Dwarf Fortress Noob Help

[Lionclaw]

I recommend having this list of minerals from Wikipedia bookmarked.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_minerals

[Spike88]

Turns out it was an issue with the Bentgirder save.

Started a new settlement and the Thoughts and Preferences work fine.




Edit: Figured it out. Bentgirder is Version .31.12 I'm using .31.16

[Spike88]

How do I get Camels/Bulls/Donkeys out of my meeting hall?

Preferably without slaughtering them as lionclaw suggested.

[Spike88]

And my first fortress starts to starve.

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by Spike88

How do I get Camels/Bulls/Donkeys out of my meeting hall?

Preferably without slaughtering them as lionclaw suggested.

You tried slaughtering them?

[Spike88]

Originally Posted by Dowly

You tried slaughtering them?

Well. I had to start a new map.

[krashkart]

Wow, this is an interesting game.

So, I'm trying hard not to start my fortress over. My dwarves are busy killing vermin for food until I can get the farms producing food. I think my first order of business on the next map will be to dig out some farms, then start mining and build a trade depot.

Question:
I have two large zones laid out topside for harvesting plants, but none of my dwarves are foraging. How do I get them to pick berries?

[Spike88]

Originally Posted by krashkart

Wow, this is an interesting game.

So, I'm trying hard not to start my fortress over. My dwarves are busy killing vermin for food until I can get the farms producing food. I think my first order of business on the next map will be to dig out some farms, then start mining and build a trade depot.

Question:
I have two large zones laid out topside for harvesting plants, but none of my dwarves are foraging. How do I get them to pick berries?

Do you have a dwarf with the herbalist skill? If not choose any dwarf you want to do the job via U and then C on their name. Hit P for Prof, Labor, finding Foraging and assign it to that dwarf.

Starting over is part of the fun. I've restarted 4 times now.


Edit: If you're to the point that they're eating critters, you're probably close to a tantrum spiral.
http://df.magmawiki.com/index.php/Tantrum_spiral

Just had some fun with an irrigation system for my farm(took me until Autumn to get everything done). Through a mishap I ended up flooding my lower levels. Luckily the water is 1/7 to 2/7. All it means is that my living quarters will now be covered in mud.

[Spike88]

New map:

Outside:

Level 1: The Irrigation level

Level 2: The farming/production level

Level 9: The living quarters

Not shown Level 3: The Administration level

[NeonSamurai]

I would strongly suggest that you work on your defenses asap. Your setup looks extremely vulnerable to attack.

Wall, moat and drawbridge would be a good start.

[Spike88]

Moat. Another chance to drown my fortress

[NeonSamurai]

Dry moat is better, some mobs can swim, but none of them can go down a z level without stairs or a ramp (well unless they fly).

I often do 3 spaces wide moats and then a drawbridge with stairs in the middle on each side.

Also with levers, the notes key is your friend

[Spike88]

Originally Posted by NeonSamurai

Dry moat is better, some mobs can swim, but none of them can go down a z level without stairs or a ramp (well unless they fly).

I often do 3 spaces wide moats and then a drawbridge with stairs in the middle on each side.

I take it a moat is a channel? The Dwarf wiki only links to a blank page for "Moat" Although I'm looking at:
http://df.magmawiki.com/index.php/DF2010efense_guide
and
http://df.magmawiki.com/index.php/DF...ecurity_design
Right now

Also with levers, the notes key is your friend

I came to realize this when I got confused on which lever does what, and almost drowned my facility a second time. Luckily it was only a surge of 2/7 and 3/7 water.

[Spike88]

How do I build roofs?



And it's new fortress time. ran into a cave that killed everyone.