Bay 12 Games Forum

Old post, but this must be the most epic artifact I have seen, good stuff. One of the reasons I love Dwarf fortress - it's very unpredictable.

I hope he didnt let the King walk outside while wearing that. One bird dropping could wipe out hundreds of years of history... hehe.

[Historylesson]

I have studied my civilizations history a bit and boy it keeps getting fascinating every day. It seems the empire Imprisoned Kingdoms is in constant war with goblins (Big Poison has conquered literally countless settlements since 251), as every migrant I receive have at least competent level in military skills. Hunters and rangers come with insane amount of kills, wildlife and humanoids alike (best I saw was 89, including goblins, trolls, elves, fauna etc). The forest region where Rivertrapped is located seems to be full of beasts like minotaurs and alike ("wandering dwarves" as well), according to engravings and figurines that depict such events.

The empire is very multicultural, as there are dwarves and elves ruling among men. There has been a brutal war against elves as well, according to kills people have (or they were just elf bandits). I wonder if some elves were captured and then joined the ranks of ruling classes, or if humans lost, as there are many elves... a human emperor called Perom ruled in 81, and after him came elves - elf emperor Ag Ujaasto ruled in 161, died or handed his position over to his daughter in 251 and empress Kupe Coparcusal the elf has been ruling ever since. The outpost liaison Innu Famousan is a grandson of the empress. It was quite funny to read "news" when he came to my village and told how "few months ago my paternal grandmother Kupe Moraltrue became emperor of Imprisoned Kingdoms, replacing her father Ag Urndeserts".

[/historylesson]

Nothing new aside that going on, I gave offerings to traders and hope something would happen. I'll start building a castle if my metropolis gets recognized in any way by the empress, but I always fear ini-changes might make it impossible. In theory when I copied dwarf-stuff to human part it should follow same logic.

Elves were finally useful. So, amongst their casual offerings (fruits and lots of tinder) they brought... a giant tiger. Which soon was a war giant tiger. This was a good add to Rivertrapped's defense.

If I give it to my militia commander and happend to find a breeding pair later, does it work? I'm not quite sure but they dont need to roam freely? Although, I'm not sure if I want it to die in near future when in military "service"....

Human town Rivertrapped lurches forward facing tragedy after tragedy. About 190 settlers dead, two tantrum spirals (one ended fast thanks to main culprit being knocked unconscious and carried to prison) later I survive because the Emperor Wills It! This is his favourite summer cottage.

Goblins arrived on 1st Granite, 256. I thought that it would be a small group again (previous ones were 6-15 gobos) so I mustered all soldiers to meet them. My walls had a significant problem as my archers tend to climb over my fortifications and jump down to shoot enemies, and I was building a roof over the wall to prevent that - it was under progress when siege came. The spot where enemy arrived was quite close to my northern gate and my soldiers were all sparring nearby so it took only few seconds to send them in.

Only that there were suddenly 40 goblins equipped with metal armors and iron weapons. And trolls appeared later. I had 10 quite well equipped veterans (a few who had mastered their skills and with good protection and weapons) and one good crossbow squad made of hunters. Two "reserve" squads that followed were nothing more than previous migration wave given weapons... if they were lucky. So, I had 40 guys there. I actually thought "screw it, time to plan for expedition vol III to Rivertrapped".

http://i.imgur.com/3RmNPOs.png

Except my soldiers won the day. Yes, I lost all my 20 reserve soldiers (+ babies, I dont know how many babies they were carrying there) who were butchered faster than dwarf says "cat". But my 1st infantry squad kept killing in a mad dance of death, surrounded by goblins and trolls. This squad lost three members, my hunters only one. Perfect teamwork - crossbowmen broke arms and legs and melee finished them off.

http://i.imgur.com/AfgzRtY.png

Militiacommander alone had 4 pages combat log, decapitating goblins and trolls with bronze scimitar. I don't know who was that hammerman (human? goblin?) who charged him and collided with him, I didnt see him in the log.

http://i.imgur.com/MV1hiYs.png

I love these new moods. They really griefs their fallen and shout in battle that they'll avenge their dead ones.

Which was probably the whole point (-: ...also, it does encourage building more interesting and complex structures on the surface if you build anything on the surface at all (besides bunkers).

I agree that it brings certain elements of excitement to this game. I play as humans and have built a town, surrounded by walls and watchtowers. I already built a moat to one side where river doesnt surround my town, but winter tends to make that a bit useless. But I made a second wall to protect inner town perfect. Next time I'll have to build gatehouses...

*quickly builds another layer of wall made of rock blocks* Interesting that blocks are climbable. There goes my feel of safety.

Goblinite wave of 89 different metal ignots have killed 15 dwarves, including half of migration wave.

Question: how on earth you can survive losing so many dorfs? I lose one, ONE, ONE!!! and the rest of my fortress throws a tantrum party and everything is over. It's not like they are socializing too much, as soldiers are... soldiering and civilians are.. hauling stuff. For some reason I fear battles more than I used to, thanks to ridiculous "buhuu we lost one guy against overwhelming enemy LETS DESTROY THIS PLACE LADS".