Quickstart guide/Starting site

Hostile Civilizations

While searching your map for a good site, hit the Tab key to change the display. You will notice that there are several informative screens besides the default screen showing various properties of the area, including your Neighbors. A Neighbor is any Civilisation of a dominant race that would reasonably know about your new settlement and have diplomatic relations with the Civilisation you represent, which is selectable in the Your Civilisation tab.

Some Neighbors may be Towers, whose inhabitants are necromancers and the undead. You can be attacked at any time by undead armies if you embark near a Tower; those wanting for a slower experience may want to avoid these sites.

If any of your Neighbors appear with a red line, it indicates significant diplomatic hostilities between your Civilisation and theirs which most likely will lead into outright war. Open war will also be indicated in capitals. If any of these apply, especially for Goblin civilisations, expect a siege after your first winter. Sieges can be incredibly dangerous for young fortresses, but are entirely survivable with enough patience, and even defeatable with well-placed traps. Avoid overconfidence in your military, forbid and tightly close your doors, and hope the enemy dispel before your supplies of food, water, and raw materials run out.