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Author Topic: How to survive an evil biome? [embark, steps for protection, etc]  (Read 7741 times)

Number7

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okay so i recently embarked to an evil biome. My very first evil biome. It was also my very first biome without wood (woo) and i got stomped lol. Some accursed smoke spawned basically on top of the wagon and two dwarves turned into husks, we 'killed' the first husk via decapitation and was chasing around the other husk beating it with a warhammer, and everything seemed okay at least despite being two dwarves down....

when the first husk's severed arms and stuff started trying to kill people, the second husk turned around and gave major injuries to BOTH dwarves chasing it (they were armed and armoured even) and some more smoke turned my horses into killing machines.

A few minutes later, everyone's dead.

So, basically how do you survive an evil biome? What kind of things do you take on embark? How many military dwarves with which stats? what kind of strategies do you employ? (Also note: i do pure military, only a few rare traps, which are usually cage traps so i can host amusing arena fights with dwarves i dont like) (i decided this was worth a whole topic because its a lot of content)
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Garath

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Re: How to survive an evil biome? [embark, steps for protection, etc]
« Reply #1 on: March 31, 2012, 12:02:21 pm »

Garath
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Re: DF 2012v0.34 question and answer thread

« Reply #976 on: Today at 11:48:13 am »

Quote
Modify



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=104855.msg3102019#msg3102019
http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=96138.msg2746799#msg2746799
http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=83728.msg2237925#msg2237925


three threads about evil biomes, most usual terrifying, the worst there seems to be, key search words:
+surviving +evil +biome
______________________


Yeah, so I just copy pasted a reply I did to the exact same question from you in the little questions thread.

one of those threads is called "tips for surviving a terrifying biome?"

I know for sure they contain useful info


If this isn't satisfactory:

dig down, kick out ALL animals, seal off. You need to be able to keep any creature out and a roof so the mists don't get you or your dwarfs.

make an airlock to let in migrants to the first hallway of the fort, but make it not your main entrance. Get it so you can close it off at both ends in case something evil does come in. Let m die and wait till the corridor is safe again.

breach the caverns for trees if it's no longer safe to go outside. I don't know if cavern creatures animate when they die, but it's a safe bet they do. Either things need to be obliterated (atom smashed) or tossed out. This also goes for your own dead dwarfs, be prepared to do a lot of slab engraving.

well that is the panic room version.

Just use the search function for more threads, there are dozens of them, all full of advice
« Last Edit: March 31, 2012, 12:13:09 pm by Garath »
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Quote from: Urist Imiknorris
Jam a door with its corpse and let all the goblins in. Hey, nobody said it had to be a weapon against your enemies.
Quote from: Frogwarrior
And then everyone melted.

Seraph

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Re: How to survive an evil biome? [embark, steps for protection, etc]
« Reply #2 on: March 31, 2012, 03:57:04 pm »

http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=104855.msg3102019#msg3102019
http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=96138.msg2746799#msg2746799
http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=83728.msg2237925#msg2237925


three threads about evil biomes, most usual terrifying, the worst there seems to be, key search words:
+surviving +evil +biome
Two of those three threads predate the current version of Dwarf Fortress, so they are basically worthless as answers to the question.
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Garath

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Re: How to survive an evil biome? [embark, steps for protection, etc]
« Reply #3 on: March 31, 2012, 04:11:45 pm »

my bad, but most of it is still valid
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Quote from: Urist Imiknorris
Jam a door with its corpse and let all the goblins in. Hey, nobody said it had to be a weapon against your enemies.
Quote from: Frogwarrior
And then everyone melted.

SarZ

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Re: How to survive an evil biome? [embark, steps for protection, etc]
« Reply #4 on: March 31, 2012, 05:15:46 pm »

Sounds like you're having fun! I guess I have been very unlucky then so far, because my "evil" biomes are really boring:
- smoke only gives "sleep sickness", so if they are caught in the smoke they search for a bed
- no reanimation of anything
- where the heck are the ambushes/sieges?
- only 1 "the dead are alive" attack

Ah well, at least the forgotten beasts were fun. One with poisonous dust (I let two vampires take on that one, easy way to get rid of vampires), one with fire (shield blocked all the fire) and one with webs (that one was quite hard actually!).

So basically my "hard" games were quite easy. I wish my biome was that dangerous :-)
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Loud Whispers

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Re: How to survive an evil biome? [embark, steps for protection, etc]
« Reply #5 on: March 31, 2012, 05:39:47 pm »

Don't even imagine bringing animals.
Bring both miners and picks, cut down on other useless tidbits by bringing raw materials, bring 2-3 soldiers (I find hammermen with copper warhammers works very well - very cheap, very effective), dig down, bring everything inside and have the soldiers spar constantly.
Having legendary hammermen balances the odds against the undead somewhat.

Needless to say, the outdoors is very hostile. I'd recommend having your refuse/corpse stockpile in your barracks. Your soldiers will get very unhappy from getting attacked by the undead, so preventive measures should be preferable unless your Dwarfs are hardened individuals.

Personally, I bring;
One proficient miner
One proficient miner
One farmer, proficient herbalism and growing
One farmer, proficient herbalism and growing
One hammerdwarf, proficient hammer and teaching
One hammerdwarf, proficient hammer and teaching/shield user
One hammerdwarf, proficient hammer and teaching/dodging

3x copper warhammers
2x copper picks
Around 30-50 wooden logs
1x firesafe stone
1x anvil
default food+drink settings (+1 barrel trick as well), no plump helmets (food invested in fish or meat, saves money), more seeds bought.
No splints, crutches, cloth or thread (get quick farming industry).

And whatever I expect to need