Lets Play Dwarf Fortress!

[Devercia]

This thread is a masterwork of Verdana. It is adorned with exceptionally worked Verdana. The thread menaces with spikes of HTML.

Welcome to my DF thread. Here I will be posting reports of my current fortress from the game Dwarf Fortress, with suggestions from all of you, as well as naming characters after you guys. Being a P I can't promise regularity, but I will certainly try. It will play out like a story.

Explanation of DF

If you have never heard of DF; it is a indie game that is ASCII based. What it lacks in graphics it makes up for in game play, both massive and micro. You can download it for free at http://www.bay12games.com/dwarves/ . Essentially, your run a colony of dwarves and assign them occupations to which they begin living their lives. Seems simple and unoriginal right? Where it differs is that the concept of this game is based on base, random, and seemingly insignificant events. From these the whole world dynamically lives.

Everything is randomly generated from a primative history and world to the era currently being played, whenever that may be. That giant thats been rampaging nearby, he is missing an arm for a reason. Turns out one of your lowly stone worker's great grandfather chopped it of 100 years ago. Such is the depth to this game.

Each dwarf has its own god, friends, aquaintences, family, lovers, pets, personality traits, likes, dislikes etc. that effect his moods and actions. Old Kon Grimboat had the fortitude to watch his wife being punched in a brawl, beaten, then left to starve by the fortress guards. However watching her corpse rot with out a burial sent him mad. He now wanders about the fortress babbling and stripping naked, soon to fall in a bog and drown most likly, or starve to death.

other info can be found athttp://dwarf.lendemaindeveille.com/index.php/Main_Page

Here is most, but not all the professions:
http://dwarf.lendemaindeveille.com/index.php/Skill

Losing is FUN!!

How we will play

I have Version 39b, modded so we are humans. I had a previous fortress that failed and am now reclaiming it. I am currently cleaning it up so we can get to the meat of the game.

First I will post our Humans, their names and jobs. The first will be named After Lightspeed, being the administrator, I thought it best he/she play the first and only noble so far. after you guys. Despite the game auto nameing characters, I am subject to not bothering to read those of other languages, yes, DF has several rudimentary languages. Every so often I will post a report, and ask what you guys think I should do. I understand that it will most likely lead to me just reporting, seeing as how this game is so difficult to understand.

I can't control the characters directly, only direct constructions and production orders in a communistic society. Later on it becoumes capitalistic, but that is quite a ways down the road.

Love of Reason struck the ground "Cishnihde (Ashendale!)"

22nd of Hematite(June), 204

We are the members of the Fellowship of Ashes, of the Homely Empire. Ashendale is a ruin far away from our home, in the Northeastern forests. The realm here has conquered the elves and our home is near one of those settlements, Gods help us.

Named Roster:

Lightspeed: Administrator

Unamed Roster:

1 Miner:
1 Woodworker:
1 Carpenter:
1 Stoneworker:
1 Fisherman:
1 Herbalist:


Fortress composite image:
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc148/Devercia/Ashendale.gif


http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc148/Devercia/Ashendale2.gif
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc148/Devercia/Ashendale3.gif (http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc148/Devercia/Ashendale3.gif)

The current effort is almost entirely clean up of scattered objects left from the exedus of the sight by the previous occupants.

[Devercia]

1st of Granite(March) 205

This year has seen the cleaning of Ashendale to former glory, however humble. No longer is the grass littered with debris, but shines its glorious greens without litter. A new apartment building is being constructed just west of the well. It will be at least 2 stories high, contain at least 1 large room and 2 cells. the second floor has yet to be decided pertaining its devision of space. Some back roads have also been paved in the industrial quarter.

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc148/Devercia/Ashendale4.gif

With new additions our population is now at a healthy 22 souls. We have most of our needs met, but are lacking in warriors, engineers, mechanics and craftsmen.

This winter was not without hardship. As the brook froze, so did our water supply. but thanks to Zakai's brew with the aid of malts from CreepingChalie, thirst was averted. Even as winter made its final wail into death, it took one of ours with it. Editorone, the glassmaker, while walking on the thawing ice fell through and drowned under the bridge. He had no family or friends and was missed only by his deity Kamca, the god of night and darkness.

His memory will be carved into the ages.

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc148/Devercia/Ashenvale5.gif

[Devercia]

Report to the Homely Empire, 19 of Timber(November) 205.

So far this year has been very eventful. We have finished a initial survey of the area. The coniferous forest have provided much timber, forage and game. We are also blessed with many fish in the brooks and swamps. Our largest lacking is that of metals. The bedrock below us is exclusively metamorphic with igneous below; mostly marble, calcite, orthoclause and gabbro. The total lack of sedementery rock means we have few and far between metal veins. Only 2 coper veins have been discovered.

It all started off well. Waldez was struck by sudden genious and determination. He created Tangletwists, a marble cabnit unlike any other. It now decorates Lightspeeds quarters.

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc148/Devercia/Ashendale6.gif

Afterwords, one of our nameless followers was possesed by unknown spirits! Fortunately it must have been a vain spirit in need of a bejeweled marble crown. For that is exactly what the man made.

For a long time little occured, but it only surprised us when we were ambushed by goblins! The northwest spewed out 4 goblin wrestlers and 2 crossbowgobs. HairlessBlueTick led our fine militia of 5 untrained crossbowmen. I am happy to say 3 wrestlers and 1 crossbowgob were slain, but not without casualties. A stray horse was shot in the back, shattering its spine. It now roams around slipping in and out of consciousness . A pet dog was also slain. Worst of all, Ogion was shot in the leg.

Our engravers have been hard at work perfecting thier art. The history of Ashendale will be seen through the ages to come on the floors and walls of our tombs.

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc148/Devercia/Ashendale7.gif

Ogions condition has been neglected. He died of thirst after days of unconsiousness in his cell. About that time a new vien of Malachite(copper ore) was discovered by Radioactive Springtime. A few gems chrysocollus were also unearthed.

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc148/Devercia/Ashendale8.gif

Our current roster.

Note: this roster lists Ogion as a animal dissector. This is an oversight of him being named after 2 characters. it will be removed later.

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc148/Devercia/Ashendale9.gif

[Ogion]

Ouch, damn, Gameover. :p Now i will never know how it was, to be a she and a worshipper of Luthi...

One question: All these nice details, are you writing them, or does the game deliver them? Anyhow, nice story. Keep up informing us.

Ogion

[loveofreason]

Can we resurrect Ogion?

I'd suggest resurrecting EditorOne too, but his death was so poetic.

[Devercia]

I forgot to mention, Luthi is the god of duty, loyalty, courage etc. Fitting that Ogion died in battle.

Yes, all these little details are in the game. I am only stringing them together in story form. The game's focus is to create a potential for events rather than the events themselves(although there are placeholder events.) One ingenuative player made a trap room from rerouting a river to the room with floodgates. when invaders entered, he flooded the room. Another one-uped him with magma. Still another out did them both buy having a little magma in the room, then routing water in to steam the invaders to death. To bad Demons are immune to such heat, after digging into hell his fortress was riped apart. Unfortunately we don't have a magma pit, lava tube or volcano nearby.

I am starting to run out of forum names that aren't new people, since they aren't memorable. As soon as one of our nameless humans goes mad, he will be Perseus :P

Even with the population at 44, there are still many more to come. I might start naming humans after other forums. We should note that this game keeps history. Lets hope our engravers make a tribute to him. If we have another Ogion it may become ambiguous.

[Jordan~]

I have no idea how to play this. >.<

Maybe I'm too young and used to having things to click on...

Okay, I'm sort of beginning to work it out...

Also, oi! I've got 214 posts now! I think I deserve a dwarf.

[Dissident]

Hey, Im a carpenter in there, thats better than my actual job! :p

Ill try the game (I try them all)

[Devercia]

I'm not sure how I missed ou Jordan, I had thought I already had you for some reason. What would you like to be? Engraver, fishery worker, novice carpenter, soldier? We also are in need of a mechanic, the job is rarely used, so there is little glory but for what I have you make.

The game is certainly daunting at first. It is a bit like the Matrix, soon everything is blonds and redheads. I highly suggest you read the dwarffortresswiki's guide

[Jordan~]

Engraver. :D

I would definitely make pretty things if I had to do a fantasy practical job. :P

I'm definitely working it out, now. I'm carving a home out a mountainside from a small base enclosed with bridged channels and walls and a river on one side. It's pretty fun! Just trying to work out how to make my farmer stop insisting he's actually a herbalist.

Question: How do you get stone? >.>

[Devercia]

Done.


As long as you have farming enabled and herbalism disabled, his designation will reamin herbalist until his farming skill exceeds herbalsim. His title is always his best skill, or a conglomeration of commonly grouped skills(woodworker etc.).

[Jordan~]

And the stone? It says stuff about digging down, but I can't figure out how to do that. I've got stone boulders lying around, can I do anything with those?

...Never mind, I worked it out.

Hmm, when the merchants come, it's like I change region. Is this meant to happen? There doesn't seem to be any water...

Never mind, it was moving to another elevation. >.<

[Jordan~]

Okay, I've got a pretty cool (tragic) story!

A brave party of seven set out to found a fortress in an ill-chosen area, full of waterlogged sand. Attempts at digging were hindered by the discovery of vast amounts of wet stone. Seeking a solution, the dwarves began channeling the lava to the north, hoping to allow controlled floods in each chamber, channel lava into them, and allow the steam to escape, leaving only obsidian deposits. The inexperienced miners, however, made a few fatal mistakes. After the death of the first miner, who suffocated in a fire caused by a fire imp raid, a jeweller was given his pick to prevent the slowing of the mining operations underground. While attempting to allow lava to pass into one of the chambers from above, he slipped and burned to death. Meanwhile, the party's hunter had set out into the wilderness. He did not return. It was later discovered that he had been killed by a fox while unconscious for unknown reasons. The passage in which the jeweller died was deemed unsafe for further digging, and so a second ill-fated channel was opened further north. During digging, water was struck, resulting in the drowning of the last miner. Soon after, a second raid by the fire imps was met with opposition. However, as the wagon, still not unloaded, was set alight; one of the woodcutters was set aflame and died fighting. Soon afterwards, the fisherdwarf returned to the charred remains of the wagon and the tragedy of all that had happened. Going off to fish, seemingly calm, he went insane. After taking up the axe of his fallen brother and chasing the only other survivor, he was eventually struck down, leaving one dwarf, a woodcutter, alone. The mines abandoned, he turned to building a camp for himself above ground, striving alone to complete the walls of what once had the potential to be a thriving town.

[Ogion]

Oh man, seems your poor dwarves have (had, i should say) bad karma :(
Can you play on with just one dwarf? (Robinson dwarf)

Ogion

[Jordan~]

It just got so awesome. While he was finishing the walls, an empty shell of a settlement, migrants arrived. :D
This game is so excellent. I'll write the rest of the surface-dwarves' adventures later.

[Ogion]

Hm, i am really tempted here. And that although i "don't" have time at the moment (i shouldn't, have time that is, to be honest)...
Well, i'll see how long my abstination endures... :D

Ogion

[Jordan~]

So, when the migrants arrived I set them to work immediately. In little time, they'd built a large sort of hostel-y place to accomodate all of them, and in a but more time (production of wood slowed for some reason) they'd given it a roof and filled it with beds. After the fishery was finished and given walls and a roof, I started building more things and forgot to pause when I went to dinner. When I came back, everyone was very angry and there was no food. -_-

I saved it, I might go back to it later.

[Devercia]

Report to the Homely Empire, 12th of Malachite, 206

We have experienced tragedy aplenty this season. As an ill omen to come, a kobold has stolen the marble crown that was so precious to our people. The contemptible sneak thief has inspired us to construct a perimeter wall around the industrial quarter. It will force any skulking scum to traverse through the high traffic areas. However Dissident has done his best to replace our loss with his own masterwork, Threegleamed. I don't know whether to commend Dissident on his good work or slap him for having such a useless fascination with boxes. Apparently it isn't whats on the inside that matters.

The camp has enlarged its resedential area especially with the throngs of new migrants ariveing. Unfortunately the carpenters and masons can't keep up.

camp overview composite image(large file)
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc148/Devercia/AshendaleComposite2.gif

One of our Wrestlers died of thirst in his bed, his leg broken he was unable to fetch himself a drink. If there is an downfall to being an INTP, its letting your neighbors die needlessly. meanwhile, the legends of our people grows as is shown on the walls of our tombs.

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc148/Devercia/Ashendale10.gif

In true Editorone fashion, Wisp fell though the thawing ice. Saturnine somehow stranded himself on a peice of land that is inaccessible. How it was done is unknown. After not being able to feed himself and unbeknownst to everyone else he eventually starved. These two will be missed.

As if yet another omen of ill fortune Ashendale was attacked by two groups of goblins. They came prepared with archers and killed a nameless mason and 4 wrestlers. Hairlessbluetick was also shot in the right thigh and is in critical condition.

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc148/Devercia/Ashendale11.gif

We have many spaces for new names.

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc148/Devercia/Ashendale12.gif





http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc148/Devercia/Ashendale13.gif

[spiderx]

no drink? that's kinda crazy...

[Devercia]

The carpenters have been busy constructing buildings, neglecting the necessary barrels.

[Devercia]

Disappearing posts...

Letter to the Homely Empire, Early Winter, 206.

New life has been breathed into Ashendale. The Resedential sector has a new block of 8 cells and soon more as our population grows. The Industrial sector has also been getting a facelift of marble and soon proper shelter.

http://mkv25.net/dfma/map-3878-ashendale

(This new tool allows you to see the for in all its glory!)

[Devercia]

http://mkv25.net/dfma/map-3943-ashendale
be sure to check out the points of interest.


Letter to the Homely Empire, 9th Hematite (June) 208.

It has been several years since my last report. Some housing has been finished in the residential area swell as the construction of a keep to illustrate the grandeur of Ashendale. Many things have happened since then. Severus has created Glazedportents. We congratulate his masterwork. In sad news as well as true Editor one fashion ZXC, Agent Intellect and the Child Manba all fell through the thawing ice and died. Agent Intellect will be missed by her lover Tekton.


http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc148/Devercia/Ashendale14.gif


http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc148/Devercia/Ashendale15.gif

Three other great construction were made. NoIdiots and Fernando were responcible for The Purge of Problems and Muddleoutrage respectively. The great chair will son be the thrown of the baron to be, and the hatch cover will torture the will of those in our dungeons.
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc148/Devercia/Ashendale16.gif
as well as two more pages of peasents and children.

[Dissident]

The graphics improved quite a bit didnt they? It looks pretty nice now.

[Devercia]

Its a third party tileset.

[Devercia]

A new update.

13th of Hemitite (June) 208. We have just been the target of a goblin attack. This one was more organized than the others, with a good sized group of attackers.
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc148/Devercia/Ashendale15-1.gif
The fight ensues!
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc148/Devercia/Ashendale16-1.gif

We Sweet them from the field!

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc148/Devercia/ashendale17.gif

We survived with only Vrecknidj suffering bruising on his right lower arm.

[Vegard Pompey]

Where can I find the tileset you are using?

[Devercia]

A mixture of Dystopian Rhetoric(graphics) and Guybrush (character)


http://www.dwarffortresswiki.net/index.php/List_of_user_character_sets

http://www.dwarffortresswiki.net/index.php/List_of_user_graphics_sets

[Devercia]

Correction to moderated post:

Its Mike Mayday's Combined Pack.

Its on teh DF wiki under graphic sets