Bay 12 Games Forum

It seems that in this new version there is the possibility to influence your dwarf's beliefs through reading.  From the devlog-

Dwarves read books in the library (they don't need to be scholars)
Values can be passed in writing and through adventure mode arguments

According to the wiki entry for philosophy http://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/DF2014:Topic#Philosophy-

Writers can push value "agendas" if they are skilled enough.  Description format: The [worthlessness | value | nature] of [belief] The specific view that a philosopher takes on, say, the nature of beauty or methods of education will depend on their individual/cultural values, where they apply, and a philosopher that encounters a philosophy book on beauty can then provide their own take (having acquired the innovation).

Looking at the wiki entry for beliefs http://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/DF2014:Personality_trait#Beliefs  there are a few that stand out as value agendas that would be good to promote like hard work, martial prowess and stoicism. 

It seems that the personal values of your philosophers and visiting philosophers could have a serious effect on your civilization.  You wouldn't want a philosopher who "finds the proposition that one should work hard in life utterly abhorrent" to write the book called The Worthlessness of Hard Work.  It might seriously effect productivity in your fort.

I'm going to try to do some Science on this in my new fort by  starting a number of my settlers with high Critical thinker skills.  Once I get my fort up and stable I may switch to adventurer mode and visit my fort to argue with my philosophers to see if I can introduce values that way.

A few questions I have-
Are all dwarfs capable of reading?
Is there a way to entice dwarfs to read in a library?
Is there a way to develop the Critical Thinking skill?
Is there a way to limit what books are in a library?

I hope metal alloys will be tied to chemistry.  This would have a big effect on world gen.  We would have a copper age, bronze and steel age.  I'm not sure if weapons and armor factor in to how wars are calculated but if that is the case, or becomes the case, the first civ to get bronze production up and running would be able to conquer a large part of the map.

I have a library in a forest retreat.  Humans conquered it in 104 and a few years later they built the library.  All three of my other libraries are in fortresses.  One of the fortresses was destroyed by a Titan. I'm going to have to check it out to see if there are any books still there.

I was really really really hoping for more sieges.  Honestly, they are such a big part of the fun of this game - was the "path" system really necessary?   I dont need *that* much realism :/

I think it is necessary in the long term if we want our fortresses to interact with the outside world in a meaningful way.  They say that when DF is complete it will contain every type of game ever made.  I for one, can't wait to do an EU4 style world conquest in DF.  The path system paves the way for that and other options like expanded trade. 

Thanks for the suggestions.  I like this idea of collecting bodyguards by busting a groove   How realistic do you thing it would be to collect a fighting dance troupe that could take out a tower?  Is there anyway to get in to a tower without fighting?  I thought I recall a thread mentioning that the undead wouldn't attack vampires or were-creatures? 

There was a common belief in western polytheistic religions that the tribal god lived in the temple that the tribe built for the god.  Biblical scholar Margret Baker's books The Great Angel and Temple Theology are good introductions to this belief system although they largely focuses on her theories about early Judaism.  I think that this could be a great religious mechanic for Dwarf Fortress.  Here is how I imagine it could work.

• Temples would have to be built according to strict specifications in order to successfully attract the god
• A high priest would have to be trained in order to attract a god
• Once the god inhabited the temple certain benefits would result i.e. evil biomes would no longer reanimate
• The god would place restrictions on fort activities similar to nobles
• The god would demand regular sacrifices
• The god would demand festivals to be held in his honor
• Only the high priest would be allowed to enter the naus (living place of the god) of the temple; any other dwarf would die if they looked at the god
• The god would abandon the temple if his requirements were not met or if his restrictions were violated to often
• Abandonment of a temple by a god would result in fun for the fortress

I think this could be an interesting religious mechanic that would fit in well with current and planned (festivals) mechanics.  It could also be expanded upon if mechanics like religious factions were implemented.  Additionally it would open up some interesting possibilities in adventure mode.