40d:Embark

"Embark" is a general term that refers to the very beginning of the game, during or immediately following site selection but before actual game play begins. It is used to refer to any choices during that period - site selection, equipment or skills selected for your starting 7 dwarfs (or the "Play Now" option), and the actual "landing" on your new site, the 7 dwarfs and any animals around the wagon filled with supplies.

Examples -

• "I made a big mistake at embark when I forgot..."
• "I knew I was in trouble when I got attacked on embark..."
• "This is one of the choices you need(ed) to make at embark, before the game..."
• "After embark the first thing you want to do is..."
• "Once you've embarked, that's when the fun starts..."

"Embark options" can refer to

• choosing starting skills, equipment and supplies (aka Starting build),
• site selection, possibly using the <f>ind function to help locate an acceptable site for your fortress.

"Information at embark" can include:

• looking at the Wold and Regional map to view the general region you will be playing in
• looking at the Local map to confirm the presence of and note the location of important features of your game map, such as magma vents or rivers.
• using the f key to "find" a site to your liking
• using the tab key to view your:

• stone [layer]]s, by using the various F1, F2, F3, & etc. keys
• various biomes, using the same keys, to check for stone layers and climate
• view and (if more than one) choose your starting dwarven civilization.
• view neighboring civilizations and relationships with them

(Need a quick list of Embark screen features, with links to full pages)

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See Also:

• location
• starting build