Bay 12 Games Forum

There's lots of types of AI for games, but based on your example and context I assume you mean specifically a deep-learning chat bot. There are some huge barriers.

Data-set: The reason Chat-GPT talks so realistically is because it has a massive database of transcribed dialogue, novels, and articles to learn the patterns of. If you want to make an immersive Dwarf Fortress chat bot, you would need a separate Dwarf Fortress data-set for every part of generation except grammar. Just creating enough of that data alone is a head-ache, So Tarn gotta write a couple Dwarf Fortress novels at minimum. This is made extra difficult by Dwarf Fortress having generative per-world lore, instead of game lore, so you have to set up a sorta Mad-Libs style system for history, places, and things.

Integration: Even if you get a DF Chat Bot perfectly staying in character and in world, you need a separate AI interpreter to actually make things happen according to the chat. For example, if you only had a chat bot and a representative of the humans said "We are declaring war on your civilization!" no war would happen. So you need to train a separate AI to translate text back into gameplay.

Offline: Chat bots are not nearly as optimized as txt-to-image diffusion yet, and you need a very strong computer to run it. DF is also a CPU heavy game. So the only real solution is to stream the chat bot. Even if you could easily deal with the logistics of running that server, it would force anyone using the feature to play online which would inconvenience everyone.

That said, there are lots of ways AI can be improved in DF that do not involve machine learning models. Invader AI can be improved by trying to break into doors, setting up their own traps outside, and having various battle formations / siege weapons. We can add diplomacy meetings with the classic multiple choice scripted style. Let's not get over our head and just focus on perfecting AI in the realm of programming before we jump to machine learning.

LOL volunteering someone else to work. Mark is definitely aware of Dwarf Fortress, and if he was interested in joining the DF team I'm sure he would take initiative to reach out himself.

Ah yes, I too was thinking a similar thing of wanting to fire dwarves out of catapults. I think it would be really cool if you could craft parachutes for your military and airdrop your dwarves into the enemy, but I suppose even though they have the material to make it, historically speaking Dwarves wouldn't have parachute technology

Improved sieges are on the development list.

Siege engines like the catapult are just defensive tools against sieges. I think by "improved sieges" they are referring to increasing the ability for enemy sieges to breach your defenses. Yes catapults may improve the siege experience, but catapult changes are not mentioned in the improved sieges section.

Blowguns with a few reworks could be an interesting addition to the Dwarven arsenal.

Blowguns and blowdarts are made craftable. Wooden and bone blowguns can be made at the bowyer's workshop using the bowyer skill, metal blowguns are made at the metalsmith's forge using the weaponsmith skill. Wooden and bone blowdarts are crafted at the craftsdwarf's workshop with their respective skills, and metal blowdarts are crafted at the metalsmith's forge. Blowdarts are crafted in stack batches of 40, opposed to bolts which are crafted in batches of 25, making them more resource efficient.

The bowyer's workshop gets the new task Apply venom to blowdarts, which will take a 20 blowdarts and apply them all with the effects of one glass vial of venom. This would make blowguns in some cases compete with crossbows, but venom is too inaccessible. So the farmer's workshop gets the new task Milk venom from animal which will send a dwarf to extract venom from a living caged venom-producing creature using a glass vial without killing the creature, creating a renewable source for venom. The venom-milker skill is important because similar to gelding, a low-skill venom milker may sustain injuries during the venom-milking process potentially making it the most dangerous workshop task. Best to train dwarves by starting them milking weak venom animals and moving up to stronger venom when they become skilled if possible.

Venom application to weapons should be limited to blowdarts to maintain balance. Logically this is also explained through venom mostly dripping off weapons, whereas darts have a special compartment and channel to deliver venom effectively. Also certain creatures like lizardmen should be immune to venom. Blowguns and blowdarts can also be used in weapon traps.

I agree with the suggestions and have been thinking about a similar thing recently. Here's a couple tweaks / add-ons I thought of:

2) In the barracks settings, add the ability to toggle civilian training and gear storing.
3) Quick squad, add the ability to paint over a group of Dwarves to automatically create a squad, mostly useful in emergencies.