Hey folks, Raycaster here. Signin' up for the sole purpose of making THIS thread. This one right here.
Basically, the idea is that Zero and I are planning on running something of a succession game with dwarf fortress, in the style of the classic Boatmurdered saga [language warning] (http://fromearth.net/LetsPlay/Boatmurdered/).
Ah, classic DF, digging to the right and hitting the cave river. Pure semi-nostalgia.
But, with the new version, Z-axis mining, and a plethora of new features promises to result in somewhat of a more interesting game.

But enough of that, Zero tells me a good number of you are familiar with the game mechanics of Dwarf Fortress, and so I'll not summarize that.
I will however explain the rules of this succession game.
Firstly, a succession game is basically where we relay players year to year, taking turns.
Each player has one year to lead the fortress in the direction that they wish, crafting it to their will.
From the first day of one year, all the way to spring of the next.
As soon as the new year rolls around, you must save your game, zip the folder containing the world and fortress, and by whatever means you find most comfortable, pass it on to the next player in line.
Optionally, you may nickname a single dwarf after yourself, and designate it with tasks that you wish for it to have. No future player may alter that dwarf's tasks, unless it is absolutely necessary (perhaps there are no other dwarves at all?).
To keep these things fair, the order of play will be the order of sign-up.

So far, known player order is:
1. Raycaster
2. Zero

The sooner you request a position, the sooner you can take a turn!
If the end of the list is reached, it will start again from 1.

Also, to keep down the complaints on where to settle, and what to bring along, I have decided to simply choose the spot that first appears on the embark screen, and chose the 'Play now!' option, which resulted in it being a calm neutral mountain. It has an outdoor waterfall (rock on) and a fair amount of trees. The dwarf skills and the items brought along were mostly chosen at random.

A few things to note is that there are some extra things you must ensure.
No player may willfully make future leader's rules to be difficult, so no dumping all the rock, tools, and building materials in the river so a depot couldn't be built, no sending all but one dwarf to a premature death, that sort of thing.

I think that just about covers everything.

Are you ready to be a part of the Distantcity legacy?

I heartily endorse this product or event.

There's supposed to be a seperate thread for it, but apparently it's, er, pending moderator approval, which is new to me.

I would like to join in this event. However, I'm busy with exams and such at the moment, so add me after about 5 people request.

If I played, I'd do this.

At least, I'd like to appear around there, working with... metals :p

1. Raycaster
2. Zero
3. Plasma

Dibs on making an enclosure for my Dwarf!

Ah, it was merged into this topic.
Well, I guess we have enough sign ups we can start the game already.
I'll begin posting screen shots and write ups about it later this evening, but for now... I'll just post the surface area map.
We'll go from the bottom upwards.

Bottom of the barrel, folks. (http://g.photos.cx/Distantcity-15-region5-1051-1-01.png)

Nothing interesting yet. (http://g.photos.cx/Distantcity-16-region5-1051-1-20.png)

Consider for a moment this is about all the space you'd have total when the mountains were just flat on the sides and you dug to the right. (http://g.photos.cx/Distantcity-17-region5-1051-1-8a.png)

Hell yeah man! Outdoor waterfall! (http://g.photos.cx/Distantcity-18-region5-1051-1-ae.png)

Meet our sorta-hardy band of settlers! (http://g.photos.cx/Distantcity-19-region5-1051-1-3c.png)

Frosty. Cliffy. (http://g.photos.cx/Distantcity-20-region5-1051-1-7e.png)

Man, I was hoping some interesting materials would be exposed along the mountain face, but it's just all rock salt and more rock salt. We'll never have want for white colored stones. (http://g.photos.cx/Distantcity-21-region5-1051-1-25.png)

The highest non-dwarf built position within our boundaries! You can even see a human town from atop it. (http://g.photos.cx/Distantcity-22-region5-1051-1-f6.png)

I would be willing to join such a thing.

1. Raycaster
2. Zero
3. Plasma
4. Pigbuster

Make sure you choose a good world seed and get a good spot.

Also, this should probably be made into a new thread. This one is more for everybody's general DF stuff, methinks.

My last exam is tomorrow. After that, I should have enough time to join in with this. So I'm good.

Raycaster
Zero
Plasma
Pigbuster
Melon

Also, my list is sexier.

Make sure you choose a good world seed and get a good spot.

World seed was randomized, the fortress location was chosen by the game, and not a player, so that it'd be fairer, and nobody has more sway over starting position than another, and then there's no squabbling. I thought it was best, even I didn't have any choice in the matter.

Also, this should probably be made into a new thread. This one is more for everybody's general DF stuff, methinks.

Yknow, Pigbuster, I actually *tried* making this as a new thread. A moderator thought simply merging it to the end of this topic was a better idea than allowing a dedicated Dwarf Fortress project. Moderator word is law, and so I'll not contest it.

I'm loving the look of our terrain there, actually. Lots of nature stuff and huge-ass cliffs so people can plummet merrily to their dooms.

...Er, I mean, prosper. Safely. Yeah, that.

I'm loving the look of our terrain there, actually. Lots of nature stuff and huge-ass cliffs so people can plummet merrily to their dooms.

...Er, I mean, prosper. Safely. Yeah, that.
Those huge cliffs sound awful dangerous. A dwarf could be killed if he fell off and hit the ground below.
Therefore, I propose we dig out a huge chasm at the edge of all cliffs! With any luck, a superhero will find out about the accident and be able to save the Dwarf before he meets his unfortunate end.
Alternatively, we can fill the chasm with water, so that the dwarfs land safely. And don't bother putting in ladders or slopes, we don't want our guys draining the chasm by drinking it, no siree!

Well, we're almost there. The site prospected by the Dwarven Council 'The Mute Paper' to be the supposedly prime position for a new settlement, called 'Distantcity'. That's what they said, anyway. In my humble opinion, it's more like they chose the first spot that didn't look too overrun with threats and couldn't think of a name. Looks like they tried to be thrifty with the supplies and crew, too. I'll see what I can do about getting them in shape.

So, I've arrived on site, and have spoken with the rest of the settlers. (http://g.photos.cx/groupshot-ad.png) They seem like pretty good folk for the most part. However, they don't seem like first choice laborers to try and settle the land and create a fortress. Among our ranks we have a miner, but two picks (perhaps a spare?), a woodworker, a woodcutter, a stoneworker, a jeweller (but no jewels! completely useless!), a fisherdwarf, and a fish cleaner. We also have a breeding pair of cats and dogs. (http://g.photos.cx/crew-81.png)

In discussing the supplies that have been brought over, I was told that it was whatever the dwarven council deemed appropriate and adequate to keep us alive until we can fend for ourselves, and yet, nobody thought to actually count any of it. I'll have to make a note to have that jeweler make himself useful and actually take stock once an office is able to be supplied. What I do know is we have somewhere around 60 deep drinks of some kind of alcoholic thing (hopefully rum), something like 20 plants or so at a glance, and about the same of some unidentifiable cuts of meat. We have absolutely no building supplies. To rectify this somewhat, I have asked the woodworker to dismantle the wagon.

I've assigned the jeweler to the tasks of outpost manager, bookkeeper, and broker. I made sure the miner knew that he would be doing digging and nothing more. He didn't seem to mind too terribly. I've assigned the woodworker the additional tasks of handling architecture, and told him his skills are not in hauling errant objects to where they should be. The woodcutter surprised me, at second glance he is also somewhat skilled at brewing, cooking, planting, foraging, furnace operating (of all things), wood burning, lye making, and potash making. A regular jack-of-all-trades, it seems. The stone worker had studied engraving, masonry, mechanics, and architecture, and I said he should not haul objects either. The jeweler has proven to be, more or less, a dwarf more suited to the big mountainhomes, a dwarf of luxury, and fanciful trinkets. He can craft wood, bone, stone, cut and set gems of all sorts, and absolutely none of that has any use in taking back the land. I told him that though his skills are appreciated, he'll be put to better use hauling pretty much anything. Maybe once things settle down, I'll permit him a workshop. The fisherdwarf is a fisherdwarf, there is no hidden talent in this one aside from that. Barely that, I might add. His fish cleaning friend, however, knows the rudiments of butchery, tanning, leather working, weaving, and clothes making. This last duo, I hope, will be able to keep our fortress stocked with the children of the waters.

I have marked out an area along the bank of the river for a 'water source' and fishing purposes, as well as set a patch of forest to be cut down. (http://g.photos.cx/riverside-17.png) Lets see, we only have about 5 seeds to plant for our staple crop to begin with, hopefully that fisherdwarf is competant enough to tide us over, lest we run out of food and must forage for it along the mountainside?

The time has come, there has been enough talking, and now we must act. I have told the miner what will be required of him, the entire future of this fortress rests in his hands and that lone copper pick. I said to him, there must be a giant stairwell, straight to ground level from where we stood, and that there must be enough levels with which to dig out housing for our hardworking companions. The first level down contained a strata layer of sandy clay, which is adequate for farming. I dodged a swing of a pick aimed for the next level and asked the miner to hold off on it for a moment, we must make a temporary level to stay in here, and gave him the dimensions of the room that I would need. Edit: BLAST! I forgot about the rock salt that permeated this area. I have made an emergency alteration to the room in the opposite direction. It will not be an issue. (http://g.photos.cx/temproom-af.png)

On another front, I made an announcement that the construction of key workshops was mandatory. That of a carpenter's workshop, masonry, kitchen, fishery, and distillery. (http://g.photos.cx/workshops-e3.png)

I have told the jeweler to add a few things to the work orders.

7 beds.
10 barrels.
3 buckets.
10 rock doors.
5 rock blocks.
7 rock thrones.
7 rock tables.

I have begun designating stockpiles, and created a farm. Truly, this is a good life. But there is still alot that must be done! But that will be tomorrow's work. Tonight, we rest. (http://g.photos.cx/humbleabode-7f.png)

-----

The miner has struck moonstone! The jeweller was pleased, but I told him that they would have to remain in the wall until we finished the better portion of the fortress. Also, they are in a rather unfortunate position, being right next to the stairwell, it may cause some issues, depending on how the entrance to that floor will be handled.

This is my favorite miner! Not long after striking moonstone, he struck native silver! This mountain's wealth shall be uncovered in a year!

Again and again! Cassiterite! Ore of tin! Perhaps there is a use for that?

We have reached the bottom. Time to render the fortress's skeleton!

-----

Top level: Farming.
Second level: Food storage/Production.
Third level: Banquet hall. (I'll have to get the mason to smooth this up nicely.)
Fourth level: Bedrooms.
Fifth level: General storage.
Sixth level: Workshops.

Beyond this, I have not planned. This is enough mining already, and will take some time to plan so as to not stagnate future development.

Bedroom layout has been planned in a way that I believe can be scaled up indefinitely. (http://g.photos.cx/housing-82.png) Hmm. I have overlooked something. There may one day come a time when royalty may visit.

Fifth level will be a specialty level for higher quality bedrooms, the general storage shall be below that, and then the workshops.

Hard to believe it is only mid-spring! It feels to me like a lot more work. I am glad for it!

As a sign of vanity, I have begun an aboveground construction.
It will put the mason to use while there is nothing to craft.
It shall be a 'cap' to the fortress, with ramps leading to the roof. It will act as a guard to the rain, as well as hopefully contain the trading depot. There are enough ramps to accommodate the average cart, of course.

-----
Summer is here! My favorite season!
The building is complete. [1] (http://g.photos.cx/cap1-94.png) - [2] (http://g.photos.cx/cap2-d9.png)

I believe, judging from the first half of the year, that the latter half will be as simple as a toy hammer! I hope that after my time of leading this outpost to glory, that I may live long enough to lead it again!

I haven't been able to play dwarf fortress - i need to purchase one of those external usb number pad things because it'll only accept the + and - keypresses if they are on the number pad :( otherwise i would absolutely have been all over this. Just promise it'll still be happening once i finally get one.

I haven't been able to play dwarf fortress - i need to purchase one of those external usb number pad things because it'll only accept the + and - keypresses if they are on the number pad :( otherwise i would absolutely have been all over this. Just promise it'll still be happening once i finally get one.

You can customize every single button, you know.

I had to change the whole thing around to work on a keypad-less laptop.

You can customize every single button, you know.

I had to change the whole thing around to work on a keypad-less laptop.

Oh. Wow. You CAN do that, can't you. I'll uh, go do that. Add me to the list, then.


Raycaster
Zero
Plasma
Pigbuster
Melon
Robowurmz
Pickleworm

Few tips:
1: Designate a second miner, it'll help A LOT!
2: I'd recommend digging out a small underground water resovoir in case the river freezes.
3: Don't forget something:
http://resources.wizards.com/Magic/Cards/UNH/en-us/Card74254.jpg

You can customize every single button, you know.

I had to change the whole thing around to work on a keypad-less laptop.
Whoops, that probably would've been nice to know for me too. Saves me having to hold down the 'Fn' key to be able to use the keypad buttons on this laptop.

Few tips:
1: Designate a second miner, it'll help A LOT!

I'll save that for when a peasant immigrates, if none come, then it's Zero's domain.

2: I'd recommend digging out a small underground water resovoir in case the river freezes.

Won't need it, surface plants are active year round, I'd just designate a few to be gathered, and brew them. You'd be surprised how useful that skill is...

3: Don't forget something:
http://resources.wizards.com/Magic/Cards/UNH/en-us/Card74254.jpg

That's a pretty cool card, but I don't play with blue mana...
Maybe in an alt deck.

For those without a numpad, try these: http://dwarf.lendemaindeveille.com/index.php/Key_bindings

And I loved Boatmurdered, count me in:


Raycaster
Zero
Plasma
Pigbuster
Melon
Robowurmz
Pickleworm
SupSuper


Here's a fun quote from the developer's log:
There were two overlapping goblin empires, and they kept abducting each other's children. I'm not sure what I think about that. Nguslu Crestednightmare for example was abducted at age 3 and then abducted again at age 6 by the original goblin civilization, but by goblins from a different site than his place of birth (so it wasn't exactly a rescue mission). Nobody takes care of the children as foster parents at this point, so without a guiding hand from his birth parents, Nguslu didn't start worshipping his culture's demon until he was 22, by which time he had already been an unsuccessful baby-snatcher for some years.

I have begun moving the beds from our temporary lodgings to some finished rooms. Finally, the only snoring we shall hear is our own! Finally, privacy! Though, I really should finish the dining room and food storage soon. It will probably be done by tomorrow.

Food storage completed, mandated the construction of a quern.

Well, it's sort of interesting to relocate the workshops and things that have been there for the better part of a year, but now most of them are underground where they rightfully should be.

We have struck mica and sphalerite. Pretty neat.

Got a good portion of the workshops the future citizens of this place will require built already, and the dining room is coming along quite nicely! The jeweler has a place to do his counting, so the stocks shall finally be known to a reasonable amount.

Oh! Joys! The outpost liaison has arrived with the dwarven caravan! Hopefully, we'll be able to buy something spiffy for use!

The traders have arrived, and unloaded a virtual cornucopia of goods, and we rely on the jeweler to make the purchase.

Well, aside from a few obviously personal choices, such as the gems, the jeweler did quite well choosing what to trade.
Here is a list of what was purchased:

Silver Bars
Tin bars
Yellow jasper
Honey yellow beryl x2
Fire agate
Schorl
White chalcedonies
Cow in lead cage
Mule in tin cage
Dwarven ale barrel
Steel pick
Steel spear
Steel shield
Full leather bin
Wolf meat
Cave crocodile meat
Purring maggot meat x2
Cow meat
Horse meat
Giant olm meat
Giant rat meat
Giant cave swallow meat
Rainbow trout
Perch
Plump helmet
Cow cheese x2

The liaison was also quite helpful, he asked if we thought we would need anything from the merchants next year.
I requested Gold, Silver, and Copper bars, seeds of every type, more dogs, and as much food as their wagons could hold.
I hope that the next ruler will not object.

While this was going on, the miner struck microcline, my favorite rock! I like to pretend it is adamantine sometimes. I know it is silly.

The liaison mentioned what the other fortresses required, but I tuned it out for the most part except something about short swords, shields, and thread.

I have begun creating a suit of armor of sorts, with a little imagination, out of bone and shell. It will be better than no armor at all. The recruiting of a dwarf into the military, however, will not be my doing, it seems.

Perhaps I spoke too soon! We've got a band of migrants!

We've got 14 sturdy dwarves now, our new fellows are:
A woodcutter, a blacksmith, two fishery workers, a soap maker and a wood burner, and finally a peasant.
But I shall keep true what I said before, and leave the militaristic efforts to later rulers.
Myself, I think I will lead my life after my rule as... a fisherdwarf. (I am taking the place of the fisherdwarf. As a note to future players again: You may not alter the active tasks on that dwarf now.)

I have said that the fortress has increased needs, and as such, a soap maker and the peasant have been assigned to mining.
Almost immediately, the former peasant has struck clear tourmaline!
But alas, due to inexperience, the miners have destroyed all the clusters.

Winter is upon us! Let's share a mug and warm up by the fires! Our fortress has gone a year with little more excitement than a failed kobold thief!

The miners have struck orthoclase. I have heard rumors that this is a bad omen? I hope that they are not true...

Well, adding some finishing touches to the dining room so far is about all I can do right now. I've neglected to keep notes for awhile, but nothing interesting happened.

It's about time I leave the running of things up to someone I heard was called 'Zero'. Why would they send someone called 'Zero' to run a fortress? When I was in the academy, a zero wasn't a good thing to have anywhere...

I wonder what will happen next?

----------

Well, that concludes my reign of Distantcity, it's Zero's turn now. Hope my designs aren't too screwed up, eh?

I didn't take any screen shots because there wasn't anything interesting enough to screen shot.

But what I did do is I exported bitmaps of all the current levels.

Top floor: Trade depot. (http://g.photos.cx/Distantcity-20-region5-1052-9-ef.png)

Ground level: Entrance. (http://g.photos.cx/Distantcity-19-region5-1052-9-2d.png)

B1F: Temp level/farming. (http://g.photos.cx/Distantcity-18-region5-1052-9-67.png)

B2F: Food storage and processing. (http://g.photos.cx/Distantcity-17-region5-1052-9-2b.png)

B3F: 'Splendid' dining room. Anyone care to improve? (http://g.photos.cx/Distantcity-16-region5-1052-9-04.png)

B4F: Housing. (http://g.photos.cx/Distantcity-15-region5-1052-9-bc.png)

B5F: Not pictured, not mined. Ideally a noble housing level.

B6F: Not pictured, would make a good general storage level.

B7F: Workshops. (http://g.photos.cx/Distantcity-12-region5-1052-9-b4.png)

I'll take number 9... number 9... number 9... number 9...


Raycaster
Zero
Plasma
Pigbuster
Melon
Robowurmz
Pickleworm
SupSuper
Paul.Power

An excellent start. I chuckled pretty heartily at the orthoclase bit. :)

I'll start on my term tonight.

Woah, you've got a funky design going on. I like how the Depot is on top of the entrance.

I have to ask: what's holding the ceilings of the storeroom and workshops up?

I have to ask: what's holding the ceilings of the storeroom and workshops up?
IIRC, cave-ins caused by over-hollowing out a room were removed because they caused too many bugs.

I guess that makes sense given the whole "the ceiling collapsed, *and* the floor above and stuff" thing.

You can still have cave-ins if you manage to completely isolate a piece of terrain though.

You can still have cave-ins if you manage to completely isolate a piece of terrain though.
I don't think it's supposed to be called a cave-in when it's not a cave.

Dear Journal, it looks like the expansionist nature of our grand civilization has finally called to me. I have served as a loyal and active miner here in the mountainhomes for many a year, but they have decided to send me along with the latest caravan to the new outpost, Distantcity. The place is barely a year old to date, evidently. It'll be tough to leave home and venture into the unknown, but I won't be alone, and I always feel fulfilled after mining out a grand new expanse which my brothers can turn into beautiful new halls of honor. ...Or something.

Our caravan leader, Zero, is a pretty cool guy. He seems pretty enthusiastic about getting his hands dirty as the new overseer of the outpost. Man, I can barely imagine taking on a role so important. Me, I just breathe rock.

Well, tomorrow we set off, but tonight, I rest.

---

We are on our way, Journal. Everybody seems pretty anxious. I'll just be fine so long as I don't have to look at any orthoclase. I keep hearing these ghost stories about a fortress cleft through orthoclase that... Never mind. That's just superstition.

---

Dear Journal, something completely unexpected has happened. A very... troubled-looking fellow from the caravan just ran up to me with his arms full of paperwork, quickly slurred something about a savage animal attack or some such, thrust all of the papers into my arms, called me Zero and quickly left.

I... Have a very bad feeling about this.

---

My hunch is confirmed, Journal. It looks like poor Mr. Zero had an unfortunate run-in during the travel of our caravan. Since I look just like him -- or so they say (my beard is a rather luxurious auburn, but I digress) -- they've decided to keep it hush-hush and just make me the new Zero. Couldn't they just tell the truth? Hello! I'm just a humble miner! Do I look like I know the first thing about leadership? All I want to do is whack rocks with a pick. I don't get it.

We'll be arriving at Distantcity within the span of a day. I feel slightly ill.

---

Well, Journal, we have arrived. I was surprised when the first thing I saw was a white stone structure protruding out of the ground, surrounded by some felled wood. It looks like this is a sort of cap for the actual fortress entrance, upon which the trading depot sits. Quaint.

Naturally, everybody hears that I'm "Zero" and expects me to know what the hell I'm doing and start calling some shots. I made up some joke about being rusty from having not overseen any fortresses in a long time. I got some sidelong looks for it.

When I entered the fortress for the first time, the sheer stench just about knocked me off my feet.
http://g.photos.cx/FISH-e0.PNG
It looks like the fisherdwarves had decided to make their production more efficient by just dropping their armfuls of fish all over the damn floor instead of putting them anywhere decent. Now, we know I'm just a simple miner (our little secret, Journal!) but I know that food is traditionally kept in barrels. You know, not dirt. Incidentally, some guy who introduced himself as the broker (what's a broker?) ran up to me and announced that the order for 30 wooden barrels had been completed. I acted impressed, and then told everybody within earshot to start putting the damn fish in the damn barrels.
http://g.photos.cx/skanky-5a.PNG
They were pretty compliant, and the food stockpile, such as it was, assumed something resembling order. Some of the food, such as the mussels, sat for long enough to get a little skanky, though. Mussel is always skanky, though. Nobody'll notice.

---

So I moved a table into the dining room just for something to do. Some guy standing nearby was just about moved to tears by this. He said something about the room becoming legendary, and left absolutely beaming about it. ...I miss the mountainhomes.

---

A little while ago, the jeweler came up to me and expressed his displeasure about his "skills going to waste." So I told him to put his skills to use and decorate stuff with gems. He left in a good mood.

A soap maker came to me shortly afterwards and complained that he was bored as well. (What the hell is soap?) I told him to just carry stuff to stockpiles. We need more of that. Getting around in this place is the world's largest game of hopskotch, with all the damn boulders lying around. He seemed content with that.

I found a woodcutter loafing around, saying he had nothing to do. I told him to cut wood. He did.

...Huh. This overseer stuff is pretty easy.

---

Journal, kobolds are idiots. Two thieves were recently spotted near the food stockpile on the upper floor. When confronted with three dwarves, they ran away like little beardless cowards, even though they were carrying formidable-looking daggers. No complaints here, but jeez.

---

Speaking of beardlessness, Journal, some elves arrived today. They introduced themselves as a caravan, but all I saw was two of the big tall prettyboys and two donkeys.
http://g.photos.cx/elves-7d.PNG
They proceeded to the trading depot at the top of our fortress and started putting all kinds of snooty-looking fabric on it. I decided to react by ordering everybody with free hands to bring out some of our crafts so we could strike a trade.
http://g.photos.cx/elfstuff-76.PNG
They were actually quite polite. All I ever heard about elves was how they were all arrogant, dwarf-hating asshats who pitch a little tree-hugging hissy fit every time a guy so much as spits on something from nature, but I don't see what's so bad about them. That, and they smell nice.
http://g.photos.cx/elfjerks-16.PNG
That was what I thought, at least, until I attempted to trade for some of their cloth with some light bone crafts which our craftsdwarf friend spent a lot of time and effort making. They both looked like I had just stabbed their mothers, made some snippy remark about my height, and left in a huff before I got a chance to trade anything else. I wanted that rope reed rope, at least... that could have been useful. Stuck-up jerks.

So, what's new of this tale? The people in the Mountainhomes would like to know.

Yeah, nothing new yet, sorry. Haven't played in the past couple of days. I know I'm holding the whole thing up, so I'll be sure to get on it tomorrow.

Yeah, nothing new yet, sorry. Haven't played in the past couple of days. I know I'm holding the whole thing up, so I'll be sure to get on it tomorrow.

Hey man, it took me a few days to get working on it myself.
I just posted filler too.

Oh, and I had an idea.
After someone has completed their turn as ruler of Distantcity, they should send me a copy of the world too, so that after the game gets done, we'd have a nice timeline of the fortress so that onlookers could basically dive in after the game is done and play around with it, or pull up the final year save and see if they can overcome it, or explore it as an adventurer, etc.

Uhh... Damn it. Sorry, this night completely got away from me. I blame my new kitty.

http://g.photos.cx/rooms-7a.PNG
I'm troubled about our bedroom situation. We could get more immigrants from the mountainhomes at any time, and I don't think we have the beds ready for another wave. I've asked the carpenter and the mason to just churn out beds and doors indefinitely. A healthy fortress can never have too many doors or beds. I've also got the mason constructing tables and chairs, though, so I hope he's not overworked. ...Bah! Like any dwarf is overworked.

I decided to take the time to observe some of the engravings left on the dining room walls.
http://g.photos.cx/fats-75.PNG
...The New Fats. I hope this isn't about me. I can't tell.

The guy running the brewery over there says he can't make any more booze because we don't have any more barrels. ...Figures, doesn't it. We have plenty of it for the moment anyway, and I've asked the carpenter to... carpent... more barrels.

---

Well, Journal, I'm not really worried about it, but I've decided I will attempt to rig a trap or two around the entrance to the fortress. Since there is only one way in or out of the place at the moment, a few well-placed traps will spell doom for any invading force, especially those irksome kobolds. I've asked the craftsdwarf to put some of the dark stone lying around to use and make some short swords. I plan on using some to booby-trap the entrance. The rest, hey, who knows?

((Not much for now, but I'm really tired. I'll try to keep at it.))

Do the dwarves sleep well with the workshops two levels below them?

Do the dwarves sleep well with the workshops two levels below them?

If everyone sleeps at the same time... I guess so :-/

Do the dwarves sleep well with the workshops two levels below them?

Nope.

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

In fact, they need to be 5 levels up/down before the noise stops bugging them.
And everyone's sleep patterns are going to get more and more unequal as time goes on, so expect plenty of long nights ahead!

My weapon trap plan fell through because we don't have any sort of rock with which to make a sword. And I (a miner! ha ha) know nothing of metal crafting. I may decide to look this up, because... Well, a bunch of reasons. A good fortress should have metal. I've sent the miners to hollow out the space in the vicinity of a native silver vein in the deep. Sigh... I wish I could take up the pick for myself. This is going to be a long year.

...Speak of Armok himself, Journal, some more migrants have just arrived, and one is a furnace operator! I'll have to see if he can teach me any secrets of the trade.

...He seems offended that I don't know anything. Tough. He then made some smartassed remark about needing ore. Using my copy of "Identifying Useful Ores for Big Dumb Idiots" as my guide, I identified some exposed cassiterite, which can be smelted into tin. I told the miners to get to work on securing some of that; tin isn't useful for much, but it'd be a start, and we could at least get some chains going on. I'll work on getting weapons when the needed ore is found.

Speaking of tough, there were quite a few of these immigrants. Our fortress population is up to 37. ...And I simply doubt we have a need for 7 fishery workers. On top of that, a second soap maker. The hell IS soap?! Notcing that the fundamentals of a kennel had been established but nobody had bothered to actually build them, I asked him if he knew anything about training dogs. He said he had no idea, but I told him to do it anyway.

---

http://g.photos.cx/mine-67.PNG
Journal, I have decided to assist the miners as well as continue my overseeing; they could probably use the help if we're going to be searching for ores. There's always mining to be done. It's morbid to think about, but I'd like to start on a cemetary as well. I already have the mason making coffins periodically. My mining skills have dulled with all of this... not mining I have been doing, but no matter. It'll come back.

Our brewers have now informed me that we lack anything distillable. So, I assigned some of our new loafers to work in the farm instead. I'm kind of slowly finding jobs for everybody. Meanwhile, we now have two full-fledged hunting dogs, and the metal dude is making metal out of ore, so things look like they're going pretty well! I'm kind of getting used to being called Zero.

http://g.photos.cx/detailrooms-31.PNG
Speaking of myself... I feel a little bad about making such a vain order, but I've put an unneeded gem setter to work as a mason, and asked both masons to start smoothing out my room and that of the previous overseer. Maybe all of these rooms will be detailed eventually when we have the dwarfpower to spare, but... I don't see anything wrong with a little extra gesture of respect towards the guys who call the shots, you know?

---

Man. I know I'm a little out of shape, but that "legendary" miner is such a showoff.
http://g.photos.cx/stupidlegend-3d.PNG

Nevertheless, Journal, great success! We have actual tin bars! ...Alright, so it's not such a huge accomplishment, but it is in my heart.

...It would appear that I have been misinformed, and tin is not suitable for chains. Blast and darn. I think I'll keep the bars handy, however, as they can be used for crafts, or to form stronger alloys.

Some have come to me and asked if I intended to appoint a sheriff. I'd love to, but a sheriff needs a jail, which requires metal, or, to be more specific, something a bit dwarvenlier than tin. I'll be working on it.

---

I've hollowed out a space for a cemetery -- well, okay, the other guys helped. A little. As I was keeping an eye on the progress of its smoothing out, I was informed that it was officially summer. One quarter of my term as overseer has elapsed. ...That wasn't so bad. Enclosed is a fairly superficial account of our current fortress status.

http://g.photos.cx/summerstatus-8e.PNG

the metal dude

I'll take that as a cameo :rolleyes:

Split by popular request - sorry for the delay.

Any posts in here which belong in the old thread please PM me their post numbers. Cheers.


Edit: Probably should have mentioned, the old thread's here and still active: http://forum.team17.co.uk/showthread.php?t=30824

Journal, in hopes of securing more ores, I've begun a strip mining operation in the lower levels. It's deep enough that I doubt this will conflict with the plans of future overseers. We have the whole mountain to ourselves anyway.
http://g.photos.cx/tehmians-ce.PNG
We've mined out more silver ore and struck a couple of new types of gemstone already. It's something. I'd best consult my guide and see which ores I need to forge reasonable metal.

http://g.photos.cx/trout-42.PNG
On another note... Don't you HATE it when you get some rainbow trout roast, and then there's barely any rainbow trout in it? Why do they call it rainbow trout roast if rainbow trout isn't what it's about? It's false labelling. I'll have to have a word with somebody about this.

---

What in Armok's name... I'm trying to sleep here, and I suddenly hear this devilish laughter or something from down the hall. Sigh. I better find out what's going on.
http://g.photos.cx/posessed-bd.PNG

http://g.photos.cx/stillposessed-0a.PNG
...Yep, somebody's gone crazy. They say he's possessed, but I don't buy it. Our furnace operator, of all possible people, has kicked the craftsdwarf out of his own shop and holed up in it with some wood, mumbling... Armok knows what. It looks like he's keeping himself busy, at least, so he probably won't skin any of us alive and wear us as hats. Probably. Enough of this noise. I'm going back to bed.

---

http://g.photos.cx/notposessed-7b.PNG
Hm, looks like Hoopynuts over there has finished his little project, entitled "Rhythmicunited the Untamed Admirer." ...Maybe he was possessed, for all I know, but I still think he was just trying to show off. But hey, it is a pretty nice amulet, I'll give it that. Everybody keeps calling it an artifact. I wouldn't go that far, but whatever.

Meanwhile, one of our mining team has struck orthoclase. I told him to stop mining out that strip.

http://g.photos.cx/hoomanbeing-a7.PNG
Humans, Journal! Their guild representative has arrived. Truth be told, I dunno about humans, but I hear they trade all kinds of cool stuff, so I'm sure they'll be worth hearing out. No way they can be worse guests than the elves.

http://g.photos.cx/wagonpark-bd.PNG
I sent the guild representative off to meet with the clerk or someone. I wasn't sure if they'd be able to pull it off, but the actual merchants have parked their wagons... on the trading depot. I have asked our comrades to bring all the goods not bolted to the ground. I'm pleased to note that this includes some fine-quality silver bars! I'd like to see humans get some goods like these by themselves! ...But let's just keep that between us, Mr. Journal. I had instructed the manufacture of at least one tin flute, but it looks like nobody's gotten around to it.

http://g.photos.cx/craftsmanship-eb.PNG
Craftsmanship? I think you mean craftsdwarfship, my tall brethren! Ha ha! Nonetheless, the tall ones have brought some interesting things, indeed.

Oddly, the silver bars are not especially valuable. Either that, or cow cheese is ridiculously valuable. Also, it looks like their animals are incapable of supporting their weight. This is a true shame.

...What the hell! Just as we had worked out a decent trade, they said something about "childish games" and left in a ****y mood. Well, damn it. That's two trading opportunities I've blown. ...The future overseers will be ****ed. Supposing this term of mine ever ends. Next year can't come soon enough...

Speaking of which, at any rate, I've remembered the ever-present problem of clothing wear -- as in, and tear, not, like, wearing the clothes -- and have asked some dumbass nice guy with nothing to do to start gathering plants outside to see if we can make some new threads. I was hoping to make something out of all of the leather I almost got from those humans, but no. Sigh. Back into the mines with me. I need to collect my thoughts.

Good news, though: Our farmers have gone back to actually producing the dwarven favorite, plump helmets.

...So much for my mining retreat. The guild representative stopped me on my way by and asked if I had any requests. I gave priority to cloth, ropes, maybe some weapons, metal bars, this and that, so hopefully their next visit will suck less. He then gave me a bunch of requests in return. I'm kind of frazzled right now and would rather not deal with more paperwork, so I think I'll just tuck this page into the journal here for the moment.
http://g.photos.cx/requests-a1.PNG
Sheesh.
http://g.photos.cx/miyun-1d.PNG

Well now, that is a shame, missing the human caravan. I wonder just what you did to anger them? It isn't always just the value of an object yknow, you need to have comparable numbers of objects.

At least you have the dwarven caravan to look forward to still, and I already made a few requests last year that might be of use.

Oh, and dude, I did secure a leather bin last year, too. I think.

Failing that, as it was a 'Play now!' game, we probably started with pig tail seeds. But it might be too late in the year for that.

Also: Rock on. Strip mining.

It isn't always just the value of an object yknow, you need to have comparable numbers of objects.
Weird. That must have been it. They gave me some weird response I couldn't even make heads or tails out of, and they got tired of my trying to strike a deal with such a sinfully lopsided number of things, or something.

Uh oh. You did make sure that your dwarves didn't haul any orthoclase, did you? Who knows what kind of evil may happen if you have kept some of the accursed stone...

He'll be okay as long as he doesn't make the front door out of the stuff.

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/7089/woominesuy6.png
Well, our mines are turning up more gems and silver veins, even if the legendary guy is turning up most of it, so... yeah. Hmm, maybe I should focus on something besides mining...

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/6494/cemeteryrocksam0.png
For instance, although we have finished our cemetery space, nobody is removing any of the rocks from it. This is undoubtedly just because we have nowhere practical to put them.
http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/2355/dumpwt9.png
I found some water pit outside by the river and designated it as a garbage dump. Maybe that'll help.
...Yes, that did the trick, and now, for maybe a half-hour, we barely have any idlers!

In other news, remembering that nobles may, for some reason, decide to crash our establishment, I have designated for some more mining on the level below that of the existing bedrooms; the previous overseer (who has taken to disguising himself as an ordinary fisherdwarf) seemed to think this would be a good place for nobles' quarters, and I'm inclined to agree.

On the food front, we're doing pretty well, but I thought we could use more meat. Like, not fish meat. Problem is, I sent a couple of guys to have a look-see, and pretty much all we have in the area are a few marmots and unicorns. ...Let's hope the unicorns keep their distance. I don't care what you see scrawled in picture books next to rainbows and butterflies. Getting unicorned through the eye is no laughing matter.

---

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/2827/orthoclasekc7.png

ARMOK DAMN IT, JOURNAL

I don't know why, but the sight of this yellow rock chills my blood! Maybe it was a past life of mine or something...
Regrettably, since it was uncovered in one of the wings of the planned noble housing complex, the project will have to continue through the orthoclase. Maybe we'll just have to save this wing for the nobles who get on our nerves.

Speaking of which, I've reassigned a loafing fish cleaner to masonry, and constructed a second masonry workshop. One shall continue producing tables and chairs, while the other shall churn out only doors.

Check me out, Journal. All thinking like an overseer.

---
Dear Journal.

Although I don't want to make myself out to be such a big fat deal, I've continued making small, homey improvements to the bedrooms of the overseers, myself and previous. Enclosed is a diagram of what I've accomplished! I really like all the smooth walls, and the table, and the
http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/4041/bullqw1.png
BULL WHY IS THERE A BULL IN MY ROOM JOURNAL WHAT THE HELL.
If he messes on anything, by Armok, we will have meat.

http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/7908/fudzg2.png
I've begun to value solitude, Journal. No wonder I write in you so much. ...That's a really weird thing to write.

---

I found a bunch of idlers camping out in the middle of the dining room, claiming they had no work. I assigned them all to stone detailing. Reminds me of a tale of another fortress from a time before time, where a "Detail Squad" was established. Hey, why not.

Hold on, Journal, somebody's hollering something about rhesus macaques.

---

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/9355/makakwg1.png
Indeed, there's a group of them running around and making nuisances of themselves just outside the fort, but none are being real problems at the moment. Looks like one of them has been killed off, which leads me to notice that the smelly-ass refuse stockpile is right next to the fortress entrance. Quaint...

I'm not really sure what to do about this macaque problem as of the moment, but I've heard that some of our dogs should be old enough to train into war dogs, so I've asked the soap guy to get crackin' on that. Naturally, I, the rock-pounding overseer, know naught of fortress security...

...I stand corrected. None of our dogs would make good war dogs, apparently. Oi.

I didn't want to do it, but I doubt we need two wood cutters, so I've decided to put one of the guys with steel battle axes to a different use, and drafted him as our fortress' first recruit. Wasn't long before I also noticed an, er, "herbalist" strolling around in the middle of nowhere and handed him a spear. We'll see what happens.

---

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/497/makakfitern6.png
There we go. It took some doing, but I got them to go outside and start fighting the macaques. ...Of course, here's hoping I can get them back INside afterwards.

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/6338/martialtrancecx4.png
It looks like that herbalist might have actually done things around the fort, and adding him to the, heh, "military" may have been a miscalculation, but it doesn't seem to have affected his mood. In fact, he seems to have taken to the role quite well...

http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/3646/makakgorsuh5.png
Alas, bloodshed. Better them than us.

With all of that excitement concluded, Journal, it is Autumn! My favorite season!

Aw, crap, Journal, aw, crap.
http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/4749/anothercaravanohnoym8.png

It's almost nice to see at least a dwarven caravan this time, but... Almost. Caravans give me this sick feeling to my stomach now. They're going to wave valuable things under my nose, then insult my height and walk off in a huff. I just know it.

http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/1295/miasmarf1.png
Good thing we're making a good impression on the liaison. Holy Armok GOD. I had the other herbalist butcher those macaques (for the sheer irony of it all) and... well, it looks like he... I don't even know. Miasma. It's wafted down four floors deep from the butcher shop. The floor above it is just about choked. We finally got some actual meat, but it came at a pretty miserable cost. Gah. My eyes are watering.

Welp, time to see what's going on. The caravan has made the depot, and... they've parked one of their wagons ON the other wagon. ON the depot. If I could do that stuff, I wouldn't need to be an overseer.

---

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/7784/caravanyaynv5.png
Wowee! We should never trade with anybody except our own kind. I was able to trade a couple of extra-valuable trinkets, silver bars, and some of our delectable prepared meals for a handful of copper bars, plenty of seeds, and a metric buttload of meat! Huzzah!

My self-pride spell was somewhat interrupted when it was given to my attention that one of our engravers has been oddly secretive as of late, and had also just kicked the craftsdwarf out of his shop again. An engraver wants something with the craftsdwarf shop? Peculiar.

---

That engraver has created "Wealthglows the Ripper of Drenching," a slate crown. It's not bad. Naturally, they're calling it an artifact and him a legend. Whatever.

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/236/stachoool0.png
Well, it didn't go quite like it looked on the blueprint, mostly because the doors don't match and one of the statues doesn't, but we've completed the rudiments of a statue garden I designed as an addition to the dining room. I figured we needed a good place to spend our breaks, and I think this should do nicely. I'd love a well to go with it, but I think we need a chain for that...

And I intend to use our traded bronze to create a weapon trap at the fortress entrance, like I've wanted to do all along! I'll see to that immediately!

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/9965/pyooghaa5.png
Wait a secUGGGHHHHH

Ever considered using one of the few full graphic releases?

http://mayday.w.staszic.waw.pl/~mayday/files/graphic.jpg

http://mayday.w.staszic.waw.pl/df.htm

Ever considered using one of the few full graphic releases?

I guess it takes away the charm, but it's definately better to understand the stuff happening.

I guess it takes away the charm, but it's definately better to understand the stuff happening.

That's what I thought. But I believe they are suited for Let's Play threads.

Ever considered using one of the few full graphic releases?

-INSERT HERESY HERE-



Please! We Dwarves still value the noble crafting of text! Keep your vile contributions to your own self!

However, it would make it easier for non-players to get the gist...then again, that'd stop them from playing to find out themselves! Never!

* Robowurmz, Mayor has imposed a mandate about the playing of Dwarf Fortress. *

Tiny images in place of characters? Heresy! :rolleyes:

"You" Kikemmogul cancels Use Graphic Release: Item forbidden.

Hot damn, one of the other miners has struck emerald! ...Why can't I ever strike anything good?

Also, I have decided to disband our two-man military for the moment, upon noticing that nobody was cooking anything and half our food was rotting where it lay. Sheesh.

I have just been informed that the giant bronze axe head I ordered is complete! Buhahahaha!

...It appears that the "Hamlet Liaison" from the dwarven caravan is still here, following a carpenter around. ...Is he lost? Is he supposed to do this? I don't know these things.

---

Nobody seems keen to actually construct my trap, which is odd considering all the mechanisms we have must have come from somebody, so maybe I'll just have to do it myself, considering the whole thing was my idea anyway and all.

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/713/horriblehorribletimingxq0.png

...ARE YOU SERIOUS

---

http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/7356/traaapyn4.png
Well, again, the kobold thief decided to run away without actually doing anything, but this still demonstrates the necessity for a well-trapped fortress entrance! I have finally successfully installed our first trap, which will bring a big-ass axe down on any unfortunate sucker who tries to steal from us again! Take that, everybody else!

It is still possible to bypass this trap, of course, which I shall rectify by adding MORE traps! Whee!

---

http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/374/trapsyayci7.png
Done and done, Journal! Now our fortress is guarded by one giant axe trap and two giant serrated bladed wheel thingy traps. Nobody's sneaking into THIS fortress with all of his limbs attached, that's for sure!

Ahh... First the caravan, and now this! I'm feeling pretty good. ...And the name Zero has settled in quite well, I think!

Ah, that liaison has finally decided to start discussing trade agreements. Good for him.

I've asked for a lot of the same. Mostly meat, some brass bars, a couple of leather bags so we can mill some plants.

They have asked for the following in return.
http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/9205/theywantthisvk1.png

And, with that, winter is upon us. My last hurrah as overseer, it seems...!

---

While making the rounds to see what sorts of things we were racking up and who's up to what, I found this.

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/5910/joolzd1.png
Holy snot, that's worth about half of the entire rest of the fortress.

I've just recieved word that yet another kobold thief was spotted on the way into the fort. Unfortunately, he fled without triggering any of my so-anticipated traps. One of the war dogs is chasing him out into the middle of nowhere right now. I think it's safe to say that our fortress is pretty safe from small threats like this; most of them are thwarted by being spotted at the entrance anyway, and even if they did enter the fortress regardless, they'd be butchered for it.

I wonder, however, about larger threats. Like full-fledged goblin sieges, for instance. I don't really know about the goblin presence in this area, but it's a possibility. I've always thought it would be cool to construct a big stone wall with a drawbridge and everything, but that would just make things complicated for caravans, and I can't really see any good spot for something like that. At least a ballista or two would be cool, but maybe I'm just saying that because ballistae are awesome. Whatever. Those are tasks for future overseers.

---

http://img359.imageshack.us/img359/4056/cursethemgh2.png
Journal, I have just been informed of a goblin ambush! Unreal... I was just wondering about goblins mere moments ago. Let's see if my traps pull their weight!

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/4528/goblintrapyr0.png
The bladed disc trap wounded one's arm, causing him to drop his weapon!
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/7457/goblinfightih9.png
He proceeded into the fort, but was promptly set upon by a particularly ill-tempered hunting dog.

Meanwhile, I hear that somebody's poor foal has been struck down on the surface. There are more. I've reinstated the military, but one of the fools is asleep! The other one, with the steel battle axe, has arrived on the surface to battle the remaining goblins before they have a chance to enter! Oh, Journal, this does not bode well. He is vastly outnumbered...!

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/3615/dangeryo7.png

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/4175/danger2cw3.png

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/4541/danger3pe4.png

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/5250/danger4lr1.png

http://img363.imageshack.us/img363/9391/danger5yr3.png

His battle is over, Journal. DistantCity's first death... was in the twilight of my rule. And here I was, all confident about fortress security... Damn it! The war dog is closing on them at the moment, but war dogs don't carry steel battle axes...! I may have to draft some more soldiers as an emergency measure!

With the axedwarf and war dog both dead, I may have little choice but to equip some commoners and give them what hell we can. We have few weapons, but they are good ones.

...This is what I have done, Journal.
http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/6882/thecleanearthspc7.png
I have chosen the strongest-looking dwarves and distributed what weapons we have, to include the mace dropped by the first goblin. One of them is my fellow miner, the one who keeps finding everything. I think he'll be able to handle himself, but what if I'm wrong?! Oh, the woes of overseeing...!

...One of the fools is running to meet the goblins without picking up his weapon! What is he thinking?! Our entire outpost rides on this!
http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/8231/struckbp4.png
The savages have actually cast the poor fool's corpse back into the fort. Here's hoping the rest of the team knows to pick up their weapons!

Excellent news, however! One of the new recruits has come up behind the onslaught and struck down the spearman and one of the macemen without so much as a scratch on his own person! Now the two remaining macemen are approaching our traps, with that axedwarf behind them, and the rest of our military gearing up inside! I am confident we will win the battle; I just worry about the cost...

...They seem to be more interested in the other dwarves on the surface than actually going inside at the moment, and are not headed for our traps. I have ordered everybody who is already indoors to stay there, excepting the soldiers. Those on the surface... Let's just hope that axedwarf keeps up his pace.

http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/8509/snapcm3.png

WOW! That guy is amazing! Maybe I should make up some kind of war medal to award to him. ...That's probably outside of my jurisdiction.
http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/4606/butcherpi0.png
Long live Rith Bomreklosis, who singlehandedly saved DistantCity from... well, maybe not certain doom of the entire outpost, but he definitely saved lives, even if we lost a couple. It looks like all I can do for him is make him the due commander of the military group.

http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/3050/restlx2.png

Our losses total two dwarves and a horse. One of our workers is a bit distraught, as he owned the horse and was the friend of one of the dwarves. I feel bad for him, but I don't think we can do much for him except keep our distance for a while.

The herbalist has organized a party in the statue garden. Practically the whole fortress is in attendance. I guess they're eager to get their minds off the goblins, or maybe they're just that happy to be alive. In any case, I have more work to do. Namely, we'd best widen our stockpiles a bit.

Seating in the dining room won't be a problem in the forseeable future, Journal. In fact, I...

...Somebody has just given me some troubling news.
http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/4152/raydo8.png

((I figured it would be all downhill after that, but now it's the real final level after you defeat the phony end boss! Tomorrow night will probably be the conclusion of my term. Stay tuned, folks!))

I was diggin' out an area in my term somewhere near the workshops, maybe a level above or below, that was to be a really huge stockpile containing everything *except* what was already spoken for.

Also: Rock on, I got an idea kickin' around in my head.

Mr. Raycaster, the first overseer turned fisherdwarf, has claimed the craftsdwarf's workshop, like the lunatics before him. He's sketching pictures of things like square blocks, forests, and shells. ...I don't know what kinds of shells we have except what might have come off of any turtles or cave lobsters we've eaten. Which might make sense, considering he's a fisherdwarf. I was kind of expecting him to make a crown or amulet or something out of dead fish.

I've heard stories about dwarves who get crazy inspiration like this, can't find the materials they need, then flipping out, killing a bunch of guys and then having their skulls bashed in by the fortress guards. It's not a pleasant prospect to think about, but maybe I'd best get started on tombs for us overseers. Now, where to put them...

I know -- under the existing cemetery, on the floor designated for nobles' housing and offices and the like. It'll be, like, equivalent or something. I'll just hollow out four for now, I think, and get them engraved. ...We'd best start on this now, just in case. I worry about Ray over there.

In other news, I've designated an actual stone stockpile outside the fortress, so we don't have to waste all the rock that happens to be in the way.

---

...Nads. I completely boned up the plans for tombs. Oh well, we'll have a couple of pre-mined rooms for a future overseer to figure out what to do with.

...Of course it would be NICE if somebody would at least FINISH THEM instead of PARTYING all the time. Three parties have been thrown since the goblin ambush. And they all overlapped! Cripes! Give them a statue garden, and...

I'll plan on putting some smallish tombs around the existing cemetery, then....Will SOMEBODY DO SOMETHING... Oh, hell. Winter's close to wrapping up here. I won't be in office much longer.
http://img373.imageshack.us/img373/1874/partypartyqo3.png
If you can't beat 'em...

---

Back to work with most of us, then.
http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/2042/tombsct4.png
There is much left to be done, such as detailing and the removal of excess stone, but the tombs are taking shape, and Raycaster's is, er, ready for use, should the need arise. It seems likely, Journal. He hasn't done anything for some time now except stand in that workshop and doodle about the same objects. We probably don't have what he wants. I've asked the masons for some statues to decorate the tombs with. And suspended the construction of doors for a while. We have asstons of them.

...There, my own tomb should now also be usable, just in case Ray goes berzerk and bites my jugular out. HOLY ARMOK WHY DO I WRITE THESE THINGS
http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/5051/berzerkhh5.png
I hate to do it, dear Journal, but I am forced to mobilize the military immediately!

He's chasing a couple of workers around the work area. The first one to catch up with him is a hunting dog.
http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/3579/berzerk2oj1.png
Oh, the horror...! He used to be so gentle and intelligent! What could possibly drive a good dwarf to this state?
Spring has arrived, Journal, but I cannot lay down my rule at such a time as this!
The poor dog has finally surrendered to death's embrace.

http://img367.imageshack.us/img367/3958/berzerk3kk6.png
HE IS MURDERING A PUPPY

http://img240.imageshack.us/img240/1230/berzerk4rx1.png
He's now chasing an engraver down the hallway to the botched rooms that were going to be tombs. Hopefully the military will show up and trap him there.
He has killed the other hunting dog.
http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/2550/berzerk5tz9.png
...And a fourth dog! The engraver is attempting to fight back, but Ray has drawn first blood!
http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/1592/berzerk6mf9.png
...Ouch. Where the hell is our military?! This senseless slaughter must end!

...The fools are standing around by the fortress entrance! Oh, the idiocy! I've told them that I'll go berzerk myself if they don't get their asses down here right now!

Rith, the commander, promptly met my request.
http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/6166/berzerk7po6.png
...Oh, I can't bear to watch any more. Poor Raycaster, driven mad by his own passion.

http://img389.imageshack.us/img389/6900/finishyk8.png
It is here that my rule as overseer concludes. Let's hope that the circumstances aren't an omen.

http://img389.imageshack.us/img389/3413/bedsandtombsuu9.png
I have occupied all, or almost all, of the space allotted by the previous overseer, rest his soul, as bedrooms. The cemetery and tombs are also on this floor. I have asked the masons to produce a series of statues -- I would like them to be placed in the four corners of these tombs.

http://img115.imageshack.us/img115/4580/diningroomcv4.png
The dining room has come a long way as well. There is more than enough seating by a long shot, but the masons are still producing chairs and tables.

I am disappointed that my term ended on such a grim note, Journal. Poor Raycaster was a good soul... until that last part, at least. Maybe I wasn't a good enough overseer... or maybe it couldn't be helped. Maybe both. I guess I'm just not cut out for leadership positions, but I did what I could... And got a pretty cool nickname out of it. Zero the miner. ...Which is what I am. What can I do now except go back to the only other thing I have ever known? Free from the gloom and doom of my overwatch, I may now take up the pickaxe and only the pickaxe and resume fulfilling my true function.

Here's hoping that an actually capable overseer arrives soon and straightens out anything I may have wronged. As for me, I shall simply mind my work and try to forget the horrors that have come to pass in these recent months. For now, only one phrase matters to me...

http://img115.imageshack.us/img115/4908/striketheearthgu4.gif

1st Granite:
Hm, I arrived in late today. I was supposed to be here a few days ago, but the terrain was a bit more treacherous than I expected.
Anyway, here I am, my first fortress ever since I narrowly escaped the goblin siege on my last one! I've checked with the record keeper to see what I've got myself into this time:
http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/5397/1graniteev2.png
Over 100,000 pieces; not bad! Not bad at all. But I was expecting more dwarves here. Perhaps there were more, but they didn't make it through the mountain...
My good friend Zero was supposed to be the previous overseer here, but he's nowhere to be seen. Instead, I found a dwarf who claims to be Zero, but looks nothing like him. I was confused at first, until he explained that the Zero I knew had abandoned his post and left him, 'Zero Oiltorches' in charge, despite having no knowledge of being an overseer before. That would explain why he was so introverted and had very few tips for me.
I can't say I really trust him...
I asked around about this Oiltorches, and managed to find out these things, which I made a note of:
http://img158.imageshack.us/img158/1750/1granite2ks9.png
I'll start commanding the mob tomorrow.

2nd Granite:
First order of business: Oiltorches had decided to have the mob move any extra stones in the stronghold outside and out of the way. While I do admit that the stones mess things up and get in the way, moving them outside takes a considerable amount of time. I have cancelled the order, and will only continue it again when there are no jobs that need doing around the stronghold.

20th Granite:
Progress is slow and uneventful. Despite having little experience, Oiltorches has been running the fortress well and there's not much else that needs to be done.

27th Granite:
My small room is not fit for a grand overseer like me. I have started the construction of two larger rooms: one for me, and one for Oiltorches. His room shall be constructed with Microcline, which is apparently praised as a good omen among the mob in this stronghold, while mine shall me made using Orthoclase, which is thought of as the opposite: a bad omen, a curse. I have got many warnings that it was a foolish thing to do, and that I am now bound to suffer a terrible fate. I think they're all paranoid.
http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/4691/27granitedk3.png
People have started calling them the Yin and Yang rooms, my room being the Yin. I guess those names are also words exclusive to this stronghold, as I've never heard them before.

7th Slate:
Elven traders have arrived. I do not get along with Elves normally, but they make good traders.
...normally. But all they had this time was a barrel of 25 units of wine, 5 strawberries, and a whole lotta cloth! I bought everything but the cloth.

15th Slate:
The issue of Orthoclase is apparently very serious among this mob. So I've decided that they deserve a bit of peace from it, even if it is all in their heads. I've moved all loose Orthoclase stones to a remote ledge away from the stronghold.
http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/3093/15slateje2.png
The theory, according to them, is that the bad luck will be attracted there, and not here. I still think it's all nonsense, but what can you do?

19th Slate:
http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/2074/19slateoq8.png
The first koblod thief to arrive since my reign. Not a problem though: those guys are only effective against small villages, they'll never be able to sneak themselves into a fort like this!

22nd Slate:
http://img45.imageshack.us/img45/9963/22slatekc4.png
Hmph, another possession! It'll be a great day once someone finally figures out what causes us dwarfs to do that.
I just hope that this place has the materials he needs...

25th Slate:
Migrants!
http://img118.imageshack.us/img118/3653/25slateei3.png
I hadn't realised it, but there are now enough dwarfs here that it's now high time I elect a mayor. Sigun is a sensible person, so I chose him. I've also decided it's time I form a guard for this stronghold too.

Heheh, nice. A big nice room just for me? : D

I'd go back and change all of my "Armok"s to "Solon"s if I cared enough.

Also, looks like the time it took to resolve the Raycaster episode wasn't even a full in-game day, which is good. I was worried about taking some of your time, but I fugred I'd better get that wrapped up. Seemed to work out alright -- I paused it and saved there as soon has he was struck down, not even waiting to see him placed in his tomb.

17th Feldspar:
It's a slow month. There's nothing that needs building, we have enough beds, the workshops are all occupied... *sigh*
Just for something to do, I've ordered the dwarfs to put all Slate stones outside. They're really making a mess of the tombs and new rooms.
http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/5650/dwarfort200806052012142op9.png

9th Hematite:
Yawn.

15th Hematite:
I've decided that it'd be a good idea to build a well in the bedrooms for easy access to water. But first I need to have the water below. So I've dug out a channel going just under the bedrooms. The well will be near the main staircase.

19th Hematite
Channel dug. I've smoothed the walls just 'cause. I still have a lot of idle dwarfs around.
http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/6436/dwarfort200806052041400kc8.png
It's getting late today, so I'll wait until tomorrow to release the water.

20th Hematite
I've ordered a staircase to be built below where the well is to make a hole and to allow anyone that accidentally fell in to get back up. It'll be knocked down when the well is about to be put in place. And now, it's time to allow the water in. Someone has to knock down the river wall and let the water in. Oiltorches is the only one stupidbrave enough to do it.
http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/9492/dwarfort200806052042047qg4.png

Also, remember this guy?
http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/5300/dwarfort200806052044196xs5.png

21st Hematite
Note to self: water can climb stairs.

...
CRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-
http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/2411/dwarfort200806052103291wk9.png

Oh crap oh crap oh crap oh- wait! The floor just below is a large empty corridor leading up to the Yin and Yang rooms which are also protected by a door! I can knock down the wall by the water channel and let it flow in there while I seal off the hole where the water keeps climbing through.
Unfortunately, that room also has the main staircase that cuts through the entire stronghold. The water won't fill up there, it'll go down the stairs. And to make matters worse, all of the workshops are at the lowest floor, along with the workers and the objects made in them. The stockpiles upstairs have already been filled, so they've been stored in the workshops. This isn't good.
However, I figure that if we hurry, we can seal the staircase up with walls so that the water can't escape. But I'll have to hurry, as soon as the water level reaches the workshop, I'm screwed! That means I only have until all the empty levels below are filled with water..

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/1778/dwarfort200806052109568lw7.png
THANK GOODNESS FOR OILTORCHES STRIP-MINE OPERATIONS! Granted, it's all because of dumb luck, but he has saved all our workshops and the things in them! I wouldn't like to imagine what would happen if the water started gushing into their level.
I suddenly have a lot more respect for him! Phew!

22nd Hematite:
It's taken a full day, but we've managed to seal up the staircase as well as the well-area in the bedrooms. I think we're saf-
http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/6004/dwarfort200806052134002zq8.png
Wait, what? Did that idiot just seal himself in the well-room? *Sigh*, I guess we better get him out. The water better not reach this level before we re-seal the wall.

Now that he's safe, it's only occurred to me now that, as we destroyed the staircase in the bedrooms to seal up the floor, none of us can get out of the bedrooms either! Looks like we'll have to build a new one...
http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/3176/dwarfort200806052139107xu0.png

23rd Hematite:
The staircase was finally finished this morning. I guess the mason's just took so long because they're tired and hungry. There's no food down here, it's all upstairs.
I'm one of the first to rush out. The first thing I did was run down to my room to make sure it's still okay. Thankfully it is.
Although the water behind this sealed door here seems to be making a lot of noises, it sounds a lot like squealing animals. I've never heard it do that before...

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/9615/dwarfort200806052140560sw8.png
I also found Oiltorches, sleeping while we were all trapped and tired! Wait 'till I give him a piece of my mind, the lazy dwarf!

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/7828/dwarfort200806052146395cl3.png
I also find it highly ironic that the first thing the trapped dwarfs do after sealing the flowing water is drink. Heh.

25th Hematite:
I was surprised to hear that some dwarfs even managed to seal off the strip mine from the water flow too. I sent some miners down to find out why the water had stopped before there, and they reported this:
http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/2776/dwarfort200806052151555mw3.png
I don't know what the previous overseers were looking for here, but all I know is that the strip mine is still safe. Which is good, because there are a lot of silver nuggets there that haven't been taken away.

3rd Malachite:
OH NO! A koblod thief has managed to get away with an item of ours that was still hanging around the fortress outside!
http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/2740/dwarfort200806052152592yd3.png
...the only thing more embarrassing about it is that it wasn't actually a dwarf's sock, it was from a koblod that we managed to kill earlier. That was one imbecile of a thief there!

12th Malachite:
I've decided to make amends to the damage I've caused with the failed well incident, and plan on draining the water out of the Yin-Yang corridors. First, I need to divert the water away so that the place doesn't just re-fill once we clear it. Fortunately, there's a large waterfall along the river, so we can just dig a slope leading down there.
http://img394.imageshack.us/img394/6794/dwarfort200806052215222bh1.png

13th Malachite:
The plan worked! The channel is diverting the water away from the hole in the ground! So I've ordered a sealed door be put in place to stop any overflowing water to spill down to our to-be-drained corridors.
http://img379.imageshack.us/img379/447/dwarfort200806052220009rf1.png
Also, if you'll notice, the slope was dug at the right of the river yet the end of the channel is to the left of the waterfall. Yes, I've actually dug the canal going straight under the river!

Whoa man! Heh, you were bored for awhile there. Guess you got your excitement after all. Zero said you were good at DF, but dang you handled that well.

You did want water in the fortress, I just don't think that much...

Ah well, time to make buckets, eh?

Congratulations on surviving a flood.
And a big løl for the stolen sock. REVENGE. :p

Handling floods has to be one of the most entertaining things I've had to deal with in Dwarf Fortress.

I had three of them in my last fortress, but unfortunately my Hard Drive died before I could upload the pictures.

In one of them, my entire dining room was submerged, and I had to wait until wintertime for the river to freeze up.
In another one, the river drained into my zoo, submerging various megabeasts and around 30 horses. I got the miners to rapidly expand the zoo to make the river drain faster, so there would be enough room to prop doors up to block off the water flow.
Good times.

Zero's story deserves a standing ovation, and Plasma is off to an excellent start as overseer.

If it's not too much trouble, could you upload a map of the whole fortress to http://mkv25.net/dfma/addmap.php ? I'm having trouble visualizing the place as a whole. Also you still haven't moved the workshops away from the dwarf bedrooms.:p

I also found Oiltorches, sleeping while we were all trapped and tired! Wait 'till I give him a piece of my mind, the lazy dwarf!Oh sure. Just a few moments ago, it was OH THANK THE GODS FOR ZERO AND HIS STRIP MINING, let alone how I, a humble, ordinary miner, rose to the challenge of overseeing an entire outpost all by myself, and now I take a snooze, somebody else floods the whole universe, and suddenly I'm Mr. Lazy. >: (

Seriously though, good stuff so far. Kind of funny how a simple attempt to install a well went so horribly awry, but it's a good thing you handled it as well as you did. :p

By the way, I don't know much about making clothes, but that might be worth looking at soon. The duds on the original settlers were starting to look a little ratty when I left off.

PS: thx pikkl :3

19th Malachite:
Hey, this is Plasma again, doing a Lets Pl- oh wait, wrong thing.
Now that the river has stopped flowing through the stronghold, I've now ordered the miners to start digging out empty space at the bottom level of the fort. When this is finished, I plan on allowing the water to fill in there and free out the flooded corridors.

27th Malachite:
http://img374.imageshack.us/img374/1799/dwarfort200806061506578pw5.png
Ack, no! Ineth was our legendary miner! He better not flip out on us like everyone else did. This could be bad...

28th Malachite:
http://img364.imageshack.us/img364/1528/dwarfort200806061509337ho8.png
Disaster averted. And now Ineth is a legendary miner and a legendary mason! Now he really is just showing off to Oiltorches.
The door itself shall be put at the enterance to the stronghold.

11th Galena:
I've decided to put the empty floors to good use and designated them to be stockpiles for all finished goods. I'm suprised neither I nor the other two overseers thought of this yet.
http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/9027/dwarfort200806061519404na4.png

21st Galena:
Oiltorches finally gets a legendary status! Looks like he's done more for the fortress under my reign than his own. *snikker*
http://img389.imageshack.us/img389/2834/dwarfort200806061549148ba0.png

1st Limestone:
Autumn is here. That means I am now half way through my reign. Hopefully the second half will go better than the first. I think I made some dwarfs develop a fear of water...

17th Limestone:
Finally, the bottom floor has been hollowed out enough, and the walls holding the excess water have been broken. From this day onwards, I'll no longer feel ashamed at having flooded one of the main floors. Namely, the floor I sleep on.
http://img374.imageshack.us/img374/3954/dwarfort200806061605020hy5.png

20th Limestone:
The traders from my hometown have arrived at last! These guys have much better goods than the lousy elves.
Unfortunately, the real Zero hasn't seen at all since the departure. Oiltorches already said that he was attacked by wild animals, but that's Oiltorches. And nobody has found a body yet. Besides, I know Zero, and it would take a LOT to be able to take him down. No way could a pathetic animal take him down, nu-uh!
Also, it's come to my attention that a 5x5 cover for the fortress looks pretty... pathetic for the size of the underground fortress. I've ordered that a much bigger one should be put in place!

22nd Limestone:
http://img364.imageshack.us/img364/6608/dwarfort200806061607035ac3.png
Aaah! Goblin attack! Run for your lives! I sure wish I had a military right about now!

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/4946/dwarfort200806061607132ee1.png
Aaah! Sky dwarfs just came down! Run for your- oh wait, I forgot the trading depot was built on top of the fort enterance. Phew!

2nd Sandstone:
http://img389.imageshack.us/img389/6756/2sandstoneqy9.png
It took a while, but the flooded layer has finally been de-flooded enough to be able to be walked along. At last, I don't have to keep going over and under to reach my bedroom anymore!

21st Sandstone:
After very careful planning, I've decided to have wells again. Two, this time. It shouldn't go as badly as the last incident... hopefully...
http://img381.imageshack.us/img381/7154/21sandstonedx4.png

23rd Sandstone:
http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/8899/23sandstonemg7.png
Huzzahs are in order!

1st Timber:
I've put the new immigrants to use and have started smoothing the walls of some of the bedrooms. This should make the mob happier.
http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/449/1timberlateautumnja9.png

3rd Timber:
http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/1373/3timberrh1.png
More experienced?! Good lord, he's already double-legendary, how on earth can he get even more explerienced?

8th Timber:
The planning for the wells have been finished, and the water area has been sealed off. Time to build a floodgate!
With a floodgate in place, there's no way anything can go wrong! Bring it on!

9th Timber:
...
My dwarfs are idiots.
http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/5258/9timberyn0.png

14th Timber:
While I'm waiting for the floodgate to be linked up to a lever, I've started building a third Overseer room. This room is going to be pretty damn elaborate, and it's designed to be for the current overseer only, and posession of the room should change every year. Got that, future guys?
http://img501.imageshack.us/img501/1088/14timberfp1.png
Wait, who am I talking to?

17th Timber:
The floodgate is all rigged up and the only thing left is to break open the river again. I've given the mob a few days warning first just in case there's a sudden need to evacuate the stronghold.
In the meantime, however, I've continued making more rooms smoother.
http://img73.imageshack.us/img73/2637/17timberxv0.png

20th Timber:
The waiting time is up, I'm releasing the water now! This better work...
http://img389.imageshack.us/img389/8968/20timberli5.png

21st Timber:
http://img383.imageshack.us/img383/3278/20timber2yw2.png
SUCCESS!
Sure, it took about half a year to do, and the Yin-Yang corridors and the main staircase had to be sealed off for some time, but I finally got working wells!
Now, if only dwarfs would mostly drink water instead of alcohol...
*sigh*

7th Moonstone:
More legendary artifacts!
http://img383.imageshack.us/img383/7201/7moonstonekb7.png
Oiltorches, like usual, gets in a small fuss whenever someone makes an artifact. I don't know what his problem is...

18th Moonstone:
Hah, I finally got around to ordering all bedrooms to be smoothed.
http://img381.imageshack.us/img381/3539/18moonstoneqn1.png
That looks a lot better than what it used to be.

9th Opal:
It could be because it's the middle of winter, but there's not a lot to do around here. With the wells finished, there's nothing exciting going on anymore.
So I've ordered that the masons produce an endless stream of statues! Because everything's better with statues in it!

21st Opal:
Love is in the air...
http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/1860/21opalkr8.png
I wonder if I'll ever get married.
Or get a girlfriend, for that matter.
Er, it's all because I have such high standards! Totally! Nothing to do with my face, no siree!

5th Obsidian:
Everything's better with statues in it! Especially bedrooms!
http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/8306/5obsidianya4.png
All bedrooms!

22nd Obsidian:
Well this is it, my grand reign is nearly over. And yet there was so much left to do...
I don't really have any time left to do anything else, so for my last act I've decided to order the mob to smooth every wall on the major floors in this place. Hopefully, by the time the end-of-my-era comes around and the time taken for the next Overseer to get a hang of things, the workers will be finished.
http://img389.imageshack.us/img389/4018/22obsidianqp2.png
Throughout my one year reign, I've ordered so much smoothing to be done that we now have 9 professional engravers in our stronghold. That's a bit much...

1st Granite:
What comes around goes around. I've done my year of overseeing, and now I'm just looking forward to having a bit of a rest, and I think my pack of four dogs do too.. I don't know if the next overseer plans on taking over as the sheriff or if he'll keep me on the job.
Hmm, who is the next overseer anyway? I'll go check the notes I had at the start of the year. I haven't touched them in months.... Ah, Pigbuster is what he goes by. Hah, he'll probably have trouble setting in here: there's absolutely no pigs around this neck of the woods... er, mountains.

Just thinking... Oiltorches became a legendary miner, Raycaster died when he was very close to becoming legendary, I wonder what's in store for me...


And for anyone that's interested, I also asked that a map of the entire fortress be made:
http://mkv25.net/dfma/map-2864-distantcity
For those who're wondering, I'm the blue @ symbol, and those bedrooms do have beds, they're just covered by stones in that image.

Nice work, Plasma! You've brought great wealth to our fortress! Man, I wonder what the architecture value is listed at now...
Also, I would like to request a link to download your end-of-year save.
I'm collecting each year, you see, so after the game is done, onlookers can jump to any point in the game and explore it as they wish.

Whoops, forgot to post the end-of-year status report:

Start of Reign:
http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/5397/1graniteev2.png

End of Reign:
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/9523/41796204wz6.png

I'd also like to know what was the value of the fortress at the end of your year, Raycaster.

It ain't much, but here you go.
http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/1073/endofyearwealthlo8.png
I wasn't about the money, see, I had to get the framework ready, things that'd let you dudes skyrocket that stuff.

Anyway, here's to a bright new future!

Shazam. Well done. Looks like you accomplished a lot more than I did.

You know, maybe with some battlements and siege equipment or whatever, that outer wall around the entrance would make for some damn good fortress defense.

You know, maybe with some battlements and siege equipment or whatever, that outer wall around the entrance would make for some damn good fortress defense.
Mabye, but we haven't been attacked by anything bigger than a goblin ambush yet.

Emphasis on yet. Why wait? We know pretty well by now that there are goblin presences in the area. I'd chalk it up to a matter of time before a full-on siege. :p

Well, there's also the question of how do you use siege weapons there? The goblins would move too fast to be hit so easily.

Edit: I have an idea:
31481
The dark brown lengths should be retractable bridges, linked to one lever (A). The space dug underneath needs to only be one layer deep, as that's all that's necessary for the invaders to not be able to get across.
The big light brown area should be another retractable bridge, linked to lever (B). For the dept, you have two choices:
1: Make it really deep so that the invaders die instantly. However, I really doubt there's untaken space beneath.
2: Make it only of dept 1 layer (or more, if there's space), and fill this layer with water controlled by a floodgate. Have another floodgate-controlled channel leading out to the waterfall too, so that the water can be drained and the spoils can be collected.

I'll try make it myself in my save file and show you what I mean.

Edit: done!
http://mkv25.net/dfma/map-2872-distantcity
And a few pointers:
1: You can't see it in that image, but beside that single yellow wall next to that pillar is a floodgate. This floodgate should have it's own lever, and should only be closed once the water level has reached 7 in all parts in the hole, or when the water needs to be drained. You don't have to worry about it overflowing as it's on the same level as the river.
2: Likewise, the floodgate on the floor below should also have it's own lever. This floodgate should always be closed unless the water needs to be drained.
3: Again, you can't see them because there are stones in the way, but there are up stairs on the lower floor just under where the down stairs are.
4: Each brown bridge (retractable) should all be connected to the one lever. I recommend you use dark stone, such as slate and granite, to build these bridges. They should be opened as soon as an announcement says that a siege has arrived.
5: Each yellow bridge should all be connected to another one lever. I recommend you use white stone, such as rock salt, to build these bridges. They should only be opened when an enemy is on top.
6: Don't forget to build a wall to keep the water out. I started it just at the edge of the farm. Make sure that the yellow bridge only starts after the wall, and make sure that you build two pillars on top of where the wall is instead of a bridge, like I did. This is because enemies can walk across the wall below if the bridge is dropped otherwise.
7: Oh, and you'll have to smash that thin wall on the first underground floor (where the water is) of the basement and removing the stockpile.
8: The entire point of the brown bridges instead of just building walls is because, as the whole thing gets expanded by future overseers, making it using walls will mean your dwarves will have to walk a good bit around it every time they want to get through. By using bridges, the dwarves can get over no problem but the invaders won't.
9: It may seem to have a small surface area now, and doesn't look like it'll be very effective, but it's very easy to expand on. As time goes on, future overseers can keep adding more and more sections to it.

Uh, don't jump to any conclusions on how we should build defenses, guys. I'm kinda changing a lot of it. :p

Also, I'm probably gonna finish my whole year before posting. I like posting in big chunks.

Also, I'm probably gonna finish my whole year before posting. I like posting in big chunks.
I should've given you the save file when I finished then, because I finished early too.

Edit: Oh wait, I forgot I only finished one day before I posted most of the year in one go. Nevermind.

I'm looking forward to seeing pigbuster's post.
Also, I would like to request again a link or something to download your end-of-year save, Plasma.
Assuming it still exists, of course.

Check your Private Message inbox.

Actually, I'm not sure what was the point on keeping it secret, so:
http://host-a.net/Plasma/region5.zip
The password is "dwarf".

Ah, whoops. I thought I had email notification of PMs turned on.
Fixed.
Also: Thanks!

Oh, Metal Alex, I forgot to say: I had planned to give you a cameo as requested, but it turned out that all three 'metal dudes' weren't actually dudes at all. Oh well.

Oh, Metal Alex, I forgot to say: I had planned to give you a cameo as requested, but it turned out that all three 'metal dudes' weren't actually dudes at all. Oh well.

Why thank you. Don't worry, though, as that post just made my day :D

Sorry for taking so long guys. I'm working on my posts, but I'm slow. :(

No sweat. I certainly can't rightfully complain. :p

I hope that Spore and stuff hasn't sucked all the attention away from here.
I mean, yeah, I'm fine if it takes alot, but it would be nice to know at least someone besides me looks at this thread still.

Well, I can't play it, so there's something. :p

I still watch this thread. I'm expecting good things from pigbuster :p

I am a "fortress makeover" specialist. I suppose I don't have any better way to describe it.
I would probably be living the high life with a TV show on the Bravo network if either of those things existed, and they don't.

Instead, I travel the world, visiting many fortresses, each one dirtier and smellier than the last. There I act as overseer for a year, giving orders and generally making the fortress a more hospitable place.

I'm not sure why I do this. I get a hefty amount of money from the king, but it's not like I can spend it, what with my traveler's lifestyle. The best I can do is buy better carts, and that can only go so far.

Anyway, here I am at yet another fortress, Distantcity.
Hopefully this will be better than last time...


http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/5295/picture10hd9.png

I immediately take on the role of broker, one of the more dignified jobs in the fortress. I am not the type to carry around rocks or garbage or dead butterflies.


http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/7678/picture2mv3.png

I can't say that the sight of the entrance filled me with any confidence.

Stockpiles haphazardly thrown about inside the main wall, a refuse stockpile filled with withered crops (which is NEVER a good sign), a pile of 4 or so fisherdwarves standing on each other, and a massive field of boulders to the East.
There's also a field of orthoclase nearby. Apparently the mineral is "cursed". I think the only curse related to orthoclase is its ugly yellow color.


http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/9107/picture3xl7.png

It seems like the fortress' trading depot was placed up on the roof. A neat trick, but I don't see anything good coming out of such an arrangement. It also seems like the previous overseers attempted to build a roof over the courtyard. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: all meeting areas should be placed outside, so the dwarves won't develop the dreaded "Cave Adaptation". I don't want the dwarves vomiting all over the goods they bring to the depot.
So, the first item on my agenda is to demolish that useless rooftop, and eventually I'll have to bring the depot down to the ground.


http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/1366/picture21eo2.png

I set up the wood and refuse stockpiles in a more pleasing side-by-side arrangement, and I also make a refuse stockpile indoors for skulls, bones and shells. It's common knowledge that refuse, when stored outside, periodically disappears due to the bone fairies.
Therefore, the outdoor stockpile is for all refuse that can rot, and the indoor stockpile is for all of the refuse that's used for crafts and bolts and the like.


http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/7594/picture27ys3.png

The lack of a road leading to the edge of the map is concerning, so I immediately designate one to be built. One nice thing about building on top of rock salt is that a good road can be built simply by smoothing down the rock. This fortress has a ridiculous number of engravers, so I doubt this will take very long.

I'm also clearing out some of the wall to create room for a drawbridge. There's only one entrance wall to the fortress right now, and that's just silly.

Well, the outer areas were disappointing. Hopefully things will improve underground.

They didn't.
In fact, they got worse.


http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/8682/picture49ea0.png

Just underneath the surface is a massive farm/stockpile room that has no order at all. The farm has a bunch of rotting plants, because the current order in place says that only farmers can harvest. I was quick to change that.
Everything's just thrown together, and even worse, I don't see a single bin anywhere. Surely this fortress just ran out of bins, and I'm going to find a bunch of them somewhere else, right?


http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/2894/picture109ux3.png

Wrong!
The lower stockpile looks like a junkyard; I don't even know where to begin.
Oh, and no bins! Wonderful. Next on the agenda: Make bins.


http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/403/picture112qc7.png

The food stockpile is a mess, too. Rather than make one big stockpile, there are a bunch of little food stockpiles which means that everything goes everywhere and there's no order.


http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/435/picture150sj6.png

The dining room looks nice, if it weren't for the masses of dwarves everywhere. This dining room isn't open enough to be a good meeting area, so that has to change.
Oh, and those tables at the bottom are supposed to be the desks for the nobles. Like I'm going to work properly in such conditions. Bah!


http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/6532/picture157yo1.png

All of the workshops are propped up right next to one another in a layout best described as "A cluster****". I can't imagine how anyone could work in such horrible conditions, but then again, these are dwarves we're talking about. Cluttered workshops are the least of their problems.

I have also discovered that the workshops are arranged so close to the bedrooms that almost no one gets a good night's sleep. The first two dwarves I bump into tell me about how they've been "woken by noise while sleeping lately". I also can't help but notice that the clothes they're wearing are rotting off their bodies. Seems like I have clothing production to worry about. As though I wasn't busy enough!

Clearly this fortress room needs a lot of work, but I'm going to work from the top down. I'd go crazy trying to fix up everything at once. That means focusing on the courtyard.

Speaking of the courtyard...


http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/9649/picture78ex3.png

The roof removal has resulted in a semi-massive cave-in. Seeing as how the fortress is built vertically, a massive gouge was smashed in the floor all the way to the bottom level, throwing massive clouds of dirt and dust everywhere. Wonderful.
You'd think dwarves would realize that things fall if not supported, but I suppose that they don't teach common sense in the fortress of Distantcity.

Two dwarves died, but neither of them were very important. I don't really care about my brethren very much. The fortress is all that matters.

The cave-in destroyed most of the farm plots, so a new farm has to be built pretty soon.


http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/6272/picture133ft4.png

Elves have arrived at the depot. We have precious little crafts, but luckily, we have plenty of narrow Goblin armor to trade. I'd better make sure to trade only the armor that doesn't have blood spattered on it. The Elves are known for being obnoxiously Hemophobic.

Luckily, I make it through the trading session without any issues, and happen to receive every single bin of cloth they had. Not bad.

After this, I validate a massive work order to make every kind of clothing many times. The clothiers are finally going to get some work done.


http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/6610/picture137go3.png

I'm surprised to find a massive vein of bituminous coal right outside our doorstep... surprised that the previous overseers didn't realize how valuable this material is. Anyway, after digging it all out, it's safe to say that we won't have to worry about fuel for a long time.


http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/8595/picture156gc5.png

One of our clothiers began acting strangely and screamed out for shells. Unfortunately for him, all of our fisherdwarves are currently standing on each other's shoulders, fishing out of the same little area of the brook, and they aren't fishing out of the lakes where turtles are more frequent. I change this, but I'm not quick enough to get a shell, and he's eventually struck with melancholy. Oh well. What's one dwarf, more or less?

Migrants appear right after this, and they replace the dwarves lost... and then some.
The Dungeon Master arrives with them. Looks like another noble to deal with.


http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/3530/picture173ff5.png

The bedrooms are expanded to make room for the newcomers.


It occurs to me that I'm going to have to leave at the end of the year.

However, I shouldn't just leave. If I know the emotional state of the average dwarf right, me disappearing into thin air could be enough to make everyone go crazy.
Everyone's pretty happy, but I'm not going to take chances, so I'll take one of the immigrants that looks like me, teach him how to manage a fortress, and make him change his name to mine before sneaking off. That ought to work.

http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/1687/picture188cw6.png

The new Depot is built. There were caravan issues with the one on the roof, and this one will be easier to use.
Oh, and the lever there will open and close the front drawbridge.


http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/9366/picture210io6.png

Some strip mining ought to keep the miners busy.


http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/4219/picture218nl1.png

It's become painfully evident that the fortress has a traffic problem. A single core staircase is not enough, so I order up an X of 5 staircases. This means that the central room in the courtyard is no longer necessary, so that needs to go. Finally, there are now 4 doorways in the outer wall, including the drawbridge.
Needless to say, the traffic situations has improved dramatically.


http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/3204/picture236mh6.png

Here come the humans. Luckily, we have enough goblin armor left over to make up for the lack of crafts, and we clean out their caravans.
Not much armor left, though. Must build up the craft-making industry.


http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/6577/picture254lx1.png

I begin the next big construction project: rooms for the nobles. This level and the one beneath it shall be dug out in this pattern, which ought to provide 4 large rooms for each noble, a bedroom, a dining room, an office and a tomb. Plasma and I will take the office and dining room, but we overseers have our own rooms and tombs, so I'm just digging those empty spaces out for symmetry.

http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/2962/picture264ij7.png

The masses of human food shows how we have a barrel shortage. We don't even have enough for the brewers to use, since the barrels are claimed for food shortage as soon as they're built. Better work on that...


http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/9382/picture268gz7.png

Here are the new farm plots. I'm not too happy, though... the stone floors to the left are cramping everything up. I need to work on flooding this room somehow...


http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/3524/picture289si1.png

By the way, I forgot to mention the new workshop area. Everything's arranged in a kind of grid, with everything somewhat arranged next to related workshops.

Unfortunately, immediately after finishing this up, I realized that there was still the noise problem. A lack of foresight on my part made me build everything on the exact same level, and they're still too close to the bedrooms. Looks like I'll have to move everything downwards.
There is still a lot to do...


http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/2663/picture316gs5.png

The new road to the west is built. It ought to make things easier for the caravans.


http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/1684/picture319ao1.png

They actually go down a little tunnel like this to get to ground level.

It's suddenly occurred to me at the time of this writing that this tunnel could perhaps be redesigned to go even deeper, so that the depot could perhaps be built in the storeroom area.

I'll put it down as a suggestion for the next overseer. I have other things to worry about right now.

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/937/picture324ld9.png

The first hostile creature I've had to deal with is just a thief.
We'll get plenty of them, but because of the meeting area around the entryway, it's almost impossible for them to enter without being spotted. Just to be safe, though, I think I ought to build some cage traps around the doors.

All of the thieves are either eaten by dogs or chased away.


http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/7289/picture332ct8.png

There's a huge room filled with waist-deep water in the lower levels, which is probably the aftermath of a fortress flood. That water won't go away if it's that deep, so another large room is dug out, and when the wall is destroyed it all ought to drain out into harmless puddles that'll be absorbed.


http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/310/picture338qd7.png

New stockpiles. Everything's in order now, and there's a pile for everything but animals, food, weapons/armor and rotting refuse. The weapons/armor stockpile would be better located in a barracks, and the animal pile in a zoo.


http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/135/picture360md2.png

The miners find a cache of emeralds, one of the most valuable jewels in the gam- I mean, world.
Then, just when they're celebrating their good luck...


http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/1293/picture363yb2.png

...They find more.

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/6043/picture413do6.png

The Drawbridge Drainage System (DDS) is finished, so...


http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/5132/picture422ny5.png

...the farmland irrigation is in progress.

TO THE FUTURE OVERSEERS:

RIGHT LEVER OPERATES FLOODGATE
LEFT LEVER OPERATES THE DDS

Note that there isn't actually much of a danger as long as you keep everyone out of the room. Not to mention that you shouldn't have to flood the room ever again since there should be more than enough farmland.


http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/558/picture424pr8.png

The water is shallow enough to finish harvesting last season's plump helmet crop.


http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/7535/picture428kp3.png

Meanwhile, the miners are digging out a sunroof over half of the farmland.
This will allow the planting of outdoor crops within the relative safety of the fortress.

However, while digging the pit, one of the miners spotted something off in the distance...


http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/6718/picture431hq0.png

Luckily, they underestimated our defenses. The wall is now airtight, without fortifications for any marksgoblins to shoot through. Of course...


http://img381.imageshack.us/img381/5285/picture442bi6.png

...they don't even have any marksgoblins. Perhaps we can defeat them without any marksdwarves of our own...

A quick "Stay Indoors" order brings everyone inside the inner wall.
After that, the drawbridge is lowered and the doors are locked. The goblins don't seem to realize that the giant hole right next to them leads to the farmland, so everyone is totally safe. In fact, they're so safe...


http://img381.imageshack.us/img381/271/picture445xp4.png

...that the "Stay Indoors" order can be retracted, since the only way out is through the wall, which is completely locked up. The dwarves gather in the meeting area and tell jokes about how goblins are too stupid to jump in holes. You'd be surprised how much mileage they got out of that subject.


http://img381.imageshack.us/img381/2756/picture448tt6.png

I set up the new barracks just in time for the newly drafted marksmen & woodcutters.


http://img381.imageshack.us/img381/6452/picture458rh5.png

Meanwhile, the new workshop area is in progress, and it's deep enough for the noise to dissipate before reaching the bedrooms.
I decided to build the workshops in darker and darker rock the further they are from the central staircase.
Rock Salt > Granite > Slate.
No reason, really. It's just neat.


http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/8282/picture466ps0.png

Oh, and I can't forget the balcony that was built for the new windmill, which powers an axle down two levels to the new millstone in the food stockpile. Hand-powered querns are so primitive nowadays.

Without marksgoblins, our ragtag army may stand a chance against the scum.
It doesn't matter whether we win or lose; we'll get some spare clothing to sell either way!

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/5104/picture489ua6.png

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/8185/picture492hj6.png

(Notice the goblin in the lower-right that was knocked flying)

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/9690/picture488ib7.png


Well, the goblins were totally defeated!
Needless to say, I don't think we have to worry about having enough goods to trade.
One of our dwarves was badly hurt, though, since he attacked before the axedwarves could provide backup.

Now, I'm not one to give special attention to a certain dwarf, but I can't help but notice that no one brings the injured dwarf to a bed. They just leave him lying unconscious in the mud.

I figure I ought to directly act to keep someone from dying in such a pathetic way, so...


http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/4978/picture579ye2.png

I order a roof over his tile so it will be technically "indoors", and I also order a bed built underneath him.

Yet still no one pays attention to his plight. He's probably going to starve eventually.


http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/1839/picture562ll5.png

But hey, at least the irrigation is finished!

http://img394.imageshack.us/img394/5440/picture599ud1.png

The planters are hard at work on the truly massive farmland.
There is now a dedicated plot for every kind of crop, indoor and outdoor.


http://img394.imageshack.us/img394/923/picture601wu2.png

The food is almost all fully barreled, so we can get back to brewing alcohol, the way things should be!


http://img394.imageshack.us/img394/8008/picture604eb6.png

And with that, Spring has arrived, and my job is done. Time to go.
It's no problem due to the apprentice that's waiting to take my place.


Farewell, Distantcity.


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


End-of-year status report:

Start of Reign:
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/9523/41796204wz6.png

End of Reign:
http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/7774/picture621sf7.png


Sorry for taking so long. I had to sort through over 600 pictures! Yeesh.

It was all rather uneventful, really. It's weird having everything go mostly right. Still fun, though.
Sorry if you were expecting something insane to happen. :P

It's now in your hands, Melon Robowurmz. Have fun dealing with the dying marksdwarf.
http://www.mediafire.com/?unzhyndzmne

123 animals? I think it's high time that the butchers be called in!

I still want my cameo, you know, WINK WINK, Melon?

Whoa, you've nearly doubled the fortress wealth. Awesome!
I'm glad you actually got around to streamlining that place, too. Alot of my stuff was just supposed to be temporary so I could focus on getting the rest if it layed out. Like, food stockpiles all separated into individual types, not using barrels, because I needed to brew stuff too.

Also: Y'think 90 dwarves might be enough to, y'know, actually support a permanent military?

Edit: I am noticing we have a total of one trained animal. Don't we have somebody to train some War Dogs?
Edit2: Noticed that despite putting the workshops lower, which was great, you also put them one floor away from the new noble rooms. Whoops.

Edit: I am noticing we have a total of one trained animal. Don't we have somebody to train some War Dogs?
I don't know about in PBs reign but in mine, all dogs were owned by dwarves.

Edit2: Noticed that despite putting the workshops lower, which was great, you also put them one floor away from the new noble rooms. Whoops.

Gragh. Totally missed that.

Oh well, they'll have statues and stuff to admire eventually, and that ought to even things out. :p
I usually don't build so vertically, so it's a somewhat new issue to me.

Oh crap is it my turn already?

Guess I'd best get started.........


........



....... Guess I'd best download DF first of course, haha.
Don't panic, I've just not got it on my new laptop yet, I have played it before

in the style of the classic Boatmurdered saga [language warning] (http://fromearth.net/LetsPlay/Boatmurdered/).

It's impossible to replicate boatmurdered or emulate its style unless it involves numerous nuclear catsplosions (http://mkv25.net/dfma/movie-518-nuclearcatsplosion)

e: your fort layout is bonkers

e: your fort layout is bonkers
Yes, thankyou! We've all done quite a bit as far as shredding the hillside is concerned.

Sorry for taking so long on this everyone. I'll get this thing finished and up on the interwebs for all to see some time this weekend.

Hmpf. They call this a fortress. I thought fortresses were meant to be strong, impenetrable chunks of rock, not flimsy wood shacks. The defences in this place are terrible. We don't even have a military force! I need to do something about this!

No sooner had I arrived then a crazy dwarf starts babbling on about this mug he's crafted. Mug? As if anybody cares about a mug!

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/6587/001sa4.png

Still, let's see what the current soldiers are like. Show yourselves to me men! Are you going to guard this fortress in the name of Armok, or are you going to run away and die like the cowards that you are?

http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/7606/006in4.png

Oh. Still, it could be worse, he could have his body looted by a group of rabid monkeys. That would be terribly undignified.

http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/9687/007lz7.png

Hmmm.....

My first duty will be to get more solidiers. I've requested that a couple arrive with the next wave of immigrants, and they should be here shortly. But before that, we have some elves arriving to trade.

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/3951/005ru2.png

It's good to see them using those roads that the previous overseers painstakingly crafted. Still, at least they have some wood to trade with us. I've never seen anyone so happy to be loaded up with hundreds and hundreds of useless mugs. Suckers.

At last, our immigrants arrive! Unfortunately, they seem to be accompanied by a group of bone idle and useless nobles. They think they're so high and mighty! They've never done a day's work in their lives!

http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/3599/009km5.png

Fortunately, they're accompanied by a group of dwarves fit for military service, and I draft them as soldiers before they even arrive at the gates. Now our defences are getting somewhere!
Unfortunately, there's about 30 immigrants. 30! Are we going to be able to feed that many during winter?

The first thing to do in making people believe we have a strong fortress is to make it look important. Morale, and all that jazz. I decide it would be a good idea to improve our roads, seeing as we have a massive bunch of lazy artists hanging around doing nothing!

http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/1542/013qq9.png

They may not be able to fight their way out of a cave spider silk bag, but at least they're good at what they do.

http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/9925/012vf7.png

-----------------------------------------------------------------


By the way guys, this seems to be running pretty slowly. Would it mess anything up too drastically if I turned off weather and temperature? I could have sworn it never used to run this slowly, even on my old laptop, and I wasn't expecting it to take me hours and hours to just hit Summer. There go my plans of getting this done during this weekend >_<

Hahah! That update made me laugh!
"Soldier dies of thirst next to river. Pants later stolen by monkies."

Also, when you're finished send me the save file. I wanna go around in Adventure Mode and explore/read those inscriptions.

By the way guys, this seems to be running pretty slowly. Would it mess anything up too drastically if I turned off weather and temperature? I could have sworn it never used to run this slowly, even on my old laptop, and I wasn't expecting it to take me hours and hours to just hit Summer. There go my plans of getting this done during this weekend >_<
Sure. Just remember to turn them back on at the end of the year, so that the other guys still have to deal with FIRE!

Oh god.
Have fun dealing with the economy. :p

And it might be the waterfall that's screwing your framerate up, so feel free to turn stuff off.
Temperature would only really matter if we had magma, and we don't. Weather barely does anything apart from eat up the CPU (Though the next release will have rainfall fill up murky pools!).

Oh god.
Have fun dealing with the economy. :p
I can't remember; are you able to designate free-of-charge bedrooms yet?

Holy crap. We have the best road EVER.

Sure. Just remember to turn them back on at the end of the year, so that the other guys still have to deal with FIRE!

It wouldn't matter, temperature and weather are based on init.txt, so as long as you don't use his init.txt, it'll be all normal for the next guy.

Turning down the graphical frame rate has sped things up massively. I seem to remember I had to do this last time.

Should get another update up tomorrow. Sorry I haven't had much time lately. I wasn't even at home all of yesterday.

Wherever Plasma goes, he is followed by a loyal army of way too many dogs.

http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/7859/014qn6.png

A sleazy human diplomat arrives! What sort of foul practices will he be up to?

http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/8564/015ya9.png

http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/829/016pd3.png

Oh my! But is his Merchant Prince friend any better?

http://img370.imageshack.us/img370/4193/017wy9.png

At least the sleazy merchant has taste......

So we send them away with way too many mugs as a trade for lots of booze and barrels. Seems fair to me.

That fancy bedroom is supposed to be for the current overseer, just so you know. I should be moved to the empty nearby big bedroom.

Can I presume it was you, PB, that built the extra overseer bedrooms there?

Yes, though I didn't furnish any of them.

MUST FURNISH FURTHER.

On a related note, I should point out to the future overseers that you don't necessarily have to leave a dwarf self in the fortress, or to have one actually in the fortress as you're running it. I just added myself to the fortress in mid-term in order to be all different and interesting and stuff. It does make things a bit more interesting, but of course, you also pose the risk of having your dwarven self eaten by a snakeman or something in the middle of your term, which would make your updates a bit awkward, probably. It's cool to see everybody following along, but again, it's not a requirement if you'd rather not.

OK this is getting ridiculous now. I just can't find the time for anything anymore these days. You'd have thought a few hours a day would be reasonable, but apparently not. I haven't even hit autumn yet.

So.. uh.... Robowurmz, did you want to take over from me now, maybe finish my year AND yours? I'm just holding this back longer and longer and I'm sure everyone just wants to get a move on. If so, I could upload where I am now, or you could just ignore what I've done and grab pigbuster's save or something.

Sorry guys. My days of free time and fun seem to be over this summer :(

That, and staring at a screen all day as part of my job really makes computers lose their appeal.

Um, if you really want to abandon your term, we should just roll back to before yours even happened, rather than giving somebody the advantage of having a whole term and a half. ...IMHO, you know.

Good idea Zero; it would be easier than doing an entire term and a half.

Also, my Summer Holidays have begun, so I've got plenty time on my hands for playing.

I may have to abstain my turn as well, I'm really not seeing myself being able to play Dwarf Fortress until early August :(

Alternatively, you can just let somebody else do the half-a-term.

On a completely unrelated note, I've got a computer fast enough to run it at full speed, I've got plenty of free time and I'm hungry for something to do. Completely unrelated, yes.

Hey Melon, we're a patient bunch, and you've made it to Autumn. I think we can all wait for you to finish your term.

I mean, unless you are completely opposed to continuing. We can't stop you from quitting on your own terms.

Just don't do it for our sakes.

As far as you go, pickleworm, we'll just bump you to the nearest slot until you're able to play, alright? That's assuming the fortress survives that long.

Uhm... I'm considering to do a bonus year after everyone's done. I never played, and won't play until "my turn".

Think of it as the apocalipse.

Of course, if anyone wants to continue, ignore my year, for god's sake :p

So, what's happening? I have no PM's or anything...

Yeah, skip my year entirely and go from pigbuster's year. I only really have time during weekends, but even then not that much spare time.

As far as you go, pickleworm, we'll just bump you to the nearest slot until you're able to play, alright? That's assuming the fortress survives that long.

Yes please! That'd work.

Uhm... I'm considering to do a bonus year after everyone's done. I never played, and won't play until "my turn".

Think of it as the apocalipse.

Of course, if anyone wants to continue, ignore my year, for god's sake :p

Don't worry about it. :p As long as you don't kill EVERYONE we have very talented players that could un-do whatever awfulness you inflict on the fort.

Don't worry about it. :p As long as you don't kill EVERYONE we have very talented players that could un-do whatever awfulness you inflict on the fort.That sounds like a challenge.

Don't worry about it. :p As long as you don't kill EVERYONE we have very talented players that could un-do whatever awfulness you inflict on the fort.

Well, to begin with, I don't really know how to keep them ALIVE.

Well, to begin with, I don't really know how to keep them ALIVE.

Beds, food, water (preferably alcohol). Get at least one dwarf on "hunt" duty, and another on "butcher" duty, and let the automatic animal spawning system do the rest. Water? Hah! If there's a stream, or pools, there you go.

So, can I have the save file, please so I can actually start my own turn?

Well, to begin with, I don't really know how to keep them ALIVE.

I think in our case, by whatever year we leave off at in the end, you'd probably have enough food and water to keep you through an entire year.

But anyway, robowurmz's turn, starting from pigbuster's save.

Hmm. This is an interesting split in the timeline.

Oh, one last thing, Melon. What should we do with your placement in the roster? Should we keep you where you are, move you to another position, or remove you?

But anyway, robowurmz's turn, starting from pigbuster's save.



Things would probably be easier if I had the save. Needless to say, it's probably already on its way as I type.

Save is here: http://forum.team17.co.uk/showpost.php?p=656837&postcount=108

Yeah, remove me from the roster. I doubt I'll have time when it comes beack to my turn again.

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s258/Robowurmz/1.png

Log Entry 1; I have arrived at this new fortress. I have managed several small ones successfully now, and the Mountainhomes deemed me suitable to take on a larger job.

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s258/Robowurmz/2.png

It's quite a messy sort of place, with Dwarves and animals just milling around and running about. However, I am sure I can cope with this, all it needs is some order. The first thing I have noticed is that security seems fairly low; 3 traps and 2 guards, not even a military.

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s258/Robowurmz/4.png

He looks a fine chap! Also, that's MY bedroom now, thankyou so very much!

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s258/Robowurmz/5.png

Methinks I shall build my tomb here. I want it to be a memoir of my well-structured fortress, and inspire further Overseers when I come to the end of my mortal coil.

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s258/Robowurmz/6.png
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s258/Robowurmz/7.png

JUST WHAT IN THE HECK IS A RIVER DOING WITH A FLOODGATE *LEADING* TO OUR BEDROOM AREA?!

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s258/Robowurmz/8.png
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s258/Robowurmz/9.png

I headed down to the cluttered workshop area (which happens to be MILES away from any stockpile whatsoever) and ask for my Silver Sarcophagus (it was going to be gold, but we didn't have enough) to be made and get some trap bits.

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s258/Robowurmz/slatering1.png

Somebody made a chunk of circular rock, with rock rock and turtle on it. How incredibly amazing.

Gee, some of these Dwarves are retarded or something; they appear to have lost the fine art of crafting!

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s258/Robowurmz/16.png

That will soon be remedied when they see the beautiful beds and coffins.

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s258/Robowurmz/11.png

I've got that tough ol' overseer guarding our bridge now, and double wielding swords. I'm scared to pull any levers until I personally figure out which one opens the floodgates above some lucky chap's bedroom. Also, 3 more traps.

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s258/Robowurmz/12.png

Peasant army coming up; I'll soon get these guys sparring and lick them into shape; there's plenty of weapons for them to learn about.

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s258/Robowurmz/13.png

ARRGH ELVES

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s258/Robowurmz/14.png

Get sparring, dwarves!

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s258/Robowurmz/15dontsparwithsleeper.png

Please don't punch sleeping folk.

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s258/Robowurmz/17.png

First accident; it was a qualified guard that got his head and eyes poked by a peasant, believe it or not.

Just so you know, if you use up all of the gems by encrusting them, you wont have any left over for any strange moods.

...But this is your fortress now, or something.

That sounds like a challenge.My sense of foreboding at being the person to take up running the colony directly after Sup increases

Just so you know, if you use up all of the gems by encrusting them, you wont have any left over for any strange moods.

...But this is your fortress now, or something.

Oh, I'm cutting plenty too; this is just some groups of them.

Gah, skip my go.

I'm having loading and saving problems, so I'm getting nowhere.

Hmm...
Oh well! The sooner it comes round to my go, I guess!

Pickleworm, its your turn now!

Pickleworm isn't even here right now.
He's away at a summer camp for nerds making lasers and square dancing.

He won't be back for awhile, either.

So, since he's gone, and didn't get a chance for a turn, gameplay will continue with SupSuper.

However, whenever Pickleworm returns, he will get the nearest possible play slot.

So if he returns in the middle of Zero's next turn, for instance, then he gets slot number 3 because he missed his turn, and then it goes back to the standard order with him as number 7.

But yeah, SupSuper, it's your time to shine! Bring glory to Distantcity!

In closing: 3 in a row have been unable to play. I wonder if any of the other succession games had problems like these...

Yeah I'm sorry for ruining everything :(

I'll definitely be able to play once I get back though.

Robowurmz: elaborate on the problems so we might be able to fix them? Or do you think it's just a really old computer sort of deal?

Geez, is it my turn already? How do I get the save?

And I might wait for this next update to come out to maybe kickstart things around here.

I posted my save a little while back, I think.

The new update deals almost exclusively with world gen, so you don't really need to wait. The only thing that would impact you would be the easier construct designation and stuff.

...or maybe there was something else. There's a lot of new stuff, after all.

Yeah I'm sorry for ruining everything :(

I'll definitely be able to play once I get back though.

Robowurmz: elaborate on the problems so we might be able to fix them? Or do you think it's just a really old computer sort of deal?

It's a DF error; I can't fix it, my current save screwed up.

If that's the case you could probably start again from Pigbuster's save and then just do everything again. It isn't like you are unable to do that, so we shouldn't go to SupSuper after all.

You should probably turn AUTO_BACKUP on next time.

Hmm, I want to use the new version, but it has bugs; it wouldn't be fair to continue the fortress using the new version. I could use the old one, but I don't really want to. Please skip my go.

You can use the new version if you want, it isn't difficult to update after all.
If you still don't want to take your turn, fair enough.
I just want to get this game moving again.

Go on ahead.

I think Dan and I are both going to be running from the version directly before the newest one (unless there's an even newer one that I don't know about. Basically, we're running from the one that doesn't have a new world builder, but equally doesn't have a bug that makes dwarfs sleep forever)

but equally doesn't have a bug that makes dwarfs sleep forever)
That bug was already fixed, along with many others.

Whatever SupSuper decides to do, here we go.
http://www.mediafire.com/?unzhyndzmne
Reposting Pigbuster's save from earlier.

THREAD! BUMP!
Sup, have you actually started yet? Or are you doing an until-end-of-year thing for your screeenshots.

I PM'ed the guy. He's doing stuff, but apparently he can't find anything interesting in all of the fortress meriting a post, from my understanding. That's a notable feat considering the game.

Alright people, relax, I didn't forget to run this thing into the ground. :P I meant it when I told Ray that nothing interesting happened yet, but here you go. I'm running the old version btw.


I had a calm, peaceful life. I was just a lone woodcutter chopping away for the good of dwarfkind. I liked chopping trees. I got a free axe out of it and it made me feel mighty and powerful. No tree could stand in my path. Haha, take that you blasted tree! You're no match for SupSuper, woodcutter!

...errr, anyways. This was all about to end. I was fired. Apparently nobody needed wood anymore, it was all stone and metal from here on out. And it ****ed off the elves. Bloody treehuggers. I knew they would lead to my downfall.

All the other jobs were overbooked, but apparently there was an opening for overseer. Big responsibility, no benefits... no wonder nobody wants this job. Specially with all the rumors going on about the first seer... Red, Ran, Raz? Some say a pack of wolves mauled him, some way a trade gone wrong took the best of him, others say he drowned his miseries in the river. But I had no choice, it was either this or back to my homeland. So, overseer I become.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/0_supsuper.png

As soon as I took the job, some sheriff came whining about how his Dining Room and Office don't meet his majesty's high standards. Well excuuuuuse me princess. Damn stuck-up nobles. Well the engravers were all idling around so I had them engrave the whole noble floor. They'll be talking about this for months.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/1_masterpieces.png

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/2_hornsilver.png
It's... some different kind of silver, I guess? I don't know what all the fuss was about but they seemed ecstatic.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/3_elves.png
I knew taking this job was be a bad idea. Oh well, luckily I don't have to deal with them in person, Pigbuster will take care of that. Hopefully they won't be too troublesome. Yeah right.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/4_poorranger.png
Poor guy. I'm told he was in The Big Goblin War of 1054. Well, nothing we can do for him now, we'll give him a warrior's burial.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/5_lignite.png
Woo? I'm told this can be used for fuel, so that's good. It's just a bit annoying to have been found right in the middle of our bedroom plan.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/6_damp.png
What do you mean there's a damp stone? There isn't any water for miles!
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/7_damndamp.png
...oh. Well who the hell built a channel right under the bedrooms? Oh I don't care, there's no way the water could get up here. I'm telling you, it can't, so get back to work!

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/8_bloodywood.png
Wood... and cloth. Are you kidding me? Nothing else? I thought you loved trees anyways, where the hell did you get all this wood? Bunch of hypocrites. I guess we'll take some cloth.

What? What do you mean it's murder? I checked, there were no wooden items. The bin? It's a bin, were you planning on carrying it all by hand? Well now I'm ****ed, you've wasted my time just to be a douche. That does it, I'm taking all your stuff like it or not. You don't care? Wonderful!
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/9_douche.png

...oh. Well who the hell built a channel right under the bedrooms? Oh I don't care, there's no way the water could get up here. I'm telling you, it can't, so get back to work!
Umm... Sup? That channel is over the bedrooms!



Please tell me you didn't build a staircase...

Well it looks as though I've got my work cut out for me :p

I'm ****ed, you've wasted my time just to be a douche.

Lol, SuperSup found an unblocked swear :cool: :p

Plasma's a douche! XD I kill me

Umm... Sup? That channel is over the bedrooms!



Please tell me you didn't build a staircase...Of course, because that makes perfect sense. :P
Either way there's also water under the bedrooms. Let's hope the floor doesn't crack. Or we could turn it into an emergency suicide system.


http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/10_earrings.png
Now the sheriff's going on about earrings. Earrings! Looking into being more fashionable, is he? I hope this doesn't become a new trend.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/11_girl.png
Hmph, more mouths to get drunk. If I was the father, I would've much preferred a boy.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/12_overseers.png
Well, at least there's some bright side to this. I moved into the glorious overseer room and had the past overseer rooms built and furnished for whoever follows.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/13_economy.png
Oh boy.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/14_nobles.png
OH BOY!

No excitement eh?
I knew it would never last!
Migrants, and more nobles, and the economy.
That's gonna be hours of fun.

Given this unexpected surge of nobles, most people have been called to deal with this situation. Apparently there were some rooms dug out by the previous overseers but they were not furnished at all. I'm not even sure this is a proper spot for them but I've got no time for that now. I had to call masons to make extra doors and carpenters to make extra tables and chairs to meet demands, while the engravers quickly got the rooms up to their high standards. The baron and baroness don't even sleep together! Ugh, so much work.

I also took the time to address the military. I upgraded the Barracks and called in our peasants to train them into fine wrestlers and marksdwarves. We've now got a small squad of eight to take care of any intruders as well as a Fortress Guard and Royal Guard to address internal issues.

Finally the day ends and everyone heads to the bedrooms. Or apparently not. I'm told people can't go back to their rooms because they can't afford the rent. Apparently statues are far beyond their range. Sigh, I have no choice but to let them sleep off in the barracks and call in even more beds for them.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/15_barracks.png
Hopefully they won't get punched in their sleep.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/16_swishroads.png
The Engravers are once again up to no good so I had them fancy up the roads and other parts of the fort that seem to get lots of activity.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/17_humanizer.png
And instantly we got another caravan looking for our fine dwarven goods. Although there's no road on that side of the map, I'll have to make a note of that.
I like humans, they make very good traders, hopefully we can come to an agreement.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/18_engravermayor.png
The reign of terror of Olin Eribdakon, Engraver, is over. Say hello to your new terror, èrith Zatoddom, Engraver!

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/19_holyitems.png
Holy crap, I didn't expect this much stuff. I guess I should have once I saw those eight wagons coming in. Weapons, armor, food, drinks, seeds, leather, clothes, crafts, wood, ...the list never ends. Luckily we've got plenty of valuable crafts, this should make some fine business.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/20_mineminemine.png
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/21_minemine.png
The miners seem pretty bored so I've sent them off to do some strip mining. They seemd pretty happy about it.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/22_possessed.png
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/23_possessed2.png
I saw a floating exclamation point going around the fort the other day. I figured I should cut down on the dwarven beer.

Food was piling up on the farms so I decided to go check things out. We certainly weren't understaffed.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/24_fooooood.png
...well, I never expected this to happen. An excess of food. In my days it was all starvation and famine. The carpenters seem to be taking forever making more barrels so I'm having the storeroom expanded, the miners will probably make short work of it.

Watch out for collapsing roofs with that strip-mining.

Watch out for collapsing roofs with that strip-mining.

As of the 3D update, caveins only happen when the tile is completely disconnected from all other tiles.
http://www.dwarffortresswiki.net/index.php/Cave-in

No excitement eh?
I knew it would never last!
Migrants, and more nobles, and the economy.
That's gonna be hours of fun.
Welcome to the exciting world of TAXES! Watch and be amazed as the Treasurer counts the STONES! Listen to the ferocious roar of the Mayor asking for more CHAIRS!

Watch out for collapsing roofs with that strip-mining.
We went over this Paul, roofs don't cave in anymore! It's been like that since the Z axis was introduced.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/25_chairdundundun.png
All that fuss over a chair? Well I never.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/26_mine.png
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/28_mine.png
The strip mining continues!

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/27_butch.png
Excuse me? You're demanding that I get you a platinum weapon rack? You can keep dreaming. Nobles, pfft, off with their heads, if I had a say in it.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/29_whattheduce.png
What the hell? What's one of my guards doing in jail?!?

What the hell? What's one of my guards doing in jail?!?

He probably gave a beating that was too hard and killed somebody and got jailed for it.

That better not be me in there!

No you're the dwarf happily grinning away outside. :P

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/30_guardbait.png
What? He broke a mandate? After it was over? But.. how.. when.. err...

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/31_caravans.png
Well at least we've got more merchants coming in, it's always nice to talk to someone other than dwarves for a change.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/32_arrival.png
Wow, those traders just don't stop coming, there must be like five caravans piled up in there.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/33_ifyouinsist.png
If you insist.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/34_requests.png
Wow, that's a lot of stuff you got there. I guess I'll just go for the usual food & weapons trade, we seem to make anything else ourselves.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/35_cursethem.png
Curse those confounded goblins! Why, in my days, we could trade in peace without having to worry about goblins!

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/36_ohmyjesus.png
Needless to say, everyone is quite annoyed that they can't pile up rocks anymore.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/37_onedown.png
I've had the place closed down, but of course dwarves in panic do anything but follow orders and immediately run out to investigate the goblin weapons. With their face.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/38_puppies.png
Those poor puppies...

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/39_murdersome.png
Hopefully my small army will get here before all these stones become permanently stained.

Aw crud! Those better not be my dogs!

That better not be me in there!
Aw crud! Those better not be my dogs!
You're a real team player, Plasma :rolleyes:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/40_evenmore.png
Bloody hell, this is gonna be an eventful Winter.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/41_waaar.png
Chaaaaaaaaarge!

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/42_hellzyeah.png
Now this is what I'm talking about! Hard work and regular training paying off!

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/43_ohman.png
Well... it lasted for a while.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/44_ow.png
One of our mechanics has just been standing there, injured, outside. I hope he doesn't die.

You're a real team player, Plasma :rolleyes:
That better not be me you're talking about there!

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/45_poorbaby.png
This poor baby has been left orphan. I told him "bring your son to work day" wasn't a good idea.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/46_meantime.png
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/47_saywhat.png
In the meantime, the traders seem completely undisturbed by the recent issues, continuing their noblism affairs. I'll tell you, those nobles hear nothing but themselves.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/48_sigh.png
You remember that baby? Well, you might wanna forget about him now.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/49_trades.png
Well, to cheer the folk up, I've gotten plenty of drinks and weapons out of this caravan. I had to call in anyone to the depot though, since our resident trader, Pigbuster, seems completely uninterested by the whole thing and hasn't actually participated in a trade in ages. I'll have to attend a meeting with him.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/50_ohwhatthe.png
Snatcher. Right. The only thing this "snatcher" did was run far, far away while the poor confused metalsmith ran away himself. Dwarves have no brains these days, let me tell you.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/51_hellyeah.png
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/51_sweet.png
Back to business as usual.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/52_agreements.png
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/53_justshutup.png
Finally, they shut up! Sick of these bloody nobles nosing it up all over the place.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/54_awww.png
One of our soldiers was severely injured during the fight, so his fellow comrades are taking care of him. It just warms the heart, doesn't it?

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/55_cats.png
In the meantime, our cats just keep dancing around on top of the outer fortifications. I have no idea why, much less why we have ramps up there in the first place.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/56_snatcher.png
Ugh, this is just stupid. He was quickly dealt with. Popping up between us axe-wielding dwarves is never a good idea.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/57_county.png
I've just been informed we've been promoted to a County. Great. I'm sure that'll give those stuck-up nobles more reasons to be demanding.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/58_macaque.png
I don't know why but I just had this uncontrollable urge to go bug some rhesus macaque with my mighty axe.

Question: how do the animals keep getting crushed by drawbridges? Heck, why are there drawbridges there in the first place?

Question: how do the animals keep getting crushed by drawbridges? Heck, why are there drawbridges there in the first place?There's a drawbridge as the main entrance. Whenever I need to close down the fort there's some animal in the way. It also works well to keep the catsplosions down.

The Adventures of Plasma and his Hell Hounds: Part I
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/59_kunzite.png
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/60_silveryt.png
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/61_yeesh.png
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/62_maaan.png
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/63_galena.png

The Adventures of Plasma and his Hell Hounds: Part II
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/64_jeeeesus.png
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/65_maaaan.png

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/66_exclamating.png
Exclamating all over the place.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/67_bam.png
RAAAAAR! My workshop sucks! I must claim my neighbor's so I can kick him out!

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/68_mysteeeerious.png
What wonders await us?

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/69_warning.png
Clearly the gods haven't looked at us favourly this winter.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/70_holysiege.png
Wow, that looks bad. Luckily it'll give us some time to prepare before they come knocking. I've had the troops equipped and ready to charge.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/71_legendary.png
And I'm told one of our carpenters has become legendary. Surely this is a sign of fortune.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/72_bucket.png
A bucket? All that for a bucket?! Well... erm... I'm sure he's proud of it. Somehow.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/73_welp.png
Here they come.

It only EVER rains when something really dramatic is about to happen! (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0199.html)

Congrats Pigbuster, the RNG has decided that you're worthy of having a common trope in your game (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BattleInTheRain)!

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/74_ugggh.png
Oh no, there's another squad coming in from the east. I didn't see this coming. Lock down the fort!

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/75_lawlz.png
Their leader dediced to come a'knocking, and he sure got knocked!
With nothing getting out or in, nothing's happening. I thought fortifications would let arrows through. Oh well, at least we're safe, and...

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/76_punctured.png
Security breach! Code red! Code red!

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/77_ohwell.png
He didn't so much leave, as he was brutally ripped limb from limb.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/78_nads.png
And the death toll grows on.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/79_blaaaargh.png
The problem of only one open door is that everyone immediately wants to escape through it, right into the goblin massacre.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/81_siegeover.png
And thus the massacre ends. I'm afraid this is the end for me though... *cough cough* but hopefully my reign shall live on. I'll always be remembered *cough cough* as the savior of our people in this great war.
Given Zeor is the only survivor with overseer experience, I have appointed him temporary duty until a new one comes in. *bleaaargh* Farewell.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/82_deaths1.png
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/83_deaths2.png
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/83_deaths3.png
The final deceased list.

On the plus side, the hammerer and tax collector died.

It was funny seeing you have the same stuff I experienced play out at the beginning. I mean, obviously that was going to happen, but I was sitting there thinking "Those damn damp walls! They caused me nothing but anger!!!"

Blarg! Dieing isn't fun!
Ah well, you did fine. It's not like you thought to save the Overseers or anything. :p


Anyway, what's the order now? All I remember is:

Paul
Raycaster
Zero
Plasma
Pigbuster
Supsuper

On the plus side, the hammerer and tax collector died.

It was funny seeing you have the same stuff I experienced play out at the beginning. I mean, obviously that was going to happen, but I was sitting there thinking "Those damn damp walls! They caused me nothing but anger!!!"Indeed. Toady needs to work out the difference between "water next to it and thus dangerous" and "water next to a floor and thus no danger".

I guess I'll just blame Plasma for that ridiculously dangerous set-up just for wells. :P

Blarg! Dieing isn't fun!
Ah well, you did fine. It's not like you thought to save the Overseers or anything. :P


Anyway, what's the order now? All I remember is:

Paul
Raycaster
Zero
Plasma
Pigbuster
Supsuper
Well if they had done like the counts and simply stayed in their opulents rooms they would've been fine. And Paul's next.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/85_brilliant.png
And of course after the massacre comes the real war. Let's hope the guard isn't still in jail to make the arrest.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/86_ugh.png
You remember those tantrums? Who doesn't love tantrums?

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/87_welldry.png
And the well's dried up. Time to pull the lever and hope the fort doesn't flood.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/88_graveyard.png
Needless to say the graveyard is a bit overcrowded.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/89_tantrums.png
...and the jail.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/90_losingit.png
You've never seen everything until you've seen a child beat the crap out of a puppy.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/91_childgonenuts.png
We had to put her down. It was a sad day.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/92_woomiasma.png
And now the food in the stores is starting to rot. Given the convenient placement of the stairs, the miasma is getting everywhere.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/93_criminals.png
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/94_criminals2.png
Beating the crap out of folk doesn't compare to killing a mule.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/95_insanesleep.png
Boy, these dwarves take their nightmares seriously.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/96_berserk.png
I guess all the miasma explosions aren't helping.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/97_moredeaths.png
And the slaughter keeps on going. Time to call in the military.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/98_ow.png
He manages to take him down but I doubt he'll survive all these wounds.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/99_ohdear.png
Yep, it's a fun life being a dwarf.

<SupSuper> Supreme King Awesome Thunderpants says (21:27):
on the bright side, you've got a lever, a door and a floodgate, all ready to cause mass suicide if the situation calls for it :p
Paul.Power says (21:27):
oh joy
<SupSuper> Supreme King Awesome Thunderpants says (21:28):
as well as three useless stairs since they're flooded
...you'll get the hang of it :p
Paul.Power says (21:29):
I feel like someone who's just bought a house from a salesman who keeps grinning all the time
<SupSuper> Supreme King Awesome Thunderpants says (21:30):
:D
Paul.Power says (21:30):
exactly
<SupSuper> Supreme King Awesome Thunderpants says (21:30):
it's just red paint, it's not blood, honest!
Paul.Power says (21:30):
You might notice some slight damp in the cellar
<SupSuper> Supreme King Awesome Thunderpants says (21:31):
you might notice some peculiar neighbours

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/100_melancholy.png
If people killing each other wasn't enough, now we got people killing themselves.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/101_splot.png
And as the death toll rises, Spring comes. Paul, have fun cleaning up the mess. You wanted a challenge. :P

Start of Reign:
http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/7774/picture621sf7.png

Before Slaughter:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/102_theend2.png

After Slaughter:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Dwarf17/Distantcity/102_theend.png

Journal of "Paul.Power" Adekbesmar, HumanDwarfitarian Aid Worker

It didn't take long for me to receive the news that the outpost of Distantcity was hit hard by a goblin siege, with many brave dwarves slain and many more dwarves suffering from injuries and depression. The goblins were stopped eventually, but dealing with the aftermath is a task that has been left to me. It's a big responsibility, but with Armok's blessing I can get Distantcity on its feel again. It's going to be a long ride, though.

I suppose the first thing we should do is -

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/4184/snap1ul4.png

O...kay. Personally, I don't mind elves, but I know that it doesn't take much to upset them. I understand that a previous ruler managed to cause diplomatic rift with them. I guess rebuilding relationships with the elves is something else I'm going to have to do - we need all the friends we can get.

Where was I? Ah yes. I think the first thing we need to do is bury the corpses of the fallen. While it's true that the needs of the living should outweigh the needs of the dead, I know from interviewing some citizens that they don't like to see their dead friends decaying like this. So I've instructed the miners to dig out some new graveyard space.

http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/6872/snap6cz9.png

I've tried to keep the pattern symmetrical. Progress seems slow, though. The only active miner isn't a specialist: they're a fish cleaner by profession. I was quickly told the reason why our lead miner wasn't on the scene:

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/8453/snap14rf3.png
http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/8338/snap15gr3.png
I guess anyone would be angry after what he's been through, poor dwarf. His second-in-command is also suffering from injuries. There is a third miner, who goes by the name of "Zero" and who is in fact a former fortress overseer, but every time I try to get him to do some mining he appears to be doing something else.

http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/618/snap18ua6.png
Still, at least the temporary miner has shouldered his burden well. He's even found some gemstones.

Saay... Supsuper or Paul, would you mind sending me a copy of the savegame? I like exploring fortresses in adventure mode and see what info I can find on people.

http://supsuper.wurmz.net/stuff/save.zip

Nice to see my elf diplomacy had some effect. :p

Well I went ahead and made a full page on the DFwiki with direct links to every Overseeing post in this thread. It'll be handy for when you want to look through the archives of the Fort quickly, and when you just want to show it to people.
BULL WHY IS THERE A BULL IN MY ROOM (http://www.dwarffortresswiki.net/index.php/Distantcity)


Also, Paul, I'd advise turning off rentals on all those rooms. Unless I'm having a memory lapse and that option was only added in the latest update.


Edit: Played it in Adventure Mode. Apparently, there are Magma pools on our map!
I base this on that I kept getting message spams about how monsters kept falling into magma pools. Several times at a go. Somehow. And this was all after a cave-in message came up, as soon as I entered the area.

http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/1844/snap20je3.png
No sooner do the elves tell us off for chopping down too many trees, that they want to trade with us.

http://img382.imageshack.us/img382/8373/snap21qc9.png (http://imageshack.us)
Oh well, I know the drill. They don't like wood or animal products, so let's be nice and safe and only send stone crafts. And to be doubly safe, I won't use stuff that's in bins.

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/8682/snap25dl6.png
Apparently the fortress' broker died in the goblin siege. I tried to do the job myself, but I just don't have the experience yet. I have no idea what any of this stuff is worth.

It strikes me as a little hypocritical that elves are perfectly happy to cut down their own trees, but if I assumed that people were logical about these things I wouldn't be much of an aid worker. And if I get their wood it means that I have to chop down fewer of my own trees, which is kinda what they were demanding.

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/4800/snap27wn8.png
This is going pretty well, although I have no idea how much I'm supposed to be charging for these rock crafts. Maybe they're just pleased because they're totally ripping me off. But I think this should go some way towards healing diplomatic rifts.

You know paul, judging by the size of your mouse cursor relative to the DF window leads me to believe you have the same resolution as I do. I'm probably flawed somewhere, but is it 1440 x 900?

You know paul, judging by the size of your mouse cursor relative to the DF window leads me to believe you have the same resolution as I do. I'm probably flawed somewhere, but is it 1440 x 900?

if the window has always the same size in pixels... wouldn't it be ANY possible resolution?

You know paul, judging by the size of your mouse cursor relative to the DF window leads me to believe you have the same resolution as I do. I'm probably flawed somewhere, but is it 1440 x 900?
The size of cursors in pixels are always constant.
Anyway, I think he has a 1280 x 800, because his computer is near-identical to mine.

Um, not to be a bother, since we're already partway through the new year and all, but uhh, pickleworm came back and he could totally take his turn next, that was kinda what was promised to him after all.

How could I forget? It struck me (for some reason) that at a lower res, the picture would be enlarged/distorted and the mouse cursor would not fit; however, as you point out, the cursor itself keeps size.

Zero's quote about soap is featured on the Wiki's main page. Cool, eh?

Um, not to be a bother, since we're already partway through the new year and all, but uhh, pickleworm came back and he could totally take his turn next, that was kinda what was promised to him after all.

To be perfectly honest, I wouldn't mind that. In 26 in-game days I've had trade negotiations with the elves, two goblin ambushes and a wave of immigrants (including the replacement taxdwarf and hammerdwarf). I'm worn out.

The save link is up for grabs so.

Right then: Pikkul takes the 6th year instead of Paul. Then play rotates back to Raycaster again.

Dear Journal:

All of them. The overseers, I mean. All dead, all gone -- except me. WHY JOURNAL, WHY. WHAT DOES IT MEAN

---

Anyway, yeah, just caught up on what I've been missing for the past while. Good stuff, guys, except I'm kind of disappointed at the number of aborted terms we've had... :p

Thanks for logging the posts on the Wiki there, Plasma. Ray, you may consider editing the link (this one (http://www.dwarffortresswiki.net/index.php/Distantcity)) into the initial post of this thread for ease of browsing.

You know paul, judging by the size of your mouse cursor relative to the DF window leads me to believe you have the same resolution as I do. I'm probably flawed somewhere, but is it 1440 x 900?

I'm using 1024x768, and my cursor looks exactly the same.

For reference, I'm 1280x800

Hey I've been playing this and taking screenshots and everything, rest assured. I just haven't posted any of it yet :p

In case you're wondering, though, we're all living underground and the surface is covered in blood and vomit because I couldn't figure out how to raise the drawbridge in time.

For reference, I'm 1280x800
I know you too well. Or your computer, anyway.

In case you're wondering, though, we're all living underground and the surface is covered in blood and vomit because I couldn't figure out how to raise the drawbridge in time.
Sounds like an adventure through Awesometown!

I'm reminded, by the way, that ol' Pigbuster's discreet return to the fortress may become a bit hairy, what with his body double being dead...

I'm reminded, by the way, that ol' Pigbuster's discreet return to the fortress may become a bit hairy, what with his body double being dead...
I also feel the need to remind you that nearly all of the people that knew PB in the first place are now well and truly dead.

I totally have the perfect idea written up for my return.

I should probably work on getting some of what's happened on here. It's still late spring, and such an immense amount has happened that it's pretty slow going. :p (I'm pretty sure the population was around 78 when I started, and now it's down to 50.)

This is also a great learning experience for me, since I've never dealt with armies/economy before. After this I can't wait to work on my own little forts with much better layouts again

with much better layouts

Hey man. Was that attacking me? I mean. I haven't touched it in years.
I dug out the framework to be expandable and efficient!
This is as good as I could do!

He was talking about his own previous layouts (I think)

He was talking about his own previous layouts (I think)

Oh no, I'm talking his Bo)

http://g.photos.cx/Picture4-d8.png

So this is where we start. Serene! Gorgeous! Picturesque!

http://g.photos.cx/Picture6-6a.png

And where we are starting wealthwise. Ooh! What wealth! And I'm in charge of it all!

http://g.photos.cx/Picture8-15.png

And ugh, elves! What assholes!

http://g.photos.cx/Picture10-d9.png

Whatever this guy's beef was, he's over it. Cool. That's what I like to hear.

http://g.photos.cx/Picture11-c0.png

This was taken for my reference so I wouldn't have to wait 5 minutes every time I wanted to see what kind of ore we could refine, but hey. Look at it. It's pretty cool. I think it's cool, anyway.

alright! yeah! Again! Let's do it!

http://g.photos.cx/Picture20-e4.png

This schmuck starts going insane, and the game does a funny clever little thing. His insanity never amounts to anything, except

http://g.photos.cx/Picture21-8d.png

He starts attacking a war dog. But this doesn't amount to anything. Really. He starts leaving the war dog alone and the war dog doesn't rip him to shreds. How incredibly boring.

http://g.photos.cx/Picture31-1c.png

Alright! Someone started doing some mining on my new designation : ) Now I really feel like I'm leading a fort! Except it's a fisherdwarf. What the hell. Are people still micromanaging with some 80 dwarves in the fort? Were the past leaders simply insane? Who knows....

http://g.photos.cx/Picture32-e7.png

Well at least someone's getting to work on the coffins. We seriously need more coffins. I dare you to find a situation where you have too many coffins and thus I thank you kind civilian for making coffins you're helping out the fort a lot but er i'm sorry I didn't catch what you said your name was

http://g.photos.cx/Picture33-33.png

Good farmer Mafol??? B-but if you're HERE then who's out milking old Ablel Ragrith? Sheesh... if one didn't know better they might suggest that this fort suffered from a complete lack of order

http://g.photos.cx/Picture35-eb.png

Oy gevaldt.

http://g.photos.cx/Picture36-0e.png

I'm not sure what happened here, but it must have been seriously gross. Seriously: gross.

http://g.photos.cx/Picture44-3d.png

I pawn some of the work off onto this honest, hardworking civilian. You'll make life easier around here for me! I'm almost breaking a sweat over here! Man I need a drink.

http://g.photos.cx/Picture41-47.png

Only 12th Granite?? Phew! I'm exhausted! What else could POSSIBLY happen? Being head of a fortress is seriously hard work! : O

http://g.photos.cx/Picture45-1f.png

Yeah, that could happen. I guess that could happen.

I spent a lot of time during my rule wondering if Lead Miner was a new feature. :p

Hey, sorry about this, I've been outstandingly busy in the past few days, hopefully I've have time to take a chunk out of this in the future. If anyone is REALLY impatient they can go ahead and continue, I'd hate to be a dick and holding this whole thing up if other people are in a hurry to go ahead.

No. You're playing. You're not skipping, you're playing.
You.
Playing.
We kept it open so you would get a play-time when you got back from your vacation.
You're not skipping.

You have two options:
1) Be a dick by taking ages on your go.
2) Be a dick by forefeiting your go.

The only difference between the two is that one of them involves progress.

What about 3) Be a dick and kill off most of the fort? Don't I count? :(

Here's what actually happened:
3) Completely forget Distantcity exists.

THAT'S RIGHT HE FORGOT.

...

I vote we skip Pickleworm.

I don't.

Votes to skip Pickleworm:
1 for
1 against

2 against.

Pickle hasnt posted in 20 days. Might want to bare that in mind ;)

2 for. The fortress must continue!

3 for, it's been too long without laughing at other people's miseries!

Four for. Please continue!

Pickleworm's posted since he left this thread, and it's been too long going without the misadventures of Distantcity.