Editing v0.31:Surroundings

{{quality|Exceptional|20:48, 4 October 2011 (UTC)}} {{av}}

'''Surroundings''' affect the types of [[plant]] life, wild [[animals]] and [[creatures]] which will appear in play within a given [[biome]].  It is possible to start a [[fortress]] that overlaps multiple alignment types (for example a terrifying [[forest]] and a calm [[shrubland]]). Some players consider this desirable, as it provides diversity in your little corner of the world, but it also has its dangers in the form of more ferocious wildlife.

Some plants and animals are unique to a certain type of surroundings and will only be found if those surroundings are present on the map. Note that most creatures also require a specific [[climate]] to spawn in.  Again, it's important to check the specific biomes making up your site.  Once a [[creature]] spawns on the map, it is under no compulsion to stay in its own biome and can roam as it pleases.  Because of this, the specifics of what means what can be difficult to pin down sometimes.

== Combinations of surroundings ==

{| {{prettytable}}
|-style="background:#dddddd"
|style="background:#aaaaaa"| ||'''Benign'''||'''Neutral'''||'''Savage'''
|-
|style="background:#dddddd"|'''Good'''||Serene||Mirthful||Joyous Wilds
|-
|style="background:#dddddd"|'''Neutral'''||Calm||Wilderness||Untamed Wilds
|-
|style="background:#dddddd"|'''Evil'''||Sinister||Haunted||Terrifying
|}

===Neutral===

:including <span style="background-color:black;color:{{fgcolor|7:0}}">'''Calm'''</span>, <span style="background-color:black;color:{{fgcolor|2:0}}">'''Wilderness'''</span> and <span style="background-color:black;color:{{fgcolor|6:1}}">'''Untamed Wilds'''</span>

'''Neutral''' regions are the easiest to understand.  They generally mimic the real world, with recognizable wildlife depending on the area.  They can be quite dangerous depending on the region, holding anything from generally non-aggressive but physically powerful enemies such as [[gorilla]]s and [[elephant]]s to the very aggressive and very dangerous [[giant eagle]]. As one might expect, ''Benign Neutral'' zones are really very safe, while ''Savage Neutral'' areas can pose some major difficulties, depending on the dominating climate and landforms.  You'll find most of the standard aboveground plants in these alignments, such as [[prickle berry|prickle berries]], [[rope reed]], [[wild strawberries]] and the like.

===Good===

:including <span style="background-color:black;color:{{fgcolor|1:1}}">'''Serene'''</span>, <span style="background-color:black;color:{{fgcolor|2:1}}">'''Mirthful'''</span> and <span style="background-color:black;color:{{fgcolor|3:1}}">'''Joyous Wilds'''</span>

'''Good''' biomes tend to have less aggressive and weaker [[creatures]], except for the [[unicorn]]. Good regions also support the wild [[sun berry]], which makes the best [[booze]] in the game. There are generally slight changes between ''Benign Good'' and ''Savage Good''.  

=====Distinctive flora & fauna=====
* Animals: [[mountain gnome]], [[satyr]], [[unicorn]], [[merperson]], [[gorlak]]
* Plants: [[sun berry]]
* Trees: [[feather tree]]
* Vermin: [[fluffy wambler]], [[fairy]], [[pixie]]

===Evil===

:including <span style="background-color:black;color:{{fgcolor|5:0}}">'''Sinister'''</span>, <span style="background-color:black;color:{{fgcolor|5:1}}">'''Haunted'''</span> and <span style="background-color:black;color:{{fgcolor|5:1}}">'''Terrifying'''</span>

'''Evil''' regions are more dangerous than their ''Neutral'' and ''Good'' counterparts across the board. At their root, ''Evil'' regions are modified ''Neutral'' regions. In addition to a pack of other [[creatures]] that are nasty, dangerous, and spiteful such as [[beak dog]]s, [[harpy|harpies]], and [[ogre]]s, ''Evil'' regions modify their ''Neutral'' base by infecting many (but not all) of the indigenous [[creatures]] with various forms of [[undead|undeath]]. [[Undead]] have a resistance to piercing attacks and are always far more aggressive than their living counterparts, and they leave a fraction of the corpse benefits (zombies fall down rotten and are unbutcherable, skeletons only leave bones).  Clearly, hunting undead animals for food is pointless, and finding kills in a countryside crawling with [[undead]] is outstandingly dangerous. [[Undead]] shrubs are useless for gathering, too.  Also, fish can be infected with undeath, and can even walk on land to attack fisherdwarves. Even ''Benign Evil'' is very difficult for beginning players to earn a niche to work in, so it should be reserved for a challenge play only.

=====Distinctive flora & fauna=====
* Animals: [[ogre]], [[dark gnome]], [[beak dog]], [[foul blendec]], [[grimeling]], [[werewolf]], [[harpy]], [[troll]], [[strangler]], [[nightwing]], [[ice wolf]], [[blizzard man]], [[sea monster]], [[manera]]
* Plants: [[sliver barb]]
* Trees: [[glumprong]]
* Vermin: [[demon rat]], [[blood gnat]], [[knuckle worm]], [[phantom spider]]

===Savage===
'''Savage''' surroundings are typically more dangerous than their Neutral or Benign counterparts, due to the "wildlife" (naturally occurring creatures) found therein. A "Savage Good" region is called Joyous Wilds, a "Savage Neutral" region is called Untamed Wilds, and a "Savage Evil" region is called (and can be truly) Terrifying.

=====Distinctive flora & fauna=====
* Animals: [[giant eagle]], [[giant cheetah]], [[giant leopard]], [[giant jaguar]], [[giant tiger]], [[giant lion]], [[tigerman]], [[slugman]], [[snailman]], [[leechman]], [[giant desert scorpion]], [[sasquatch]], [[sea serpent]]
* Plants: [[whip vine]]
* Trees: [[Tree#List_of_Trees|highwood]]
* Vermin: [[two-legged rhino lizard]], [[moghopper]], [[fox squirrel]], [[acorn fly]]