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Author Topic: What is the most difficult way to make a fortress which isn't impossible?  (Read 2500 times)

Bananarang

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For example, the hardest I have managed is a terrifying glacier with only a wagon, 7 plump helmets (One for each dwarf) and a copper pick.

Can you think of anything harder?
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Elf Lover

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Re: What is the most difficult way to make a fortress which isn't impossible?
« Reply #1 on: February 10, 2012, 01:14:16 pm »

For example, the hardest I have managed is a terrifying glacier with only a wagon, 7 plump helmets (One for each dwarf) and a copper pick.

Can you think of anything harder?

A terrifying glacier with no plump helmets, and an anvil.
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Nyxalinth

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Re: What is the most difficult way to make a fortress which isn't impossible?
« Reply #2 on: February 10, 2012, 01:18:06 pm »

Saltwater biome, no booze, no plump helmets, no pick.  Better make some barrels and scrounge up some plants, fast.
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Urist McGyver

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Re: What is the most difficult way to make a fortress which isn't impossible?
« Reply #3 on: February 10, 2012, 01:27:09 pm »

Saltwater terrifying biome with no booze...EVER! No trees. Terrain with "Clay, Very Deep Soil" on a freezing and completely flat tundra (with no river acess, so you better start looking for underground water). War humans on first chance. Never trade. Bonus points for prohibition of steel. Dwarfbonus not using neither pumps nor wells for water underground (only ponds. If the water is saltwater, then you may use ONE PUMP to desalnalize it)
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Gizogin

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Re: What is the most difficult way to make a fortress which isn't impossible?
« Reply #4 on: February 10, 2012, 01:30:13 pm »

I remember reading on the wiki that you can start with no tools (except an anvil), a single piece of copper ore, and a single fireproof stone.  Anything else is completely optional.
Spoiler: how to survive (click to show/hide)

I think a terrifying saltwater glacier would be the worst embark site, depending on the presence or absence of an aquifer and the level of mineral scarcity.
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jellsprout

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Re: What is the most difficult way to make a fortress which isn't impossible?
« Reply #5 on: February 10, 2012, 04:19:16 pm »

It is possible to do 0 point embarks on most biomes. Then only exceptions are biomes where it is impossible to get something to drink, such as deserts and glaciers.
-If you embark somewhere with fresh water at the surface, simply try to survive until the first caravan. You can do this by butchering your first animal for food and use the bones to construct a crossbow and bolts to hunt for more food. Use the three logs from your wagon to construct a depot, wait for the depot to unload everything, then deconstruct the depot to claim all merchandise. Continue as usual.
-If you embark somewhere without fresh water but with trees and plants, use one of your three logs to make a Carpenter's Shop and the turn the other two in training axes. Chop down as much wood as you want and try to survive on surface farming and hunting. Once the caravan arrives, construct and deconstruct the depot as in the previous situation.
-If you embark somewhere with plants but no trees, turn one of your logs into a barrel for the booze, then try to focus as much as possible on hunting for the first year. Once the caravan arrives, attack them with your crossbows. If you are lucky you will be able to claim their stuff and continue as usual.
-If you embark anywhere without fresh water and without plants to brew, this is impossible as far as I know. If only milk were drinkable.

Glaciers are generally the easiest biomes to penetrate the aquifers. Deserts would be more difficult.
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rephikul

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Re: What is the most difficult way to make a fortress which isn't impossible?
« Reply #6 on: February 11, 2012, 02:01:31 am »

Intensifying Mod v0.25, terrifying desert+ocean combo with 1 cavern layer. Ya I know it was not released ;p
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Tahlin

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Re: What is the most difficult way to make a fortress which isn't impossible?
« Reply #7 on: February 11, 2012, 03:24:39 am »

Problem with all these suggestions is it will only slow down your start, If you want a very difficult game you'd need something to keep you busy all the time, Which isn't possible even with a terrifying biome.
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Valid_Dark

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Re: What is the most difficult way to make a fortress which isn't impossible?
« Reply #8 on: February 11, 2012, 03:32:08 am »

Build only above ground, and have ample housing for everyone. As well as what they said.
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