Those tools are purchased from the embark points pool. Adding mining skill to another Dwarf doesn't automatically add another pick to the equipment.
And adding mining skill doesn't automatically mean you own a pick. Even at the best we can start with, you're still only Proficient in a skill. Many people are proficient in skills that they don't own the tools to practice that skill in the real world today. Most of those tools are provided by your employer.
Deliver pizzas or newspapers? Do you own a high quality, or, well, any quality bag that you personally use to make those deliveries?
Run a cash register? Is that your POS device? Or is provided for you? Your computer at work, or school as the case may be, those tools belong to your employers, even the pens you use to write with.
Unless you are at the very LEAST,
proficient, in your field, you wouldn't own the tools. Just be
proficient enough to use them without puting your eye out. Usually...
My personal opinion is that there is nothing wrong with the embark system, especially since you can give yourself more points, and after you've played for a while you'll find it's not *quite* as difficult to start with just a pick and make a thriving fortress. The social idea however... concerning your dwarves having relatives makes a good amount of sense.
Also, carrying one's favorite mug with you across umpteen thousands of leagues to get to this god forsaken hell hole that you end up in wouldn't be as popular an idea as time went on. Perhaps, as the game suggests, these were merely the supplies you have left.
-Your mug broke when you didn't put it up at night and the stray hunting dog decided to knock it off the barrel you clumsily, drunkenly, left it on.
-Your pick broke when you decided to use it to pry the wheel out from the mud four hundred leagues back when you were traveling through the terrifying swampland haunted by spirits. You, being only dabbling in skill didn't realize it shouldn't be used as a lever, and were kinda focusing on getting the hell on to the 'Promised Land.'
-Your prized golden puzzle box that your rich daddy gave you 'for your trip'? You traded that to an elf two months back for some fur mocassins, which you ended up tearing three weeks later due to them not being sized for your feet. But your feet were warm for those three weeks...
-The packed ham and cheese and bread... never had a chance.
-The Finest barrel of scotch you had stored up? Opened before you ever left as celebration. The less you bring the less your carry right?
-That bloke next to you? He was wearing cuffs on his feet for the first three towns you
prudently avoided.
DFHack lets you easily set the embark points and # of dwarves you begin with if you want to go that route. Do it, we all have, or will if we continue to play. Just to try things out.
