I apologize for the lack of info, but this is what i've got so far:
Finally. After a couple of false starts, i got going on Shotforded (
). First step was to dig out some large spaces for storage and workshops, and dig down for some resources. I put up a farm for plump helmets, and had my miner throw a tantrum (apparently she got in an argument with someone in charge, among other things). No tantrum spiral though!
I ended up building my main fort area in sand, so i'm putting up a meeting hall and storage lower down, in stone. I also set up a dormitory on the sand level. My dwarves are running around like little bees doing half a dozen things, which is good i suppose.
While all of this was going on, it turned to summer and i got 5 migrants. As required, 3 have become "retirees", though they'll have to wait for me to assign them real quarters. Whew, my crafters finally got done smoohing the dining room! now other tasks in the fortress can actually get done. I truck a vein of Magnetite early on, and also some aventurine and brown jasper.
Autumn comes. A smelter and furnace is installed, and i start work on the first beach-side, mist-side retirement home
My dwarves set up a metalsmith's workshop as well, and 7 dwarves arrive. I snag myself an Architect (who becomes a crafter), a new Lumberjack, and i forget what else. Engraving on the Dining room is done piecemeal, so i don't tie up every Crafter i have for a long while. Those retirees are getting tired of my staff meeting hall
It becomes winter, and work continues on my dual retiree's homes. It consists of a layout similar to this:
WWWWWWDW
Wh.....W
Wc.W...W
WWWWTCBW
WWWWW
W = wall
T = table
C = chair
B = bed
c = cabinet
h = chest
Unless otherwise noted, all items are iron.
Winter comes, and i do more mining. Other than that and construction of a loom, nothing interesting happens. I complete the first pair of homes, and thus ends tage 1. Stage 2 will encapsulate stepping up my rate of home production, and installing some amenities for my retirees (i'm thinking decorated open-air cafeteria, glass waterfall, and lighthouse tower).
Pics:
Main fortress level
Refuse pile, trade depot, and first retirement homes
Underground meeting hall and excavation area