Bay 12 Games Forum

Heh, well, I've read this thread a few times before I decided to take on the Ender goblin challenge. I'm no modder but I'll be posting what I've learned. I took version 40d and put in the enger goblins (with gear because if I kill one I'm surely taking his gear) before the world gen. I started my fortress at year 200 so that there was a chance other civ's would have survived. I also took a look at a few things. The enders now have a damblock of 50. They're also flying building destroyers. They can't be stunned, give in to pain, don't need to breathe, don't bleed and a bunch of other nasty stuff which makes most weapons useless against them. The only chance of truly doing damage is supposedly with adamantine weapons or perhaps an artifact steel one. The weapons also should preferrably be high quality.

Now, the first task is simply surviving in an ender world. Which means you need a fortress that ideally can prevent access for them while letting you get out for fresh air if possible.

My first difficulties lay in that apparently despite their racial tags... Enders have merchants.



Obviously I had to reload and tear down my trading Depot before the merchants came.

But it does have it's benefits. It gives me 'friendly' units to test my defenses on.

I've found that even flying building destroyers can't cross a lava moat if there is a closed floodgate on the other side. I'm not positive and I still need to test this but I suspect that they need to be standing on solid ground for the building destroyer tag to function. I'll be checking this out soon enough. It's either that or it's something more basic that I've read about that prevents even flying units from pathing somewhere where ground units cannot path. In any case, a retractable bridge, floodgate, lavamoat combo seems to do the trick and my fortress is now safe from unwanted intrusion. I suspect if it's the latter that it would work with a water-filled moat as well, even though technically enders can survive just fine underwater. Keep in mind that the entire fortress is underground. Deep underground.

Fortuitously for me one of the ender goblin merchants went beserk and rampaged almost every living thing on the surface before finding the last group of troglodytes in the bottomless pit where he remains. With him there no more goblin merchants have come, finally allowing me to trade with the other races.

Now, I know adamantine weapons work on enders since I managed to kill one on a test run with them, but I didn't take screen shots or anything so I'll post more once I get another confirmed kill. My goal is still to take out an Ender goblin siege and I've got a variety of death-traps to do it with. Unfortunately, one I came up with involved the use of dumping water on them from a storage tank above an open maze and having it freeze with them in it. That requires a freezing biome which I'm not in. The other possibility with that, should the water freeze instantly upon leaving the holding tank was to simply use it to crush them beneath a huge ice-cube, but again, no freezing. My other attempts to test things out can only continue now once I've killed off the merchant and I'm still undergoing training and whatnot. I capped my initial population at 14 for the first 6 years to get my fortress running, then capped it at 25 for the next few to get a strong military base. Now I'll begin ramping up to 80 so I can get sieges here. Wish me luck!

Oh, you mean modded, sentient, trainable, glowing cats that provide you with all the security you'll ever need?

Did they have wings?

If you want to make this quick and interesting try Legendary Lands mod by Capt'n Mayday and the Better goblin mod with Ender goblins.

22nd of Moonstone

Apparently Urvad herself has found a solution for my boredom. She visited me today to make a request. Apparently her youngest, little Paulus, has finally grown up to be a child and rather than letting him run around completely scott-free and pick his own work she asked me to 'tutor' him as it were. She'd discussed it with a few of the other mothers around here who had children that wanted to learn and so now I periodically hold meetings with just over half a dozen kids. It should certainly be interesting.

Right off the bat one of them asked me if I would be teaching them anything about fighting goblins. I suspected that that was one of Nish's children, they bear a strong resemblance to their father. Since I didn't have a well thought out lesson plan yet I simply told them what I expected of them, which involved them thinking about the questions I asked and being observant of things around them. Their first assignment was to see thing from someone or something else's perspective. We'll see what happens when I meet with them next. I should be ready for them by then. May Kashez the Velvety incence have mercy on me.

28th of Timber

Bembul came in to visit me again today, wringing his hands as he came. He's anxious to make sure that the Queen and King Consort are situated well in their rooms, and he's the one now that has to listen to them when they complain that it's not up to snuff yet. The Queen insisted on five cabinets in their rooms, and as we had none of any quality, Bembul had put five in there as a temporary measure while he had others made that were better. Only one of the obsidian cabinets was truly masterful, and though the silver ones were not as good, they were prettier and would likely please the royalty more. Of course, they were still in the special crafts shop having the final touches and decorations added to them.

Bembul told me that the pair of platinum statues of the Queen and King were finally finished, that they looked magnificent. Our gemsetters had done a good job covering up minor flaws in the metalwork itself and the result was two very aestetically pleasing statues. Worth nearly ten thousand ingot each. Lord Rovod had done all the metalsmithing and done a fine job of it, but Bembul was still concerned that they wouldn't be liked, or up to snuff. I assured him they'd be fine. And if more was needed for the Queen's chambers then it could be taken care of later. The cabinets for example would still take some time, but since every other piece of furniture in there, with the exception of the silver statues of our champions which were fitted with steel armor to resemble actual guards at attention, was liberally bedecked with jewels there was little else that could be done.

I particularly appreciated those silver statues. They'd been originally commissioned for the statuary near the waterfall, but had been removed the the royal chambers out of necessity. New ones would be made eventually for the statuary and Lord Rovod would, I'm sure, be happy to make them. He was legendary at the smelter, knowing the temperature and readiness of the metal just from the color it had, but his metalwork wasn't quite as good and he relished every opportunity to practice more.

14th of Limestone

I heard the shouts of alarm from the upper slopes but they were rapidly called off. Apparently two thieves had been spotted up there by the clean-up crew but they ran off before they could be caught and killed. Unfortunately not long after a third was spotted just outside the doors to my building by Sodel, one of our butchers. He managed to catch the creature and throttle it, but not before the kobold had plunged it's weapon into Sodel's head, putting out an eye. For butchers depth perception can be pretty important, or so I would imagine, so I fear we'll be calling Sodel, three-fingered Sodel before too long. I can only hope any missing digits are not found in the stew later.

On the bright side, hours after the kobold incident, the dwarven caravan showed up. Maybe the little buggers were wanting to get a jump on the goods.

((Kuli's in white because he's a wrestler. Actually his wrestling and spearwork are about at the same level, but because you lost your weapon during the siege and wrestled three or four goblins to death you achieved your next rank of wrestling first. I wish you were a champion, but because you and Ragnar both have nervous system wounds, albeit light ones, you do not engage in sparring. Ever. Which makes it very difficult to achieve the rank of Champion. Don't worry. You'll get there eventually... or die in glorious combat trying. ))

20th of Galena

One of our stonecrafters abandoned his work today helping the clean-up crew outside to go and claim a craftdwarf workshop. It seems he made a very nice pair of obsidian earrings, though the name does leave something to be desired. I considered asking him in to see whether it was because he'd spent the last month cleaning up goblin corpses from the siege or whether it was because the Queen and entourage had arrived. I decided not to. It was better not knowing some things.



I've also learned some interesting tidbits from the military that have been sparring around here. Apparently Aardvark, Kuli and Zuglar have been named the heroes (heroine in Zuglar's case) of the siege of 1060. Aardvark has received the title of Gegetegom, making him now Aardvark Tallpaint the Violet Natures. I believe that may be due to the coloration of his armor after the siege, the normal slightly bluish tint had taken on a violet lustre with the addition of fresh goblin blood. Apparently he personally obtained sixteen kills in the last siege, bringing his total up to twenty one goblins. Zuglar on the other hand had a slightly more unusual title, Lecadgan Ezar, or Zuglar Gemclasps the Clean Dish of Soldiers. Kuli performed admirably I've heard despite being unarmed for part of it and earned the title Vudnisstakud Giken, making his full name now Kuli Dancetreaties the Tenacious Machine of Lightning. A much fiercer sounding name than Dancetreaties, one I am aware that he dislikes due to it's elven-sounding nature. Apparently they were able to take a few prisoners as well, so maybe I can persuade Aardvark and Ragnar to leave me some so that when I am healed I can get back into fighting form should it be necessary. We'll see when the time comes. I am anxious to be out of this bed!

13th of Galena

I was looking at the temple again. It was not finished, even in my dreams, but it's magnificence could not be denied, even unfinished. The silver star of the mountain called out to me, beckoned me to come, but still I resisted, for what reason I knew not. Though it was my creation, in this I was not mistaken, it was not for me. I had chosen my path. Turning I saw a cliff with a way running from the temple to the top of it where a building stood. As I began along the way a figure, cloaked in shadow approached, beckoning me to the side of the road. The figure did not threaten, nor did it seem menacing but I knew somehow that to go with it was dangerous. The figure approached again and I awoke with a start.

The lanterns were still dimmed and I could hear Led's steady slow breathing. The building was quiet, as quiet as ever in the mountain-home that never truly slept. As I sat listening I saw the door moving inward and the unnamed royal guard walked in quickly before turning and whispering to someone outside again.

She came and approached my bed, sitting on the chair next to it. A soft perfume wafted from her, filling my nostrils with the scent of pine and sand. She cocked her head quizzically and merely said:

"Well?"

"My apologies my Queen. I'd bend the knee or something if I could, but it seems that my legs simply won't function properly."

Withdrawing her hood revealed that she was smiling, and a brief look at her guard conveyed the sense that she'd gotten the better of him again. Waving my offer away she continued.

"Don't worry about that Paulus. Mistem is a very effective judicar as she is expected to be. Yes, I know about your sentencing and punishment. I know a great many things about this place that others merely guess at. But I wanted to meet you, the organizer and founder of this newest mountain-home. I get ahead of myself though, let me introduce myself.

I am Zuglar Oslanstettad, Queen of the Big Knife tribe, daughter to the former-king, may his bones remain forever undisturbed."

It seemed fitting to me that her name in the common tongue meant "Windtax".

"I wanted to meet you and thank you for the excellent work you have done here, providing a safe haven for our people in this time of strife. Know that you have pleased me, though not in as many ways as I might have hoped."

"My Lady, we have done our best here to create a place ..." She cut me off with a wave.

"Do you truly understand what it is you have done here? Do you?"

I raised an eyebrow and cocked my head to one side as I thought quickly about what she had said. I wasn't quite sure where she was going with this. She sighed and looked again at her guard. Addressing him she spoke:

"I believe you were right in this Rith. How one can see so much yet so little is beyond me." Turning again to me, she continued.

"Very well then. Let me say then that I reward those that serve me well. And you have served me well. See that you remain loyal to me and our kindred." Her voice softened as she looked me over, "and when you are whole again I'll find some way to reward you suitably."

She kissed me lightly on the cheek before leaving with her stone-faced guard, drawing the hood up and winking at me once before the pair left.

I got the vague impression of feeling like a groundhog being chased by a cougar just then and wondered, not for the last time, if I was getting in over my head. I had been right about her identity though. Seeing the platinum circlet I had made the connection after our first meeting. It could only have been Kasithinir, or Prowldeclines, the legendary circlet of the dwarven kings. It was one of the most valuable single items in our kingdom, possibly the world. Only the reigning monarch had the jurisdiction to wear it, which meant that she had inherited the title, presumably, from her father.

I would have to find out more about her, and I would have to be very discreet about it. But first I would have to recover and get out of bed. Summoning someone to the infirmary had the unfortunate disadvantage of half the fortress knowing about it indirectly.

10th of Hematite

A hazy mist filled my vision, scenes of a great temple being built only partly obscured by the cloud. I was seeing the grand edifice from above, though in my mind, I knew that was impossible. Drums rang out from the four points of the temple, and a great fire rose to obscure my vision with smoke. The sound continued though, penetrating the haze with an uncanny clarity.

I awoke, covered in a light sweat despite the coolness of the air. I could still hear a throbbing in my ears that I knew to be the pounding of my heart. But there was another throb, lower that sounded through the stone. Sounds of many feet, too small to be human, too loud to be elven or kobold, too light to be dwarven. The goblins had come again. In my minds eye I could see them approaching, half a hill crest away from the fortress. I lay in silence for many minutes wondering if I was beginning to go crazy. Led was breathing rhythmically in the bed across the room and I found myself focusing again on the sounds. I could still hear them, but was unsure now of their reality.

That is, until the watch above us cried out.

"A vile force of darkness has arrived! We are besieged! Raise the gates!"

The sound of heavy iron gates being raised from the ground was clear to any in the neighboring building, but the goblins were not quite there yet.

It was some time before the gates were droppped again, allowing the goblins into our ready-made trap. I wasn't sure who was coordinating the combat until I heard Aardvark barking out commands as he approached the main gates. He was only a wall or two away from me, and with soldiers coming in and out of the building his voice carried on the light wind easily.

Apparently there were five groups that had been spotted. Two from the lower east, and two from the upper west and a fifth from the upper east. When the gates went down a mighty howling and scraping of metal on metal filled the air as the hate-filled goblins began pouring into our home, treading on our silvered road and making their way to our gates where they hoped to overwhelm us. Four of the groups were inside our trap when it sprang shut. The fifth group had made no move to enter, remaining instead on the upper slope prowling about our wall. I heard Aardvark order some archers up there to pick them off as well as possible before the main attack could begin.

Apparently Melonius was the first to make it up there, though Fre wasn't far behind. I heard them arguing as they came back down. Rather I should say, Melonius was arguing with Fre, insisting that she'd taken two of his kills, goblins that he'd injured first. Fre saluted Aardvark and reported that the goblins on the slopes had been driven off. Five had been killed by her hand.

I could see the exchange almost as if I were present. Melonius behind her sulking since he'd only gotten two injuries while she had stolen her kills, assuming, erroneously, in his mind that since she was the cook and he a true marksman he had the greater skill with a bow and that it was her luck that had granted her the feat. Secretly, I think Fre had simply grabbed a larger quiver, not that her skill with a bow was inferior to Mel's. After she reported she gave Aardvark a peck on the cheek and told him she'd have a hot meal for him when he finished up here and went below. Waving his hand in dismissal Aardvark waved Melonius off as well, turning to Kuli and Zuglar, both speardwarves in the army.

The goblins got to stew in the trap for a few days. I could hear them beating on the walls from time to time, checking to make sure that they were sound, and trying to find a way out of the goblin deathtrap that Dorenemal had become.

Several days later as I was meditating during a night I could not sleep, I felt the gates being eased open. Aardvark, Kuli and Zuglar slipped out into the chill night air as silent as possible given the fact that they likely wore full plate and were armed to the teeth. The goblins in their foolishness had separated into groups in our halls and slowly the three crept along, slaying goblins that saw them before a general alarm could be raised. The nearly score goblins on the ramp and near the upper gate perished in a combined assault as Aardvark rapped on the stone, signalling the engineer to fire the newly installed ballistae overlooking the upper gate-hall. They had two shots, but were very effective. A single heavy bolt slew three, passing clean through the surprised first goblin and clipping two others, one in the side and the other in the head. It was not long before they bled to death.

That was the moment the three charged the remaining goblins. Kuli took the lead charging into the pack and stabbing out on his left and right, causing fear and confusion in the ranks of enemy before focusing on a single victim which he stabbed and bore to the ground beneath his spear, twisting it in the wound until the goblin stopped thrashing. Aardvark and Zuglar were approaching from behind, catching up after picking off a straggler lower down on the ramp. Kuli spun, catching a blow meant for him on his weapon, and a second on his shield as he brought his spear in tightly before thrusting out at the goblin's head. It took the goblin in the eye, lodging firmly in the wound, and falling out of Kuli's hands as the goblin fell to the ground unconcious. Being unarmed didn't stop him from beating two goblins to death and finishing off the one that had his spear lodged firmly in it's skull before the battle was over.

The three retreated back to the fort to rearm quickly before heading out again, Kuli grabbing a spare weapon just in case. The final group of goblins was out near the eastern gate, camped on the cliff-side in a group numbering roughly thirty. The three approached stealthily, spotting the group from around the corner of the building before charging. Aardvark led this time, with the other two flanking him paces behind. I was exhilarated just sensing the battle, the clash of steel on iron the cries of goblins as they were thrown, or jumped from the cliff to escape the wrath of the three juggernauts from Dorenemal. Almost the entire group was pinned against the bluff as the three rushed in, and later during clean-up the corpses of four goblins were found at the bottom of the cliffs, one in the lake a good thirty feet from the rock face.

The siege had been swift and brutal, but not dangerous for us. I heard of only a single serious injury, a mason on the upper walls that had been hit by a bolt of crossbowgoblins as they were coming in. His wits and reflexes saved him by jumping behind a section of wall. No other injuries had been reported. Ten goblins had gotten away, the group that hadn't entered the fort proper. Seventy goblins lay dead, staining the silver road red.



((That's Aardvark in blue, Kuli in white and Zuglar in yellow.))