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Smell
v50.15 · v0.47.05 This article is about the current version of DF.Note that some content may still need to be updated. |
Smell is a characteristic of a creature. Each creature has a distinct smell defined by their odor string and an odor level, which defines the strength of their smell. Each creature with at least one body part having the SMELL[Verify] token also has a smell trigger which simulates their sense of smell by comparing it to the odor level of other creatures: creatures can detect the smell of all creatures with an odor level higher than their own smell trigger.
Smell is mainly relevant in adventurer mode, and only mildly implemented in fortress mode, as any creature caught in miasma or smoke will have a negative thought in the latter game mode. As an adventurer, you can smell your surroundings by simply being within range of the smell, and the game will display the strongest smell around that's perceptible to you with an icon in the upper-right corner of the screen:
In order, the odors are blood, smoke, mud, bug innards, cooked flesh, death, filth, soot, vomit, soil, freshly baked goods and brimstone. The smell of a specific creature can also be seen in the same way as the previously shown icons, showing the sprite of said creature if they are within the playable creature's smell range.
Smell triggers and odor levels range from zero to 10000. Creatures with an odor level of 10000 can be smelled by literally everyone else, while creatures at zero are completely odorless. Likewise, a creature with a smell trigger of zero can detect literally everyone else's smell, while creatures at 10000 have no sense of smell whatsoever.
The default smell trigger is 50; notably, humans are at 90 as a way to show their alleged lower-than-average sense of smell, and elves are at 10 to show their supernatural senses.
Notable odor strings
Smell strings that describe a specific smell are usually just the name of the creature itself, but there are some exceptions:
- Undead smell like death.
- Night trolls smell like bug innards or death.
- Fire imps smell like smoke.
- Mud men smell like mud.
- Clowns smell like brimstone.