v0.31:Burrow

Template:AV Burrows are part of the new organization of fortresses, user-defined areas in your fort where selected dwarves live and work in. You can assign these areas like zones and assign dwarves to them. Dwarves will only use workshops, dig walls, use rooms, etc. in burrows they are assigned to, though dwarves not assigned to any burrow will still use workshops etc. even if they are located in a burrow assigned to some other dwarves.

Defining a new burrow

To enter the "define burrow" mode, press w.

You'll be presented with a list of all of your existing burrows. Change which burrow is selected with your secondary selection keys.

To add a new burrow to the list, press a. The new burrow created this way starts with no tiles and a default name.

To configure a burrow, select it and press enter. This is where you'll be able to set the burrow's name, define what tiles it encompasses, and add or remove individual dwarves. Defining the burrow's tiles can be done using rectangles much like other mass-selection or mass-designation situations elsewhere in the game, or you can paint with the mouse. Press r to set whether you're adding or subtracting tiles from the burrow. You can also set the colors and symbols used for different burrows to help tell them apart. A burrow may span multiple Z levels, so long as a means of getting from one Z level to another is within the Burrow zone.

Defending and restricting burrows

Burrows are one of the ways you can give orders to Template:L and civilians during Template:L. Under the squad schedule menu (Press m s) you can add an order to any particular month for the chosen alert with o or edit their existing orders with e. On the Give Orders menu, use o to cycle through the orders given to squads. The order "Defend Burrows" cannot be given without first creating burrows to assign defenders to. Under a "Defend Burrows" order, dwarves in the squad are stationed in the specific area and will defend it proactively. More detailed information is located on the Template:L page.

Similarly, civilians may be set to only operate within a burrow. They will not leave the burrow for any reason, not even if they are dying of hunger/thirst. This is a nice way to ensure your dwarves will work in the mini-fortress you dug out for them (A bed, table/chair, and smelter near magma for example). But keep in mind that you must include a path to a food stockpile in order for the dwarves operating inside the Burrow to survive.