Bay 12 Games Forum

Dwarf Fortress => DF Community Games & Stories => Topic started by: Immortal-D on September 13, 2017, 08:47:34 pm

Title: My first volcano
Post by: Immortal-D on September 13, 2017, 08:47:34 pm
Coming soon as a children's picture book :P  In all my time playing DF, I have never actually made a serious go at conquering a volcano.  Shocking, I know.  I decided to do a quick writeup of my first year;

Part 1: https://imgur.com/a/rjEND
Part 2: https://imgur.com/a/o4wNH
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: exodius1 on September 14, 2017, 02:15:19 am
PTW. Hoping for loads of elf-killing charity towards neighbors to teach little Urist proper moral standing.
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Bearskie on September 14, 2017, 05:41:30 am
Well that looks like a nice valley TO FLOOD AND BURN WITH MAGMA MWUAHAHAHA.
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Fleeting Frames on September 14, 2017, 06:46:56 am
I must say, twbt multilevel makes hilly maps far more tolerable. Otherwise can only see 10 squares of map at time; which is why most prefer flat maps. That Armok vision screenshot is nice.

Could have encrusted the gems on something for increased trade value. Well, there's more where that came from.

Hm, you call 12 by 12 farm "moderately-sized". Assuming 4 plants per harvest, two harvests a season, every third plant brewed, that means a "moderately-sized" fortress has 384 dwarves. Aiming high?
(Could support more tbh, given the piglets and such.)

*looks at the 30x30 square in dirt and stone*

Have you considered digcircle?

Though it seems kinda offset from main staircase...
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Immortal-D on September 14, 2017, 07:47:09 am
I must say, twbt multilevel makes hilly maps far more tolerable. Otherwise can only see 10 squares of map at time; which is why most prefer flat maps. That Armok vision screenshot is nice.

Could have encrusted the gems on something for increased trade value. Well, there's more where that came from.

Hm, you call 12 by 12 farm "moderately-sized". Assuming 4 plants per harvest, two harvests a season, every third plant brewed, that means a "moderately-sized" fortress has 384 dwarves. Aiming high?
(Could support more tbh, given the piglets and such.)

*looks at the 30x30 square in dirt and stone*

Have you considered digcircle?

Though it seems kinda offset from main staircase...
I am using DFHack wizardry which causes food & drink to decay and eventually poof away; no more easy-mode farming.  I'm actually planning on creating a greenhouse for surface plants to supplement my production.  And yes, I've heard rumours about this mysterious formation called 'not a aquare' :P  I will be using that for more advanced industries, but wanted a square for the columns (and eventual pathing once the great hall is hollow).
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Maximum Spin on September 14, 2017, 10:08:14 am
I am using DFHack wizardry which causes food & drink to decay and eventually poof away; no more easy-mode farming.You know, I gotta say, speaking
You know, I gotta say, speaking as someone who occasionally grows my own food, that's pretty unrealistic. Most plant products (and of course cheese) are easy to preserve without refrigeration. And as for alcohol, well, you know they age that for years in cellars, right? :P Now, maybe you're not in it for the realism, and it doesn't bother me how you play, but I just want to express that that's right up there with those mods that make pitchblende melt your face off on the "reality is unrealistic" scale.
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Fleeting Frames on September 14, 2017, 02:25:09 pm
Ah, a mod. Well, I hope it is more than just needing a larger plot and more growers/potash makers; I haven't looked into if anybody has actually implemented dwarf & soil mineral content tracking for instance, though what I know suggests a semblance might be possible with on-the-fly growdur and dwarf focus modding.

Aesthetically, I consider rampways more beautiful, but a 3x3 block of stairs is so much easier to designate.
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Immortal-D on September 14, 2017, 06:07:16 pm
Nothing to do with realism, just the challenge factor.  In a mere two years, I can easily amass over 1,000 food & booze; provisions enough to last a decade, which just isn't fun at my level.  This mod requires a dedicated farming workforce and at least 1 group of food-animal to ensure my Dwarves are drunk and well fed.  Also, more careful consideration of hazards when I order a plant gathering expedition, as a skilled Farmer/Herbalist is now far more valuable.
Ah, a mod. Well, I hope it is more than just needing a larger plot and more growers/potash makers; I haven't looked into if anybody has actually implemented dwarf & soil mineral content tracking for instance, though what I know suggests a semblance might be possible with on-the-fly growdur and dwarf focus modding.

Aesthetically, I consider rampways more beautiful, but a 3x3 block of stairs is so much easier to designate.
That is basically it.  All farming mods right now are some combination of smaller yields and longer growing times, both of which can be overcome through brute quantity of Farmer Dorfs.  Decaying food will keep me on my toes, even when I write a Work Order, and helps with FPS.  I am also fond of ramps; was planning to make one for the Tavern & Library.  I took an extra step (haaww) with my stairs; a macro which digs a spiral, so as to reduce death by plummeting.

(Dig, X-Stair, Wall)
D X X       X X X          X X D
D W X      X W X         X W D   
D X X       D D D         X X D
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Derpy Dev on September 15, 2017, 09:19:53 am
This looks pretty cool. PTW.
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Immortal-D on September 15, 2017, 05:02:35 pm
Normally, I'd be content with once a week.  For now however, both my FPS and time remain abundant, so please enjoy Chapter 2 :)

Anvilmastered!  Home of the elusive volcano-reindeer.  Don't eat that yellow snow! :D

(https://i.imgur.com/fzXVRzN.jpg)
Because it is actually poisonous sulfur and ash, partially solidified in the frigid air :(

Year 2 continues much the same as year 1; a veritable wonderland of valuable but useless gemstone, struggling to make enough food, and equally useless but useless weather.  In case anybody is wondering what life is like in Anvilmastered

(https://i.imgur.com/Ct8Hcyp.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/65C7Es1.jpg)

It's like that.  I noticed that one of the Miners has curled up to sleep with a barrel of wine, and I don't mean in a cutesy way, he is actually sleeping in the food stockpile.

(https://i.imgur.com/ljDn84z.jpg)
D'aww, little drunken angel

On the plus side, this means I don't have nearly as many married Dorfs sharing a bedroom as I expected, which means fewer children.  The downside is I must divert my Miners & Masons to building another bedroom wing much sooner than I had planned.  While that is going on, a Weregecko arrives on the scene.  I have not yet built any advanced scouting, so the evil thing is upon me before I can react.  The Weregecko picks a fight with somebody's pet Cavy that was hanging out with reindeer.  This stalling was not enough though, and it shredded a migrant farmer before changing back into a Fire Imp, of all things.  I quickly assemble a coffin and shove it into a corner of the mountain near the reindeer pen.  I'll move him to the crypts, once I have built them.

In light of this incursion, I order the peasants to work on fortifying our most precious resource

(https://i.imgur.com/TUPbIMk.gif)
I love watching Dwarves swarm onto a project, like a hive of insects

Expansion continues, and as the last of the stray boulders gets moved to the Craftdwarf area, my number of idle Peasants skyrockets.  The early years of a Fortress have become weird for me; I'm efficient enough that all the menial labor is done well before I transition to special projects, so I end up with half the Fort being idle for several years until the infrastructure is in place.

My train of thought is broken by the announcement that an immigrant carpenter has completed his artifact.  It is decorated with hanging wood, and studded with wood.

(https://i.imgur.com/409cbb8.jpg)
Guess who just volunteered for militia duty?

This does make me realize that I can't simply wait for enough skilled migrants to find their way here, not in these conditions.  I'm gonna have to train a few newbies from scratch.  This goes as well as you'd expect.

(https://i.imgur.com/FOclbnK.jpg)
::)

Quite a few of the migrants are actually really good Miners, and even brought their own gear, which is a nice change of pace.

(https://i.imgur.com/UQYh525.jpg)

I reassign the labors, and now have 7 dedicated Miners.  With that much Dorf power, it's time to start working my way towards the volcano.  As I begin, the caravan arrives to the south.  Naturally, they climb up and over the peaks, probably so they can brag about their dangerous travels.

(https://i.imgur.com/Jh9YiQP.jpg)
So there I was, scaling a mountain for no reason...

I noticed a Finished Goods Bin as being rather valuable, which is odd since I haven't actually produced anything besides furniture and reindeer.  I mark it for trade, and investigate.

(https://i.imgur.com/zH6wmRY.jpg)
Waste not, want not

Yes, that is a bin full of the bloody, shredded, ash-snow covered garments of that one farmer.  Even for Dwarves, that's cold man :(  To close out the year, a fanciful woodland critter comes bounding over the hills to investigate all the noise.

(https://i.imgur.com/TcdSHrG.jpg)
Neat

It spends the next 4 pages getting smashed to pieces by the caravan guards :'(  As I watch them leave, I notice a commotion at ground level.  Turns out, I never set a meeting area, so idle Dwarves have been gathering at the wagon; in the freezing, fanciful-critter infested wonderland that I call 'West'.

(https://i.imgur.com/k0gYQmJ.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/VjluqJI.jpg)
Wagon party!

Next time on Anvilmastered; a new Dining Hall, edging closer to the lava, and debating the point at which it turns back into magma.
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Bearskie on September 15, 2017, 10:13:52 pm
Images aren't working mate, you have to get the direct image link.

Speaking of non-working images, restorebrokenConstructivoryimagesturn2plez. (or just send them all to me, I plan to compile the whole thread)
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Immortal-D on September 15, 2017, 10:34:28 pm
Images aren't working mate, you have to get the direct image link.

Speaking of non-working images, restorebrokenConstructivoryimagesturn2plez. (or just send them all to me, I plan to compile the whole thread)
Well crap.  When I use 'copy link', it doesn't work as a preview, because the link goes to the hosting site and not the picture.  Apparently, copying the source link doesn't work either (although the pictures show for me).  Dropbox used to be cool :(  That is also where I had my Constructivory pics, I didn't even realize those were gone.  Nobody tells me these things :-\  Right then, looks like I've got some work to do.

Edit: Chapter should be fixed, gonna take some time to figure out what all happened to my Constructivory pictures.
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Fleeting Frames on September 16, 2017, 01:23:19 pm
If air poisoning was in the game, it'd be bad to live on that mountain. Nonetheless, mountains have lot of birds.

"equally useless but useless weather. "

Um?


warpstone, tears of armok, portabella spawn...what mods are you running?



If you have half the fort idling, food proction shouldn't be a challenge no longer =)


Artifact furniture and legendary carpenter? Double nice! ...Wait, where are you taking the legend? There's plenty of trees outside!


mithril battle pick...Seems like a military weapon.


I bet the peaks are most direct way to travel if you ignore z-levels, as ramps do.


Huh, that's a neat use for a bin. Place all earthly remains into 1 container, for memorializing into a tomb along with slab, statue, coffin and engraving.

Wagon party is better at socialization than 30x30 tavern, thankfully? Got to pump these babies.

As for images, you can get link and check if it shows by right-click > Copy Image Location, placing it in forum post preview, and using force refresh to reload it from site, not your cache.
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Immortal-D on September 16, 2017, 03:39:01 pm
The mountain is fine for Dwarves, only humans have to worry about yellow snow.  I still don't advise that you eat any.  My mod list is actually fairly light; new ores & gems, more invaders, plus new gear and a few workshops.  As for my Legendary Carpenter; This is a Mountain Fortress buddy, we don't use wood here.  Everything is made of stone; beds, goblets, even the biscuits.  All stone, mostly magma-proof thanks to an abundance of Basalt.
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Fleeting Frames on September 16, 2017, 04:43:54 pm
...Even the armour and weapons?
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Immortal-D on September 16, 2017, 05:43:18 pm
Anvilmastered!  I am on a roll, which isn't good for anybody, least of all the readers.  And I suppose the Dwarves are having concerns about their Overseer as well.  No matter.

No sooner does the Caravan leave, then this labyrinth reject comes a knocking.

(https://i.imgur.com/Iyzlbdh.jpg)
Rawr!  Get rekt

The first thing he does of course, is pulp every critter in existence before smashing the coffins I had stuck in the base of the mountain earlier.

(https://i.imgur.com/zkNr7Sw.jpg)
No peace for the dead, not while I'm in charge

The draw bridge has not been connected yet, so the Dwarves are scrambling to build a wall and some more traps.

(https://i.imgur.com/wN4wGOS.gif)
Build, you miserable drunkards! Build for your life!

The hulking Minotaur find his way to the entrance.  The Dwarves, in a surprising display of problem solving, run away screaming.  I mean, some of them run towards the front gate, but it's still a step in the right direction.  Except that part is the wrong direction... you know what I mean.  The front entrance gets a little crowded, and I hold my breath.  I think the Minotaur stumbled over a couple traps, dodging through the door, and...

(https://i.imgur.com/VgkTYlt.jpg)
This makes the score between Dwarves and the entire world tied at 1-1

Technically, Winter has not passed yet, which means the Dwarves have dealt with 2 Lycanthropes and a Minotaur in less than three years.  Not bad, if I do say so myself.  Alas, my celebration is short lived as I begin to assess the damage.  The trade depot is gone, several portions of the map are just red splotches where there used to be a critter, I have no clue if that one Farmer will be upset about his coffin being smashed, and then...

Oh sweet Armok, I'm sorry  :'(  I could have built a stone roof, they wouldn't have minded.  At least for a couple of years until I can make them a nice glass home.  But I didn't.  I left them alone, and now I must face the consequences of my failure

(https://i.imgur.com/MNqeyxD.jpg)
It's ok to laugh, as long as you feel bad about it

I am a monster.  I mean, not as much as the Minotaur, but still.  As Winter draws to a close, the Dwarves (now very self-conscious about their architectural choices) gather at the newly designated Dining Hall.  Those gray tiles are a designated door, awaiting installation.

(https://i.imgur.com/MRfBv9j.gif)
Oooh, Aahh

Spring is finally year, the start of year 3.  I take a moment to look at my stocks, and it is as I feared.

(https://i.imgur.com/YzWUb9i.jpg)

76 Dwarves and 125k wealth.  I am getting dangerously close to attracting attention to myself.  Understand that beneath my rugged Dwarfy exterior, there is a human who likes to build things.  I want to just keep going- expanding the stockpiles, constructing a fancy tavern, and so forth.  But this has lead to the destruction of several Forts; I built without a care and get wiped out by a small raiding party in year 3.  Well not this time.  I claim the volcano, for the glory of Dwarves!

(https://i.imgur.com/yxJwToI.gif)
Dun dun duunnnn!

That was a lot more impressive in my head.  Whatever.  The peasants immediately begin laying down a floor of magma-safe Basalt.  I briefly considered using some fancy digging tricks to bring the lava underground, but decided against it.  If I am going to own this volcano, then I do so out in the open; defend or die.  Plus I really like how the occasional snowflakes and ash make the ground change colors around the rim :-[

(https://i.imgur.com/2N7tqVP.jpg)
IT BEGINS!

The new year also brings our first true test of combat; 3 Elven Thieves nimbly dance their way past the traps at the front gate, sprinting past the Dwarves with terrifying speed.  They snatch a child, a baby, and a.. barrel of wine?  Desperate times, I guess.  I manage to lock all the doors, and hastily assemble the Miners into a squad with no uniform, hoping they will retain their Pickaxes long enough to be useful.  Two of the hippies go down in short order, while the third remains elusive.  The Miner Militia finally surrounds it, and the thief is splattered across the top floor.

(https://i.imgur.com/AQ2XwKD.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Yv8qdBV.jpg)
Armok help me if these little buggers ever become sober

Everyone gets back to work, and the Mayor mandates a single crossbow.  Simple enough I suppose.  Turns out I'm completely out of wood at this point, so rather than wait for that whole process, I decide to make use of the extra critter bits that have not rotted away.

(https://i.imgur.com/GMS1AVv.jpg)
lulz

The miners have started on the veins of hematite at the top of each peak, and soon the volcano is churning out iron bars.  In a shocking twist, the Legendary Carpenter that I renamed 'Elf' has usurped the mayorship :o  In all my time playing Dwarf Fortress, I have never seen a mayor fail reelection outside of death and/or vampire.  He immediately mandates a Flail be crafted, which is actually fine.  I may not be able to use conventional trap parts like Serrated Disc and Spiked Ball, but a spring-loaded Mace works just as well.  With all of this excitement, I completely missed a moody Dorf.

(https://i.imgur.com/JWnBe8Z.jpg)
Oops

Must have been at least a few months back, so I choose to blame the Minotaur for distracting me.  To help lighten the mood, a party is organized at the newly renovated Dining Hall, now featuring a lever for the front gate, and a Minotaur in a cage.

(https://i.imgur.com/LBULC8E.gif)
Please do not feed the mythological beasts, thank you

Seems the zoo is a big hit.  Dwarves are crowding all around it, even climbing on top of the cage for a closer look.  I especially like that one pet turtle, staring down the Minotaur like a boss.  I begin work on a dedicated gemstone crafting area when a peasant claims a Magma Forge.  He actually needs a cut gem to finish his creation, so good timing for a change.  He starts his artifact, just as the peasants who have been hauling raw hematite get into a little tussle outside the forges.

(https://i.imgur.com/gQ55EQf.jpg)
It's not easy being... whatever the hell this thing is

No injuries to speak of, although one Dwarf was clearly not feeling great after this fight.

(https://i.imgur.com/UkDbKxO.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/3vqUGg4.jpg)
Come'on! Is that the best you got?! *Hwaarrrgg* You're in for it now, you filthy *Hwaarrrggg*

As the Dwarven Caravan comes rumbling over the hilltops, that Possessed Dwarf completes his artifact.  Since it was a possession, I can't really blame him for not making anything useful.  At least I get a cool bit of history on this one.

(https://i.imgur.com/wmGJ8TU.jpg)
An homage to a Dwarven Count, stamped with an image of an early King

And with that, this exceedingly long chapter draws to a close.
Insert witty sign off here

...Even the armour and weapons?
Especially the biscuits!
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Derpy Dev on September 16, 2017, 06:00:15 pm
I feel proud of the fact that I only fail moods once every couple of months or more. I think my current streak of successful moods is about 100.

Also, how the heck did you make the game 3D? What texture pack witchcraft is this?
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Fleeting Frames on September 17, 2017, 01:26:10 pm
Minotaurs aren't that dangerous. You sure your military isn't ready?

Loking at the wall in that screenshot.. Perhaps next time forbid the doors so dwarves don't rush towards the enemy. Well, no matter.

So much for the reindeer herd.

Hm, nice circular hall. Much better.

I mean, you'd eventually tire of circles too, but not now.

When you have  a volcano, it's always nice to go - even, dare I say - overboard with magma traps. Magma misters! Magma landmines! Magma-filled corridors of death! Walkway to dodge into magma from!

You don't need most of these, but still.

Of course, after you did this due fearing a raiding party, you go and leave a climbing way into your fortress. Figures :P


Rather than wait for woo...I thought you were supposed to make everything, including the crossbows, from stone! Yet here are you using wood and bone!


You know, you say you plan architecture, but to fail a moody dwarf...I think you like to plan great halls?


The frog was amusing.


I thought orichalum was supposed to be exceedingly good weapon material. Shame to waste it on a figurine, if you only have a single bar.



@Derpy Dev: It's Text Will Be Text multilevel feature. Makes hilly embarks lot more tolerable (to flat embarks), though the plugin has a history of instability. Iirc one of the major bugs causing that was fixed only this year's spring or last year's fall (not sure which).
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Immortal-D on September 18, 2017, 06:30:11 pm
I did not have any military at all when the Minotaur arrived.  Between 2 Werebeasts and a far more difficult farming situation, I've been preoccupied.  Historically, Orichalcum was supposedly pretty common.  For my part, I believe it's a byproduct of smelting, something like 1 in 200.  I will definitely be restricting it once I have a better organized Forge operation.  And I did not fail a moody Dwarf, I simply didn't notice him in my scramble to keep everyone else alive :P

Anvilmastered!  "The frog was amusing.", and that's our slogan.  The rest of the year is fairly uneventful; another migrant wave includes some especially strong Dwarves, allowing me to finish the two squads which form our fledgling military.  Also, the Dwarves have stockpiled over 500 Urists of alcohol now, so I'm pretty sure that booze does not decay.

As the new year begins, my food reserves remain a challenge though.  Been holding steady at 100-120, but the ever increasing population means I'm going to be in trouble very soon.  Just as I start planning a greenhouse:

(https://i.imgur.com/D0JIn2J.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/k9BljXY.jpg)
Flame-roasted chocolate, not nearly as delicious as it sounds

My Smithys are all highly skilled metal crafters, but have no experience making armor and weapons.  So the militia is using shoddy iron equipment and has only a couple months of training.  Engage turtle mode!

(https://i.imgur.com/b5u3Eqh.jpg)
Say it with me now

With the front gate firmly shut, the Titan finishes what his Minotaur friend started; I'm back to zero reindeer plus a garden of ashes.  I think one of the piles used to be a woodcutter.

(https://i.imgur.com/Ip9550A.gif)
(https://i.imgur.com/rjhxrzf.jpg)
Yup, that figures

Sigh.  This makes the second time in as many years that my front lawn has been incinerated.  I'm fairly certain that a Mite, despite have a ridiculous number of legs, can not climb.  Still, I order the entrance to the volcano barricaded for good measure, and none too soon.

(https://i.imgur.com/9XI0rmk.jpg)
Bwahaha.  I mean it's sad, but still

My suspicion is confirmed; it would have certainly climbed in to smash the forges if it could.  I leave the barricades in place though, it could still hurl fireballs from up there.  As I begin to contemplate a cavein trap, one of the Fort's start Masons goes Fey.  He claims all he needs except a stack of cloth, which can only mean he needs silk.  I finally uncover a cavern layer, and not a single spider to be found.  I desperately dig down, but alas, I am not fast enough.  Like the random peasant before him, the Mason's insanity matches the surroundings and he turns melancholy.  I really need to start budgeting silk cloth as part of my embark supplies.  I swear, silk is the new turtle shell.

I go back to planning a cavein for the Titan, hoping to prevent...

(https://i.imgur.com/DAh914T.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/dEacTrC.jpg)
Werebeasts per year is now 1.5

Exactly that :-\  Welp, at least now I'm not in a hurry.  At this point, I'm just gonna wait for the Human Caravan in Summer and hope they can deal with it.  I divert my Miners towards digging a hospital zone, and a path to the cavern lake.  When I check back on the military, I am pleased to see this:

(https://i.imgur.com/oEGZquD.gif)
Pew Pew

In the ammo stockpile below, I also find a Clothier who has lost the ability to stand ???  Looks like he was arguing with a Marksdwarf.  Going by the date logs, this was mere moments after I finished designating the hospital.  Does misfortune follow my planning, or the other way around?

(https://i.imgur.com/sGvPJpi.jpg)
Sir! I wish to convey my dissatisfaction with your point of view... *punch*

Regardless, I now have to rush my water access.  His injuries are not serious, but will keep him in bed long enough that he will surely dehydrate before recovering.  And just as Summer begins, too.

(https://i.imgur.com/uasVNe7.jpg)
Top left, our saviors?

The Human Caravan makes a valiant showing, but only brought two Hammermen.  Although they are able to inflict good damage, it is not enough.

(https://i.imgur.com/zVSeX7X.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Wp2q4SB.jpg)
Just a few more guards, or maybe a few less legs, and they might have won

I am now resolved to complete the cavein trap before the Dwarven Caravan arrives in a few months.  Finally, with a marble door locked tight and a helpless cat toss in the corner, I wait with nervous anticipation.

(https://i.imgur.com/Ffgqu8e.gif)
Somehow I accidentally combined my gifs, so enjoy this bonus shot of Marksdwarf training

Huzzah!  A three by ten mass of Rhyolite crashes down, and the Forest Titan is smashed out of existance.  Seriously, I was hoping to at least get some bones or hide, but there is nothing left.  I order access to the volcano restored, and am kinda surprised at how long it takes.  Normally I have at least a dozen idle peasants.  I quickly discover the reason for the delay.

(https://i.imgur.com/C2dj2fS.gif)
I really need to get these guys some wheelbarrows

After failing to find any silk for that one Mason, I decided to mine out the random ore veins I had uncovered, and promptly forgot about it.  I am sorely tempted to go full-on Erebor now: building minecarts, tunnels, and massive stockpiles.  One of the flaws I have when starting my midgame is that I become overly ambitious.  The fortress is stable, so I try to accomplish a dozen things at once and end up with nothing.  I have never stuck with a Fortress long enough to make it truly grandiose.  This time, I'm in it for the long haul.

First priority- Make some buckets and water that Clothier Dwarf.  The initial population is wearing rags now, so having a skilled Clothesmaker is important.
Second priority- Floor over the top of my volcano.  It is a crude solution compared to my vision, but again, priorities.  I am simply not ready for a Megaproject yet.
3. - Potash and a greenhouse.  My food stocks have been at emergency levels since I started.  The only reason I haven't faced starvation is I immediately slaughter all non-pets that come with the migrant waves, plus half my adult Boar population every year.
4. - Realize that I'm only halfway through year 4, and have faced off against a Minotaur, 3 Werebeasts, and a fire breathing Forest Titan.  All points considered, I am progressing at a respectable rate, if I do say so myself.

And with that, I have reached the point where I can no longer cram an entire year into one chapter.  I'd love to offer another signoff, but the story has finally caught up with where I'm at ingame.  Stay tuned!
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Derpy Dev on September 18, 2017, 06:40:10 pm
Quote
And I did not fail a moody Dwarf, I simply didn't notice him in my scramble to keep everyone else alive :P

I think I triggered him xD

Also, I have the same issue with stone stockpiles all the time. I never remember that wheelbarrows are important until half the bloody fort is carrying rocks.
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Fleeting Frames on September 18, 2017, 08:17:59 pm
....How quickly do you have food decay?

100 for 100ish dwarves is  kinda hand-to-mouth. Very just-in-time production (every other industry, 100 would be more than enough for maintained stock. Not food though.)



Hm, I recall one could eat cooked bugs. Don't know about mites...But chocolate-dipped crunchy bug might be delicious after thorough heating.


I wouldn't be 100% certain that mite will not climb in to attack. I think it requires combat to go into climbing pathing mode, while building destroying is more like regular job (as shown by them failing to destroy appropriately placed buildings.)



*scrolls up* Huh, hadn't penetrated the cavern yet? Ah well. Silk is perhaps better than yarn, though, given it's possible to get to it by digging if you need some and have none.



Just as summer begins...the land is covered in snow. Cold!


Blunt weapons, against a titan? The humans didn't stand much a a chance. Though I see you modded platinum and ebony to be weapon materials.


Two dozen by-hand stone-haulers, in a single-wide corridor? *wince* Maybe get not just wheelbarrows, but widen all tunnels to at least 2 wide as well.
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Bearskie on September 18, 2017, 08:51:29 pm
(https://i.imgur.com/C2dj2fS.gif)
All is fair in dwarven gulag.

By the way, what are you using to make the gifs? They're a nice touch.
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: speciesunkn0wn on September 19, 2017, 07:36:45 am
(https://i.imgur.com/C2dj2fS.gif)
All is fair in dwarven gulag.

By the way, what are you using to make the gifs? They're a nice touch.

Da Comrade!


@Immortal-D: Can I request a dorfing, Comrade? Comrade Species please! Champion of Communism and using a battle axe or Warhammer.
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Immortal-D on September 19, 2017, 07:54:09 am
....How quickly do you have food decay?

100 for 100ish dwarves is  kinda hand-to-mouth. Very just-in-time production (every other industry, 100 would be more than enough for maintained stock. Not food though.)

Two dozen by-hand stone-haulers, in a single-wide corridor? *wince* Maybe get not just wheelbarrows, but widen all tunnels to at least 2 wide as well.
Feels like it lasts 3 months, ~1 season, but I haven't had the time to precisely test it.  Believe me, I'm well aware of just how perilous the situation is, that's why a Greenhouse is among top priorities.  With the map burning down every year, I can't rely on Caravans or plant gathering either.  And yeah, normally I use a 2x or 3x hallway.  That image is one of the exploratory mine shafts I dug while searching for a cavern.

By the way, what are you using to make the gifs? They're a nice touch.
Glad to hear it :)  I find the occasional action cam helps to punctuate main events.  Dropbox may have failed me on pictures, but it can still do normal hosting.  Click Me! (https://www.dropbox.com/s/p4si40yvgz0cj4t/GifCam.exe?dl=0)

@Immortal-D: Can I request a dorfing, Comrade? Comrade Species please! Champion of Communism and using a battle axe or Warhammer.
>.<  I swear, it was just a mining tunnel, lol.  The current melee squad uses a Spiked Flail (effectively a Morning Star on a chain).  I'm pretty sure I have farming equipment available, like Hammer & Sickle.  I'll have to check.
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Fleeting Frames on September 19, 2017, 08:47:21 am
If you dig the exploratory mineshafts on multiple levels in same location, you could use stairs to allow dwarves to pass by each other. Pretty moot point now, as you can't dig upstairs into a floor.

Could also make it minecart-only accessible and use a dwarf to ride back and forth to carry five stones each trip. Limits the number of haulers busy with it while providing stone at steady clip, but requires more effort than just doing a designation and making a few wheelbarrows.
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Taupe on September 19, 2017, 04:38:07 pm
That looks fucking cool, I hope you turn this into a wonder of sorts.

Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Immortal-D on September 20, 2017, 07:45:10 pm
So, I just learned that the Trap-wear bug also applies to normal weapons, not just trap parts like Spiked Ball.  I don't use massive trap corridors, but I do like to have some installed, and was playing on that assumption.  So now I'm torn;

- I could continue and meticulously check all of my traps after every battle or critter activation, which would suck the fun right out it, especially as I expand and build more defenses, resulting in much slower updates to the point that both I and the readers would lose interest.
- Call it quits now before I'm too invested, maybe pray that the new version is both compatible with old saves and fixes the bug present in old versions.
- Keep going, try to remember to at least occasionally check the trap wear levels, and hope nothing breaks in the middle of a fight.
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Derpy Dev on September 20, 2017, 07:58:28 pm
So, I just learned that the Trap-wear bug also applies to normal weapons, not just trap parts like Spiked Ball.  I don't use massive trap corridors, but I do like to have some installed, and was playing on that assumption.  So now I'm torn;

- I could continue and meticulously check all of my traps after every battle or critter activation, which would suck the fun right out it, especially as I expand and build more defenses, resulting in much slower updates to the point that both I and the readers would lose interest.
- Call it quits now before I'm too invested, maybe pray that the new version is both compatible with old saves and fixes the bug present in old versions.
- Keep going, try to remember to at least occasionally check the trap wear levels, and hope nothing breaks in the middle of a fight.

Turn on autosave for seasonally and check every time it autosaves, then you should be good.

There's also the option of only using artifact or adamantine weapons for traps, but that's a tad bit expensive.
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Fleeting Frames on September 20, 2017, 08:11:17 pm
Or named weapons.

I'd say pick the third option, as long as you're not using wooden weapons. I haven't tested it in a wide variety of conditions, but I wouldn't be surprised if metal weapons lasted over a decade in trap, depending on sieges.
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Bearskie on September 21, 2017, 01:25:42 am
How about not using weapon traps at all? You are next to a volcano, you have the opportunity to create far !!dorfier!! traps.
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Immortal-D on September 21, 2017, 06:13:11 pm
Autosave is an Armok-send for sure, and I already removed the few wooden traps I brought with me.  I guess we'll see how it goes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Anvilmastered!  Where a single mining tunnel gets mistaken for a gulag :-[  While surveying the damage caused by Leurelilive and getting everyone back to work, I happen across something I'd only heard about in legends.

(https://i.imgur.com/w4NZYZn.jpg)
Closer to Overlord II than WoW

Soon as I can spare the production time, I am definitely gonna make a ton of Cage Traps and just toss them all across the map.  Speaking of the Forest Titan aftermath, my refuse stockpile is on fire! :D ... Wait what? :o

(https://i.imgur.com/R0LscG1.jpg)
I'm not even gonna ask

Right then, moving right along.  I'm still working desperately to save that one Clothier Dwarf.  I have breached the Cavern lake directly, so far so good.

(https://i.imgur.com/E9ZmHDn.jpg)
Pretty fancy bucket, actually

But he's not in the hospital!  I frantically search through my Units list, not discounting the possibility that his passing was passed over in a flood of messages.  Wait...

(https://i.imgur.com/B1R92F1.jpg)
Score one for modern medicine

Yesh!  I finally managed to save a Dwarf.  That makes me like 1 for 3 now, but progress is progress.  I reclaim the few bits of Caravan which survived and begin work on the roofing projects.  A few months pass, and life is good.  A large number of Boars have become fat, and I'm sitting comfy at 350 food.  I also have enough booze variety that I don't bother making a complicated work order for my pig tails.  Instead, I set Farmer and Loom Workshops to continuously process plants, spin thread, weave cloth.  Life is actually pretty good, until...

(https://i.imgur.com/eAnVgwo.jpg)
See if you can spot the crazy one

Bleh, this makes 3/5 Possessions, the worst mood streak I have ever encountered.  Worse, this jerk is mumbling about cloth 3 separate times, which means he needs plant fiber, wool, and silk.  I had managed to find a few webs earlier, so I just hope he makes me a nice table.  The roofing project is going well at least.  The Fort is up to 126 Dwarves, with 20 of those being full time military, and only ~10 idlers.  I also rename the commander of my first military squad.  Upon inspection, I can see that I chose well.  This guy is a very Dwarfy Dwarf.

(https://i.imgur.com/knwsV8C.jpg)
Glory to Soviet Mountainhome

He is lonely and bored after prolonged deployment, yet still felt pleasure about improving his combat abilities, and finds nature disturbing.  A true soldier, that one.  This also makes me realize that the head of my military is 162 years old and likely to drop dead any year now :'(  One problem at a time.  Thankfully, the Dwarven Caravan arrives to distract me, and I decide to make a showing of myself this year.

(https://i.imgur.com/nSIBHSZ.jpg)
Dwarf bling at its' finest

I designate a maximum sized pasture for my new reindeer, and they immediately huddle in the only corner that has a glass roof.

(https://i.imgur.com/aUa6L8B.jpg)
I am going to raise a herd of reindeer if it kills me

They are all weak and skinny right now, hopefully they will regain their proper size.  The roofing continues at a good pace, despite a few mishaps.  Something caught my eye in the reindeer pasture though..

(https://i.imgur.com/cz7sUSv.jpg)
hhmmmm
(https://i.imgur.com/2mRvABA.jpg)
HMMM
(https://i.imgur.com/dGrFZnv.jpg)
sigh

I patch the hole in my dining hall and get back to business.  Some of the migrants who perished during the Titan siege have started haunting the Fortress.  I get them sorted out, and discover this poor fellow.

(https://i.imgur.com/FVVhD3m.jpg)
Do not go quietly into that great good night

I think this is the Dwarf who died and had his tomb smashed by the Minotaur.  I bury him for a second time, and he is finally content.  Speaking of burials, there is a flashing in my refuse stockpiles!  Oh Armok, what now?

(https://i.imgur.com/EO0G9H4.jpg)
2Spooky4Me
(https://i.imgur.com/ijiVwJW.jpg)
False alarm

The Titan, despite being reduced to a bone pile, has retained his form, at least graphically.  I really hate that guy :(  On a lighter note, here is something that I recorded earlier but forgot to share.  Behold, the power of Macros.  16 bedrooms built in just a few seconds;

(https://i.imgur.com/qRO8fX3.gif)
How cool is that?

The mood is finished!  Not only does he get possessed for no skill and make something useless, he also draws the results of the previous possessions to mock me.

(https://i.imgur.com/USTOB2G.jpg)
There is nothing redeeming about this

Possesion number 4 gets me much the same results.

(https://i.imgur.com/61D42aX.jpg)
Admittedly, a troll necromancer looking for cooking supplies is kinda cool

I wrap up the year by digging but not connecting my greenhouse, turning a large chunk of volcanic sand into outdoor tile.  I'm torn between loving the downtime to focus on my infrastructure, and wishing more exciting things would happen to write about.  As the game autosaves into Spring, we'll see what the new year holds.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I felt like I was really reaching for material this time.  With the game down to 40fps and a pause in the action allowing me to build stuff, it could be a while before I have anything worth writing about.  I often end up with ~1/4 of the pictures and recordings I make not being used, this time it was closer to half.  I am still not self sustaining, but if I can figure out how to extract seeds from the food-only plants, then I will be once the greenhouse is done.

That looks fucking cool, I hope you turn this into a wonder of sorts.
How about not using weapon traps at all? You are next to a volcano, you have the opportunity to create far !!dorfier!! traps.
Although I definitely have plans to weaponize the volcano, there is still something primal satisfying about watching invaders get chopped to pieces by a spring-loaded axe 8)
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Derpy Dev on September 21, 2017, 06:28:54 pm
Admit it, you did this on purpose.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Fleeting Frames on September 22, 2017, 01:07:34 pm
Lots of humour in this post. Well written.

Though, uh, the images are kind of tiny. Even 5x5 tilesets have clearer text......Oops, didn't enable javascript. *enables* Now that's zooming in!

That's pretty fancy bucket indeed. Imported goods, I take? I'm not even sure, but now I want to import clear diamond buckets by the bucketful. (*Later sees trade screen and realizes it's probs a custom reaction*)

And yays for caverns.

Possessed dwarfs can be pretty crazy, jumping into a burning stockpile to get their items. Wait, I guess the fire burned out.

Your military commander should get to vacation for a month and maybe read a book.

I like to arrange the whole corpses of procedurals into a gallery of what the fort has slain.

My current favourite macro I have is for designating a designation or wall around a volcano. It's not useful, per se, but it is pretty cool.
Spoiler: volcano macro (click to show/hide)

I recall some players like crowns. Good for monarch or military commander for RP, I guess.

And, rising troll necromancer? I guess the they must have become a noble who became a necromancer, procrastinated building a tower ("I live forever anyway I can do it later"), and got kidnapped by a rising troll to become an immortal baby-making machine.

Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: speciesunkn0wn on September 22, 2017, 02:30:07 pm
Well. Go and see if my dorf has children, comrade! Name the oldest after him and set to train in the same squad. :D
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Immortal-D on September 23, 2017, 11:36:10 pm
Admit it, you did this on purpose.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)
I can neither confirm nor deny creating a custom greeting for Dwarves who enter the bone yard.
Well. Go and see if my dorf has children, comrade! Name the oldest after him and set to train in the same squad. :D
With 9 children, is a safe bet that your legacy will live on.
Lots of humour in this post. Well written.
Glad you like it :)  I normally write my DF posts in a roleplay style.  This time, I'm trying to write in the same way that I think when I'm just playing normally.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Anvilmastered!  Where the forest is incinerated at least once per year, and I can honestly say it is not my fault.  When we last left off, the Dwarves were using the relative to calm to full advantage; expanding the forging operations, finishing the pasture & volcano roof, and starting on the greenhouse.  My Horned Cave Turtles continue to multiply, but don't seem to grow up.  I unlock the doors of their pasture so I can butcher some of them.  I immediately realize that I never actually assigned the hatchlings back to said pasture, and they make a break for it.  Every blue dot here is a Horned Cave Turtle hatchling.

(https://i.imgur.com/QbZMccV.jpg)
Tiny Freedom!

For those wondering; imagine a real life snapping turtle, but the size of a Galapagos Tortoise with a rhino horn on its' snout.  Oddly, not war trainable.  I'll have to arrange some pit fights to see how they perform.  The volcano roof is down to the last corner.  I shudder to think about the amount of bricks and hauling time I have spent on this thing when I'm only going to remove it in a few years.  I know it is for the best though.  I also appreciate the Tetris-like quality of the barf patches mixed with snow.

(https://i.imgur.com/HTKume5.jpg)
*Hums the theme song*

Speaking of tiny treasures.

(https://i.imgur.com/qlcAodi.jpg)
Baby Reindeer!

I was worried about them since they never seemed to change out of the 'weak and skinny' phase, but as long as they are making calfs, I can work with it.  The renegade turtles have all been rounded up, and their butchery returns puts me at 1,000 food! :D  Only took me, what?  5&1/2 years to have a stable food supply.  Still, decaying food is both a challenge, and FPS booster.  As if sensing my happiness, a flock of Giant Buzzards (http://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/DF2014:Giant_buzzard) spawns in.  They can't actually do anything, but it is still an ominous sign.

As I near my population cap of 150, I pick out the strongest and toughest peasants (thank you Dwarf Therapist) to make the third military squad.  The first squad uses a spiked flail and round shield, mountain-brawler style.  Squad 2 is a traditional Marksdwarf unit.  For the third squad, I opt for a good old-fashioned battle axe, but with a kite shield.  Less berserk slashing, more 'immovable wall of death'.  I set their schedule, but a backlog at the forges means only a few pieces of gear have been made so far.  I like to imagine them all arriving, chatting idly while listening to the sounds of the bolt stockpile next door.

(https://i.imgur.com/no1wP7Z.jpg)
How about that weather, eh?

As Spring turns to Summer, I am slightly disappointed at the lack of Human Caravan.  I hope that 1 measly slaughter didn't scare them away for good :(  Then Nature reminds me that she has a score to settle, and this fight is far from over.

(https://i.imgur.com/b7EqvbV.jpg)
First the Minotaur, now a wind-controlling Harpy? #GreekMythology

She chases the cranes around for about a month, occasionally managing to grapple one midair.  My Dwarves are dutifully chasing her in turn, taking a potshot whenever she dips below the tree line.  Finally, one of the Marksdwarves is able to fracture a wing.  She plummets through the thick branches, and the Dwarves pounce.  Unable to use her blizzard powers from above, the Harpy monster is quickly vanquished.

(https://i.imgur.com/pXWO0L8.jpg)
There actually was a row of leafs connecting the trees, she fell hard

Back at the Fort, one of my Mace Dwarves gets Possessed.  This makes, what?  Like 6 or 7 possessions now?  I bet that the moment I stop keeping track is the moment my streak ends.  Unlike his predecessors, this Dwarf is rather sensible.  I guess that comes from being a soldier.  To that end, he crafts for me the most stereotypical high-fantasy clothing I have ever seen in Dwarf Fortress, and I freaking love it.

(https://i.imgur.com/w5RKpU6.jpg)
+3 Cloak of being a total badass.  Oh btw, Laconic: a person, speech, or style of writing using very few words

I give this to Speciesunkn0wn, though admittedly I don't know if artifact cloth is better than normal leather.  Before I know it, the Dwarven Caravan is here again.  At least my brethren at the Mountain Home know how to a treat a burgeoning Overseer.  They bring me 5 wagons, 3 pack animals, and a small army.

(https://i.imgur.com/gJBozye.jpg)
This goes on for another half a page

I buy a metric tonne of leather, cloth, and bags.  Also more reindeer and some mountain goats for variety.  The game informs me that a Dwarf has been found dehydrated.  I zoom to the location, and break my brain trying to figure out how this happened.

(https://i.imgur.com/f9LjDNv.jpg)
In between the bright lights (sun) and the far unlit unknown (bottom of the volcano?)

If you couldn't tell, this is one z-level above the base of the foundry, and the ceiling is directly above this.  Somehow, he got wedged between the wall and the ceiling, despite there being literally no open space once connected.  I dismantle the wall and the dorf falls into the volcano with nary a splash.  Such is life, I suppose.  While ordering a Slab for him, I learn that Memorial Slabs actually use the Stone Detailing skill, and not Stone Crafting as I originally thought.  Hunh.  The more you know, I guess.

Winter begins, and my period of tranquil building is abruptly halted.

(https://i.imgur.com/QIHTf5s.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/lwJdSVS.jpg)
:o

Fiend Spiders are bad news, possessing both paralyzing venom and webs.  I'm pretty sure they are [TRAP_AVOID] as well.  I seal the drawbridge and go back to monitoring the invaders.  The Fiend Spiders move slowly, first climbing a hill to figure out what happened to the volcano, then crawling their way along the edges of my mountain, sensing the tasty Dwarves within, yet unable to reach them.

(https://i.imgur.com/eUNHS80.jpg)
*Sneak* *Sneak*

The game gives me a Common Sense roll in the form of 2 more ambushes being revealed, just in case I was getting any bright ideas.  They finally reach the front gate, where a flaw in my design is made known.

(https://i.imgur.com/fQlOmrk.jpg)
Can you spot the problem here?

I immediately brick up the entrance to the pasture.  Those of you with a faint constitution may wish to skip ahead, this ain't pretty.

(https://i.imgur.com/KP8uoZv.jpg)
On the plus side, I beat my old record for 'longest time I've kept a reindeer alive' by 4 months

While contemplating the latest deericide, the haulers inform me that my new Well Room is finished.

(https://i.imgur.com/Xgyy4XV.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/T2XZl2D.jpg)
A functioning hospital has a simple beauty all its' own

Just needs a few Traction Benches.  At least no Dwarf will die of infection; just magma, spider venom, ravenous coyotes, infection, wall/ceiling compression, and walking to your bedroom.  What I'm saying here is that it ain't easy being Dwarfy :-\  This does give me an idea though.  The area near where I breached the cavern lake has a fairly large, flat plain that I should be able to secure, and all the Fungiwood that comes with it.  I do just that, and begin assembling Ballista parts for my guests.  And then... another ambush?  This late?

(https://i.imgur.com/9k6V8qe.jpg)
Gotta admit, I did not see this coming

The Fiend Spiders had started retreating just as this goblin scouting party shows up.  Zooming takes me to the farthest Western edge of the map.  This should be interesting.

(https://i.imgur.com/ASd7w9o.gif)
Seems that Fiend Spiders, for all their.. uh.. fiendishness, are actually quite fragile

The Goblins outnumber their opponents 6 to 1, and the spiders go down after just 3 pages of combat.  As the last of the spiders depart, I start working on a trap tunnel at the main entrance.  Goblins are most certainly not trap avoid, so with a bit of planning, I might be able to have my first proper battle.  The traps are laid and the militia assembled.  A lone goblin scouts out the traps for his comrades, unaware that a mass of 30 iron clad Dwarves await beyond the next door.

(https://i.imgur.com/sN1QngQ.jpg)
All those extra glass corkscrews for the pumps are getting put to good use

Say it with me now.

(https://i.imgur.com/73H5YYd.gif)
BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!

The Dwarves pursue and easily cut down the second group, surrounding them one at a time.

(https://i.imgur.com/ri2SqQi.gif)
SKULLS FOR THE SKULL THRONE!

The Dwarves chase the survivors, and the final ambush group appears.  A couple of the melee fighters receive numerous but shallow cuts.  One of the Marksdwarves gets caught in the middle, and does not fare well.

(https://i.imgur.com/pL4E9gt.jpg)
Ummm, milk for the khorn flakes?

The greenskins are slain to the last, plus 2 captured as a bonus.  I lift the Burrow Alert, and the Dwarves swarm outside to begin the months-long process of cleaning up this mess.  Speciesunkn0wn got in a few hits, but spent most of the battle just trying to reach the battle, barfing all the way.  Now picture that with the Jingle Bells song :P  This does make me realize that I'm gonna need an outdoors training yard.  With that goal in mind, and the forges going full blast from all the surface ores, I think the time has finally come for a Mega Project.
Though probably not the one you are expecting
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Fleeting Frames on September 24, 2017, 10:38:02 pm
The incineration should be your fault. After all, you live on a volcano. Nonetheless....Forest burns and reindeers die.


Your food stocks may look fine, but I guess the meat will go in up to six months (if you use cooking to make it last longer). Also, really makes one appreciate graphics sets, though this only really works great for screens with larger dimensions if one wants to see around them.



The accidental tetris mural is nicee finding. Very random. For the weak and skinny reindeer, they need to train through extertion. I think combat with undead skin might be most reliable way.


Regarding non-standard weapons, one gamist aspect I appreciate with default set is how swords get progressively better as they get bigger in stats, provided one is big enough to wield them, and how one has to choose between ⛭steel shortswords⛭ and iron longswords for their swole dwarves (or iron two-handed swords for the swole humans). If you could just forge steel longer swords, it'd be pretty no-brainer, but this introduces reason to have both beyond body size.


On fur cloak artiact: One of the advantages of soldiers is no moodable skills, if they don't have picks in hand. I take it you don't groom dwarves for moods?



It doesn't look like your dwarf dehydrated inside a wall, but on top of it - it says "Basalt Block Floor" in the sideview menu. Pretty obvious they climbed up or got swapped with a domestic bird who did that.



The Great Fiend Spiders sounded quite dangerous, but surprisingly they weren't all that. A single trained brown recluse spiderman probably has nothing to fear from them. Maybe include some pick-and-crossbow dwarves in your military and thumb your nose at the mining/hunting labors. (Gifs are nice, too - presently I assemble the few I make in gimp, though. Though I do have recording stuff to convert videos into gifs stored away. )


And, hm, looking at the screenshot you may want to use an exploit to make your doors 3-wide: Doors deconstruct if you mine walls around them out, but they're fine if you deconstruct the walls.


That's a claustrophobic hospital design, what's with the bridges and mostly empty space rooms. Maybe add an adjoining graveyard on the other side of the stairwell?



You mentioned the corkscrews and ballista, and my mind immediatelly went to using corkscrews as ballista with minecarts. Somehow, I didn't expect the traps...

Also, note that not only are those not weapons, glass is also pretty fragile. You may want to t-look you traps over if you're on 43.05.

I'm always expecting something with magma on a volcano, but you never use any :v
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Immortal-D on October 11, 2017, 09:23:27 pm
The incineration should be your fault. After all, you live on a volcano. Nonetheless....Forest burns and reindeers die.

That's a claustrophobic hospital design, what's with the bridges and mostly empty space rooms. Maybe add an adjoining graveyard on the other side of the stairwell?

I'm always expecting something with magma on a volcano, but you never use any :v
I just queued 3 Traction Benches for each hospital wing.  I might add a couple statues at some point.  As for exploiting magma, suffice to say I'm working on it.  I think you may be underestimating just how fast I'm actually moving.  As of the last chapter, I'm only ~4&1/2 years in.  Definitely in this for the long haul.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Anvilmastered!  A Mega Project in the making, coming to you as a rare play-by-play.  Everybody loves them, but nobody ever documents how they get built *cough* Archcrystal  What?

Anyways.  Fresh off their first real battle victory, nature decides that I must actually fight for my Cavern.

(https://i.imgur.com/pj2Vt0d.jpg)
It spits fire, because of course it does.  Everything in this land can shoot fire except me... for now

I wall-off the cavern since I don't need the fungiwood, and there were only a few scraps of silk to collect.  Months pass while the Dwarves work on phase 2 of the magma forge operation.  Eventually I notice that I had never set my military to Active/Training :-[  The schedule, labors, and equipment were all perfect, but they still only trained if they felt like it.  Now they grudgingly train full time, and I am rewarded with several Weapon Masters :)  I decide the time has finally come to establish myself as super wealthy.

One of the mods I run adds a simple but fun feature; archeology.  There are fossils, treasures, and other things long buried.  When processed, they can yield a variety of valuable loot, from gold coins to platinum crossbows.  If you ever need to jack up your wealth in a hurry, this is the way to do it.

(https://i.imgur.com/vxkpPx2.jpg)
All I need now is a squad of lashers wearing leather jackets and hats

One of my Smiths had claimed a magma forge earlier.  I completely ignored it, because I've had like 7 Possessions now.  Much to my surprise, this was actually a Fey mood! :D  She finishes in short order, and Anvilmastered now has a Legendary +2 Weaponsmith.  Maybe I got lucky and she made something good to boot.

(https://i.imgur.com/071gDTY.jpg)
... I am not proud of this :-[

Ahem.  Moving right along.  Despite her questionable choice of a signature weapon, I assign our new Weaponsmith her own forge and queue a bunch of Flails & Axes.  At +2, her rate of Masterworks seems to be about 1 in 5.  The path to all of our ores and metal bars is about 50 tiles (look, working around a volcano is a lot more difficult than you might think), so progress is slow.  But soon enough...

(https://i.imgur.com/RukUUmS.jpg)

Just in time for the seasonal Great Fiend Spider siege.  My militia has been making excellent progress, but I know that what I am seeing outside is only a fraction of their forces.  The front gate is firmly shut as the spiders scuttle their way through the valley.

(https://i.imgur.com/X1ZOsnO.jpg)
It is terrifying

The spiders make their way to the front entrance, perhaps hoping to exploit a hole in my roof like last time, but to no avail.  The pasture is completely sealed now, and the spiders can only scratch at the thick Dwarven glass.  I also get to see the exact path that my haulers took on their way back inside.  See if you can figure it out.

(https://i.imgur.com/obwuPGc.jpg)
Hint- they moved diagonally

My food & booze are well over 1,000 Urists now, so I am content to wait out the siege, especially since I am fairly certain the spiders will leave after a reasonable amount of time...  Don't look at me like that.  Every Overseer has cowered behind his walls in the face of overwhelming odds at least once :-\  The Dwarves work diligently, but are still kinda nervous about the monster spider army just outside.  I'm somewhat micro-managing jobs during the siege, and happen across this adorable scene.  Two of the militia fell asleep in their training room, including one guy with his War Boar next to him.

(https://i.imgur.com/T3c97qo.jpg)
The smelliest pillow ever

I receive notice that another ambush has been uncovered, more spiders.  Which is odd, since you should need visual contact for that.  I zoom to the location, and my blood runs cold.  Bottom right of the roof; that ramp is a corner piece, a diagonal slit leading directly to the forges.  Already, several spiders are homing in on the scent of exposed Dwarves.

(https://i.imgur.com/0yurK4Q.jpg)
Oh dear

I scramble to get a stairs and wall built in that corner from the inside.  The militia is stationed as well, and the entrance to the forges is soon crowded with masons, military, and war boars.

(https://i.imgur.com/S6XLv19.gif)
The calm before the storm

The breach is not sealed in time, and the first Fiend Spider squeezes through the gap, directly above the waiting militia.

(https://i.imgur.com/kOOozB3.jpg)
In the heart of the Fortress, battle is joined

The troops have properly Dwarven equipment this time, and nearly a year and a half of training.  The Marksdwarves open fire, but I have not completely switched to metal bolts yet, and most of the shots bounce off the Spider's chitin.  However, it has no room to shoot webs here, and the melee Dwarves are armed to the teeth beard.

(https://i.imgur.com/hjz2W5T.jpg)
"Spider goo for the Blood God" just doesn't have the same ring to it

Of course, it wouldn't be Dwarven combat if they didn't give their enemies a taste (lol pun) of their own medicine.

(https://i.imgur.com/obj2rky.jpg)
At least 3 separate Dwarves tear into this monster like a fresh plump helmet

Even the war boars do their part; acting as another target and occasionally irritating the invaders.

(https://i.imgur.com/jy6sklF.jpg)
*Oink oink* mother %#&*!

The militia takes down 3 Fiend Spiders, and the breach is sealed.  Victory! (kindof).  I check the units screen, and there are at least 70 of the monsters crawling around outside.  Ya know what?  3 kills is good for today, I can live with that.  To celebrate, I cordon a small section of the volcano with clear glass windows (Dwarves actually retain LoS), for future parties.

(https://i.imgur.com/ItOCp0i.jpg)
Soon, my lord Armok.  I promise you glory

As the year draws to a close, the Fiend Spiders start their retreat.  I take stock of my supplies, and grin when I see this;

(https://i.imgur.com/xcfe6nt.jpg)
10 masterwork-quality spiky ball of death, all equipped

It is the start of Dwarven year 261.  A full 5 years have passed since the Dwarves founded Anvilmastered on the slopes of a mighty volcano.  Our weapons & armor become increasingly powerful, our industries more efficient & connected.  And of course, our War Boars make the stinkiest most cuddly companions.  Here's to another 5 years, assuming I don't find yet another hole in my roof.  Seriously, that's 1 per siege now, not a great record :-\
~~~~~~~~~~~~

Woo! Anvilmastered marches on.  Just for kicks, here are some of the pictures that I didn't use in this chapter.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Fleeting Frames on October 11, 2017, 11:24:13 pm
Uff...4˝? I'm definately misestimating something, I thought it was like half that.


That snail could be total disappointment (archer shoots it down and it splatters) or extremely dangerous (why not fight it on oh-so-flammable cave moss?)

Also lol@ "Everything expect me can shoot fire".

Probably quickest way to jack up wealth is to dig deep and make adamantine serrated discs. (Adamantine being 5 time more valuable than the next most valuable thing, after all.) On thin embarks, can do that in first spring, I guess.


Orichalcum hoe with pure hematite? Very modded. I take it is a tool to boost farming skill learn rates or yields?

But you need minecarts or wheelbarrows, jeez. 50 tiles? You could cross 16x16 embark with the dwarf time it takes you to produce weapons for 1 squad.



For spiders, it seems goblin bolts and arrows were effective. Maybe a few dwarves with crossbow and axe, as shields do nothing versus webs... ahahaha who am I kidding, you'll just get another firebreathing enemy and they'll be unable to block the fireballs without shield.

Should have checked with attempt to build a statue for seals, though it doesn't discover tree holes.At least sealed the breach.
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Maximum Spin on October 12, 2017, 04:58:29 am
Wait, one thing about your previous post, which I apparently never finished reading...
Can you spot the problem here?
I don't think I understand your tileset well enough to. What was the problem?
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Immortal-D on October 12, 2017, 07:19:54 pm
Wait, one thing about your previous post, which I apparently never finished reading...
Can you spot the problem here?
I don't think I understand your tileset well enough to. What was the problem?
The triangles that you see outside are ramps, effectively the slopes of the mountain.  In the bottom of that picture, do you see how one spider appears darker and more shadowy than the others?  I constructed my bridge over a portion of the slopes, but never sealed that gap.  So when the bridge was raised, the spider was able to climb down inside the pasture.
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Maximum Spin on October 12, 2017, 08:45:48 pm
The triangles that you see outside are ramps, effectively the slopes of the mountain.  In the bottom of that picture, do you see how one spider appears darker and more shadowy than the others?  I constructed my bridge over a portion of the slopes, but never sealed that gap.  So when the bridge was raised, the spider was able to climb down inside the pasture.
Ah, so your pasture's underneath that. Okay, I see now.
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: bloop_bleep on October 12, 2017, 10:12:00 pm
Posting to watch.
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Immortal-D on October 15, 2017, 09:07:32 pm
Anvilmastered!  How crazy do you have to be to attempt a serious Megaproject, potentially months of hard work, in a region with no less than 6 hostile warring factions plus many hundreds of ravenous monstrosities & critters?  I guess we'll find out.

I finally start the new year with a spot of good news;

(https://i.imgur.com/edOiPNI.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/xW07619.jpg)
Sweet!

Alas, my new puppy is merely well-trained :(  Hopefully the next one will do better.  The forges are currently pumping out minecarts in preparation for the great strip-mining operation.  All of the initial tracks are in place, and I start reading about how to use Track Stops.  I decide to add a fourth Metalsmith's Forge, and am pleased to see a rare moment of non-stupid Dwarven cooperation.

(https://i.imgur.com/9NYE0N7.jpg)
I am a Dwarf and I'm digging a hole...

In the dead of a Winter, a vile force of darkness arrives!  Spiders ambush, so this is clearly something new.  Let's have a look.

(https://i.imgur.com/pkQAfy4.jpg)
One of these things is not like the other

Orcs, along with a squadron of Fiend Spider slaves.  I burrow the civilians and station my military at the open front gate.  We're as ready as we'll ever be.  The Orcs have other plans however, spending nearly a month just shuffling around the edge of the map.

(https://i.imgur.com/zbiXtry.gif)
This goes on for several weeks :-\

A few of the Fiend Spiders are finally sent ahead to scout.  The first barges through the doors, and literally eats the brain of a Dwarf who had been napping nearby.  This is the last thing it does, but still, I hate losing peasants due to carelessness.

(https://i.imgur.com/awu2xr1.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/K98Johu.jpg)
Note the guy with the iron battleaxe is just popping the spider's feet like bubble wrap

A couple of Orcs are then sent ahead to assess the situation.

(https://i.imgur.com/ijq6xe1.gif)
Nope! Nope nope nope

The Orc who didn't run away takes a few trap hits, and SpeciesUnknown takes it upon himself to chase the wounded Orc halfway across the map.

(https://i.imgur.com/xWG6j6r.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/mhFMEzB.gif)
*Benny Hill theme song*

SpeciesUnknown delivers a boot to the leg, decides that is sufficient, then comes back inside to get a drink.  He rejoins the rest of the militia just in time to intercept the latest scout, a named (but alone) White Tigerman.

(https://i.imgur.com/tsCTNLR.jpg)
You can tell it's him because of all the vomit

I try to entice the horde by lifting the burrow restriction.  A few civvies head outside to collect wood, and the Orcs ever so slowly advance.  My FPS is steady at 25, they are just really freaking slow.  Another Possession (of course) does give me something cool.  I'll take this as a sign that I might actually survive long enough to build a Tavern.

(https://i.imgur.com/aTpVRkg.jpg)
Nothing witty here, just a really cool flute thing.  Hope I get to see it in action

The horde has advanced to the second major forest.  Even though I know I forbid everything in that part of the map, my apprentice leathercrafter still found himself on the wrong side of an Orc.

(https://i.imgur.com/twEe60s.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/2AhFdj1.jpg)
Which begs the question; Is there a right side?

We play this dance for several months, they advance and retreat, I lift the burrow for a week, and so on.  A small family of gargoyles migrated onto my map at some point.  I only know this because of the Orc who literally fell out of the sky, landing directly in front of the main gate.  Unable to fly, the gargoyle managed to crawl into the only cage trap within like 40 tiles.

(https://i.imgur.com/q80pTNy.jpg)
You should see the other guy!

Not much to look at after tusseling with a Hammer Orc.  I'll probably use it for military training or volcano fuel.  The main force of invaders has just crested the hillside adjacent to my volcano.  At least one of them knows the better part of valor.

(https://i.imgur.com/Xr0ZmGI.jpg)
Also known as 'The Brave Sir Robin' maneuver

A few of the militia have strayed outside and caught sight of their foes.  I know there is no retreating now, and order everybody to attack.  On the slopes in front of Anvilmastered; bolts sing through the air from both sides, and combat is well and truly joined.  Say it with me now;

(https://i.imgur.com/EilbM9C.gif)
BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!

The Dwarves have killed enough Orcs to actually force a retreat!  The day is ours!! :D  I think my favorite moment goes to this brave Dwarf, one of 2 souls lost today.  He had his spine crushed when a Fiend Spider nommed on his head, and didn't let that stop him.

(https://i.imgur.com/Z9dFGAn.jpg)
Oh yeah?!  Well let's see how you like it!

Here is the aftermath.  There is so much stuff on the battlefield that I could not capture it in a picture.  "O" = dead Orc, "S" = dead Fiend Spider.  Off to the right you can see a couple of soldiers, and the remains of our second casualty.  All amidst a now literal mountain of bones, blood, and broken weapons.

(https://i.imgur.com/4Qz1PK6.gif)
Sweet Armok but that is brutal

3 of the troops got cut up pretty badly, but will make a full recovery.  One unfortunate Axe Dwarfette got her right hand bitten off by an Orc :(  I have seen Dwarves somehow manage a weapon and shield in one hand, so she might be able to keep fighting.  The first of the wounded gets dragged into bed, and his War Boar hops up on the traction bench next to him.

(https://i.imgur.com/oUfP8Sr.jpg)
For some reason, this image made me giggle for far too long

I am now in the middle of Timber (November), 261.  I really really hope that the Dwarven Caravan simply did not arrive due to an active siege.  The last caravan (year 260) was destroyed, something I didn't realize until I found a Dwarven Baroness Consort buried in my necropolis.  I order a few engravings in my dining hall.  Most notable are a depiction of our Craftdwarfship, and a rendition of the Fort's symbol that I created upon embarking.

(https://i.imgur.com/bLQ1dLa.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/dck716S.jpg)

As usual, I am afforded but a moment's respite.

(https://i.imgur.com/gWtwTmL.jpg)
It's like the world is personally angered by the thought of me having any time to build stuff

A giant humanoid with a knobby trunk and deadly spittle?  LOL  :D ...  :) ...  :-[

Titan #2 takes up residence in a stairwell next to the volcano.  I knew I shouldn't have mined out that whole section of fortifications in one go.  I sic the militia on it, and for once the fight is clean.  A few punches, then bisection via steel battleaxe.  Winter of 261 begins, and the Fiend Spiders return.   Crrraaaaap!  I really thought I would get a break this year, what with the Orc siege lasting until just a couple of months ago.  My fortification wall is not complete, which means the Spiders have a wide-open path inside.  I create a new burrow, restricting everyone to the dining hall.  This plummets my FPS to 8.

The military is stationed in the front entrance.  To my surprise, the Fiend Spiders take slaves in turn.  Several Orcs make their way to the front gate.  Fortunately, the Orcs who manage to get themselves enslaved seem to be weenies.

(https://i.imgur.com/Yyx3Pux.jpg)
REVENGE!

6 Orcs are cut down in the main hallway without a scratch to my Dwarves.  So far so good.  What the heck are the Fiend Spiders up to?  They don't have the smarts to hold back, so they should be coming right for me.

(https://i.imgur.com/v5aYYqS.jpg)
And on your right, you can see the secret volcano lair of the Dwarves.  *Ooh, ahh*

The Spiders have climbed the back stairwell leading up to my forges.  The doors are all locked, but I don't know if Fiend Spiders are building destroyers.  I dare not chase them directly though; experience has taught me that several dozen (at least) are still lurking, waiting to spring from ambush.  I have no intention of save scumming or otherwise cheating my way through this mistake.  I really hope there is going to be a next post and not merely an epitaph, cuz I need to think of something extremely clever if I am to survive here.
Insert dramatic theme music
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Fleeting Frames on October 15, 2017, 11:42:15 pm
Iron spiked flail...

Hm, it seems like it'd certainly be possible to use dfhack to boost the weight of decorated items, given weight is tracked per-item.

Not sure about edged attacks, though I know Max™ did a script to increase the attack velocity of artifacts for adventure mode.

Re:Forging carts

Strip-mining with minecarts can be fun to setup. I've built both weight shifts for almost dozen different carts as well as hatch-operated toggles on rampways to decide which quarry to haul from currently. One could theoretically combine the two to divide layers into sub-blocks.

Actual value of this is debatable, tho. At some point, one has enough haulers that it's better to use minecart tracks for walking with wheelbarrow than riding a minecart.

Re:Ambush


I wonder, does a great fiend spider crossbowman wear 7 shields?

Though seems the invaders suck at pathing. And spewing webs? It seems this wrestler had no chance to fling some.

The Ostuk should make a passable, if inferior, blunt weapon I guess, being made of metal ore.

Krimbur Spiderroar is one nice name for a coward, though.

Re:Aftermatch

The ramps make things blinky. I wonder, was that an init setting?

The Axe Dwarfette could ditch shield in favour of her very loyal boar, I guess.

The Hill Titan, for once, doesn't breathe fire. I'm a little surprised.

Re:The spidering 2

Mutual slave-taking? Unusual. Is it possible that only orcs OR spiders are item thieves?

Or maybe they aren't slaves.

Maybe they're full-blooded citizens who immgirated in or were born from immigrants. Human towns often get to be majority goblins in vanilla, and this is not because of human ethics on slaves.

Though it'd be smarter to stick together and not venture into the horror lair of doom one by one.

The spiders probably shouldn't be buildingdestroyers, given you had a group earlier who hanged out on map edge and refused to come in. Nonetheless, a stationary target is a doomed one. 
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: pikachu17 on October 20, 2017, 03:56:28 pm
PTW
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Immortal-D on October 23, 2017, 05:29:45 pm
Wow, people read this.  Or are bored.  Maybe both?  Anyways, after the last update I kept playing, because I was really curious about what exactly I was planning to do about the current crisis.  And for the first time since I started, I hard-crashed :(  On the plus side, my last save is just moments after the siege arrived.  So I didn't lose any progress per say, just time.  I am going to try redesigning the main burrow to exclude the forge area on all sides, which should significantly increase my FPS compared to locking everyone in the dining hall.

However, both TF2 and Slime Rancher received major updates recently, which is cutting into my gaming time.  The plan is to have a super long chapter posted this weekend.  Stay tuned! (assuming the current siege doesn't irrevocably cripple me, which is still a very real possibility).
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Immortal-D on November 05, 2017, 09:26:59 pm
Anvilmastered!  Updated with all the consistency of a useful Fey Mood.  When I left off, an army of Fiend Spiders has chosen the perfect time to invade; which is to say the moment that I foolishly dug out a massive fortification-hallway in one go.  They chittered their way up the stairs to my forges, where I just barely managed to lock the doors in time.  A week passes while I try to figure out something clever.  I look over the invaders, and notice that like 12 of them are all piled into a single tile next to the door.

*internal monologue*  They really want to get through... hmm.  Could I?  No.. but maybe if I'm fast?  But how fast?  Well I could move the supplies within burrow range.  But what if it does work?  Well I'll figure that out later.

(https://i.imgur.com/ANMIX5t.jpg)
Does this qualify as a Stupid Dwarf Trick?

I move a few rock blocks as far as I dare put them, then order the stairway sealed from the bottom.  ... and it works.  lulz :D  I've lost a side passage, but regained control of my Fortress by trapping 30-odd Great Fiend Spiders in said passage.  Score one for vertical building! (take that, massive 1-zed Forts).  As my inner self mentioned, I'll have to figure out a more permanent solution at some point.  For now, I'm happy simply getting my Dwarves back to work.  On that note, the greenhous has been completed for a few months now, but I don't think I ever shared it.

(https://i.imgur.com/MYDef7S.jpg)
Nestled amongst the verdant slopes of Mount Anvilmastered.  I'll figure out the actual name of this place eventually

The greenhouse is, as the name suggests, an entirely green glass structure, enclosing a huge outdoors farming area.  You can also see the green glass floor which makes the roof of my grazing pasture, and a few random Dwarves up on the hills.  My reprieve is short lived as another Fiend Spider ambush appears at the edge of the map.  Although, this does lead me to believe that their full numbers don't arrive all at once.

I wonder if what I'm actually seeing is raids by multiple Spider civs, spread out across the weeks of Winter.  It only seems like one giant raid because I usually never meet them until the very end.  Something to figure out once I have built scouting posts.  With the Forges blocked, the Spiders make a bee-line for the main hallway, fruitlessly scratching and gnawing at the heavy stone doors.

(https://i.imgur.com/uTOHezn.jpg)
I'm actually getting rather ticked off at this point

There is no way to wall them off from behind, I would almost certainly be ambushed outside.  Maybe I can finally put the volcano to use?  They are perfectly positioned under a corner.  A bit of quick digging to the other side, and I have a magma drop in place just outside the main hallway, separated only by a couple of locked doors.  Now I'm starting to feel like a Dorf.  The Fiend Spiders panic (I assume) as a steady flow of lava appears behind them.

(https://i.imgur.com/bXmiJSr.gif)
REVENGE!!

There is a leftover wooden wheelbarrow in that hallway, and I think one of the Spiders actually tried its' webbing attack.  The result is that the corridor is quickly filled with noxious smoke and delightful screams, as the spiders melt under their own boiling ichor.

(https://i.imgur.com/9g1LflM.jpg)
REVENGE!! (again)

Once the lava clears, I send my squads out to patrol.  I kid you not, every other week I receive an ambush announcement, consisting of 2-4 Spiders.  I really have aggravated the entire FS population by settling here.  Despite my best efforts, I still lose a few soldiers and 1 useful crafter.  These things are just too damn strong for normal military engagements.  For the time and resources needed to train a useful Dwarf, I'd be breaking even at a trade of 50-1.  As things stand, my Dwarves are dieing at a nearly even rate to Spiders killed, which is very quickly a losing !FUN! proposition.

One bit of intel I have ascertained after all this time is that Spiders are not fond of protracted sieges.  As I near the end of Winter, I take a chance and remove the walls blocking the back entrance to the Forges.  Thank Armok, the Spiders graciously wait for the hauler to clear out of there before scuttling down the stairs and off the map.  Anvilmastered belongs to me, for another year at least.  I sense that the Dwarves have a bit of urgency about them now; the fortification wall is completed in short order, as is the caldera I had started building nearby.  The first of hopefully many 'putting lava somewhere else because reasons' projects has begun!

(https://i.imgur.com/ST4fqgq.gif)
(https://i.imgur.com/kWibopD.jpg)

As an aside, stuff like this serves as my inspiration
Spoiler (click to show/hide)

To wrap up this chapter, here are the couple of artifacts produced.  A wooden crown named 'The Sensitive Caves', depicting a Dwarf getting destroyed by that Forest Titan.

(https://i.imgur.com/juuuH62.jpg)
Anvilmastered protest art?

The other artifact gives me a legendary blacksmith (woot!), and finally acknowledges the fact that I am a monster.  I think this is how the healing process begins.

(https://i.imgur.com/gwQX53P.jpg)
I will avenge you, I promise

With that, I begin the Spring of Year 262.  Mind you, I arrived in Spring of Year 255, just to give you an idea of how these constant sieges have forced me to accelerate my plans.  Also, Fiend Spiders are supposed to be end game, and I've been dealing with them since my second year.  So I'm actually feeling quite pleased with myself, all points considered.  And with no Orcs in sight (jinx), maybe I can actually accomplish something this year.  Here's to hoping.
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Fleeting Frames on November 05, 2017, 10:35:47 pm
Is that pet-impassable doors, do the spiders lack [CANOPENDOORS] or what?

It qualifies as trap, anyway.

Is that ichor or snow on top of greenhouse?

And about time for magma trap. Dealing 1:1 with webspammers is pretty decent, though.

I think I already suggested someone using crossbow-spear combo? Or was it axe...No, wait, I said "too many firebreathers here to ditch shields".
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: speciesunkn0wn on November 08, 2017, 10:30:05 am
Whoot! I get an awesome cloak! And really need to work on my cardio apparently...
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Immortal-D on November 26, 2017, 01:53:51 pm
I realize that writing a yearly play-by-play for a project such as this is ultimately impractical.  The fact is, I have reached the point where I get bursts of activity followed by many months of building and otherwise getting on with the business of running my Fort.  Although my FPS remains steady at 30-ish, sieges where I must keep a Burrow active drop me to 10.  Simple locked doors seem to have less effect on pathing/FPS.  So I'm taking longer to accomplish the same amount of work, which is mentally exhaustive as well.

I will do my best to put in consistent Dorf time, hopefully with enough content to make a chapter every 2-3.5 weeks.  Volcanoes were not built in a day, as it were.  With all that out of the way, please enjoy Chapter 10 of my first volcano.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Anvilmastered!  I am so sick of these ^#$**(*(@#Y!!LSDFN! Fiend Spiders >:(  I know that I have no means of building something to fully destroy them in the ~7 or so months I am allotted (yearly siege lasts 1-3 months).  I must build in pieces, slowly but surely.  To that end, I start filling a magma moat on the sides of my front gate, in an effort to limit their flanking ability.  Every year they catch a few Dorfs out in the open.  Sometimes just peasants, sometimes a skilled crafter.  Regardless, I can't afford any such losses, for the Fiend Spider civs outnumber my Dwarves by a factor of 10, at least.

(https://i.imgur.com/iThe5ld.jpg)
Is the moat supposed to be leaking?

On a lighter note, I finally got my track system working!  There isn't much to haul at this point, but once I really begin strip-mining, I will have a series of stockpiles 5 zeds apart, each feeding the one above it, with the last one connecting to a massive stockpile pipe that crosses almost 100 tiles and 15 zeds.  I look forward to capturing a few gifs of that once it is fully operational.  This will reduce my hauling time by many months, allowing the Forges to be operated nearly 24/7.

(https://i.imgur.com/wm8ZFoj.gif)
We must push little cart!

Yes, the black spot is a minecart.  I screwed up my graphics installing when I was switching between them, trying to decide which I liked :-[  The yearly fiend spider siege arrives super early, almost the first of Limestone (September).  Much to my chagrin, the Dwarven Caravan makes an appearance this year, not more than 2 weeks behind the Spiders.  They lose a few guards, but somehow sneak through the blizzard and arrive at my trade depot.  What kind of game are the Spiders playing here?

(https://i.imgur.com/JwlPImL.jpg)
Most peculiar indeed

So so very tempted to think I can unlock the doors and meet the Spiders in open combat, assisted by the caravan guards.  But history has taught me well; the few dozen I see here are but a cover for the 100+ waiting in ambush.  Focusing my attention inwards, I decide the time has finally come to reclaim my Cavern.  I assemble the military in the cramped Well Room of the hospital, just above the forgotten beast that has been napping on my pump stack this past year.

(https://i.imgur.com/wi0vyGI.gif)
Thankfully no fist fights while I await deconstruction of the wall

Since I finally remembered to set my military alert to 'Active', they have developed some impressive skill, and are all too eager to show off.

(https://i.imgur.com/Y1QR3i0.jpg)
There is the punching

(https://i.imgur.com/T0H7e4L.jpg)
The tasting

(https://i.imgur.com/FVi3cjC.jpg)
And finally, death

A few months pass, and I am incredibly surprised (yet pleased) to see the caravan pack up and leave safely.  We may not have traded anything, but at least they were able to return, which means a good chance of them coming back next year.  The liaison hangs around until after the Spiders leave, so I get to have the usual exchanges there as well.  Trading at Anvilmastered isn't a lost cause just yet.

With the Spiders gone, I resume work outside, including a renovation of my Wood Furnaces room.  To start, I order the Dwarves to construct a track that will deliver charcoal up to the forges.

(https://i.imgur.com/F8lCahu.jpg)
Up and over, yet another railway takes shape

I am finally gifted with being able to see the Dwarves' impact on the surrounding landscape; flattened and shaped to my whim, clearly unnatural compared to the mountainside around me.

(https://i.imgur.com/5KDaP3Y.jpg)
Bonus shot of the lava moat!

I have but a brief respite.  Good old fashioned Gobbos show up just as the new years turns.  And then a few more... and then some war beasts... nother ambush of a dozen due South...  umm.  Hmm.

(https://i.imgur.com/vyhvV06.jpg)
Oh dear

I burrow the civilians and position my troops behind the front doors.  A few gobbos get cut up by the traps, but once the Dwarves have sight of our enemy, there is no stopping them, so I order everyone to charge.  I tried recording some gifs, but the game kept recentering every time a new thing was discovered.  Instead, please enjoy this path of carnage that my Dwarves carved through ~2.5 times their number.

(https://i.imgur.com/mFiJGld.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/FRP17M3.jpg)

SpeciesUnknown displays all of his usual battlefield cunning and tactics.

(https://i.imgur.com/hlpDGEx.jpg)
Yeah! Barf in the face! Didn't expect that, did you?!

Bare in mind, he is like 180 years old at this point.  Nothing that goes into or comes out of that Dwarf is ever a good thing.  The military cleans house, slaying at least 80 goblins, with a half dozen managing to flee.  We even got 3 captives for our trouble, but at the loss of 3 Mace Dwarves :(  I am seriously running out of peasants at this point.  I actually increased my population cap, but the first migrant wave walked right into a Spider ambush.  Hopefully I can get some more warm bodies to fill out the ranks.  The military is dismissed and the burrow lifted.  The sheer volume of red-background letters does my heart good.

(https://i.imgur.com/UYQy0Cf.gif)
When my enemy is not a spider monster covered in the equivalent of iron plate mail, I actually do quite well for myself

With that, I get back to work on the temples, and with the use of forced burrows, finally encourage my Dwarves to finish walling off the first Cavern.  Not that I really need the trees, but it's nice to have none the less.  Plus I noticed my Well Room is down to 5-6 water depth.  I might actually have to refill it at some point, so securing access to a cavern lake is good peace of mind.  I also have a Tavern in the works (my first ever), might even be presentable for the next chapter.  Life is actually pretty good. If I can get just one or two big migrant waves, I can expand both my military and hauling labor, eventually completing several traps I have in mind to deal with the Spider menace once and for all.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And that folks, is how you build a Volcano Fortress when surrounded by unspeakable evil for literally a third of the year; slowly, methodically, with grit and determination and lots of rum.  As an aside, I am having a devil of a time getting Armok Vision to run.  If anybody happens to be running whatever version of AV is bundled with the Masterwork launcher and would like to try loading my save for screenshots, I would be super grateful.  Whenever I switch to first-person camera, I just fall through the world.
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: speciesunkn0wn on November 26, 2017, 02:48:35 pm
By Armok's blood stained beard. My dude is a badass! When he dies, whether from getting shanked or old age, can he have his stuff buried with him please? In a coffin made from his favorite material.

And can we see how many kills the military peeps have? :D
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Immortal-D on November 26, 2017, 03:17:37 pm
By Armok's blood stained beard. My dude is a badass! When he dies, whether from getting shanked or old age, can he have his stuff buried with him please? In a coffin made from his favorite material.

And can we see how many kills the military peeps have? :D
Yeah, I especially liked that shot.  Your Dwarf is surrounded by a Beak Dog, Nightmare (evil horse), and Goblin; this 167 year old Dwarf is just swinging for the bleachers at anything that moves, lol.  He gets his shin kicked out from under him, then while lying on the ground, kneecaps the Nightmare that kicked him.  A custom coffin I can do, not sure how to how to include equipment in a burial though.  Here is his kill tally and gear, including the most Conan/Skyrim/D&D awesome cloak ever made.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Keep in mind that he is basically a great-grandfather, and came to Anvilmastered with no military skills aside from being super strong (compared to the average peasant).  So to have become a Mace Lord and earned 7 kills at his age is quite impressive.  Btw, as of those pictures, he has fully recovered from having his ankle shattered by an evil horse monster, and is currently leading a striking demonstration.
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: speciesunkn0wn on November 26, 2017, 04:55:06 pm
By Armok's blood stained beard. My dude is a badass! When he dies, whether from getting shanked or old age, can he have his stuff buried with him please? In a coffin made from his favorite material.

And can we see how many kills the military peeps have? :D
Yeah, I especially liked that shot.  Your Dwarf is surrounded by a Beak Dog, Nightmare (evil horse), and Goblin; this 167 year old Dwarf is just swinging for the bleachers at anything that moves, lol.  He gets his shin kicked out from under him, then while lying on the ground, kneecaps the Nightmare that kicked him.  A custom coffin I can do, not sure how to how to include equipment in a burial though.  Here is his kill tally and gear, including the most Conan/Skyrim/D&D awesome cloak ever made.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Keep in mind that he is basically a great-grandfather, and came to Anvilmastered with no military skills aside from being super strong (compared to the average peasant).  So to have become a Mace Lord and earned 7 kills at his age is quite impressive.  Btw, as of those pictures, he has fully recovered from having his ankle shattered by an evil horse monster, and is currently leading a striking demonstration.

Make  a tomb, put a chest or two in it. Or alternatively, hand his stuff to his oldest child/grandchild and continue the legacy with Speciesunkn0wn II
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: NCommander on November 27, 2017, 03:52:36 am
For the river, pipe magma directly under it, it will thaw it and get you water. That was one of two ways to get water in 40d before caverns. It's also possible to use a cave-in; falling ice will become water but that's a fair bit trickier to pull off. You're best off breaching the volcano one Z-level below and using a pump as it will pressurize the magma and make it flow a HELL of a lot faster than letting nature run its course.
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Immortal-D on November 27, 2017, 07:38:41 pm
For the river, pipe magma directly under it, it will thaw it and get you water. That was one of two ways to get water in 40d before caverns. It's also possible to use a cave-in; falling ice will become water but that's a fair bit trickier to pull off. You're best off breaching the volcano one Z-level below and using a pump as it will pressurize the magma and make it flow a HELL of a lot faster than letting nature run its course.
Funny you should mention, that is exactly what I was planning for my first trap.  I have not attempted a completely horizontal magma breach in quite some time, so that should be interesting, especially since my Miner workforce has become even more indispensable of late; which you can see below-

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Just in case anybody missed it, you can click the images to blow them up full sized

Anvilmastered!  A.K.A '8 months of Fiend Spiders, Goblins, and Orcs, followed by a few months of doing something productive' :(  The military losses I have sustained thus far were necessary to buy me more building time for establishing defenses and infrastructure, but have drained my reserve of peasant labor.  I've received two migrant waves since that last one got eaten, and after filling all the gaps in my military (several times), I now have 41 dedicated peasants in a fortress of 140.  Mind you, the peasants are responsible for all furnace operations (smelting, including charcoal production), a lot of cooking & brewing, butchery & tanning as needed, and most importantly, hauling (raw ores, finished bars/blocks, new furniture) that makes a Fortress go round.  When you break down the amount of labor required for a Fortress of this size, the work of 41 peasants gets used up very very quickly.

I know you're thinking 'surely there must be some marginal labor you can offset?'.  Here's the breakdown;

Military: 30
Children: 25
Farming: 5
Mining: 8
Crafting-
Leather: 2
Clothing: 3
Metal: 7
Stone: 5
Glass: 1
Gems: 2

Each of these professions is barred from construction and most hauling.  Out of desperation, I recently enabled Construction & Mechanics on my Miners, and they all but single handedly built phase 1 of the current river project over the course of this year.

(https://i.imgur.com/XKnoCu1.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/FHykEft.jpg)
I offer 6 internet points to the first person who figures out what I'm doing here

I have decided that drastic action is needed.  All smelting jobs are cancelled, all refuse collection is suspended, every single item outside the Fortress is forbidden (except logs), and I have forbidden every stray ore I can find.  I really hope this will force my peasants to focus on the numerous dumping and furniture jobs.  The results of this experiment will have to wait, because a Human Diplomat has arrived!  I had given up hope of ever seeing them again.  we have the usual exchange of news, and he departs.  No more than a day later, I am ever so pleased to welcome the first Human Caravan to grace Anvilmastered in more than 5 years.  Of course after so long, they have forgotten my trade requests, which I suppose is understandable.  I once again ask that they bring me reindeer, and offer them a gift of ~12k urists worth of broken equipment and tattered clothing.  I may yet get the homemade cheese I have sought for so long.

(https://i.imgur.com/XaxnCDg.gif)
They could have so easily moved like 5 tiles to go around the massive trail of goblin & monster corpses, but no

The caravan departs, but the Liasion and his 2 bodyguards stick around, just in time for Spider season.  Anticipating them to arrive as early as possible, I usher everyone inside and close the gate, five days before Month 7.  Assorted junk goes flying, along with 1 unfortunate War Boar who bounces off the side of the mountain.

(https://i.imgur.com/HB8e66Q.jpg)
oooiiiiinnnkkkk!

Sure enough, day 3 announces an ambush, uncovered by a brave scout piglet.

(https://i.imgur.com/0RHRGKo.jpg)
R.I.P. scout pig

Normally it wouldn't be anything to write about, but this particular siege is downright bizarre.

(https://i.imgur.com/Ug8GewX.jpg)
Many of these things are not like the others

By the time the last ambushes are announced, I am looking at ~15 elite, named Great Fiend Spiders, and ~130 Human slave soldiers, completely unarmed an unarmored.  Ok, brief diversion for story time.  I once oversaw an ambitious Beach Fortress.  In the middle of year 2, I was visited by a Titan made of coral.  I had just over 100 Dwarves and only a fledgling military.  The Titan found its' way inside, and I thought the Fort was doomed as every Dwarf punched & kicked for all they were worth.  Imagine my surprise when the Titan's skull is finally shattered, leaving a mere 3 Dwarves alive.

The point of the story is, I will not underestimate the lethality of a concentrated mass of unarmed foes.  Unlike the Goblins before, these Humans do not stream in a nice line, but arrive in dangerously large, zerg-like formations.  Although their attacks will only glance off my Dwarves' armor, enough hits will transfer enough force to eventually shred muscle and crack bone.

The lava dropper I had planned for my entrance is still just a slow leak, but it is all I've got right now.  I open the gate; half a dozen Humans run inside and are cut down by the now-antiquated weapon traps.

(https://i.imgur.com/XMm2z9Z.jpg)
These weapon traps are so old, they've actually become blunt.  Brutal

I need to be careful here; once an invader reaches a door, that door is captured, and unable to lock until the siege is lifted.  Roughly 40 Humand and 10 spiders are now spilling onto the top of my pasture from the surrounding cliffs, as the first drops of lava pool above them.

(https://i.imgur.com/EPlSIY9.jpg)
Insert dramatic theme music here

I lock the doors and immediately see the Spiders start moving erratically, enraged that their Human slaves have stopped attacking.  I can work with this.  Kindof gaming the system a bit, but if I can lock & unlock the doors in bursts, I can whittle away at their numbers, eventually allowing my Dwarves to focus fire on the Fiend Spiders without being mobbed by 10 Wrestlers each.

Of course, because I am attempting to counter an invasion without sacrificing any Dwarven lives, guess who also shows up early this year?

(https://i.imgur.com/qPDVgUk.jpg)
Really?  You had to come now?  I mean... really?

Yup, that figures.  I have at most, 3 days before the Caravan is in sight of the zerg army.  I have no idea how long it will take before the lava flow even reaches the front yard, and with this many Humans remaining, the Spider Commanders mixed in with them will surely end me.  I'm thinking this must be revenge for the Stupid Dwarf Trick I pulled earlier; when the Fiend Spiders took over the back tunnel of my forges, so I simply bricked the tunnel shut until the season had passed and they were forced to leave.

Once again, I have a wholly inadequate amount of time to think of something extraordinarily clever.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A few bonus pics I didn't use;

Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Immortal-D on November 28, 2017, 09:13:37 pm
You know the old saying about if something is stupid but it works?  That's basically where I'm at now in dealing with this siege.  I'm also at 5-8 FPS due to the single greatest simultaneous concentration of miasma, smoke & flames, invaders, and body parts that I have ever encountered.  Point is, this few months of siege may very well take until the end of the week to play out.  If I survive, it will make one heck of a story at my future Tavern.
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: speciesunkn0wn on November 28, 2017, 10:34:17 pm
...I AM THE MAYOR? What am I mandating? Is it useful?

Well...free stuff from the caravan?
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Fleeting Frames on November 29, 2017, 07:47:57 am
Glorious magma! Bye, snow outside!

...part of me wishes for boots of magma. Snow is annoying, though beautiful.

*looks at the distance between spiders and depot*

That would be all but invisible in vanilla. As it is, I don't think the trades will happen this year.

...

You'll never get anything done outside if you hide from  siege each season. Thankfully, they're just gobbos.



That labour list...Do you really need five dwarves to do nothing but produce clothing items? I don't think you're using all of gem, glass and stone for trading, either.    

I'd still want to have all of them, of course, but I imagine some of them sit idle most of the time. Idlers: 11 is not high, but its something.

You can probably optimize away bar hauling. Did you know magma workshops and furnace edge tiles can overlap a stair or ramp when building? ....Oh, you already cancelled all smelting jobs.

Though...Only five actual spiders in the siege?

That seems low and relatively safe, if there's safe with "shoots webs".

...Okay, 15 is more than that. But still, it is indeed odd.

And yeah, it seems force transfer ignores armor, making bare-handed attacks ten times deadlier.



...Hello reindeers. Hope you enjoy being burned to death. Though, hm...It seems every opening to the great hall also has doors. You could let set the siege inside, and then raise the entrance bridge to prevent access to the depot.

(Though weren't spiders buildingdestroyers?)
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Immortal-D on December 17, 2017, 12:24:20 am
...I AM THE MAYOR? What am I mandating? Is it useful?

Well...free stuff from the caravan?
This Fortress has the most mayoral changes I have ever encountered.  Like, there's 3 or 4 Dorfs jockeying for position (plus you now), and each one lasts at most 2 years, lol.  Rather annoying when I have to keep finding the old room of the new Mayor and unassigning so he stays in the mayor's suite.

You'll never get anything done outside if you hide from  siege each season. Thankfully, they're just gobbos.
If the siege were standard enemies, I would charge out there.  But Fiend Spiders don't play fair, and I just don't have the numbers to take them in a straight fight.  So I hide and use stupid Dwarf tricks until I can build a permanent solution.

Quote
That labour list...Do you really need five dwarves to do nothing but produce clothing items? I don't think you're using all of gem, glass and stone for trading, either.
It's only 3; Weaver, Clothier, backup.  They were all naturally talented migrants, seemed a shame to waste them.

Quote
I'd still want to have all of them, of course, but I imagine some of them sit idle most of the time. Idlers: 11 is not high, but its something.
The idlers in that shot are due to the burrow.  Normally I have 2 at most, and that's just when the Miners are getting drunk before their next job.

Quote
(Though weren't spiders buildingdestroyers?)
Nope, a sturdy stone door is enough to deter them, thankfully.  If they could smash doors like Ogres, this story would have ended after the first siege, lol.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Anvilmastered!  You try updating consistently when sieges last more than half a year and drop your fps into the single digits :P  When we last left off, I was about to do something incredibly clever in order to save the Dwarven caravan.

....

Any minute now....

Wait a tick.  The War Boar!! Of course.  I unlock the front doors, and set my drawbridge to open/close at ~20 second intervals.

(https://i.imgur.com/APraact.gif)
Blink and you'll miss it

(https://i.imgur.com/EwKPX6u.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/m7pxc6X.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/r9JGprK.jpg)
Bwahahah

Each time the drawbridge snaps shut, I order the military to advance.  With the enemy now having even numbers and collision-related injuries, the Dwarves easily cut down their foes.

(https://i.imgur.com/4Q1vGFt.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/BGHlD7z.jpg)
Aw yeah, look at all that beautiful blue text

Commander SpeciesUnkn0wn remains incredibly agile for a Dwarf his age.  He carves a path through the Human soldiers, and even kneecaps a couple of Fiend Spiders along the way.

(https://i.imgur.com/fsRAuEN.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/YH0ZpTD.jpg)
I like how he falls over every time.  This great-grandfather of a Dorf, just swinging as hard as he can at anything that moves

Things are going well, right up until I receive a message about a vile force of darkness.  I don't even bother checking, I know exactly where the Goblins are attacking.

(https://i.imgur.com/hc80Yh2.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/jFnLlmL.jpg)
Sigh :(

The Caravan's guards manage to route the Goblin force, but immediately turn tail themselves, of course.  Well, at least now I'm not in a hurry.  Probably for the best too; every few seconds I receive an ambush announcement, which means 8-10 more slave soldiers, plus a couple of spiders.  My unit count tops 300 now :o  Even subtracting out a few dozen critters, I'm still facing at least 280 invaders.  There are so many, they are actually starting to overwhelm my bridge trick.

(https://i.imgur.com/u0FVByr.jpg)
Charging the front gate
(https://i.imgur.com/AXwwh97.jpg)
Overview of their rear guard
(https://i.imgur.com/ejX8KtR.jpg)
... I might be in trouble here

As bolts start flying, a few brave Dorfs make the first push into the physical cloud of death that is front lines.

(https://i.imgur.com/DzqvJk0.gif)
Sweet jeebus but that is a lot of body parts

The lava flow continues to encroach, just as I start to realize that I'm overdue for a bridge closing.  Naturally, a miner at the top of the volcano has picked up the Pull Lever job.  The Human soldiers are starting to group up now, emboldened by finally having their Spider masters alongside them.  The Dwarves fight hard, but the pawns are actually managing to remove their armor a piece at a time.  The lever is finally pulled, and the enemy's advance has stalled due to the lava finally reaching them.  The Dwarves put an end to the stragglers, but not without loss.

(https://i.imgur.com/aWw4xP1.jpg)
Nnnooooo! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWaLxFIVX1s)

The last invaders inside the Fortress have fallen, and that seems to be all the enemy is willing to take.  In the face of Dwarven bravery (and a not-inconsiderate amount of lava), they finally retreat.

(https://i.imgur.com/Mdf3JvA.jpg])
The day is ours

The Baron's tomb is repurposed, the original statues removed in favor of something more fitting.

(https://i.imgur.com/0M2YONO.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/vo9dT1F.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/c480PGQ.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/DVxfqSM.jpg)

Anvilmastered endures, but half my melee fighters lay dead or crippled :'(  I fear that even the projects I am working on now will not be sufficient.  I need something grander.  The spiders, despite their size, are able to nimbly skirt across any trap-trigger I might build.  I need to beat them at their own game.  I need webbing, and that means digging deep.  Auto-save alerts me to the fact that it's only the start of month 10, so I have a bit more time than usual.  I hope it's enough; there is a very real possibility that if I can't save a migrant wave in the next couple of years, they might stop coming.  As Winter turns to Spring, I begin Year 9 of my first volcano.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Woo!  Just a glorified siege report I know, but I had fun with this one :)  You may have noticed a lack of lava moat.  An obsidian boulder got lodged in the floodgate at some point; I had to use a Fortress-wide bucket brigade to plug the lava flow.  Then dig an up-ramp to drop the boulder and reconnect the floodgate.  The moat is slowly filling again, and I even started moving lava towards the river.  The Miners are now all focused on finding the other cavern layers, in the hopes of capturing a GCS.  If I can get my own source of webbing, the Spider's days are numbered.  And if I can't... well, I'll burn that bridge when I get to it.
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: speciesunkn0wn on December 17, 2017, 08:45:35 am
NNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

Does Speciesunkn0wn have any kids in the fort? If he does, hand his stuff over to that person/save it until the kid is old enough to use it.
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Immortal-D on December 25, 2017, 06:24:22 pm
Greetings followers!  The long weekend has allowed me to make decent progress.  The fact that my enemies seemed to have switched to scouting parties helped as well.  I have not received a back-to-back Caravan from any civ for many years.  But this year, the Dwarves made it safely, and even found a path that allowed them to bring a pair of wagons (I'll get them a road eventually).  I dared not hope, but still had to peak...  it's a Hanukkah miracle!

Click to enlarge
(https://i.imgur.com/sjwUwWn.jpg)

*sniffle* It's so beautiful!!  :D :-*  Could it that my (one of many) great vendettas has been resolved?  Now taking bets on what kills my reindeer this time :-\
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: speciesunkn0wn on December 25, 2017, 09:20:48 pm
I bet either the spiders or a magma leak kills them.
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Immortal-D on June 28, 2018, 09:00:56 pm
Wow, talk about a Necro.  With 44.11 upon us and stable, I thought it only fitting that I give Zunkirton a proper sendoff.  I actually had most of my stuff saved for the next chapter, but the time and effort needed due to FPS loss drained my interest extra fast.  In my foolish eagerness, I made this site something like 6x5.  I have several floors of a massive silo filled to the brim with ores & gems, and have barely touched all the available deposits.  I also learned the Great Fiend Spiders are far more !FUN! than I cared to have, especially when I set my invader count at 200+.  With a single year taking hours at least, all major projects have come to a standstill.  With that, please enjoy the final recap of Anvilmastered.

We'll start with local centenarian hero, SpeciesUnknown.  At the ripe old age of 186, he fell defending the Fortress from Fiend Spiders and their human slaves.  Not only was he a mighty militia commander, he was also a grieving father & dabbling author.  This Dorf's history is insane.  I looked up his family, and all died before he was 60, barely middle-aged for a Dwarf.  This only lists historical kills, but we know he had a ton more.  RIP :(

(https://i.imgur.com/2esLIBC.jpg)
(https://imgur.com/GyKjsTT.jpg)
(https://imgur.com/gIwutwP.jpg)
Truly a legend amongst Dwarves.  At least his super badass artifact cloak won't go to waste

Next, my assorted projects; some kindof done, others finished but poorly.  An arena built in the center of the tavern, waiting to be filled with lava (it stops being magma once it's above ground).

(https://i.imgur.com/MWDHcPW.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/NfayWCG.jpg)
Quite the view for visitors, if I ever got this place cleaned up properly

You remember the river that I've been kavetching about since day one?  I finally brought it under heel.

(https://i.imgur.com/VW7ykT5.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/8iBInLB.jpg)
The spice filthy canyon water must flow!

Sadly, I never got to use it in a freezing trap, though I had the first one kinda built.  Several lures on platforms, protected from the cold by bridges on all sides.  Invaders go after the bait, bridges go down, instant ice cubes.  Maybe in the next frozen wasteland I venture to.  On a lighter note, I did manage to cap the volcano in appropriate fashion.

(https://i.imgur.com/b055aY8.jpg)
This is a vertical pixel art of a Dorf & ladders.  His skin is iron blocks, his hair is obsidian blocks, his teeth is gold blocks, his eyes are candy.  The Dorf is obscured by the scaffolding.

I just remembered another reason I gave up on this Fortress.  After years of work breeding an army of Giant Coyotes (as is a appropriate for a volcano like this), I discovered they can't be war trained :(  Furthermore, you can't assign an animal that is not war or hunting trained.  So I let them all loose, and they immediately wandered downstairs and got in the way of my giant minecart operation.  Those black ovals are minecarts, because I screwed up my graphics early on.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Speaking of which, I'm actually quite pleased with myself on the minecart front.  Here we see the first layer of my silo, right next to the forges with a clear glass window section for eventually dropping guests.  I want my smithys to be entertained while they work, after all.

(https://i.imgur.com/rerEyTB.jpg)
The proverbial heart of Anvilmastered.  Also the literal one, if you're superstitious about volcanoes

Those tracks on the left lead outside, across the top of my barf-covered greenhouse (outdoor plants), and down to the wood furnaces.  Charcoal is shipped directly to a loading dock near the forges.  No more trekking a single charcoal halfway across and up the fort.

(https://i.imgur.com/kLRctBD.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/kfB0lVR.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/62kOD91.jpg)
Surprisingly efficient, all points considered

Looking through my archives, I vaguely recall having an elven siege at some point, consisting of like a dozen elves, and hundreds of ferocious parrots (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kakapo) & camels.

(https://i.imgur.com/zuVDVsk.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/X8hQ9NC.jpg)
I'm sure this would be terrifying in real life.  Anyone ever see 'The Birds' by Alfred Hitchcock?  Really great movie, you should check it out

Here are the elves and their bird/camel army going to town on a couple of Fiend Spiders :D

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

So there we have it.  A half finished maze of a volcano, located squarely on the frozen peak of the world.  Just a few tiles further east and I might have had perpetual sunshine, useful coyotes, and a functional river.  Well, maybe next time.  Of course, I couldn't leave off without seeing my arena in action, even if no bards are around to bare witness.  This is the view that visitors would have been treated to.  Say it with me now...

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

A few pages of combat logs.  Just a good old-fashioned free for all.

(https://i.imgur.com/FqcHzbv.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/cKtojcs.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/MbEWZvj.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/lSuoVix.jpg)
I actually saw that Gnome's blood spray all over the War Jaguar as it started to wrestle with a Troll, lol.  Good times

I consider myself an experienced player, yet Anvilmastered still taught me quite a lot.  About embark sizes, checking the wiki of war animals before starting a breeding program, and the futility of reindeer; whose cheese is forever beyond my grasp.  Still though, this was by far my favorite volcano ever.  Until next time :)
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Fleeting Frames on June 30, 2018, 02:55:02 am
6x5? Yeah, seen fortress given up ue that. My fifth fort (first serious one) was 5x3, and I gave up on it when fps hit 33-40 and dwarves hit over 100+visitors (nowadays I'm a fair bit more tolerant of low fps).

You could possibly shrink the site  with dfhack. Did attempt something like that here (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=167688.msg7584212#msg7584212), but I knew I didn't do it properly and it was very buggy.


Hm, reading it, the dwarf you nicknamed 'Speciesunkn0wn' lived his life's years 179-186. Dwarves' maxage is 150-170.

Oh, and he used to call a succubus 'master'. Who didn't want him to become a master of others. (note, bug: says "In 210, midautumn, (8th of Sandstone), `Speciesunkn0wn` cease being the master of the succubus Punde Freshfragrance." - should be other way around.

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


Hm, I now recognize some of those tiles.

anyway, I'd be worried about climbing out.

Though, that arena gives me an idea: use a minecart to store all your corpses and stuff in 1 tile near tavern+temple, sealed by a lever-operated bridge. Withdraw your people by civilian alerts. Pull the lever. Watch the visitors go mad and topple statues. Realize you've now lost tavern to berserk vampires and werebeasts. Wonder why you did this.

Partially frozen river? Multiple biomes, I assume...This could act as water or ice farm.


Players in 44.10: "The dwarves are too mentally fragile, they go insane at seeing dead bodies."

Also player: "Here we see the first layer of my silo, right next to the forges with a clear glass window section for eventually dropping guests. "

I think I'd tantrum, and I'm pretty calm myself.

Charcoal is quite good thing to move by minecarts, though, since 83 fit into a cart. Though I'd be worried about giant fiend spiders, traffic accidents, and giant fiend spiders causing traffic accidents.

(I'd also use alternating acceleration ramps to move it at 1 step/tile where possible, but that's par for the course.)



Are flying parrots as bad as flying keas fo vengeful thoughts? (though I'd be more worried about the cloven feet of buffalos)

Hope you have better reindeer next time, heh.*hugs reindeer bone cabinet military trains around*
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Immortal-D on June 30, 2018, 06:56:32 pm
This was several versions before Stress was introduced, so various forms of public executions were a great idea at the time.  Both the Forge & Tavern windows connected to the ceiling, no risk of an outbreak there.  As for War Birds; yes, Giant Great Horned Owls caused all manner of havoc.  They weren't even all that deadly, but they would fly over my squads, down into the relative safety of the Dining Hall, which went about as well as you'd expect.

The Charcoal transportation featured gates on both ends.  I would have made it indoors, but creating enough room would have disturbed the aesthetic of the Fortress.  These pictures are a few levels above the main warehouse floor (yet another partially finished project).

Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: My first volcano
Post by: Fleeting Frames on July 01, 2018, 10:45:31 am
Suspiciously little minecarts in these pictures. Though giant stockpiles full of items have certain oomph.

I'm not sure what you're storing, some kind of boxes? Are those supposed to be bins?