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DF Gameplay Questions / How can I develop a good military?
« on: August 19, 2012, 11:04:35 am »
I'm pretty new, on my third fortress. First game I got wiped out by a siege. Second by an ambush. I decided the third I'd survive longer. When I hit one of the first migrant waves, I created a military squad. Started them training, no big deal. They trained for some time, as more migrants appeared, I added members to the squad. Finally, a goblin squad appeared. Haha I thought, I've been preparing for this for some time. There was only ~3 of them, macemen. Sent my nine dwarves up to meet them. It was a slaughter, no dwarves survived and all the goblins did. They are now rampaging around, game over.
So few questions:
I was using dwarf therapist, the training dwarves never seemed to increase in military skill level, why? They had no other jobs and I saw them training. The squad was active and training was their only order. Had a min of 4 out of 9 squad members.
I keep reading that they are supposed to pick up gear on their own, but they never seemed to. I had to assign them weapons, and I can only assume they didn't have armor. I was buying crappy stuff from traders, but it was there nonetheless. How can I make them do that without doing the pick specific item all the time?
Other random questions:
What z level does metal generally occur on? I can't seem to find any. What about with shallow metals? I'm on 15, no sign of anything.
How in the world do I build ramps (up). I select build ramp. My walls start flashing green. But no matter what I do, I can't seem to actually build the ramp anywhere. Not next to the wall, not on top of the wall.
Thanks all, off to reclaim my fortress.
So few questions:
I was using dwarf therapist, the training dwarves never seemed to increase in military skill level, why? They had no other jobs and I saw them training. The squad was active and training was their only order. Had a min of 4 out of 9 squad members.
I keep reading that they are supposed to pick up gear on their own, but they never seemed to. I had to assign them weapons, and I can only assume they didn't have armor. I was buying crappy stuff from traders, but it was there nonetheless. How can I make them do that without doing the pick specific item all the time?
Other random questions:
What z level does metal generally occur on? I can't seem to find any. What about with shallow metals? I'm on 15, no sign of anything.
How in the world do I build ramps (up). I select build ramp. My walls start flashing green. But no matter what I do, I can't seem to actually build the ramp anywhere. Not next to the wall, not on top of the wall.
Thanks all, off to reclaim my fortress.