Bay 12 Games Forum

Well, not only couldn't I figure out how to post the image, I don't know how to edit a post.

This is the link to the pic I wanted: http://img248.imageshack.us/my.php?image=df1dm4.jpg

It's just some dead goblins.

The first goblin siege for my current fort came in early autumn 1055, the same time as the dwarven caravan. I had plenty of traps but only two non-guard military dwarves. I set the orders for ignore wood and outdoor refuse, and soldiers only to go outside. I set the better fortress guards to regular military duties and stationed a small squad of marksdwarves and other of swordsdwarves behind the front gate traps. I figured the caravan guards would kill most of the goblins. There were about 10 invaders and only one with a bow. I figured at worst I'd have a casualty or two.

Well, the swordsdwarves showed up but only one of the marksdwarves. I went looking via the unit list and found Athel the marksdwarf taking on the goblins by the end of the road. He won.

He was equipped with his old (iron crossbow) and bronze bolts. His skill level was professional. I deactivated him when he ran out of ammo, but the goblins were broken and fleeing by then.

I like the idea of being able to affect migration. Out of the ideas I've read here, I best like requiring a noble and requiring a military. I don't know which noble should be responsible, but many of them could use fleshing out. I think it's a good idea to tie it to having military dwarves because it makes sense and encourages having a military. Seems a lot of players get by without one.

I'd prefer it was macro-managed, though. Picking out individual dwarves seems contrary to the spirit of the game.

I think something similar to the settings in Tropico would work. IIRC, they were open door, closed door, and skilled workers welcome. The first two are self-explanatory, the last was you got fewer migrants but they were more likely to be educated. Of course, in dwarf fortress, skills aren't always what you want, so maybe a setting to encourage peasants to migrate, maybe call it "huddled masses".

Also, it would be nice if you could request particular skills from the dwarven city representative-- for a price. As it is all you can ask for is an anvil, seeds, and I forget the other one. A bit skimpy.

Greetings.

First off, great game. I actually took a day off from work so I could have more time to play.

I went to check the development page to see what other suggestions have been made already but I gave up after browsing around a little. Maybe that should be my first suggestion: an index for the development page. Does it have a search feature?

But my real suggestion is to add medical professions. I've read a few posts now where people have mentioned that how dwarves heal up is less than ideal, and I tend to agree. I'd like to be able to do more than decide to lock up hopeless cases.

So, my idea is two new skills, surgeon and physician. Dwarf surgeons would amputate mangled limbs, dwarf physicians would be of little practical use in curing anything but their visits to injured dwarves would inspire a positive thought. Possibly visits from either or both types would impact the time spent healing, depending on practitioner skill. Surgury attempted by a dabbler could kill the patient, too. Obviously, getting a limb cut off or undergoing another operation while conscious and without any pain killer beyond alcohol would inspire unhappiness, so the physician balances the surgeon.

Another possibility is prosthetic limbs, which would, you'd think, be made of wood, but given that this is a fantasy game could be forged. Sounds sort of cool. I don't think they should be as effective-- as in better than natural limbs-- as they are in IVAN, if you know that game.

Also, after the dwarven economy starts, dwarves could spend money visiting healers for services physicians and surgeons historically provided-- bloodletting, cupping, tooth removal, etc. I suppose shaving is out in this case. This could be a safer way to raise skill levels.

I suppose this is a good example of what's called bloat, but I was rather taken with the idea. Apologies if there's already a better plan in place to deal with the healing problem.