Bay 12 Games Forum

Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Advanced search  
Pages: 1 2 3 [4] 5 6 ... 239

Author Topic: Dawnpick (My Little Fortress)  (Read 223713 times)

Telgin

  • Bay Watcher
  • Professional Programmer
    • View Profile
Re: Dawnpick (My Little Fortress)
« Reply #45 on: November 27, 2011, 12:20:48 am »

Interesting, didn't know that about flyer pathing.  Feels like cheating, but I was planning on putting in a moat eventually anyway.  I'll just chalk it up to DF being buggy about fliers, which it quite clearly is.  Hoping that gets fixed sooner than later, but not holding my breath for it being in the next release, heh.


Virtue's Diary - 23rd Granite, 253

Ballista finished the amulet she was working on today, which she calls Mirthpartner the Escorted Dot.  An interesting name for the amulet, and it's certainly intimidating looking, but she wears it around proudly.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)


Flux has been busy making charcoal and smelting the magnetite, but we've run into a problem.  He tells me that we need something called, ironically enough, flux in order to actually make steel out of the iron.  I don't really understand metallurgy, but I trust he knows what he's talking about.  Once he's smelted a bit more of the magnetite, I think I'll set him to work on those mechanisms.  The designs he drew up looked good to me, and I think everypony will feel a bit safer once there are a few in place.

Chic and Diamond Shard have been digging hard in the quarry looking for something suitable to use as flux, and they stumbled into a large underground cavern in the process.  It looks deserted, but it worries me, so I think I'll have them seal it up soon.  Whatever lurks below, it probably isn't good, and badger pony thieves are enough of a problem.

Some merchants arrived today too, and it feels like it's been an eternity since they last came.  We still didn't have much to trade, but we picked up a little food and drink from them in exchange for some uncut gems.  They seemed happy enough, at least, and promised to return next year.

7th Felsite, 253

Today was a bit of a surprise.  Naginata gave birth early this morning to a unicorn colt that the parents named Rondel.  He was a cute little foal.  Naturally, Naginata will be laying off training for a while, which she had been for the last month or so of her pregnancy.  We haven't seen any more thieves, so maybe she won't be needed any time soon.

The search for flux hasn't turned up much, unfortunately, except for another large underground cavern.  I'll request it sealed off too, since the initial exploration didn't turn up any flux.  I hope we find some soon, I don't want to have to rely on simple iron for our soldiers.

On a lighter note, Marbles has set up a glass furnace and started making some windows.  I know I'll be happy to have a window in my bedroom, and I think everypony else would agree.  Thinking back to my discussion with Flux, I think some glass weapons for the traps.  They won't be much use in Halberd or Naginata's hooves, but for a trap I think it would work well.  We wouldn't have to use any of our iron either.

23rd Felsite

I got a surprise this morning.  A formal request for a town hall was in the stack of paperwork I needed to sort through today.  Curious, I started asking around, and it turns out that Longshot has mad such an impression on everypony else that they elected him mayor!

I didn't even know it was up for discussion.  Seems like the sort of thing I would be involved in, but if it's what everypony wants I don't see the harm.  I hate to tell him that it's going to be some time before a town hall can be constructed.  We're still short on bedrooms, and we started constructing our curtain wall.  He's a reasonable pony, and I think he'll understand.

I've updated the map as before.  I'll feel a lot safer when the wall is finished.


Spoiler (click to show/hide)


Guess Longshot hasn't had a lot to do other than socialize lately.  That friend list of his goes on for a few pages, and no grudges, even with Halberd.

4th Hematite, 253

While worrying over our dwindling supply of wood today and the growing need for more bedrooms, Mortar told me that he had learned a spell to transform most types of plants into wood.  I was a bit skeptical, but he demonstrated in short order.

Impressed by the magical feat, I asked him to show a number of other unicorns how to use the spell, and now we have a wood conjuring workshop to help pad our supplies of lumber.  I'm afraid to transform too much food, but it's nice to know we have a fallback if we need it.

A large number of migrants arrived a couple of days ago, so I think we'll be needing the food more (good thing Harvest Moon has been hauling in so much lately).  I rounded up the new arrivals:

An earth pony stallion bone carver named Totem
A pegasus stallion weaver named Spool
A pegasus stallion woodcrafter named Miter
A pegasus mare fish cleaner named Sushi
An earth pony farmer named Appleseed
A unicorn mare mason named Kiln
An earth pony stallion furnace operator named Cinder
A pegasus stallion carpenter named Redwood
A unicorn stallion dyer named Carmine
His wife, a pegasus mare fisher named Ocean Breeze
An earth pony stallion farmer named Golden Grain
An earth pony stallion miller named Barley
A unicorn stallion shearer named Wool
A pegasus mare spinner named Loom
A unicorn mare tanner named Alum
A unicorn stallion siege operator named Arbalest
A pegasus mare soldier named Falcata
A pegasus stallion soldier named Bardiche

Of course the two new soldiers will be joining Halberd and Naginata, but as usual I'll have to think over the other arrivals before sorting out where they will fall into place here.  I'm not sure if I'm ready to send Ocean Breeze out to the river to fish yet.  We wouldn't want a repeat of that tragedy.


Ok, that last migant wave was just uncalled for.  The previous migrant wave didn't all have bedrooms yet!  I've got 51 ponies now, and have set the pop cap at 50.  I need some time to sort out these ponies!

Anyway, the wall is under construction and Flux is now working on setting up some traps (and a drawbridge soon).  I think I might be screwed on flux though, I could have sworn it was in the embark info.
Logged
Through pain, I find wisdom.

Dsarker

  • Bay Watcher
  • Ἱησους Χριστος Θεου Υἱος Σωτηρ
    • View Profile
Re: Dawnpick (My Little Fortress)
« Reply #46 on: November 27, 2011, 12:23:59 am »

I'd like to claim Arbalest. Let's set up a firing range overlooking the river. Catapults ahoy!
Logged
Quote from: NewsMuffin
Dsarker is the trolliest Catholic
Quote
[Dsarker is] a good for nothing troll.
You do not convince me. You rationalize your actions and because the result is favorable you become right.
"There are times, Sember, when I could believe your mother had a secret lover. Looking at you makes me wonder if it was one of my goats."

Telgin

  • Bay Watcher
  • Professional Programmer
    • View Profile
Re: Dawnpick (My Little Fortress)
« Reply #47 on: November 27, 2011, 12:37:24 am »

Alrighty, Arbalest is yours.  Here's his description:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Haven't had any experience at all working with siege equipment in DF yet, so that should be interesting.  Fair warning: the above ground embark means everything is going very slowly.  Probably going to be a while before the catapult is set up, unless Arbalest would like to argue the point with Virtue. :)

By the way Khenal and Dsarker, if you want to change anything about the pony's description before I make avatars for them, let me know.  I stayed pretty true to it for the starting 7, except for Longshot who I made green instead of black.  DF seems to be pretty bad about variety in the pony descriptions, so I improvised a little.  It seems that literally almost every male pegasus is black, every female is slate gray, male earth ponies are light brown, etc.
Logged
Through pain, I find wisdom.

ansontan2000

  • Bay Watcher
  • I am a Poro. Fear me.
    • View Profile
Re: Dawnpick (My Little Fortress)
« Reply #48 on: November 27, 2011, 12:38:48 am »

MAYOR? YEAHHHH! I  MANDATE THE PRODUCTION OF SLA-
oh wait, that would be REALLY stupid.
Logged
When a soldier makes a mistake, one man dies.
When a captain makes a mistake, a dozen men die.
When a commander makes a mistake, a thousand men die.
When an emperor makes a mistake, well, there is a game save for retry.

Telgin

  • Bay Watcher
  • Professional Programmer
    • View Profile
Re: Dawnpick (My Little Fortress)
« Reply #49 on: November 27, 2011, 12:43:37 am »

Yeah, just took a look at Longshot's preferences for the first time.  No slade thank goodness, but schist, gold, white chalcedony, water buffalo hoof, oriole bone, large gems and coins are in the list.  This should be Fun, don't have easy access to most of that.  We may have a tyrant Longshot incident soon.  Time to start making chains. *whistles*
Logged
Through pain, I find wisdom.

The Master

  • Bay Watcher
  • A respectable sort of psychopath
    • View Profile
Re: Dawnpick (My Little Fortress)
« Reply #50 on: November 27, 2011, 12:44:30 am »

If I were mayor...you'd all be on a glacier hiding from the spawn of Holistic Detective, and I'd have mandated the production of jay tooth thrones.
Logged
Holy jesus I thought I was ready but nothing could have prepared me for this
Hush, little Asea, don't you cry.
If he notices we'll surely die!
You. Made. Asea. CRY.

Dsarker

  • Bay Watcher
  • Ἱησους Χριστος Θεου Υἱος Σωτηρ
    • View Profile
Re: Dawnpick (My Little Fortress)
« Reply #51 on: November 27, 2011, 12:45:06 am »

At least they wouldn't have backpacks.
Logged
Quote from: NewsMuffin
Dsarker is the trolliest Catholic
Quote
[Dsarker is] a good for nothing troll.
You do not convince me. You rationalize your actions and because the result is favorable you become right.
"There are times, Sember, when I could believe your mother had a secret lover. Looking at you makes me wonder if it was one of my goats."

Khenal

  • Bay Watcher
  • Humble smelter, making music
    • View Profile
Re: Dawnpick (My Little Fortress)
« Reply #52 on: November 27, 2011, 02:24:57 am »



By the way Khenal and Dsarker, if you want to change anything about the pony's description before I make avatars for them, let me know.

If it's not too late, can I request a darkish orange for his coat instead of his light brown?
Logged
Slave traders occasionally bring feral ghouls for trade. I haven't decided if this is a bug or feature yet.

Avatar from Kryptid!

Telgin

  • Bay Watcher
  • Professional Programmer
    • View Profile
Re: Dawnpick (My Little Fortress)
« Reply #53 on: November 28, 2011, 10:43:49 pm »

Okie dokie loki, here's the avatars for the new ponies:
Spoiler (click to show/hide)


Virtue's Diary - 1st Malachite, 253

It's been a busy day.  With a few more farmers to help out Harvest Moon, we've expanded the fields and set up a new field for some other crops, eventually, although we'll have to wait for a caravan hopefully carrying some new seeds.  We've been needing some thread for some time now, and Harvest Moon tells me that he has a few seeds for a curious underground crop called pig tails.  We had a small underground farm dug out for that.

I've also set up a mechanics workshop for Flux to work with and a siege workshop for Arbalest.  I dearly hope that we won't be needing any siege equipment to defend ourselves, but if we did, I'd hate to be caught without it.  Whether or not we'll be able to spare anypony else to learn how to shoot the things, well, that's another story.

Now that we've got enough ponies to almost consider them a squad, I asked Halberd to set up a proper training schedule to keep them all prepared.  He has them training two months on, one month off, which sounds reasonable to me.

The surprise was when I happened across a request from Longshot in my paperwork.  I didn't expect him to actually start making such recommendations so soon, but he requested that we not trade any large gems until he says otherwise.  We've been trading uncut gems to the merchants so far, so it's not a big deal.  I'm not quite sure why he'd order such a thing anyway, but it's a small enough issue that I won't bother him about it.

11th Malachite, 253

To my initial dismay, another group of migrants arrived today.  I was quite surprised to find an alicorn among them, and at first expected that a noble of some rank from Coupledye had come to check up on my progress.  I was quite nervous, as we've only just barely begun producing much from our mines.

I was quite surprised, and a bit pleased, to discover that most of the new arrivals were soldiers, including the alicorn Stilleto.  We could definitely use a few more armed ponies, so I sent them off to meet our existing militia and get acquainted.  Surprisingly, Stilleto made no mention of having any high rank, and accepted her position under Halberd without a word.

The arrivals are as follows:

An earth pony mare soldier named Fuscina
An alicorn mare soldier named Stilleto
A unicorn mare soldier named Kukri
A unicorn mare soldier named Kris
A unicorn mare woodcrafter named Balsa
A unicorn mare beekeeper named Sweet Nectar
An earth pony mare farmer named Sunflower
An earth pony stallion woodburner named Toasty

I was also pleased to let Panacea know that the well was finally dug out today and should be ready for use soon.  I think everypony will appreciate it actually, since we don't have to head down to the river to bathe now.  After what happened to Brook, nopony really liked going down there anymore.


Yeah, that's right.  I set the pop cap to 50 and I get 8 new ponies.  Apparently the change doesn't take effect until the liaison arrives, so I just hope I don't get pushed over the 80 siege trigger before then, heh, heh.  I hope the unwanted arrivals like military service, because that's what the useless ones are getting!

13th Malachite, 253

Hickory gave birth this morning to a unicorn filly named Sienna.  The parents were quite excited at the new arrival, and I gave them some time off to recuperate and bond.

17th Malachite, 253

I'm really starting to get worried about these... strange moods... that are gripping everypony.  I got word late this morning that Flux had occupied a workshop and was demanding wood and stone blocks.  We didn't have any stone blocks available, but it was easy to set Chisel to the job.  I hope he finishes whatever he's planning soon, since we really need him smelting down the magnetite.

28th Malachite, 253

It took nearly a week for him to finish it, but Flux completed his project this afternoon.  He made what is perhaps the most impressive crutch I've ever laid eyes on.  I'm... not sure how we'll use it, but it is quite beautiful.




He didn't finish a moment too soon, either.  I got word that Diamond Shard finally located what we've been searching for months for underground: marble!  With Flux done with his crutch, now he and Cinder can get to work making some steel.  The new soldiers will have some armor and weapons to practice with soon.

In more amusing news, Panacea somehow managed to get stuck in the well today.  She slipped in somehow and couldn't climb out.  I still don't really understand why the pegasi can't just fly out of little rooms like this, but she couldn't for some reason.  It took us all day for Diamond Shard and Chic to dig her out of the well, but we sealed it back up with an emergency doorway for any future emergencies.  Good thing the well wasn't completely full, she could have drowned!




Panacea's Diary - 28th Malachite, 253

Today was pretty embarassing.  I slipped into the well this morning and landed badly on my left wing.  It hurt too much to fly out, so all I could do was shout until somepony came by to help.  Thank goodness Skillet was nearby when it happened, else I don't know how long I would have been down there.  Virtue eventually got the miners to dig me out, but I hate it came to that.  I was so embarassed, I thanked everypony and hid in my room for the rest of the day.  I heard a few laughing about it, and I guess it was a bit funny, but I wasn't in much of a mood to face that.

At least my wing seems to be fine, just a sprain, I think.  And as long as I don't fall in the well anymore, my patients should do a lot better in the future.  I just need to talk to Virtue about getting some soap made.  After things die down a bit, of course.
Logged
Through pain, I find wisdom.

WolfeyS

  • Bay Watcher
  • My wife just died. Oh, damn nice door that one is.
    • View Profile
Re: Dawnpick (My Little Fortress)
« Reply #54 on: November 28, 2011, 11:57:09 pm »

I'd claim Ashwood, although I'm mostly just reading along for the story.  Very well done so far, keep it up.

Edit: Scratch that, I'll take Saw Dust.
« Last Edit: November 29, 2011, 12:00:30 am by WolfeyS »
Logged
My Steam Account

You just know you're screwed when a dwarf dies of old age.

Telgin

  • Bay Watcher
  • Professional Programmer
    • View Profile
Re: Dawnpick (My Little Fortress)
« Reply #55 on: November 29, 2011, 12:02:09 am »

Cool, another pony joins the herd.  Saw Dust could use a little love, heh.  Glad you like the story too!
Logged
Through pain, I find wisdom.

Khenal

  • Bay Watcher
  • Humble smelter, making music
    • View Profile
Re: Dawnpick (My Little Fortress)
« Reply #56 on: November 29, 2011, 12:10:06 am »

((Your art is awesome and you should feel awesome!  I love the avatar for Flux!))

  Flux' Journal, Granite 23

Ballista finished her project: an amulet.  It's beautiful, though spiky, and bears an image of celery on it.  I asked her about the celery and she just looked at me and asked if there was anything wrong with celery.  At least she's back to normal.


Malachite 1

Virtue liked my designs for blade traps, and asked if they could be made to work with glass instead of steel blades.  It's a bit unorthodox, but I don't see why not.  And our apparent lack of any flux stone makes the steel blades a dream.  We finished setting up a workshop for me to actually get to building the traps, so hopefully we'll be safe behind some bladed protection soon!


Malachite 11

I was checking where to actually put the traps when I saw the latest migrant wave.  A lot of them looked like fighters, so I'm sure Halberd and Naginata will have plenty of company.  One was even an alicorn!  I never expected to see one out here.  At least, not this soon.  Maybe Dawnpick is more important than I was told?  Either way, I should get back to work.  There's a lot of magnetite, and it's not going to smelt itself.


Malachite 17

The hospital is working, but we have no splints!  Why do we have no splints?!  What if somepony breaks something?!  Gotta fix this error!  Must make a splint!  With wood and stone and... *The page quickly devolves into illegibility and a long list of random building materials*


Malachite 28

Wow, that was weird.  Apparently, I went a bit crazy and started acting just like my friends did when they built something strange.  I made a splint.  It's a nice splint, but why did I make it?  And why did I put a pink lemon tree on it?  I don't even like lemons.

Oh!  While I was crazy, they found some marble deep in the earth!  Finally, I'll be able to start making steel!


« Last Edit: February 14, 2012, 06:34:52 am by Khenal »
Logged
Slave traders occasionally bring feral ghouls for trade. I haven't decided if this is a bug or feature yet.

Avatar from Kryptid!

Telgin

  • Bay Watcher
  • Professional Programmer
    • View Profile
Re: Dawnpick (My Little Fortress)
« Reply #57 on: December 01, 2011, 10:45:28 am »

((Your art is awesome and you should feel awesome!  I love the avatar for Flux!))
Glad you like it!


Virtue's Diary - 21st Galena, 253

The last few days have been pretty interesting.

First off, as I feared there were things living underground that weren't happy to see us.  With everything else going on I hadn't gotten around to getting the masons to seal off the caverns, and there have been a few "invasions".  I'm not sure what to call the things, but they walk on two legs and are clawed.  A few rushed out of the cavern breach and started harassing our quarry workers.  Halberd and his squad raced down to the depths the moment Chic came running up shrieking about monsters, but from what I hear, Diamond Shard defended herself most admirably.



Longshot immediately took it upon himself to clear the caverns of the little beasts with several extended hunting trips.  He brought back quite a bounty, so we'll probably be eating them for a while.  We've not seen many of them since, so I think perhaps his efforts have frightened them off at least.

23rd Galena, 253

Now I feel like we're a true mining operation.  Flux and Cinder have been hard at work smelting the magnetite and turning it into steel now that we have some marble on hand.  I immediately asked Pewter to begin turning the steel into weapons for Halberd and his squad.  They should all have axes to practice with within the next few weeks.

A zebra caravan also arrived today, led to our settlement by the plumes of our furnaces.  I worry it might attract less desirable attention, but save for what happened to Brook we've been lucky.  We traded off some uncut gems for a little food and drink from the zebras, which they accepted gratefully.  Longshot didn't seem to mind trading the uncut gems, but still asks we not trade out any large gems.  Unfortunately, the caravan didn't have any new exotic seeds for our fields, but I'm holding out for our liaison later this year bringing some.

In happier news, I heard we have another foal among our children today.  Detergent gave birth again in the wee hours of the morning to a unicorn filly she named Copper Trim.  The name fits her appearance, I'll give them that.

26th Limestone, 253

The undesirable attention I was worried about found us today, but I'm happy to record that nothing ill came of it.  Quartz spotted a diamond dog thief skulking on the hillside overlooking our settlement, no doubt picking through the wooden logs piled high there.  Halberd's squad charged off after him, set on not letting him do to anypony what the badger thief did to Brook, and to not report home where we were.  I didn't see the fight myself, but he assures me that the thief won't be returning from whence he came.



Naginata's Diary - 26th Limestone, 253

When word reached us that another thief had been spotted near the settlement, everypony galloped out to meet him.  Once again, I didn't have a chance to actually engage our foe, since Stiletto beat me to him.  I must say, I've never witnessed an alicorn fighting before, but now that I have I am absolutely impressed.  The mare grabbed the thief telekinetically by the teeth, crushed him to the ground and crushed his skull with her horn.

I've made it a point to not cross Stiletto.  Not that I ever intended to, but that pony is not to be trifled with.  Her demeanor is a bit odd too, probably related to the fact that she would be willing to stoop to the level of fighting alongside us.  I choose not to inquire further.





Virtue's Diary - 11th Sandstone, 253

I don't know where they're finding all of these ponies to send to us!  Yet another group arrived late tonight, long after we'd eaten our evening meal.  I showed them the dining hall and managed to get Skillet to fix something for them while I took in their names and professions.  Not what I was hoping for, I'm afraid:

A unicorn stallion soldier named Glaive
An earth pony stallion armorer named Billows
A pegasus stallion butcher named Cleaver
His wife, an earth pony mare potter named Glaze
A unicorn stallion weaver named Cross Stitch
A unicorn mare soldier named Sarissa
A pegasus mare pump operator named Corkscrew

The soldiers were a relief however, as Halberd now has a nice, round 10 man squad at his disposal.  Even better, I heard from Pewter yesterday that the axes were all ready, so the new arrivals can get to training first thing in the morning.  I'm sure they'll fit in.

Our defenses are slowing coming together as well.  We've built perhaps a quarter of our curtain wall now and have a drawbridge ready thanks to the mechanisms Flux has been crafting for us.  Better yet, we have a few traps at the end of the drawbridge.  I tasked Fuscina with working with Flux on placing them.  We'd best make sure that everypony knows where they are, it would be a tragedy for somepony to be wounded by our defenses.



Speaking of the dining hall though, I fear we may have to expand it soon or rotate meal times.  With nearly seventy ponies in Dawnpick now, it's getting a bit crowded in there.  I'll speak to Mortar and Saw Dust about it in the morning and see what they have to say about it.



Fffffffffffuuuuuuuuuuuuu- more migrants.  Darn it, I might hit the siege trigger cap before the liaison shows up.  I was already waaay behind on bedrooms as it is.  I'll have to remember to set the pop cap when I embark next time!
Logged
Through pain, I find wisdom.

ansontan2000

  • Bay Watcher
  • I am a Poro. Fear me.
    • View Profile
Re: Dawnpick (My Little Fortress)
« Reply #58 on: December 01, 2011, 10:54:33 am »

I MANDATE PRODUCTION OF STONE CRAFTS TO SELL TO THE MERCHANTS!
Logged
When a soldier makes a mistake, one man dies.
When a captain makes a mistake, a dozen men die.
When a commander makes a mistake, a thousand men die.
When an emperor makes a mistake, well, there is a game save for retry.

Telgin

  • Bay Watcher
  • Professional Programmer
    • View Profile
Re: Dawnpick (My Little Fortress)
« Reply #59 on: December 01, 2011, 11:06:24 am »

I MANDATE PRODUCTION OF STONE CRAFTS TO SELL TO THE MERCHANTS!

Would be a wise thing to do, eh?  For some reason I keep freaking forgetting until the merchants are there.  I'd probably have time to make some in time regardless, but they never seem to have much worth buying anyway. ???
Logged
Through pain, I find wisdom.
Pages: 1 2 3 [4] 5 6 ... 239