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Fortress

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This article is about the current version of DF.
Note that some content may still need to be updated.

You may be looking for Dwarf fortress mode.

Dwarves live in fortressesunderground complexes with all the required buildings for dwarven living.

Procedurally generated

Dwarven civilizations build their fortresses on the edges of mountain ranges, and they will act as the seats of power of the dwarf civilization's leaders. They occupy only 3x3 aboveground overworld tiles, while hillocks and halls claim much more territory.

Your adventurer can visit dwarven fortresses Ω in adventure mode. They consist of a large rectangular structure made out of stone blocks, with a three tile wide entrance on one side. Inside, (it is a roofed structure) there will be a trade depot, possibly with traders from other civilizations hanging out around it. There will also be a two-story tavern here, with the rooms for rent on the second floor. In the center of the rectangle will be a large hole with ramps spiraling downwards on the edges. The rampwell is very deep, but following it will eventually lead you past multiple levels filled with rooms and passageways, similar to a dungeon but less expansive. Some of the bigger rooms will be filled with metalsmith's forges and some of the smaller ones will be filled with random clothing.

Navigating a procedurally generated fortress

A map of a typical procedurally generated fortress, exported from legends mode. The division between a central area() and a surrounding periphery consisting of "stacks" of living() and industrial() areas, is clear.

Many players find procedurally generated fortresses hard to navigate, due to their labyrinthine layout. Finding one's way around a fortress gets much easier once one learns how they are planned.

To begin with, all fortresses are laid out on a 3x3 coordinate grid, where each area occupies exactly one of the nine tiles. The large structure at the ground level can be used as a measure for how big each one tile is.

In the described grid, there is always a main area, placed in the central tile of the grid. The central area stretches from ground level down to the magma sea, and consists of several large halls and corridors, concentrated into several clusters, each on a different depth and used for a different function. Generally, one of the hall clusters will be used for storage and one as meeting areas, while the one near the magma sea will usually contain magma powered forges. The large structure at the ground level also counts as part of this central area, and will always contain a downward rampway and a trade depot. Depending on the history of the site, the surface area might also contain a tavern and a library.

Underground, the central area will branch off into living areas containing bedrooms, and industrial areas containing forges. A typical bedroom in generated fortress has 4 squares, two of them are occupied with bed and cabinet (with decent leather armor and different clothing). They are linked by 1-tile wide corridor. These areas always occupy the eight peripheral tiles surrounding the central tile in the coordinate grid. Living and industrial areas are often stacked upon one another, and linked with staircases. Additionally, living and industrial areas are always separated into different floors, meaning that peripheral map tiles on a given floor will all be either living areas or industrial dittos, while the floor below will be the opposite.

If an underground tunnel is connected to the fortress, it will also be accessible from the central area.

Dwarf Fortress mode

Nomenclature

Fortresses are named in a specific manner. The name is usually assigned at random, but can be set at embark time. They also gain a title according to their population. This title is viewable in the upper left of the z screen, in front of the fortress name.

In addition, the fort may be the home of monarchs of the surrounding land and gain an additional title.

Each fortress title requires a certain population as well as performing a number of "diverse tasks" over the course of one year with the Autumn caravan safely making it home - crafting, metal, wood, gem, stone, and food-related jobs. For example, to become a Town, you must perform 4 of the following: 25 crafting jobs, 25 metal-related jobs, 25 wood-related jobs, 10 gem jobs, 25 stone jobs, 25 food jobs.

The appointment of land holders is not linked to your fortress rank; however, your fortress must attain a rank of Metropolis before you will be eligible to summon your monarch.

Title Pop Jobs: Craft/Metal/Wood/Gem/Stone/Food
Ω Outpost - None
Ω Hamlet 20 3 of 10/10/10/4/10/10
Ω Village 50 3 of 15/15/15/6/15/15
Ω Town 80 4 of 25/25/25/10/25/25
Ω City 110 4 of 35/35/35/14/35/35
Ω Metropolis 140 5 of 50/50/50/20/50/50
Mountainhome King Special
Noble Title
Barony capital
County capital
Duchy capital
Mountainhome
  • Home of the King/Queen
  • Capital of its civilization
"Fortress" in other Languages Books-aj.svg aj ashton 01.svg
Dwarven: geshud
Elven: abeco
Goblin: snusp
Human: thrathdad
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