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[robertheinrich]

Iīm a fairly new player and still getting accustomed to the complexity of DF. For the time being Iīd rather focus on economy and exploration (of caves). Currently my main problem is that, given a decent embark location, I manage to create a happy community of 100+ citizens which is capable of sustaining itself pretty well and increasing wealth relatively fast once the crafters start spitting out masterpieces every few minutes. That utopia usually collapses during the third or fourth siege.

So I wonder what triggers sieges and how itīs possible to avoid them for as long as possible. My efforts to lock down my fortress have been void so far. The attackers simply march through closed doors and hatches as if they wouldnīt exist at all.

Any tips?

[FaultyLogic]

If you -really- want to lock down, you can make a corridor with a draw-bridge that RAISES in the appropriate direction. This obstacle is impassable to everything but ghosts.

You can also turn invaders off in the init file, until you feel ready for battle.

Edit:

Sieges are triggered by your created wealth. So if you make no crafts and try to survive on small-time farming, I suppose you could prolong the peace-time for a while. But it's enough that one dwarf goes moody and grabs some valuable metal and then you're off.

[Broseph Stalin]

Go into Data/init/d_init.txt and set INVADERS from YES to NO.

[Casp]

Why on earth would you want to do that.

In all seriousness, have only one entrance. Put a door at that one entrance. When the baddies come, use the q building designation menu to forbid passage. Baddies can't get in now. Other tips: put traps in front of this entrance. Use burrows so that you can assign all your dwarves to stay inside. If you're still having trouble, use a Danger Room to train a militia fast. Use silver for hammers and maces, iron or steel for other weapons (steel, if it's available). Also, the day you find candy is the day your troubles end. Don't use it for hammers and maces, but kit your dwarves out in candy armor and weapons and watch them eat the gobbos alive.

Have !!Fun!!.

[Blizzlord]

The goblins can bring building destroyers with them. Building destroyers path to doors and hatches so they can smash them. To keep them out, try a raised drawbridge (preferably with a pit in front of it) or constructed walls. They are immune to destruction.

As for decreasing propability of sieges, I have no idea. The older forum members might have an idea.
Also, try the wiki. The help menu actually has a link to it.

[Garath]

Sieges come to you for your wealth. The higher your wealth, the bigger the siege. Try some of the more creative traps, like dodge traps and drowning traps. They are sometimes more effective than weapon traps and cage traps alone. Especially effective IMO is the dodge trap where weapon traps kill the enemy or the enemy dodges the weapon trap onto an empty tile. And by empty I mean not even a floor. 14 z-levels lower the body explodes into pieces. Why more lethal: 100% kill rate except for trap avoid, less problems with bodies getting stuck in traps, no running out of cages.

[robertheinrich]

@Casp: well, I already tried that. Top floor only had some stockpiles for finished goods and the trade depot. Everything else would happen downstairs behind locked doors and hatches. But that was zero problem for the invaders, they simply marched through them. Why would I want to do that? Because I donīt feel ready for fighting yet. Still dabbling with getting the economy running and seeing that nobody starves etc.

To you other guys, thank you very much. Gonna disable the invasions per .ini for the time being until I have my hallways secured with bridges and traps.

[Spish]

You can change the goblins' active seasons from ALL seasons to just Winter. That will reduce the likelihood of sieges pretty drastically, and give you plenty of time to prepare.

[Casp]

Eh, well then use the drawbridge trick. My other information I tend to figure is useful.

EXCEPT THE PART ABOUT THE CANDY I WAS TRYING TO TRICK YOU I'M A HORRIBLE PERSON OH GOD DON'T TOUCH IT

[Garath]

why not? with great weapon power come great risks after all. just need to be careful

[robertheinrich]

You can change the goblins' active seasons from ALL seasons to just Winter.

Sounds great... but how would I do that? I just read the documentation for the init files in the wiki but they didnīt mention that at all.

[schismatise]

You can change the goblins' active seasons from ALL seasons to just Winter.

Sounds great... but how would I do that? I just read the documentation for the init files in the wiki but they didnīt mention that at all.

In your dwarf fortress folder, browse to data/save/region1 and find the entity_default.txt file. Run a search for "goblin", then keep scrolling down from there until you see 4 lines:

[ACTIVE_SEASON:SPRING]
[ACTIVE_SEASON:SUMMER]
[ACTIVE_SEASON:AUTUMN]
[ACTIVE_SEASON:WINTER]

Delete the seaons (whole line) you don't want to get attacked in, then save the file (you'll have to restart df).

[paraxite]

I believe you can avert sieges for good by embarking on an island. On the embark page, click Tab to check what civilizations are able to reach the area. Only dwarf ambassadors can come to an island fort (I think).
The downside is that island will most certainly have aquifers, and it can be a pain in the ass to get through that.

[Psieye]

Go to the init options, set [INVADERS:OFF], now you will never get sieges, ambushes or thieves.

[miauw62]

I believe you can avert sieges for good by embarking on an island. On the embark page, click Tab to check what civilizations are able to reach the area. Only dwarf ambassadors can come to an island fort (I think).
The downside is that island will most certainly have aquifers, and it can be a pain in the ass to get through that.

But, if you dont mind hacking, you can just search and delete all [AQUIFER] tags from stone.
Especially easy using notepad++ (just do search in files. its quite obvious from there)