Bay 12 Games Forum

The general rule I follow is a 10% "tax" per year based on created wealth to be offered to the dwarven caravan (or to one of the other civilizations for the same purpose if and when I become a mountainhome).  Failure to pay it means the difference needs to be made up with the next year's goods prior to trading any.  If I deplete them all, no trade.  Of course, it's mostly meant to keep my stockpiles from overflowing with crap but it also makes me carefully plan out the amount of wealth creation vs. trade goods produced per year.  It can be a pain in the ass if I overshoot with mining or architecture without boosting goods produced.

Other than that, the simple rule is to survive by whatever means necessary based on the location.

I go with random myself.  I feel the name of the fortress can help predict its fate.

Demon McDiplomat: SO IN CONCLUSION, WE'D LIKE IT IF YOU'D MAKE MORE GOBLETS, CHEESE, AND PREPARED MEALS.
Urist McMayor: Sure, whatever.
Demon McDiplomat: YOU DARE MOCK ME?  TAKE THIS!
*Mason's shop destroyed by Demon McDiplomat*
*Carpenter's shop destroyed by Demon McDiplomat*
*Trade depot destroyed by Demon McDiplomat*
Urist McMayor: All right, fine!  We'll do it!  Just please stop destroying things!
Demon McDiplomat: VERY WISE OF YOU, IT'S A VERY PLACE YOU'VE DUG OUT FOR YOURSELF.  I WOULD HATE IT IF ANYTHING...UNFORTUNATE HAPPENED HERE.

For some reason I couldn't help but imagine the demon sounding like Morbo from Futurama.

I usually listen to the Benny Hill theme song...even when things are going bad it still fits.

Actually, that's the best time for it.  Once everything is falling apart because somebody didn't get their native platinum bars, it sort of fits to just play it and watch the world implode.

A personal favorite of mine is "I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire" (of Fallout fame) when, well, setting the world on fire.

An interesting sidenote is that all of those top countries listed are also the homes of the cultures that gave us the Scandinavian/Norse mythological basis for the dwarves featured in Dwarf Fortress.  And, of course, all of the others like Australia, the US, New Zealand and Canada were all settled by people from those regions that brought that culture with them (not to mention Tolkien was from the UK).  A mystery in that case is why Germany isn't also featured on that list along with the cultures it influenced.

Whether that's just coincidence, I don't know, but it is interesting.

Enemy ranged units can be a little ridiculous; a bunch of dwarves armored in steel getting cut down by goblins using copper arrows is a little much, especially since they're armored from head to toe in the stuff.  Other than that, though, it's usually not a big deal to drive off the goblins or other invaders even when they're mounted.

To Whom it may Concern:

1. Stop complaining about long patrol and sleeping without a proper room.  You have a fine room right below the barracks and you haven't been on patrol in months...not to mention the fact that the long patrol was a battle needed to KEEP EVERYONE FROM DYING.

2. It's not my fault the human ambassador was a demon.

3. Please stop engraving skinless demons in the dining room and hospital.  I know you like them, but come on now...draw some of the damn querns you like so much.

4. Same to the guy who thought it was funny to make aluminum statues of flies for the same dining room.  You know I don't check what you're making out of a desire to protect artistic integrity, but that's unacceptable.

5. Please pull the lever when instructed.  We don't need another "flooding incident" in the dining room, now partially covered in mud and decorated resoundingly with flies and demons.

6. Adamantine is for armor, not amulets.

7. Slade does not exist.