Creates a list of color patterns, giving each a relative frequency.
TLCM_GENETIC_MODEL Caste The way the color modifier is passed on to offspring. May or may not work right now.[Verify]
TLCM_IMPORTANCE Caste
  • number
 Presumably modifies the importance of the tissue layer color modifier, for description purposes.

HOWEVER using this appears to remove all mention of colour from creature descriptions. It does not appear in any default creatures.

TLCM_NOUN Caste
  • name
  • SINGULAR or PLURAL
 Names the tissue layer color modifier, and determines the noun. Also used by stonesense for colouring body parts.
TLCM_TIMING Caste
  • ROOT
  • start change window years:days:end change window years:days
 Determines the point in the creature's life when the color change begins and ends.
TRADE_CAPACITY Caste
  • number
 How much the creature can carry when used by merchants.
TRAINABLE Caste Shortcut for [TRAINABLE_HUNTING] + [TRAINABLE_WAR].
TRAINABLE_HUNTING Caste Can be trained as a hunting beast, increasing speed.
TRAINABLE_WAR Caste Can be trained as a war beast, increasing strength and endurance.
TRANCES Caste Allows the creature to go into martial trances.
TRAPAVOID Caste The creature is immune to traps. Probably every procedurally generated megabeast has this.
TRIGGERABLE_GROUP Creature min:max A large swarm of vermin can be disturbed, usually in Adventure mode.[Verify]
TSU_NOUN Caste
  • noun
  • SINGULAR or PLURAL
 Noun for the TISSUE_STYLE_UNIT, used in the description of the tissue layer's style.
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U

Token Type Arguments Description
UBIQUITOUS Creature Creature will occur in every region with the correct biome. Does not apply to evil/good tags.
UNDERGROUND_DEPTH Creature
  • mindepth
  • maxdepth
 Depth the creature appears underground. Numbers can be from 0 to 5. 0 is actually 'above ground' and can be used if the creature is to appear both above and below ground. A single argument may be used instead of min and max. Only magma creatures use 4 or 5 in the default raws. Demons use only 5:5; user-defined creatures with both this depth and [FLIER] will take part in the initial wave from the HFS alongside generated demons. Without [FLIER], they will only spawn from the map edges. Civilizations that can use underground plants or animals will only export (via the embark screen or caravans) things that available at depth 1.
UNDERSWIM Caste The creature is displayed as blue when in 7/7 water. Used on fish and amphibious creatures which swim under the water.
UNIQUE_DEMON Caste Typically found on generated demons; causes the game to create a single named instance of the demon which will emerge from the underworld and take over civilizations during worldgen. Cannot be specified in user-defined raws.
USE_CASTE Creature
  • new caste token
  • old caste token
 Defines a new caste derived directly from a previous caste. The new caste inherits all properties of the old one. The effect of this tag is automatic if one has not yet defined any castes: "Any caste-level tag that occurs before castes are explicitly declared is saved up and placed on any caste that is declared later, unless the caste is explicitly derived from another caste."
USE_MATERIAL Creature
  • new material ID
  • old material ID
 Defines a new local creature material and populates it with all properties defined in the specified local creature material.
USE_MATERIAL_TEMPLATE Creature
  • new material token
  • material template
 Defines a new local creature material and populates it with all properties defined in the specified template.
USE_TISSUE Creature
  • new tissue token
  • old tissue id
 Defines a new local creature tissue and populates it with all properties defined in the local tissue specified in the second argument.
USE_TISSUE_TEMPLATE Creature
  • new tissue token
  • tissue template
 Loads a tissue template listed in OBJECT:TISSUE_TEMPLATE files, such as tissue_template_default.txt.
UTTERANCES Caste Changes the language of the creature into unintelligible 'kobold-speak', which creatures of other species will be unable to understand. If a civilized creature has this and is not part of a SKULKING civ, it will tend to start wars with all nearby civilizations and will be unable to make peace treaties due to 'inability to communicate'.
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V

Token Type Arguments Description
VEGETATION Caste The creature is made of swamp stuff. Used for grimelings.
VERMIN_BITE Caste Vermin bites, and injects something.
VERMIN_EATER Creature The vermin creature will attempt to eat exposed food. See PENETRATEPOWER. Distinct from VERMIN_ROTTER.
VERMIN_FISH Creature The vermin appears in water and will attempt to swim around.
VERMIN_GROUNDER Creature The creature appears in "general" surface ground locations. Note that this doesn't stop the creature from flying if it can (most vermin birds have this tag).
VERMIN_HATEABLE Caste Some dwarves will hate the creature and get unhappy thoughts when around it.
VERMIN_MICRO Caste This makes the creature move in a swarm of creatures of the same race as it (e.g. swarm of flies, swarm of ants).
VERMIN_NOFISH Caste The creature cannot be caught by fishing.
VERMIN_NOROAM Caste The creature will not be observed randomly roaming about the map.
VERMIN_NOTRAP Caste The creature cannot be caught in baited animal traps; however, a "catch live land animal" task may still be able to capture one if a dwarf finds one roaming around.
VERMIN_ROTTER Creature The vermin are attracted to rotting stuff and loose food left in the open and cause unhappy thoughts to dwarves who encounter them. Present on flies, knuckle worms, acorn flies, and blood gnats. Speeds up decay?[Verify]
VERMIN_SOIL Creature The creature randomly appears near dirt or mud.
VERMIN_SOIL_COLONY Creature The vermin will appear in a single tile cluster of many vermin, such as a colony of ants.
VERMINHUNTER Caste Old shorthand for "does cat stuff". Contains [AT_PEACE_WITH_WILDLIFE] + [RETURNS_VERMIN_KILLS_TO_OWNER] + [HUNTS_VERMIN] + [ADOPTS_OWNER].
VESPERTINE Caste Sets if the creature is active in evening.
VIEWRANGE Caste value Value should determine how close you have to get to a critter before it attacks (or prevents adv mode travel etc.) Default is 20.
VISION_ARC Caste[Verify]
  • binocular vision arc
  • non-binocular vision arc
 The width of the creature's vision arcs, in degrees (i.e. 0 to 360). The first number is binocular vision, the second is non-binocular vision.

Binocular vision has a minimum of about 10 degrees. Monocular vision has a maximum of about 350 degrees. Values past these limits will be accepted, but will default to ~10 degrees and ~350 degrees respectively.

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W

Token Type Arguments Description
WAGON_PULLER Caste Allows the creature to pull caravan wagons. If a civilization doesn't have access to any, it is restricted to trading with pack animals.
WEBBER Caste Allows the creature to create webs, and defines what the webs are made of.
WEBIMMUNE Caste The creature will not get caught in thick webs.

Attack Tokens

Token Type Arguments Description
ATTACK_SKILL Caste Defines the skill used by the attack.
ATTACK_VERB Caste 2nd person:3rd person Descriptive text for the attack.
ATTACK_CONTACT_PERC Caste
  • % value
 The contact area of the attack, measured in % of the body part's volume. Note that all attack percentages can be more than 100%.
ATTACK_PENETRATION_PERC Caste
  • % value
 The penetration value of the attack, measured in % of the body part's volume. Requires ATTACK_FLAG_EDGE. Maximum value: 15000.
ATTACK_PRIORITY Caste
  • MAIN or SECOND
 Usage frequency. MAIN attacks are 100 times more frequently chosen than SECOND. Opportunity attacks ignore this preference.
ATTACK_VELOCITY_MODIFIER Caste number The velocity multiplier of the attack, multiplied by 1000.
ATTACK_FLAG_CANLATCH Caste Attacks that damage tissue have the chance to latch on in a wrestling hold. The grabbing bodypart can then use the "shake around" wrestling move, causing severe, armor-bypassing tensile damage according to the attacker's body volume.
ATTACK_FLAG_WITH Caste In adventure mode, displays the name of the body part used by an attack when announcing the attack.
ATTACK_FLAG_EDGE Caste The attack is edged, with all the effects on physical resistance and contact area that it entails.
ATTACK_PREPARE_AND_RECOVER Caste
  • Preparation time
  • Recovery time
 Determines the length of time to prepare this attack and until one can perform this attack again. Values appear to be calculated in adventure mode ticks.
ATTACK_FLAG_BAD_MULTIATTACK Caste Multiple strikes with this attack cannot be performed effectively.
ATTACK_FLAG_INDEPENDENT_MULTIATTACK Caste Multiple strikes with this attack can be performed with no penalty. The creature will use all attacks with this token at once.
SPECIALATTACK_INJECT_EXTRACT Caste Attack type addition that injects a material into the victim's blood. If the injected material lacks [ENTERS_BLOOD] token, it will splatter over attacked body part instead.
SPECIALATTACK_INTERACTION Caste interaction When this attack lands successfully, a specified interaction will take effect on the target creature. The attack must break the target creature's skin in order to work. This will take effect in worldgen as well.
SPECIALATTACK_SUCK_BLOOD Caste min:max Successful attack draws out an amount of blood randomized between the min and max value. Beware that this will trigger any ingestion syndromes attached to the target creature's blood - for example, using this attack on a vampire will turn you into one too.

Important Related Tokens

These next groups of tokens include several tokens that are not technically classified as creature tokens in string dump, but bear mentioning in this as they are used frequently in creature raws. (Some regular creature tokens may also be reprinted for the sake of ease of navigation)

Tissue Modification

This next group of tokens deals setting and modifying properties of previously defined tissues. (See also Tissue definition token)


Token Type Arguments Description
PLUS_TISSUE_LAYER Caste
  • TISSUE
  • BY_CATEGORY, BY_TYPE, BY_TOKEN
  • Location - category, type, or token
 Adds a tissue to those selected
PLUS_TL_GROUP Caste
  • TISSUE
  • BY_CATEGORY, BY_TYPE, BY_TOKEN
  • Location - category, type, or token
  • tissue
 continues a selection of tissue layers
SELECT_TISSUE Creature
  • tissue token
 Selects a tissue for editing.
SELECT_TISSUE_LAYER Caste
  • TISSUE
  • BY_CATEGORY, BY_TYPE, BY_TOKEN
  • Location - category, type, or token | Selects a tissue at a location
  • (optional) FRONT, BACK, LEFT, RIGHT, TOP, BOTTOM, AROUND.
 Selects a tissue layer for descriptor and cosmetic purposes.

[SELECT_TISSUE_LAYER:SKIN:BY_TYPE:UPPERBODY]

SET_LAYER_TISSUE Caste Sets a tissue layer to be made of a different tissue.
TISSUE_LAYER Caste
  • BY_TYPE, BY_CATEGORY, BY_TOKEN
  • TYPE,CATEGORY, or TOKEN
  • TISSUE
  • LOCATION
 Adds the tissue layer to wherever it is required.

Non-argument Locations can be FRONT, RIGHT, LEFT, TOP, BOTTOM. Argument locations are AROUND and CLEANS, requiring a further body part and a % of coverage/cleansing

TISSUE_LAYER_OVER Caste
  • BY_TYPE, BY_CATEGORY, BY_TOKEN
  • TYPE,CATEGORY, or TOKEN
  • TISSUE
  • LOCATION
 Presumably a counterpart to TISSUE_LAYER_UNDER (see below).
TISSUE_LAYER_UNDER Caste
  • BY_TYPE, BY_CATEGORY, BY_TOKEN
  • TYPE,CATEGORY, or TOKEN
  • TISSUE
 Adds the tissue layer under a given part.

For example an Iron Man has a gaseous poison within and this tissue (GAS is its name) has the token [TISSUE_LEAKS] and its state is GAS so when you puncture the iron outside and damage this tissue it leaks gas (can have a syndrome by using a previous one in the creature sample.) [TISSUE_LAYER_UNDER:BY_CATEGORY:ALL:{tissue}] {tissue} is what will be under the TISSUE_LAYER here is an example Tissue from Iron Man:
[TISSUE:GAS] [TISSUE_NAME:gas:NP] [TISSUE_MATERIAL:LOCAL_CREATURE_MAT:GAS] [TISSUE_MAT_STATE:GAS] [RELATIVE_THICKNESS:50] [TISSUE_LEAKS] [TISSUE_SHAPE:LAYER]

TISSUE_LAYER_APPEARANCE_MODIFIER Caste
  • QUALITY
  • lowest:lower:low:median:high:higher:highest
 sets the range of qualities, including LENGTH, DENSE, HIGH_POSITION, CURLY, GREASY, WRINKLY
TISSUE_STYLE_UNIT Caste
  • tissue style unit ID
  • shaping
 sets tissue layer to be the target of TISSUE_STYLE token specified for an entity, works only on entity members. Mostly used with tissues HAIR, BEARD, MOUSTACHE, SIDEBURNS.
TL_CONNECTS Caste Presumably gives the CONNECTS attribute to selected layers.
TL_HEALING_RATE Caste Presumably changes the HEALING_RATE of the selected tissue layers.
TL_MAJOR_ARTERIES Caste Gives the "major arteries" attribute to selected layers. Used to add massive bleeding properties to the throat, made from skin.
TL_PAIN_RECEPTORS Caste Seems to set new number of pain receptors for selected tissue layers.
TL_RELATIVE_THICKNESS Caste Seems to set new relative thickness for selected tissue layers.
TL_VASCULAR Caste Seems to set new a VASCULAR value (which modulates bleeding) for selected tissue layers.

See Also

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