I'm about my 13th fort in the new release(no reclaims.) I thought I could use the same setup as I did in 40d which consisted of:
1 miner
1 woodcutter
1 carpenter
1 stonecrafter/trader
1 mason
1 Armorer/metalsmith
1 Weaponsmith/metalcrafter
with 1 anvil, various pairs of animals for food,no medical equipment,a couple of ropes for chaining wardogs (for thief defense,) food, 1 pick, 1 axe,and etc.
But after several failboats consisting of GCS, goblin ambushes in my first springs, armies of crundles, magma men/fire imps/ magma crabs coming up into my forge areas,and murderous giant toads;Since then Ive been using the following.
1 Axedwarf with various combat skills (militia commander)
2 Miners (I seem to get my farm irrigation/ exploratory mining done 10x faster)
1 Mason/Carpenter
1 Doctor
1 Stonecrafter/trader (broker)
1 woodcutter/mechanic (manager)
with 1 anvil, 2 axes, 2 picks, 2 of every medical item, food, tons of seeds, ropes for chaining wardogs(only 2 wardogs,) and 2 cats.
I first start out by digging out the entrance to the fortress, and then dig a place to dump food. My second task is to build tables/chairs in said food room, and dig the dwarfs rooms(with beds/doors) since the dwarfs will tantrum without them (they like to work themselves to death now!) After that it is a mix of irrigation and trapping the entrance/mining shafts (Ive been building the exploratory mining shafts separate from the fortress.) After that I play it by ear but usually engage in one of the following: building a barracks, making magma accessible, building a fully functioning hospital, dining rooms/workshop areas.
What have you been doing first?What has been your dwarf/equipment load out when you start?