I condensed this
for the issue report regarding that personalities don't transfer in a relevant way to needs but here is a slightly more complete list (which importantly i can edit if i find out anything new) out of what i've been trying, tailoring my embark dwarves and training some of my other dwarves with workshops reactions so that they are socially capable.
Four core personality typesLiars - (
lying/truth value ~, contradictive values ~ , guarded or private values ~) Liars essentially tell people what they want to hear away from the truth, and is a common type for dwarves (or other beings) with no positive intrinsic values and reclusive personalities, however dwarven society has lying set to low values and a harsh ethic opinion on lying for different reasons that may leave some dwarves without a social skill building lifeline.
- Alcohol makes dwarves worse at lying for obvious reasons too that they feel less defensive about personal information and will not elicit it normally, which lying is a useful get-out-of-jail card for them while making friends too.
- Dwarves with lots of contradicting values also can lie to save face with the social norms of their civilisation if appropriate, instead of clashing with others agreeing with them even though they may secretly be a elf spy wearing a beard-wig with +50 nature value.
Persuaders - (
assertiveness++,
likes to argue/quarrelsome ~ cultural acceptance-) A mixed bag, dwarves that are not passive in conversations across the spectrum will attempt to hammer points towards other dwarves, and really this can be adopted for both positive and negative personality sets. This is skill determinable whether the dwarf will be successful or if a disagreeing dwarf will bow out negatively for a bad thought or flatter the speaker to save face, the ability of at-least competent persuader + judge of intent is advised on embark load out with chances to train it when you can in order to be socially competent.
- legendary persuaders as observed in adventure mode with DFhack console modding can actually fully flip the values of other beings, so one in fortress (somehow) could adjust open minded (a personality stat) dwarves values to be similar to theirs for better or worse. Books have this effect too as bascially persuaders by proxy depending on the subject though less is known particularly.
Comedians - (
humor++ bashfulness+) requires humor primarily, telling jokes and seems to be exemplified a bit by alcohol but this can be grating to dwarves with no humor leading to obvious grudges.
Conversationalists - (
Friendlyness++ emotional bonds+) is the typical method of being good at chatting and friendly discussion, similar friendly types hit off and can make friends well with intermediaries like persuaders & hearing what they want to hear from liars, comedians and unfriendly people are personality subjective whether they will get along.
Misc Skills
Judge of Intent - (
emotion++) Actually quite a important one, may help dwarves determine the best response, spare 2 points on this and 3 on core statistic of liar/comedian/persuader/conversationalist when you can or train it otherwise by burrowing random dwarves around the depot and setting them to talk to traders when you've finished main business relations or using workshop reaction XP gain.
Intimidator - (
Anger++, Power+) i haven't been able to read in too much what this does, highly aggressive values may opt for them to use this in order to get a good mood if they like arguing, so it's a natural compliment to persuader and may elicit good moods to quarrelers for using aggressive responses.
Might determine chances for making a site surrender or tribute when out-numbered, the squad captain should always be the most experienced talker, tactician, ambusher and fighter in the squad since their leadership affects the squads capabilities in total.
Negotiator - (
social ability++) Similar to persuader, doesn't seem to come into peer to peer conversations but is a brokering skill for more favourable trades. Establishes counter-deals I think when trades initially will fail due to value problems.
Flatterer - (
social ability++,
attitude to conflict--) Important skill for deflecting arguements from persuaders or quarrelsome/aggressive people but without other personality facets can be useless other than to just save embarrassment, or grumpyness of being drawn into conversations, especially if the other dwarf becomes satisfied from doing it.
Pacifier - (
cooperation++) mayoral skill, possibly standing adjacent or talking might snap out tantrumming dwarves sooner but best applied on the mayor, conflicting reports since tantrumming dwarves are now a recurring phonemeon it should be good to try, maybe put it on fortress guards?
Consoler - (emotional appeals? emotion ?) Im not sure which particular goes into this one, but elicits them being good to cry upon when conducting meetings with unhappy dwarves.
That's my general analysis and for my sources i have been using the wiki, 0.34 pre-taverns and personality re-write has some information over some of the personalities that are transferred over into post 40. such as how straightfowardness has been split up but still affects liars by use of the truth/lying value in deception.
v0.34:Personality trait -Dwarf Fortress Wiki
DF2014:Personality trait - Dwarf Fortress Wiki
The actual present day personality page though is devoid of additional intrinsic information, so i hope some wiki editors can importantly conduct their research to correct any mistakes I may have made here, as well as use their own findings hopefully having my work here as a useful pointer in where to look.