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[ToxicP]

Hi,

I have just started playing Dwarf Fortress and am trying to get my Dwarfs to start digging down.  The problem is they will not build any stairs when I designate an area.  Other tasks like chopping trees work fine: I select the tree to be chopped and someone goes and does it.  But when I select an area for a downward stairway, nothing happens.  Am I missing a step?

Thanks

[blue sam3]

A downward stair is only half the job. Go to the layer below and designate an up stair (or if you want to go down more on the same staircase, an up-down stair).

[ToxicP]

No luck I'm afraid.  I have even tried designating mining into the side of hill, they don't seem interested in doing that either.

[jcochran]

The obvious question then becomes .... Do they have a pick?

[ToxicP]

Doesn't look like it.  Shouldn't the miners have started with one?

[ToxicP]

Upon further reading it looks like they don't start with picks.  I didn't notice that in the demo I watched.  Thanks for the help!

[jcochran]

Depends upon how you embark. If you choose "Play Now!", the dwarves do get a reasonable set of equipment and skills including a couple of picks. But if you choose "Prepare Carefully" and select your own equipment, you have the onus of making sure you have a pick, or some means of acquiring a pick. And even if you do embark with a pick, some wildlife can steal it (see Keas and why they're hated). But not all is lost if you have an anvil, some weapon grade metal (or something made of weapon grade metal) and the ability to make coke or charcoal. Just build the needed workshops (wood furnace, smelter, forge) and make a new pick. And since you mentioned cutting down trees, you do have an axe or two that can be melted down ... But make sure to get enough lumber for the rest of the operation... And once you're digging away with the pick, you can replace the axe easily enough.