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[thesocialshift]

I learned the game using ironhand graphics but then transitioned to the default ASCII which was difficult to get use to. Use Lazy Newb Pack and make whatever choice you like. Also you said everything was set to max which I probably wouldn't do when just learning. If you're new, try this guide http://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/DF2012:Quickstart_guide

As far as the speed of generating worlds, loading, and running, one of my favorite quotes from the NY Times article on Dwarf Fortress “The processing power that Dwarf Fortress uses is on the same scale as modern engineering software for designing aerospace hardware,” says Ames, the engineer. “You have more complicated simulations in Dwarf Fortress than when you model the aerodynamics of a wing.” One of the things that sparked my interest in the game...and that article was about a year ago. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/24/magazine/the-brilliance-of-dwarf-fortress.html?pagewanted=all

[kingubu]

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

That is awesome!  I was just using that exact analogy the other day to tell someone about DF.

I'm trying out Ironhand right now for a change.  So far I hate it, but I'm sticking with it for a few days to see if I get used to it.  I wish [PRINT_MODE:TEXT] worked for windows.

[Garath]

As for loading a saved game, it depends on the size of your embark area. If you were smart enough to pick a manageable area (I tend to do the default 4x4) then it shouldn't take too long. If you chose something like a 6x6 then it will take much, much longer.

Hum... Not sure what you mean by 4X4 I just put all settings besides things that can kill me on max.

when you start a fort you choose an area of a certain size. Some people use the standard 4 squares by 4, others 2x2 etc. Largest I ever did was 9x9 and that was running so slow I basically had it running permanently in the background, checking every 10 minutes to see if something had happened.

starting a new fort or adventurer, or loading a save, has a bit of a bump, just wait a bit. What you don't seem to realise is how in depth the game is. For example, it has to load all the water covering every dwarf that had been out in the rain, check the temperature of everything and apply some more physics and such.

note: do not try to make a fort in a 16x16 area

[NTJedi]

Hum... Not sure what you mean by 4X4 I just put all settings besides things that can kill me on max.

Maximum embarking size crashes the game because of the 2GB limit... so you're using a default setting.

[GoldenShadow]

I use Ironhand graphics exclusively. It's da best. the main thing I didn't like with vanilla is the tiles weren't square. They are squeezed into rectangles. Designating a 11x11 room looked like a 8x11 room or something.

[Flying Dice]

Urk, tilesets. I could never tell what anything was when I briefly tried using tilesets.

[martinuzz]

LAZY NEWB PACK IS REQUIRED. Google it, search it, damn it I dunno, just get it.

Every time I see this I laugh. It might just be because I played many RLs long before I found DF, but I find the tilesets too hard to see what everything is, especially because I like having a lot of my fortress on the screen at one time. Just knowing that, say, a white U is a unicorn, as opposed to whatever that blob that doesn't look like much is, is much easier to me.

This. I've tried a few tilesets, and even thought they do look nice, they're too incomprehensible for me to play with. I'll have ASCII, thanks.

[Alastar]

I prefer the ANSI.
It remains clear and readable at varying levels of zoom, colours are easier to distinguish than in any graphical tilesets that actually look decent, the characters are chosen very well, the text interface remains consistent with the game view,  and it brings out many cute details like rain, waves, mist, animated machinery and so on.

[MaximumZero]

*sigh* I have to use a tileset. Stupid eyes.

Anyway, welcome to Dwarf Fortress! I hope you like miasma...  >___________>

[Naryar]

My advice : lurk through the wiki. Or learn the !!fun!! way, your choice.

[humblegar]

Darthlawsuit, try 2012 videos from captnduck on youtube. He also has an 34.06 update. Although not the very latest version it should cover most stuff. He uses a variety of tilesets and also ascii I think. The video I linked shows how to start a game.

I don't think you should use mods that changes how the game works (like masterwork) before you have tried the game. Lazy Newb Pack Advanced is highly recommended, the "advanced" part does not get in your way before you need it. Try ascii and all tilesets and decide yourself (Graphics->install graphics in LNP).

[Garath]

One advantage of tilesets is the way it distinguishes some things better though. For example, a g can be a goblin, or a goat. Freaked me out a bit first time I noticed a supposed goblin running around in my fort.