War

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. More Info · V

War is a state of conflict between two civilizations. During fortress mode, it's a bottomless pit of fun.

World gen

War is common during world gen; civilizations will attack each other's settlements, occasionally destroying a site or taking it over. This also happens outside of world-gen now due to world activation.

Dwarf Fortress mode

In fortress mode, war will cause sieges to arrive and bring you fun and presents. The hostile nation may attack very occasionally or every year, so be well prepared. Civilizations whom you are at war with may occasionally send a diplomat to try and end the war; you will have the option to agree to the peace treaty, or dismiss the diplomat and continue the war. You can see if you are at war with a civilization on the civilization screen. Wars may also begin without the player's knowledge or intervention.

Additionally, if your parent civilization is at war or has recently been at war, migrants to your fortress are more likely to have experience in general military skills and a random combat skill.^[Verify]

Not being at war with an already hostile civilization such as goblins does not mean you won't get sieges from them. You will always get goblin sieges as long as they are not extinct, but being at war with the goblins does mean that the sieges will begin sooner, and will be bigger.

At embark

When embarking, one can check to see which races their civilization is at war with. Different civilizations may be at war with different races. Goblins are considered to be in a constant minor conflict with everyone else, instead of a real war; an open war with them may still break out however.

Causes of war

The following events will make a civilization unhappy, eventually leading to war:

• The death of a diplomat while visiting your fortress (regardless of the cause of death).
• Failing to keep to the harvesting limit the elves set, if any.
• Seizing caravan goods.
• Annoying traders (such as offering the hippies elves wood products repeatedly).
• The death of a salesman traders.
• May be declared "off-screen" during gameplay.
• (As of 0.44.01) May be declared as the result of attempting to raid another Civ for their artefacts.
• (As of 0.44.01) May be declared by another Civ for refusing to give them an artefact when petitioned.

"War" in other Languages Dwarven: alnis Elven: athama Goblin: aslez Human: ashro