DF2014:Sphere

xTATTEREDx  · +FINE+  · *SUPERIOR*  · ≡EXCEPTIONAL≡  · ☼MASTERWORK☼

v50.12 · v0.47.05 · v0.34 · v0.31 · v0.28 · v0.23 This article is about an older version of DF. More Info · V

A graph showing the connections between all the spheres. A thin line represents a friendship, a thick line a parent/child-relationship, and a red line preclusion.

A sphere is an aspect where a being has influence. Deities, forces, angels, demons, megabeasts, semi-megabeasts, forgotten beasts and titans may be associated with one or more spheres, and civilizations may prefer certain spheres when selecting creatures to worship. There are currently a total of 130 spheres.

Understanding spheres

A being such as a deity, demon or megabeast may come to represent or epitomize certain things like emotions, qualities, terrain types, and items, which are called "spheres". As an example from real-world mythology, the Greek goddess Athena is goddess in the "spheres" of wisdom, warfare, handicrafts and reason.

Gods and adored megabeasts can grant secrets related to their spheres. In unmodded Dwarf Fortress, this means that death gods can teach the secret of life and death to their worshipers, turning them into necromancers.

Dwarves and other creatures will come to worship certain "powerful beings" and, as such, will follow the "religion", and have a relationship with its "deity".

Creatures with pre-determined spheres

While many procedurally generated creatures in Dwarf Fortress are given random spheres upon creation, there are others who have static spheres, which remain constant across all save files:

• Bogeyman: Misery, night, nightmares
• Bronze colossus: Metals, strength, war
• Cyclops: Light, longevity, minerals, strength, thunder
• Dragon: Fire, wealth
• Ettin: Speech, strength
• Experiment: Deformity, night
• Giant: Food, strength
• Hydra: Muck, rebirth, strength
• Minotaur: Caverns, chaos, darkness, deformity, strength
• Nightmare: Misery, night, nightmares
• Roc: Hunting, sky, wind
• Werebeast: Animals, chaos, moon, night

Available spheres

According to Toady: "Spheres have a parent/child list, a friend list, and a preclude list. A deity has either one or two base spheres, and then they pick friends of those spheres, while never choosing a precluded or parent/child sphere of any of the spheres they already have. I tried to be pretty lax with the preclude list so that interesting relationships could pop up."

As extracted from the string dump, the spheres available are unchanged from 40d; their relationships with each other may also be unchanged.

Available sphere tokens are:

Sphere	Parent spheres	Child spheres	Friend spheres	Precluded spheres	Associated string and properties
AGRICULTURE			FOOD, FERTILITY, RAIN		it looks constantly to the sky for rain
ANIMALS	NATURE	FISH	PLANTS		it growls, buzzes, clicks and generally makes a varied racket
ART		DANCE, MUSIC, PAINTING, POETRY, SONG	INSPIRATION, BEAUTY		it is decorated with intricate patterns
BALANCE					it is perfectly symmetric
BEAUTY			ART	BLIGHT, DEFORMITY, DISEASE, MUCK	it is strikingly beautiful
BIRTH			CHILDREN, CREATION, FAMILY, MARRIAGE, PREGNANCY, REBIRTH, YOUTH		it is covered with a filmy sac
BLIGHT			DISEASE, DEATH	BEAUTY, FOOD, FERTILITY, HEALING	nearby vegetation seem(sic) to shrink away from it
BOUNDARIES		COASTS			the pieces of its body are carefully separated by markings
CAVERNS			MOUNTAINS, EARTH		its moans seem to echo no matter where it resides
CHAOS			WAR	DISCIPLINE, ORDER, LAWS	it spins wildly, lurching and howling
CHARITY			GENEROSITY, SACRIFICE	JEALOUSY	it seems very pleasant
CHILDREN			BIRTH, FAMILY, YOUTH, PREGNANCY		it never misses an opportunity to jump in puddles
COASTS	BOUNDARIES		LAKES, OCEANS		it appears to be covered with rocky crags
CONSOLATION				MISERY	it radiates a sad kindness
COURAGE		VALOR			it makes those around it feel brave
CRAFTS			CREATION, LABOR, METALS		it appears constructed
CREATION			CRAFTS, BIRTH, PREGNANCY, REBIRTH		small objects seem to pop into existence around it
DANCE	ART		FESTIVALS, MUSIC, REVELRY		it whirls, skips and jumps whenever it moves
DARKNESS			NIGHT	DAWN, DAY, LIGHT, TWILIGHT, SUN	it is difficult to see clearly even in bright light
DAWN			SUN, TWILIGHT	NIGHT, DAY, DARKNESS	it always turns to welcome the rise of the sun
DAY			LIGHT, SUN	DARKNESS, NIGHT, DAWN, DUSK DREAMS, NIGHTMARES, TWILIGHT	it hums pleasantly when the sun is high in the sky
DEATH			BLIGHT, DISEASE, MURDER, REBIRTH, SUICIDE, WAR	HEALING, LONGEVITY, YOUTH	it has a rattling exhale
DEFORMITY			DISEASE	BEAUTY	its body is bent and misshapen
DEPRAVITY			LUST	LAWS	it slavers uncontrollably
DISCIPLINE			LAWS, ORDER	CHAOS	it moves with great focus
DISEASE			BLIGHT, DEATH, DEFORMITY	BEAUTY, HEALING	it bears malodorous pustules [ODOR_STRING:death][ODOR_LEVEL:100]
DREAMS			NIGHT, NIGHTMARES	DAY	the details of its form are easily forgotten without deliberate concentration
DUSK			TWILIGHT	NIGHT, DAY	it never looks toward the sun
DUTY			ORDER		it is utterly still when not taking deliberate action
EARTH		METALS, MINERALS, SALT	CAVERNS, MOUNTAINS, VOLCANOS		it looks very solid and stocky
FAMILY			BIRTH, CHILDREN, MARRIAGE, PREGNANCY		it appears to be closely related to every other of its kind
FAME			RUMORS	SILENCE	fanfare follows it wherever it goes
FATE				LUCK	it never appears to be perturbed or surprised by any happening
FERTILITY			AGRICULTURE, FOOD, RAIN	BLIGHT	it appears to be very healthy
FESTIVALS			DANCE, MUSIC, REVELRY, SONG	MISERY	it skips and twirls as it moves
FIRE			METALS, SUN, VOLCANOS	WATER, OCEANS, LAKES, RIVERS	a sheen around it always seems to rise upward
FISH	ANIMALS		OCEANS, LAKES, RIVERS, WATER, FISHING		it only looks comfortable when it is in the water
FISHING			FISH, HUNTING		it always moves carefully around water
FOOD			AGRICULTURE, FERTILITY	BLIGHT	it has the delicious smell of freshly-baked goods [ODOR_STRING:freshly-baked goods][ODOR_LEVEL:100]
FORGIVENESS			MERCY	REVENGE	it is impossible to hold a grudge near it
FORTRESSES			WAR		it is very sturdy-looking
FREEDOM				ORDER	it eagerly moves from place to place
GAMBLING			GAMES, LUCK		it changes between two colors intermittently
GAMES			GAMBLING, LUCK		it giggles at random
GENEROSITY			CHARITY, SACRIFICE		it makes those around it want to give up their possessions
HAPPINESS			REVELRY	MISERY	it seems to smile constantly
HEALING				DISEASE, BLIGHT, DEATH	it is surrounded by a gentle atmosphere
HOSPITALITY					it radiates an aura of welcoming
HUNTING			FISHING		it inspects the ground intently as it moves
INSPIRATION			ART, PAINTING, POETRY		flashes of energy pulse across its surface intermittently
JEALOUSY				CHARITY	it appears to be a very bitter creature
JEWELS			MINERALS, WEALTH		its whole body appears to be faceted in a symmetric fashion
JUSTICE			LAWS		it seems eager to pronounce judgment on others
LABOR			CRAFTS		it appears very deliberate in its actions
LAKES	WATER		COASTS, FISH, OCEANS, RIVERS	FIRE	it moves ponderously
LAWS			DISCIPLINE, JUSTICE, OATHS, ORDER	CHAOS, DEPRAVITY, MURDER, THEFT	it has a very stark look about it
LIES			TREACHERY, TRICKERY	TRUTH	it seems unerringly honest if one does not concentrate
LIGHT			DAY, RAINBOWS, SUN	DARKNESS, TWILIGHT	it returns surrounding light with a new vibrance and intensity
LIGHTNING	WEATHER		RAIN, STORMS, THUNDER		it crackles with energy
LONGEVITY			YOUTH	DEATH	it always seems to be looking far into the distance
LOVE					it stares longingly at those nearby
LOYALTY			OATHS	TREACHERY	it never abandons its companions
LUCK			GAMBLING, GAMES	FATE	it changes direction suddenly at times
LUST			DEPRAVITY		it has an unnerving stare
MARRIAGE			BIRTH, FAMILY, OATHS, PREGNANCY		it heckles those it meets that are not married
MERCY			FORGIVENESS	REVENGE	it always seems like it is on the verge of crying
METALS	EARTH		CRAFTS, FIRE, MINERALS		it appears to have sharp shimmering edges on many parts of its body
MINERALS	EARTH		JEWELS, METALS		it has an angular appearance
MISERY			TORTURE	CONSOLATION, FESTIVALS, REVELRY, HAPPINESS	it has a distinctly depressing moan
MIST					it is difficult to see clearly
MOON			NIGHT, SKY		it changes color with the phases of the moon
MOUNTAINS			CAVERNS, EARTH, VOLCANOS		it is very solidly built
MUCK				BEAUTY	there is a foul reek about it
MURDER			DEATH	LAWS	it cannot abide anything that lives
MUSIC	ART		DANCE, FESTIVALS, REVELRY, SONG	SILENCE	it sounds clear tones as its body moves in time
NATURE		ANIMALS, PLANTS	RAIN, SUN, WATER, WEATHER		it seems most at ease when it is outdoors
NIGHT			DARKNESS, DREAMS, MOON, NIGHTMARES, STARS	DAY, DAWN, DUSK, TWILIGHT	it eerily reflects the light of the stars and moon
NIGHTMARES			DREAMS, NIGHT	DAY	it reminds those that look upon it of their most unpleasant memories
OATHS			LAWS, LOYALTY, MARRIAGE	TREACHERY	it cannot look directly at somebody that has broken an oath
OCEANS	WATER		COASTS, FISH, LAKES, RIVERS, SALT	FIRE	it always raises a part of its body toward the moon
ORDER			DISCIPLINE, DUTY, LAWS	CHAOS, FREEDOM	it moves very stiffly
PAINTING	ART		INSPIRATION		its surface is always enlivened with a refreshing play of color
PEACE					it has an incredibly calm demeanor
PERSUASION			POETRY, SPEECH		it rocks back and forth whenever somebody changes their mind in its presence
PLANTS	NATURE	TREES	ANIMALS, RAIN		it always seems to point toward the sun when it is in the sky
POETRY	ART		INSPIRATION, PERSUASION, SONG, WRITING		it recites verses in a strange language on occasion
PREGNANCY			BIRTH, CHILDREN, CREATION, FAMILY, MARRIAGE		it appears to be expecting
RAIN	WATER, WEATHER		AGRICULTURE, FERTILITY, LIGHTNING, NATURE, PLANTS, RAINBOWS, STORMS, THUNDER, TREES		it leaves water wherever it goes
RAINBOWS	WEATHER		LIGHT, RAIN, SKY		it is strikingly colored
REBIRTH			BIRTH, CREATION, DEATH		it alternates from instant to instant between sluggishness and extreme vibrancy
REVELRY			DANCE, FESTIVALS, HAPPINESS, MUSIC, SONG	MISERY	it moves with a bouncing rhythm
REVENGE				FORGIVENESS, MERCY	it has a fixed and unblinking gaze when interacting
RIVERS	WATER		FISH, LAKES, OCEANS	FIRE	its outer surface seems to flow about its body
RULERSHIP					it is hard to disobey
RUMORS			FAME		it always nods eagerly when somebody is speaking
SACRIFICE			CHARITY, GENEROSITY	WEALTH	it inspires those around it to acts of great sacrifice
SALT	EARTH		OCEANS		it makes nearby water undrinkable
SCHOLARSHIP			WISDOM, WRITING		it always seems to be deep in thought
SEASONS					its form is ever-changing
SILENCE				FAME, MUSIC	it makes absolutely no sound
SKY			MOON, RAINBOWS, SUN, STARS, WEATHER, WIND		it has a slowly shifting pattern on its surface
SONG	ART		FESTIVALS, MUSIC, POETRY, REVELRY		it sings beautiful songs endlessly
SPEECH			PERSUASION		it pays attention carefully to anybody that is speaking
STARS			NIGHT, SKY		it appears to sparkle after night falls
STORMS	WEATHER		LIGHTNING, RAIN, THUNDER		its movement is the sound of wind and rain
STRENGTH					it looks solidly built
SUICIDE			DEATH		it mutters to itself about death
SUN			DAWN, DAY, FIRE, LIGHT, NATURE, SKY	DARKNESS	it is difficult to look at directly
THEFT				LAWS, TRADE	it always seems to have its attention on the most valuable object in the area
THRALLDOM					its movements sound like the rattling of chains
THUNDER	WEATHER		LIGHTNING, RAIN, STORMS		it is incredibly noisy
TORTURE			MISERY		it appears to be covered with sharp hooks and barbs
TRADE			WEALTH	THEFT	it seems most content when a fair wind is blowing
TRAVELERS					it never stops moving completely
TREACHERY			LIES, TRICKERY	LOYALTY, OATHS	it is unsettling to be around
TREES	PLANTS		RAIN		it is top-heavy
TRICKERY			LIES, TREACHERY	TRUTH	it has a tendency to laugh quietly to itself every so often
TRUTH				LIES, TRICKERY	it tenses up throughout its entire body whenever somebody tells a falsehood in its presence
TWILIGHT			DAWN, DUSK	LIGHT, DARKNESS, DAY, NIGHT	it chitters briefly before sunrise and just after nightfall
VALOR	COURAGE		WAR		it always tries to embolden any fighting in its presence with exhortations of bravery, even its foes
VICTORY			WAR		it looks very proud of itself
VOLCANOS			EARTH, FIRE, MOUNTAINS		it seems to glow brightly from within
WAR			CHAOS, DEATH, FORTRESSES, VALOR, VICTORY		it bellows and cheers without pause
WATER		LAKES, OCEANS, RIVERS, RAIN	FISH, NATURE	FIRE	it seems to flow as it moves
WEALTH			JEWELS, TRADE	SACRIFICE	it always seems to be counting something
WEATHER		LIGHTNING, RAIN, RAINBOWS, STORMS, THUNDER, WIND	NATURE, SKY		it changes appearance based on the clouds and precipitation above
WIND	WEATHER		SKY		it is surrounded by an everpresent rush of wind
WISDOM			SCHOLARSHIP		it acts with unwavering calm
WRITING			POETRY, SCHOLARSHIP		it is covered with divine writing
YOUTH			BIRTH, CHILDREN, LONGEVITY	DEATH	it appears spry and vigorous