Hello,
I'm new to Dwarf Fortress and I use the LazyNewbPack along with the Phoebus tileset. I'm looking for someone (none of my friends are interested) to sort of help, or play along with me at the same time on Skype. We can share each others screens and just, learn Dwarf Fortress, etc.. and personally I think this sounds tons of fun and a much better way of learning, I'm more of a visual learner as well. I've probably been playing Dwarf Fortress for about a month and just messing around with things and figuring it out. I would say I'm proficient with/at:
Looking at the map, embarking and visualling knowing what everything on the map is trying to tell me. At least with the Phoebus pack. (I guess I visualize it in my head in 3D).
Farming
very Basic Military
Stockpiles and dumping
I'm not very good, or having even dabbled in:
Magma, or anything do with stonecrafting/flux stone besides the basic Craftsdwarf, Mason.
Advanced Military, schedules, training months, etc.
Animal Training (but it sounds really fun, I'd love to have tons of animal farms!)
Fishing, Hunting, Butcher just because it's confusing and in between these 3 professions there's lots to worry about: Miasma, Running out of Bolts (because I need that wood for beds, never have enough bones, etc), I never see my Fisherdwarf in his Fishery, ever.
Adding roofs to buildings, so I normally try to embark close to mountains.
A whole ton of other things between DF is amazing and very very in-depth but that's why I love it so much.
I'm willing and would love to help you learn this stuff, or learn new things about Dwarf Fortress together. I'm from the USA and only speak English but I don't mind if you're from somewhere else, besides, accents are awesome. If we play together, I will 100% make a new Fortress just because well.. 'McDwarf is Fishing, McDwarf gets too close to Cave Crocodile. Cave Crocodile bites McDwarfs Leg and shakes it around wildly! McDwarfs Leg flies off in an Arch!'. Basically.. one Cave Crocodile ruined my newest fortress and all of my Dwarves, it was new fortress too.
Oh and by the way, most of the time I'm realistic in my fortresses to the point where:
I don't change any settings and I don't turn off aquifers. I will never play with DFHack, No scouting for minerals before the site and no cheating (Dwarf Therapist is fine). I prefer biggest world size, 125 to 250 year(s) world, Very High civilizations, Very High sites, Very High Beasts, High Savagery, and the default 'Sparse' Mineral Occurance. If my dwarves die and my fortress is wrecked, I must start a new world because, they (and I) died.
I sometimes play Dwarf Fortress based off my real life personality: I don't like eating Mushrooms (haven't tried embarking without them yet, figuring out what to bring instead), I love Seafood, I like Piercing Weapons (like Spears), I love animals, I like parties, etc.. you get the idea.