|
 Driving our caravan hard across this dead scrubland, each night fearing another attack. Boogymen or night trolls or worse we know not what scattered our initial expedition. It has been some days since we last saw our companions; we are now only seven. These last few nights have been quiet, but still the fear is there. We keep trying to regain our bearings to leave these twisted canyons, but we seem only to become further lost. The trees here are dead, yet twisted into fearsome shapes. The few birds we’ve seen have flesh and bone protruding, yet hang in the air ominously circling. Our attempts to regroup or to flee are constantly thwarted. We navigate only by stars and by sight of the one major landmark constantly, maddeningly in view: the monstrous Volcano of Torments. - What is Dwarf Fortress? Dwarf Fortress is a bit of everything. Fortress mode is primarily a construction and management simulation in which the player begins the game with control of seven dwarfs and attempts to establish, expand, and improve their fortress. As a construction and management simulation, the player assigns labours to dwarfs and designates areas for activities like construction or resource gathering, and dwarfs will attempt to follow those orders. In other ways it is a rogue-like survival game, where the world is vicious and ready to wipe your entrepreneuring party off the map if you get complacent. Perhaps most importantly, the game is intentionally designed to be a fantasy story generator, running through centuries of mundane history while keeping track of thousands of characters, events, and locations. You can read through the story of the world as if it was a wikipedia article on fifteen thousand people’s lives. Sometimes those characters even live and show up to ruin your day in person, be them vampire or necromancer. There is a very complicated game engine going on in the background which keeps track of a dizzying array of variables. The whole world is pseudo-randomly generated down to each stone and tree. The combat uses a complex health system that, rather than tracking a number of HP, computes and records bludgeoning, mangling, bruising, breaking, severing, goring, etc., to individual creatures' body parts. People can die or become crippled fairly easily, and a severed body part is forever lost (until it comes back as an undead arm). Adventurers and heros can appear with their history of questing written on them in permanent scars and lost fingers. The game spends itself tracking such minutiae as the names of each of the individuals slain, and who the mayor is of a far away town. Passing caravans and bards will share this news from the outside world. This complexity leads to the game never fully being in the player’s control. You may attempt to wall yourself off from the world, but you may still find a tavern brawl over someone’s distant cousin who once insulted a prince half a world away spilling out of control. This more than anything is why mixing dozens of players’ individual styles keeps the fun rolling, since no one person can try to mitigate the chaos. - Even using the volcano to navigate by, the way gets more twisted. The grass is discolored and patchy, and the dark stone of the mountain looms over us. - What mods are you using? By default Dwarf Fortress uses an expanded ASCII tileset for its graphics, which is to say that it looks like something that's older than you are. Rather than playing something out of The Matrix, we will be using the Phoebus graphics tileset for this playthrough. While experienced players just see d’s and D’s as donkeys and Dragons, a tileset helps make what's going on in the screenshots more obvious to an audience less familiar with the game; e.g., a barrel full of goods will be represented with a little sprite of a barrel rather than the division operator, and the enraged, blood-soaked stray kitten who just slaughtered three dwarfs will be represented by a blinking red sprite of a kitten rather than by a letter 'c'. We will also be running DFhack in the background, which is a suite of scripting tools that will allow us to more easily work around bugs should the occasion arise. - There was a deathly cackle far away in the night, and now even the stones feel like they judge us from above. It is terrifying. Even with our cartography and maps we seem to be traveling in circles. We may soon need to make shelter against the night or else we may be next. There is still no sign of the skilled laborers we were traveling with. This is not the expedition that was planned for, no longer the group nor the materials are ideal. But we are a sturdy bunch, and i’m sure we can make this work. What other choice do we have? - Welcome to Olileshom, dwarven for “Valleysilences” This will be a succession fortress, where each player will take a turn running the game for a year before passing on the save file to the next overseer. Our fortress is on the side of ‘The Volcano of Torments,’ which juts up from the surrounding terrifying grasslands. Our embarking seven dwarves are far from ideal for such treacherous terrain, lacking the more common skills of miners, carpenters, or masons you would expect. But hey, there's a bard who can play a mean number as long as they’re not starving or overrun by goblins.  If you like this thread, feel free to ask to be dwarfed and to contribute your thoughts! M_Gargantua will be maintaining the list of dwarf and overseer requests, and you can find the DF thread in Games here. 
Addamere fucked around with this message at 22:55 on Mar 9, 2018 |
#
?
Mar 9, 2018 22:48
|
|
|
|
| # ? May 5, 2024 13:45 |
|
|
As the game progresses I'll keep this post updated with the dwarving list, a link to the updates, and community art And we very much encourage fan art, its tradition. Links
Updates:
If you know nothing about dwarf fortress or Lets Plays of the game, just know that all the words in the rest of this post have no real impact on gameplay, and are mostly useless fluff. Historical Notes
Audience Participation (Its a... rocky horror )
Overseer Queue:
Dwarf List:
Dwarving Queue
Redwarfing Queue
The (Very Outdated) Squad Roster:
A note for our future overseers: Using IRfan view to capture screenshots is recommended for consistency. The save is setup to run in a 896 pixel width for screenshot consistency within the bounds of what can be archived later. Were it possible to do a perfect downsample of the game in high resolution that wouldn’t be an issue, but the pixelated nature of the game means that you can’t downsample screenshots without making them unreadable. M_Gargantua fucked around with this message at 00:53 on Jun 2, 2018 |
|
#
?
Mar 9, 2018 22:48
|
|
|
Journal of Lokum lelumigoth, Seamstress 1 Granite 564 Somehow, we found ourselves separated from the main party, and we see no sign of them. The smoke from a volcano provides a beacon to navigate by, and we hope we can get back on course. We just need to keep the volcano to our left as we pass through The Ashamed Prairie, and we should find the tracks of the wagon. 3 Granite Around noon, I realized that the volcano was directly ahead of us. The soldier driving the wagon seemed quite confused when I pointed this out to him, and speculated that the animals had been following good grass without him noticing. We are back on course, but are now further behind. 6 Granite We are now even closer to the volcano. Tunicate, our scholar, has been pouring over her maps and books to figure out what we know of this place. The volcano is marked on no map, but travelers’ tales from a century ago make reference to a “Volcano of Torment” in this region. We return to our course, unsure of how we deviated from it in the first place. Our hope of finding our expedition lessens by the day. 12 Granite The animals were somehow left hitched to the wagon last night, and pressed tirelessly toward the volcano. It looms ominously over us now, an obsidian plinth above a sheer cliff. I see no hope of finding our party now, and have assumed command of this detachment. I order us to proceed forward toward the volcano. 15 Granite 564 The smell of magma roused me from slumber. We have arrived as close to this strangely compelling volcano. Despite my deep misgivings, we have no choice but to dig in here, as we have no possibility of surviving if we continue on foot, and our only hope is to establish residence here while we wait for a search party. Tunicate is delighted at the chance to learn why this mountain is called the Volcano of Torment, but the rest of us are less pleased. Still, something in my mind, something almost foreign, tells me that this is where we are meant to be. This is home. I have no idea why I forced them to accept my rule, and regret doing so. Unfortunately, it is too late to change things now. There are some basic tools in this supply wagon, and enough food and liquor to sustain us for a long time. Our party of seven consists of POOL IS CLOSED, our smith  Commander Megane, a sturdy soldier  Doctor Pharnakes  A chef by the name of Divine Coffee Binge  A bard ominously named A Bad Place  Tunicate, our scholar  And myself, our  I have no idea where that last bit came from. I have had Tunicate copy her sketches for inclusion into this record. If the worst happens, I want those that come after to know what happened. http://mkv25.net/dfma/map-12787-valleysilences 16 Granite I assigned the bard and the scholar to start mining, and told the soldier to get equipped for battle. If somebody wants to take this volcano away from us, we need to be ready. A rescue team will do us no good if we die before it gets here. Meanwhile, I ordered the doctor to destroy the wagon. 21 Granite We’ve already started finding valuable gems in our excavations. By accident, we seem to have found what we were sent for in the first place. Pink garnets seem common here. 22 Granite. The soldier bit a dead skunk in the head today. She claims it was attacking her at the time, but I have my doubts. 27 Granite  I should have listened. A skunk that had been killed by a dog got up and started walking around. This is a frightening place. Fortunately, the first storeroom has already been dug, and we are swiftly moving the food inside. While that is happening, another storeroom is being dug to hold everything else. 23 Slate A dog killed a groundhog. In retaliation, the groundhog got up and killed the dog. Our soldier destroyed the beast, and is waiting near the dead dog. 1 Felsite The soldier has killed the dead dog, but not before it managed to badly hurt another one of the dogs. Things don’t stay dead here. I’m getting a little concerned about the meat, and am considering posting a guard.   7 Felsite We have a problem. All the grass here is dead, and the animals cannot eat it. If we let them all die, they’ll swarm and kill us. I have directed the miners to dig an isolated chamber separated from the fort, which will hold a butchery and a tanner’s shop. As a trial, one animal will be led in and slaughtered with a soldier on standby. Hopefully, the grass will be better in summer, but I fear not. The dogs and cats seem fine, and will be spared.  All the grass here is dead Gnoman fucked around with this message at 23:20 on Mar 9, 2018 |
|
#
?
Mar 9, 2018 22:49
|
|
|
Sign me up for a dwarfin'.
|
|
#
?
Mar 9, 2018 22:58
|
|
|
Smith, doctor, bard, soldier, or chef?
|
|
#
?
Mar 9, 2018 22:59
|
|
|
Sign me up for a dwarf please A brewer would be ideal (dwarf ale is like coffee, right?) but since we don't have one of those I'll angle for the chef
|
|
#
?
Mar 9, 2018 23:02
|
|
|
Gnoman posted:Smith, doctor, bard, soldier, or chef? I've always wanted to learn more about forging.  me.
|
|
#
?
Mar 9, 2018 23:07
|
|
|
Dorf me. I'll take the doctor, that seems like a position with endless potential in this biome.
|
|
#
?
Mar 9, 2018 23:07
|
|
|
I have very high hopes for this fort. Dwarf me, that I might watch those hopes be consumed by magma!
|
|
#
?
Mar 9, 2018 23:11
|
|
|
A Bad Place posted:I have very high hopes for this fort. Dwarf me, that I might watch those hopes be consumed by magma! Bard or soldier are left of the initial seven.
|
|
#
?
Mar 9, 2018 23:12
|
|
|
Absolutely bard.
|
|
#
?
Mar 9, 2018 23:13
|
|
|
I'll take the soldier! Until I get killed by, like, a skeletal foot.
|
|
#
?
Mar 9, 2018 23:16
|
|
|
When the migrant wave shows up, Dorf me as Osroct, please. I would love to be one of those soldiers conscripted due to having no useful skills.
|
|
#
?
Mar 9, 2018 23:20
|
|
|
Holy cow do I desire to be dwarfed. I'll take anything. Can't wait to watch the endless hellscape nightmares that emerge from this Armok-forsaken land
|
|
#
?
Mar 9, 2018 23:24
|
|
|
I love DF succession runs. Dwarf me in the next wave, please!
|
|
#
?
Mar 9, 2018 23:30
|
|
|
Add me to the dwarfing list! I'd prefer a cook or a tavern keeper.
|
|
#
?
Mar 9, 2018 23:34
|
|
|
Dorf meeeeee! My preferences include being female and useful crafting. Carpenter, mason, bower, weaponsmith, something useful. Something likely to land an artifact. I don't mind churning out bone crossbows or granite mugs for eternity. Scholar or priest would be okay too. e: Attn Overseers: Bone crossbows are real good BTW, assuming you have a big pile of bones you don't need. Masterpiece crossbows fire like a bloody machine gun. The damage depends on the bolt, but the rate of fire depends on the quality (but not material) of the bow. Bone is much lighter than metal, so easier for the weaklings in the archery squads and/or hunters to haul around. If there is a failing of light crossbows, it is that they aren't as good at being hammers when the archer runs out of bolts and inexplicably decides to run up and hit the enemy with his bow. But how often does that happen? Facebook Aunt fucked around with this message at 23:54 on Mar 9, 2018 |
|
#
?
Mar 9, 2018 23:47
|
|
|
I'd love to be a dwarf chef.
|
|
#
?
Mar 9, 2018 23:54
|
|
|
Yo, dwarf me! Maybe a soldier? I love reading these threads and they always make me want to install the game to try it out, but I never quite get there.
|
|
#
?
Mar 9, 2018 23:57
|
|
|
Maybe this one will last longer than the last one I followed.  I'll ask for a dwarfing as well; maybe an armorsmith. Or a doctor, to go along with my avatar.  I'm... not too picky.
|
|
#
?
Mar 10, 2018 00:02
|
|
|
Would love to be dwarfed!
|
|
#
?
Mar 10, 2018 00:04
|
|
|
Dwarf me.
|
|
#
?
Mar 10, 2018 00:05
|
|
|
I'm in. Any adult dwarf will suffice. Please use my old forum name "Air is lava!". For some reason it fits better.
|
|
#
?
Mar 10, 2018 00:09
|
|
|
I would like to be any non-noble dwarf
|
|
#
?
Mar 10, 2018 00:19
|
|
|
Set me up as a Doktor Dorf. I'll be so good that even if I kill my patient, they'll still get up. Edit: Woops, just noticed doctor's picked. Just set me up as any adult dead Dorf walking. ashnjack fucked around with this message at 00:23 on Mar 10, 2018 |
|
#
?
Mar 10, 2018 00:21
|
|
|
Sign me up for any dwarf.
|
|
#
?
Mar 10, 2018 00:22
|
|
|
Dorf me as anything! That is, anything interesting. OK, uninteresting would suffice.
|
|
#
?
Mar 10, 2018 00:27
|
|
|
A small update, but the seasonal change is a good breakpoint. 13 Felsite With Megane on hand, A Bad Place has killed the first ram. Everybody holds their breath in anticipation.  14 Felsite A Bad Place successfully killed the ram and butchered it before the corpse rose. The ram’s wool got up and attacked, but Megane easily bit it to death. A Bad Place was also able to tan the skin before IT attacked, so all went well. The great slaughter begins. Just in case, I have ordered the miners to dig an appropriate place for a kitchen, so DivineCoffeeBinge can turn the meat into stews and roasts. 1 Hematite Summer has arrived. The slaughter is going smoothly, although Megane has racked up a disturbing kill list. She’s now killed six undead.  Not all the news is grim. Besides her culinary talents, DivineCoffeBinge has taken up the jewler’s arts. This mountain is a treasure trove of fine gems, and there is, of course, this maginificent volcano that haunts my dreams. With a trade depot constructed, and our immediate needs satisfied, I turn to more important matters. 
|
|
#
?
Mar 10, 2018 00:33
|
|
|
Dorf me when possible! Preferably a no-skill Peasant or other undesireable.
|
|
#
?
Mar 10, 2018 00:46
|
|
|
Dorf me please! I can be a useful dorf, or worthless, either is great!
|
|
#
?
Mar 10, 2018 00:53
|
|
|
Dwarf me please - although I thought a Google form was the standard way to do dwarfing requests these days, to minimise thread spam.
|
|
#
?
Mar 10, 2018 00:57
|
|
|
Dorf me please. Oh boy another df thread.
|
|
#
?
Mar 10, 2018 00:58
|
|
|
Dwarf me please! Doesn't matter what profession.
|
|
#
?
Mar 10, 2018 01:07
|
|
|
15 Hematite I was assisting with the butcher when I was attacked by the wool of an ewe. I dispatched it easily, and there was much satisfaction. 25 Hematite Gah! A murder of zombie ravens is murdering our dogs!  3 Malachite Megane has dispatched all but one of the ravens, with the last one flying out of reach. She returns to station near the butchery.  7 Malachite One of the dead dogs attacked today. Megane casually put it down. 8 Malachite Dwarves appear on the horizon. It appears to be members of the prospecting group come looking for us. They will be a good addition to our workforce, as nothing they might have found compares to here. They are Osroct, a ranger and dancer  His wife, Facebook Aunt  theshim  mercenarynuker  Apart from osroct, they are fisherfolk, which we have no use for here. Osroct will serve as a soldier. Facebook Aunt will take up the jewler’s trade, theshim will make a fine engineer, and mercenarynuker will carve bones. Assuming we can find any bones that aren’t attacking us, of course. Gnoman fucked around with this message at 01:47 on Mar 10, 2018 |
|
#
?
Mar 10, 2018 01:17
|
|
|
Dwarf me please
|
|
#
?
Mar 10, 2018 01:27
|
|
|
Oooh ground floor on a new DF thread! Please dwarf me, I want to see in what horrible ways I get mangled.
|
|
#
?
Mar 10, 2018 01:34
|
|
|
Gnoman posted:His wife, Facebook Aunt LOL I worship 5 gods, really covering all my bases there. Makes sense that I'm pretty religious, considering that I'm 46 and have a 40 year old son.
|
|
#
?
Mar 10, 2018 01:37
|
|
|
Facebook Aunt posted:LOL I worship 5 gods, really covering all my bases there. Makes sense that I'm pretty religious, considering that I'm 46 and have a 40 year old son. holy what
|
|
#
?
Mar 10, 2018 01:41
|
|
|
Facebook Aunt posted:LOL I worship 5 gods, really covering all my bases there. Makes sense that I'm pretty religious, considering that I'm 46 and have a 40 year old son. That's what I get for skimming the descriptions. That was an error that I have now fixed.
|
|
#
?
Mar 10, 2018 01:48
|
|
|
|
| # ? May 5, 2024 13:45 |
|
|
Dwarf Me, if you please! Doctor of some sort is preferred, but I'll take anything.
|
|
#
?
Mar 10, 2018 01:48
|
|