40d:Dwarf fortress mode

After creating a new world, most new users will play in fortress mode. In fortress mode (fm from now on) you pick a location in your world and then set your seven initial dwarves skills and pick what items/animals to bring along. When the game starts, unlike previous versions, you will not be presented with the typical |river|field|cliff| layout that we are all used to, but instead with whatever area of the map you picked. There is a new Z axis (up and down) which you probably have to use if you picked a non mountainous area. You can get to the different layers using Shift+> (Down) and Shift+< (Up). To dig to other layers first designate a down staircase, then go down a layer and designate and up staircase below it. You can then build buildings/workshops in the space you have dug out.