3 Review(s)

Dwarf Fortress may be the most complex video game ever made, but all that detail makes for fascinating game play, as various elements collide in interesting and challenging ways. The trick is getting started. In this guide, Fortress geek Peter Tyson takes you through the basics of this menacing realm, and helps you overcome the formidable learning curve. The book’s focus is the game’s simulation mode, in which you’re tasked with building a dwarf city. Once you learn how to establish and maintain your very first fortress, you can consult the more advanced chapters on resource management and training a dwarf military. You’ll soon have stories to share from your interactions with the Dwarf Fortress universe. Create your own world, then locate a site for an underground fortress Equip your party of dwarves and have them build workshops and rooms Produce a healthy food supply so your dwarves won’t starve (or go insane) Retain control over a fortress and dozens of dwarves, their children, and their pets Expand your fortress with fortifications, stairs, bridges, and subterranean halls Construct fantastic traps, machines, and weapons of mass destruction About the Author Peter Tyson created the After Action Reporter blog in February 2009 for reporting on, listing and writing great after action reports (game reviews through storytelling). He created the online resource "The Complete and Utter Newbie Tutorial for Dwarf Fortress." Tim Denee is an illustrator from Wellington New Zealand. Table of Contents Chapter 1 Introduction Two and a Half Game Modes Losing Is Fun! Installing Dwarf Fortress The Keyboard Is Your Friend Mods and Ends Chapter 2 Playing God Building Worlds Your World Finding a Site Preparing Carefully Chapter 3 First Steps What Does It All Mean? Exploring the Map Responding to Alerts Let’s Get Digging! Building Basic Workshops Managing Your Workshops Piles (of Stuff)! Building Rooms Chapter 4 Filling Dwarf Bellies Chickens and Eggs Growing Crops Above Ground Growing Crops Underground Fishing Hunting Butchering Livestock Cooking and the Kitchen Beekeeping Milking Chapter 5 Merchants and Trading Merchants Have Arrived! Liaisons Chapter 6 Dwarf Resource Management The Fundamentals of Labor and Jobs Skills Labor Management Labors and Attributes Migrants Strange Moods Nobles Relationships Inventory Chapter 7 Digging Deeper Design Principles Digging and Construction Fundamentals Get Your Pick Dirty Get Building! Challenge Mode Chapter 8 Industry Wood Industry Stone Food Meat Metal Cloth Gems, Glass, and Ceramics Improving Industry Efficiency Chapter 9 Justice, Healthcare, and Vampires Justice Vampires Healthcare Babies and Children Death Chapter 10 The Military Introduction First Steps Directing your Troops Enemies Advanced Tips Siege Engineering Chapter 11 Engineering Dwarf-Made Traps Dwarven Machinery Fluid Dynamics Minecarts Inspiring Engineering Appendix After word: Farther Appendix Appendix Introduction Playing God First Steps Filling Dwarf Bellies Dwarf Resource Management Digging Deeper Industry Dwarf Healthcare Engineering Plant Processing Stones and Ores Dwarf Labors New Fort Checklist Colophon